Pairings

So I know I said I hate school but to get the higher rewards for rogue supernatural hunting, one must take the college classes. Meaning I'm sitting in a college lecture hall covering my ears nonchalantly as James' fangirls squeal over nothing. Finally professor Garrik walks in. 

I deal with the professor on a regular bases outside of school for identifying items I find on hunts. Eventually I ended up giving him the nickname Doc. From the way he acts I'm concerned if he is overworked from him sighing and rubbing his head everytime I walk into his office.

"Sit and be quiet or get out." The dark skinned elf glares at everyone out of their seat. His dreads tucked behind his pointed ears are touching his shoulders as he moves about. While setting his books on the table, the students all scurry to their seats. Finally the room is quiet outside of a cough.

"Better," Professor Garrik clears his throat, "today in humanoid species studies 103 we will talk about the rainbow elf species. Some of you should know that is my species. That's if any of you read the syllabus I handed out last month. Can anyone tell me anything about rainbow elves?"

Professor Garrik looks around the room and stops his gaze on a guy a few seats to my left.

"You." Doc says pointing firmly at the dark haired boy.

It takes him a second but he realizes all eyes are on him including the professor's.

"Oh uhhh. I don't know?" The guy smiles sheepishly.

"Don't know what? The way around a map? How about the fact that I never handed you a syllabus? That you aren't in this class? Or that there is drool on your chin? Maybe you snuck in to gaze upon James? Which one?" Doc tilts his head back to look down his nose at the kid.

"Uhhh. Ahhhh. Umm. All of the above?" The guy whimpers wiping at his chin.

"It's a miracle! He made the correct answer!" Doc throws his hands up and walks around to show the small class this "miracle". 

The guy sits there a little smug.

"Get out. You did not pay for this class. Run along." Doc finishes his mockery gestures before sending the kid on his way.

The most studious girl in the class raises her hand. "I can give a brief description of rainbow elves."

"Very well." Doc gestures for her to continue.

"Rainbow elves are a variant of elves that are gifted abilities dependent on their skin color when they are born. Red shades align with the element fire, browns/orange are earth and/or metal manipulators, blues are water unless they are a very light blue then ice, white is air or levitation, yellow electricity, green vegetation, purple is poison and healing, and last but not least is black. Which is yours, shadow manipulation." The girl with glasses bows her head a little to finish her speech. Then she glances to James who gives her a wink. The poor girl turns red in the face and melts onto her table to hide it.

"That was an excellent abbreviation of what you just read from your open book. Thank you." Doc states. "Now since no one apparently knows about my dying species, I will pair you up into groups of two for a presentation. In this presentation I want a better description of my species of why we are the way we are. Each pair will be given a different color to study in depth of our powers."

The more Doc lists off pairs, the more girls are crying since they aren't paired with James. Once shadow manipulation and James's name is called I swear I hear people hold their breath. That was until my name got called.

"No! What the hell Doc?! Change that now!" I shout.

Doc holds his hand up to shush me. "Talk to me after class."

I groan and thump my head against the table. I can feel envious gazes peircing me at every angle. Soon the bell tolls over head. All the girls sworm Doc crying in their whiny voices "Professor Garrik please change our pairings! I have to be paired with James!" Their pleas make me want to puke.

"Out of this lecture hall now or I will have you thrown out, fail you, kick James out too while I'm at it, then fail him for just his meer presence disturbing the peace!" Doc fumes at the mouth.

Crying girls bolt from the class as they sob about how cruel the professor is to even think of failing James. I march my way up to Doc, drop my books on his table and set my hands next to them to lean over towards Doc.

"Why?" I demand glaring at Doc.

"The order came from higher up." Doc gestures to the ceiling. "Don't ask me why."

I turn my head to my left to see a smiling James holding his books.

"You did this... didn't you...." I grumble.

"Not this time. So when should we meet for studying?" James with his chiseled jaw, captivating dark brown eyes and soothing caramel voice. He does a quick run through with his fingers to fix his longer hair on the top of his head.

I stare at him for a minute wondering if he is serious. "Wait. This time?!" I bellow.

"You know where I live so if you want to stop by around 6 I will have snacks and drinks ready." James evades my question and scurries out the class door.

"That-"

"Don't you swear." Doc says grabbing the bridge of his nose. "Now that everyone is gone. Aba says you had to be his partner for this for his safety."

"What about mine?!" I screech from yelling so much.

Doc cranks his neck trying to recover from the sudden noise. A small golden paper appears before me on my books.

[Just do what you normally do with James. You'll be paid for your services. ~Aba]

The paper burns to nothing while leaving the books unscathed. I let out a sigh in defeat more because I need the money for the mortgage. "I'm sorry for being loud. It's just him, that face, those girls...." I grab a James head sized worth of air and shake it.

"Mmmhhmmm. Believe me, if I could not have him in my class I would." Doc sighs.

"Sooooo instead of studying with him, could I ask you questions?" I ask. Since how I deal with James is avoiding him. Why not go to the source and ask Doc?

"Don't you have another class to get to?"

"What day is it?"

"Wednesday."

"Oh shhmmm!" I try speaking but a shadow covers my mouth.

"No swearing! Now me showing you that manipulation can be a freebie. Now run along and quit bothering me." Doc says taking off for his office.

I give him a quick salute to show I understand since my mouth is forced shut. Then I walk briskly to combat 403. On the way I send James a message on my arm translator that I will NOT meet him at his place but at the library at 6pm. He replies that I will regret that decision.

"Like hell." I mutter throwing open the locker room door. "Oh that shadow is gone." I say touching my lips.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Sitting in the library, I take deep breathes. For I can not sit beside James (not that I want to) to work on our project. It doesn't help that all the other girls have taken every book on rainbow elves and are giving James all the info they are finding on our project. Some even left, got books from outside the library and came back. The whole time James is smiling and nicely telling them thank you they shouldn't have. As much as I was hoping the girls to be kicked out they are abiding by the library rules.

"Why bother?!" I shout grabbing my things and leaving. The librarian scowls at me as I walk by. "Don't worry, I won't be back."

Shortly after leaving the library I hear the sound of running feet on the tile behind me.

"Hazel! Wait up!" James calls out.

"Why? Have your fan club do the work. See if I need the grade." I continue to walk.

"Would you hold on?" He says grabbing my shoulder.

I shrug him off and face him. "What?"

"Let me make it up to you. Since you refuse to go to my place. I can get us a private room over-"

"I'm not studying at the "gentleman's" club! Please, just no." I turn on my heel.

"Why would?! No!" He gives chase after me. "The music rooms here can be reserved."

"Music rooms?" I look at him funny.

"Yes they are quiet rooms and there is plenty of room if you feel the need to sit 8 meters away. One down side we would have to sneak there, maybe only I would have to sneak but we can lock the doors to keep the noise out." James grins and scratches the back of his head.

"Being locked in a room with you sounds like torture." I mutter before asking him. "What about books? Those girls took them all."

"You mean these?" James pulls out books from his bag with titles about rainbow elves.

I sigh and cave to his solution.