CH4

Azie was jolted awake by the loud blare of her alarm. She pitched herself out of sleep, nearly toppling out of bed. Groggily, she reached over, fumbling for her phone, and quickly swiped it to silence the alarm.

After last night, and the crazy mix of the party and the late-night trek back to the dorm, she was definitely feeling the effects of it all. That familiar buzz of tipsiness still lingered in her system, making her head feel a bit foggy. She hadn't expected to crash as soon as she did, but as soon as her head hit the pillow, sleep took over.

It was only now, in the quiet of the morning, that she realized the phone still clutched in her hand. She brushed a strand of her red-orange hair out of her face, trying to shake off the grogginess, and finally took a good look at the screen.

She noticed a notification and pressed on it. The phone opened automatically, taking her to the chat.

??? ???? ?????. ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??? ??'? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? c4. ??'? ???? ??? ????, '????? ??????? ??? ???? ????.'

"Shit." Azalea quickly got out of bed and groaned aloud. "Jackson you stupid man child!"

Running short on time, Azalea quickly changed, using baby wipes to freshen up, the ones she'd bought yesterday after the whole pool debacle. She moved quickly, rummaging through her drawer with a mix of frustration and determination. Her fingers brushed past old papers and random items before landing on a small bag of candy she had from last Halloween. She grinned when she found a mint and popped it into her mouth, savoring the burst of coolness. It was a small win, but it made her smile in the chaos of her rushed morning.

"Thank you Mother Nature." She quickly stuck it into her mouth and grabbed a pair of sneakers. As she left the room with her bag on her shoulders, Azie brushed her hair down with her fingers.

She'll get him back, first, she needs to work on getting her schedule. Seems like paying that dollar wouldn't be so bad.

Azalea reached the second building and searched for her class. The halls are a bit quiet, with only two to three students pacing the corridors.

"Four." Azalea peaked inside, noticing the semi-empty classroom. She's sure she counted about ten students. Her eyes then landed on her professor.

He's dressed like any other male professor. Khaki pants, white button up, circular glasses, all the usual. Only thing that's different about him and the others is that he's got just a few strands of grey and he looks like the gym's best friend.

He set the marker down and turned to the class.

"So when you here about Alberto Dephonso you think-

"S-sorry, Mr, so sorry I'm late to your class but-

"Just take a seat and introduce yourself afterwards," he interrupts, flipping through his book. Azalea nodded awkwardly and found a seat in the last row of chairs.

"Closer to the front please, I don't want to hear complaints about you not being able to hear or understand what I'm saying in the long run," he says without looking at her. It was loud enough to reach her too.

A few students snickered and shot her a glance as she made her way closer to the front. Talk about a terrible first day.

Azalea set her things down after she took a seat and fetched for her things as the class continued on. As it did she found herself staring at her professor more than anything.

She's seen men with the same physic like his but she was all 'meh' about it. His demeanor, the way he speaks and presents himself, is all peculiar to her. She can only wonder why he acts like he's actually enjoying his job.

From what she's seen so far about being enrolled at this fine establishment is that all of the professors seem depressed and stressed on a daily basis. Kind of like all of the students that attend this wannabe private college.

"Excuse me!," he bellows to get her attention. "Redhead." Azalea frowned at first but reacted when he pointed at her.

"M-me?"

"Yes, class is over you know. It has been for the past two minutes now." He informs sternly. Azalea glanced around the empty room and cussed herself.

Her eyes met her textbook and she's written absolutely nothing down. Exactly how long was she in thought for?

"Sorry." She shook her head and began to quickly put her things away. She got up and, ready to leave.

"Name." He says stopping her in her tracks.

"I'm sorry?"

His blue eye met hers and she cleared her throat, quickly shooting the classroom a once-over.

"What's your name?" Professor asked, his tone sharp but not unkind.

"Oh, right. It's Azalea Moore," she said quickly, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks as she fumbled with her things.

"Thompson," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "You were an hour and forty minutes late to my class, but since it's the first day, I'll let it slide." Azalea blinked, nearly choking on her own breath. She could barely believe he was being this lenient.

"However," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious edge, "this is Academic English, and I don't tolerate late arrivals. Don't expect me to accept pleading emails or excuses. If you can't take my class seriously, then you can leave just as easily as you arrived. I don't waste my time or knowledge on students who aren't willing to learn."

Azalea swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. He wasn't joking. The weight of his words hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Understood, sir."

"Here." Thompson handed her a paper sheet, which she took. As her eyes scanned the confinements on the paper he spoke.

"Those are the topics you missed during today's lecture. You are to sign into your Google account to get the assignments. Most of your assigned homework are to be done via electronic device but tests will be held within the classroom."

"Got it. Is there anything else I need to know, Professor?"

"Try to make it to my class on time, this is the only time I'm giving you a pass."

Azalea nodded slightly. "Thank you, I promise it won't happen again."

"A promise you shall tell yourself."

Azalea refrained from telling the man to fuck off but, this is her last year and the fast she gets through the first half of the semester, the better. Also, nobody wants to get on a professor's bad side.

Azalea left the room and stormed her way towards the office. Azalea took out her phone and quickly called Jackson. On the third ring he answered.

"Y'ello?" He answers optimistically.

"Jackson you fucking leech." She grits out in anger and frustration.

"Morning babe, how's the headache?" He beams with a chuckle.

"Balanced," she sneers. "Because of you my English professor basically told me to fuck off the next time I come late."

"Wow, sounds like she needs to get fired." He responds nonchalantly.

"He didn't exactly say it like that but that class is nearly two hours long, he's already assigned an assignment."

"The fuck is he talking about that it's two fucking hours long?"

"It's Academic English, Jackson."

"Riiiight, anyways, our next class starts in ten minutes which is Chemistry. Can't wait to see you there my little party animal."

Jackson hung up with a playful grin. However Azie didn't let it phase her. She reached the office five minutes later and paid the stupid dollar for her replacement schedule.

Azie left feeling satisfied and glanced over it.

"Okay, Chem is next then I've got Criminology and AE again on Thursdays and Chem again on Friday." Azalea folded her simple schedule with pride and made her way to the Chem lab. The quicker she gets out of here the better. She decided to not choose too many of her last few classes in the first half. Too much work and homework could get stressful.

Besides, she'll only have about two more classes to complete next semester and it's hello graduation.

Azalea made it to the chem lab and found it empty. She found a seat at the back of the class and set her bag down. She despises this topic, but she needs it.

Azie took a seat and spotted a nail filer on the counter in front of her. She grimaced at first but quickly got an idea. She glanced at the stool behind her and got off her stool, kneeling down.

Azalea began filing at one of the sticks and worked quickly. She's got ten minutes and if this is what she has to do to get back at Jackson then so be it.

And after seven minutes of filing she stopped, feeling her arms about to fall off. She then heard something and froze. Azie quickly hid the file and raised her head.

She was relieved to see it's another student. He met her gaze and did a slightly awkward nod as he found his seat, which was on the other side of the room that looks directly over to she and Jackson's space.

"What is it that you're doing?" He asks. Azie hit the back of the stool's leg and it broke off.

"You'll see." Azie set the leg back as it was and hid the nail filer. The boy shook his head and decided to mind his business.

After another minute passed the class began to fill up one by one. The professor made it on time and began to teach the class. Azie waited and waited but there was no Jackson, which was strange to say the least.

Azie checked the time on her phone, noticing that he's just three minutes late to class.

"Okay class, I am Professor Magwell; when I call your name please notify me of your presence."

"Tony Makentoge?"

"Here." Azie glanced to the left of her to get a good look at the boy. He met her gaze before his eyes went to the stool sitting next to her.

"Azalea Moore."

"Here." She answers.

"Sasha Ann."

"Here."

"Jackson Thompson?"

No answer.

"J-Jackson Thompson?"

"Here! Here, sorry I'm late I had to kill a frog that was chasing me. Didn't want to kill the little guy but I had to. Thank God for biology am I right old man?"

Mr.Magwell did an eye roll and motioned for Jackson to find a seat.

"Just have a seat young man."

Jackson took a seat next to Azalea and instantly fell backwards. Azalea snorted and so did the Tony. She did a courtesy with her shoulder and he shook his head as he continued to stifle his laughter.

Jackson on the other hand, groaned in slight pain and surprise. He actually wasn't expecting that kind of play from Azalea.

"Young man, please stop interrupting my class. If you're going to do so then please leave, there are actual students here that want to learn."

Azalea rose her eyebrows at him, still holding that mischievous grin. Jackson glared and got up from the ground. Seeing that reaction from him made her frown.

The hell is his problem all of a sudden? She asked herself. He was just cheery when he got in so why'd he get angry at her for doing a simply highschool classic?

Jackson replaced his broken stool and eased next to her.

"Sorry sir." He says clearing his throat. Professor Magwell continued on with the list of students and she nudged him.

"You alright?" She whispers to him.

"Hm? Mhm, yeah, why wouldn't I be?" He grins.

"You looked angry."

"Oh, that was just reflex. But good comeback dearest Azie. I'll have to get you back for that."

Azie didn't know what it was that made him physically respond the way he did, but she knows it wasn't like him to do so. Not to mention how late he was before he got here.

She'll ask him about it later on tonight. However, when classes came to an end and the moon took over for the sun, he never showed up to the dorm.

??? ??'? Azie, ??? ????????

However, she never got a response. Azie set her phone down and exhaled, glancing at the empty bed across from hers.

The silence is something peculiar now that he's not here. She can only wonder if he's out partying.

"No." Azie shook her head and laid down. If he was going out to a party he'd have told her. Again she glanced over to his bed. She stared at it for a long time before she got up, heading over to it.

The girl was hesitant and there was a slight heat that washed over her. Azie, in the end, laid down in his bed. His scent instantly engulfed her brain, nearly turning it to mush.

She can only think about when he began to smell this good. His smell wasn't anything she ever paid attention to, or his features. Sure she could smell and see him and she does so everyday but actually paying attention to it all never crossed her mind.

Not until now. Azie caught herself and scuffled to her feet.

"Hell no." The girl plopped back into her bed and fell asleep soon after.