01

Marie came to a halt when she reached her correct classroom number, double checking the schedule pulled up on her phone. Stuffing the device back into the pocket of her jeans, she pushed open the door to the lecture hall, which was small but still relatively spacious. It could easily hold around 50 students, which was nothing compared to the larger lectures the student had attended earlier in the day. Being a couple minutes early on the first day of class, there were a decent number of students sprawled amongst the seats.

The student took her seat in the third row closest to the chalkboard, removing her computer from her book bag and setting it down beside her. Before she even got the chance to fully settle in, a bubbly voice erupted next to her.

« Hey, can I grab this seat ? » The girl asked, motioning to the seat next to Marie.

Marie, slightly stunned at the abrupt interaction, responded. « Yeah, of course. »

She replied before looking up and eventually rolling her eyes, earning a laugh from Ashly, who was most definitely not a stranger. The two students had bonded over the atrocity that was their American comparative politics class the past semester.

Marie couldn’t help but look over the girl’s extraordinary looks. She had layered blonde locks that cascaded down her entire back and tortoise-shell frames that accentuated her heart-shaped face, with soft and elegantly freckled skin. Everything contrasted the other student’s long black waves and medium-tan olive skin tone.

« Thank God you’re in this with me, «  Ashly began to say, settling down into her seat. « Now that we’re seniors, my motivation for school is almost non-existent. I mean, I barely passed calculus last semester. »

« You know you’re going to medical school after this, » Marie kindly pointed out. She was more than aware her friend was over exaggerating. Ashly Meredith Harmon was probably one of the smartest girls at the university with her 4.0 GPA and laundry list of extracurriculars.

« After my gap year ! » Ashly quipped back. « I still need to retake the MCAT, get my recommendation letters together, and – Oh, God. »

Suddenly, a young gentleman made a beeline for the seat next to the beautiful blonde.

« Caleb… seriously, you’re in this class ? » she remarked in annoyed disbelief. Marie stayed quiet, absorbing the scene. With a slightly oversized hoodie and beanie, she already came to the stoner-frat boy conclusion.

« Yes and you owe me, Ashly, » Caleb said, plopping down in the seat next to her. « I’m the only reason you passed calculus last semester and I don’t do this psychology bullshit. Help me out and we’ll even the score. »

Ashly looked over to Marie apologetically, as if remorseful for the scene that just unfolded.

Caleb leaned forward slightly to see past Ashly, giving a lopsided smile. « I’m Caleb. »

Marie nodded in acknowledgement. « Marianna but my friends call me Marie. »

She mentally hesitated at the term ‘friends’. Most of the people she met in her first year of college didn’t stick around. Most of the girls joined sororities and others were only out of the convenience of having the same classes. While Marie never feared solitude, often finding peace in it, she was grateful to be meeting new people. Now in her senior year, the student’s mind was on one thing – graduating and then moving out.

As for her name, only her parents used her full name – and she kept it that way.

« Muh-ree. I like it. » Caleb repeated with a smile. He already had whipped out his computer and was swiftly typing and editing a written-up document on his screen.

« That’s due in 3 minutes, » Ashly hissed, slapping Caleb on the shoulder, only provoking a chuckle.

« Hey, hey, it’s all good… I just gotta save and submit… »

Caleb somehow managed to save the file and upload it in a record time that Marie had ever witnessed. The assignment wasn’t too difficult – just an explanation of why the student took this class and a general understanding of abnormal psychology.

Ashly sighed. « I don’t know how much I can help you out. I’ve heard this professor is really tough. »

Caleb nodded. « A friend of mine said he didn’t give out a single ‘A’ last semester. »

« Really ? » Marie responded in disbelief. Damn.

« But we’re all seniors here, right ? » Caleb pointed out. « We just gotta pass, graduate, and get the hell out of here. »

« You know, I’ve also heard he’s very… »

Ashly’s voice trailed off as the door to the classroom opened.

Not many people could command a room to silence with just their presence. Expensive shoes hit the floor, each step exuding dominance and echoing in the room. Marie only had to move her head a little to see the man walking down the aisle towards the front of the room.

The black slacks and dark dress shirt he wore only accentuated his tall, well-built frame as he made his way to the podium in demanding strides.

Most in the room – girls and boys alike – were ogling the professor’s beauty that would make God or Gods of any religion gasp, from his defined cheekbones to his chiseled jaw emphasize by a trimmed scruff. Everything was easy on the eyes. His brown round glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose complemented his lazy, warm-brunette waves which were effortlessly styled away from his face. If Marie had to put a number on it, she’d estimate the professor was anywhere from his late twenties to thirties. She had never seen a more objectively handsome man.

But that’s not what mesmerized the young student. No, it was the aurora of sheer command the man carried with him. Marie knew this man never asked for anything in his life – he dictated it.

Long gone was the simple giddiness of having an attractive professor. Marie was thoroughly enamored. Curious.

The student mentally cursed herself as her thoughts took a darker turn. She knew her therapist would have something to say about it, who was more than aware of Marie’s self-destructive tendencies regarding sex and commitment.

Marie definitely didn’t need to spiral into an episode of self-reflection at the moment, so she refocused her attention to the front of the room.

The professor removed his glasses and gracefully tossed them onto the podium. The class was silent, waiting for him to speak.

« Good afternoon. This is psychology twenty-two hundred, the study of deviant behavior. I’m Professor Nathaniel Dameron. Dr. Dameron is also fine, «  His modulated, deep voice resonated within the walls of the room with ease. « Now, I know half the class is here to just pass. The other half are actually up for the challenge. »

The sound of uneasy students shifting in their seats filled the air. Marie saw a glimmer of a smirk appear on the professor’s face in response to the discomfort.

Marie blinked. She must’ve imagined that.

Professor Dameron continued. « This class will require a significant amount of your time and effort. We will delve into, study, and explore the human psyche. This class will go beyond textbook readings and psychological definition. I want all of you to bring your own analysis and thoughts. That’s the true study of psychology. »

The rest of the class proceeded as most first-day-of-classes go. Dr. Dameron went through the syllabus of the class, dates for midterms, and books needed – one being a textbook he co-authored himself.

Looking around, Marie could tell this wasn’t what some students expected and she figured she wouldn’t be seeing them next class.

The professor continued into an introduction to abnormal psychology, both its modern study but also its dark past of stigmatization and scrutiny. Marie could listen to the man talk about anything, so much so that an hour had flown by in a second.

« I believe that’s all I intended on covering today. See everyone Wednesday. You’re all dismissed. » Professor Dameron promptly concluded, relocating back to the podium and desk set up to his right.

« I’m fucked, » Caleb grumbled, lugging his backpack over his shoulder.

« Hopefully I’ll see you both here Wednesday, » Ashly said, insinuating either Caleb or Marie would drop the class by then.

Before the three of them could exchange contact information or parting words, a sharp voice called out that almost put a stop to Marie’s heart.

« Marianna Mor. »

The student turned her head towards the voice, making direct eye contact with her professor. He motioned for her with a slight tilt of his head.

« See you guys Wednesday, » Marie breathily muttered to her new friends, wondering what the professor could possibly want from her.