Campus Visit by Huerto Stella

Author:Huerto, Stella [Huerto, Stella]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2012-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“YOU’RE not turning in your best work lately, Damian.”

Professor Donna Johnson, the undergraduate adviser for agriculture majors, had hair like a white haystack and glasses on a chain with little pink glass beads winking along its length. She gazed at him over their frames, resting her elbow on his university transcript, open on her desk. He’d taken four courses from her in his time here, and knew she was a tough teacher—but only because she was fair and not a pushover.

Damian lowered his gaze, watching his toes squirm in their hiking sandals. “I know. I’m… kind of scatterbrained lately. I’m sorry.”

“I bet I know what the problem is.” She sounded dryly amused.

Damian’s heart ricocheted against his ribs. What would he say if she guessed correctly—that he had a new romantic interest distracting him day and night? Even if they were still technically just friends, Damian’s level of obsession had reached a point that rivaled any of his “real” relationships. He kept trying not to think about what that meant.

He swallowed against his constricted throat, looking at Professor Johnson.

“Senioritis,” she proclaimed. “Ready to get out of here and join the real world. Enough of classes, already. Am I right?”

Damian relaxed a bit, and pulled in a breath. “I guess so. I’m definitely distracted about, you know, the future.”

For example, whether Alex would be offered that Swiss job. They’d find out by the end of May, just a week away now. Alex had been invited to interview via video chat last week, and apparently it went fabulously. He’d been nearly bouncing up and down in excitement when he arrived in Fresno last weekend to see Damian. His first fifteen minutes of conversation had bubbled over with the boating, hiking, skiing, multi-linguistic practice, and historic sightseeing available in Lausanne, where the software company was based. Damian had been ready to get on a plane with him that very day. If only it were that simple.

Alex had gotten a haircut for the interview, and though Damian had expected to miss his shaggy locks, he’d been surprised how handsome Alex looked with a proper trim. His straight bangs framed his symmetrical eyebrows and bared his cheekbones and beautiful mouth and ears, all so ripe for the nibbling… which of course Damian had done at the first opportunity….

Professor Johnson clapped the file folder shut and swiveled her chair toward him. “Well, it’s only exams and term papers now, and I imagine you’ll still graduate, even if you pull a couple of B’s or, God forbid, C’s. Then it’s, what? Back to the orchards to tell your folks the modern way of doing things?”

Still feeling traces of his shiver of desire, Damian formed a smile. “I’m not sure they’d stand for that. But I’ll go back and help.”

“And your other major? Art? Going to complete all the credits there?”

He nodded. “Just talked to my adviser over there yesterday. As long as I get the final projects in, it’ll be all right.”

But as he shook the professor’s hand and walked back to his apartment under the sizzling sun, anxiety dive-bombed his brain.

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