In honor, of those changes, I thought I would share a short story for your entertainment. Comments, questions, and critiques are all welcome.
MASTERS IN LOVE
Lexie contemplated her last project for class. Two
more weeks and she would finally have her MA in English.
Eric walked past her table then. She tried not to
let his appearance interrupt her. She couldn’t afford any distractions.
He worked for a local tax firm, and would graduate
this semester as well, but with an MBA. Like her, he had returned to school
after more than ten years in the work force.
Since the college was small, most of the graduate students
knew each other. They often shared meals, and stories, in a mutual show of
support and stress relief.
She liked Eric, and often wondered why he was
single. “Workoholic,” he once answered when a friend inquired. Yet, at a recent
gathering, he confessed he was once engaged.
“She changed her mind. That was two years ago,” he
explained with a shrug before finishing his coffee.
Lexie often thought about his blues eyes, his easy
going demeanor, and wondered what type of woman captured his attention. For her
own sanity, she tried not to linger on those thoughts. Unfortunately, they
frequently battled her concentration.
Three years ago she broke up with Steve, quit her
job and returned to school the next semester. Lexie didn’t need the distraction
of any further heartache. Or a repeat of the shame she had felt planning a
wedding that never occurred.
“Steve and I were together for four years before we
broke up.” She had volunteered to Eric. She supposed it was some selfish intent
to believe she could ease any awkwardness he felt about his own failed
relationship.
Even now she blushed, remembering the look he had
given her after her admission. How silly to think he would need her sympathy,
or understanding. Luckily, the arrival of another friend to the table had
interrupted whatever he might have said.
Lexie balled her fists, and fought the urge to look across
the library in search of him now. Her last glimpse showed him in the reference
section, but then he moved to the next isle. It couldn’t hurt to glance in that
direction.
She lifted her gaze from the book. He was gone. She
quickly scanned the isles in front of her table, and tried to see between the
shelves to the next rows… nothing.
Foolish
distraction, she muttered to herself. Instead of
returning to her work, she let out a long exasperated sigh before lowering her
head to the table.
“Bad day?”
She jumped, her head whipping around to face navy
eyes, and a lazy grin.
“Ummm,” she couldn’t confess her preoccupation with
him. However, she could think of nothing else to say. It’s like I’m in junior high, instead of a grown adult.
After a moment of silence, his smile faded and he
began to back away. “Sorry to bother you.”
“No,” her hand shot out to grasp his arm. When he
glanced down at her fingers, she let go before continuing. “It’s just that you
surprised me, and I’ve been distracted lately. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“It’s ok. I guess we are all under a little stress
trying to finish the semester. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you
about.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I thought maybe a celebratory dinner would be
in order for the day before graduation.”
“The day before?”
“Well, yeah. We’ll be done with everything, ready to
unwind, but friends and family won’t be expecting to celebrate with us until
the next day.”
“Yeah, that sounds great,” her shoulders sank, and
she forced a smile. After they graduated, there would be nothing in common. No
occasion she might see him again.
“Great. Franco’s
at eight?”
“Sure, I’ll be there.
The next two weeks passed quickly. Lexie completed
her final project, and conducted a last successful meeting with her professors.
She was completing enough requirements to receive both a MA and a MFA at
graduation.
She arrived at Franco’s
a little late, expecting the table to be full of the usual crowd
celebrating the end of the semester. Instead, she saw only Eric.
Before she could ask about the others, he rose to
greet her with a single red rose.
“Congratulations.” He leaned in to give her a hug.
The gesture caught her off guard, and her knees nearly buckled when his lips
touched her ear as he whispered, “I’m so proud of you. Two degrees at once -
you put the rest of us to shame.”
“Thank you.”
He pulled back without letting go, and let his hands
move down her arms to grasp both of hers.
“I was hoping you might be a little less distracted
now, and have some time for me?”
“Didn’t you know?”
“What?”
“You were the distraction.” And maybe those weren’t
so bad after all.
