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“Whew! Another fine day of work done! Huh, Professor?” You exclaimed, entering the messy office of your dear friend.
“Oh yes! I’m just finishing up grading some tests. If you give me five more minutes, I shall be done and we can be off home.” He smiled, swivelling around in his chair briefly to acknowledge you before returning to his prior work.
Making a noise of agreement, you settle down on the comfortable orange sofa you had been accustomed to sitting on when the professor was finishing up work, whether that be a paper a student has written, or his own dissertation on what he has discovered during the adventures he has had with his young assistant. Having been working at the university for a little while now, you had slowly and surely become good friends with the Professor, with him joining you in the library during his lunch breaks if and when he gets a minute away from his classroom, and you joining him in his office in the evenings to walk home together. So you’re used to waiting in his messy office, strewn with open books used for references and papers on any conceivable surface. Except today, it isn’t quite as messy as it usually is, with books back in their proper place on the bookshelves and archaeology brushes put back into their pot.
“Rosa’s been to tidy up early, hasn’t she Professor? I thought she would’ve done it in the morning like she usually does?” You enquired, looking at a puzzle box that has been left on the coffee table while you waited. ‘Must be his newest puzzle’ I chuckled to myself as I picked up the box, fiddling with some of the interlocking pieces, not really trying to solve it, just something to stop my hands from being restless.
“Well yes, she said she wanted to do it now, as she’ll be busy next week helping with the preparations for next week’s charity gala”
“Oh yes! I completely forgot! That’s the one to raise money for the disaster relief fund right?” I asked, putting the puzzle box down and focusing my gaze instead on the back of the professor’s head. His iconic top hat perched just right on the top of his head. As I stared into space, I only then remembered an envelope in the Dean’s handwriting being left on your desk over a month ago, all black card and gold scripture. Definitely on a budget, but the fanciest invitation I had received yet.
Dear (Y/N)
I would to formally invite you to our annual charity gala, which will be held at our very own university on the 7th of March.
This year’s charity gala will be an extra special one, as we will be raising money for the Typhoon Disaster Relief Fund. All ticket revenues and revenue generated from the events held at this gala will go towards this fund in solidarity with the people of Haiti.
The events of the night will be held as below:
7:30pm - 8:00pm - Guests arrive and mingle in the receiving area
8:00pm - 9:00pm - Sit down dinner with a set menu
9:00pm - 9:45pm - Charity Auction with Art from local artists and Artefacts
9:45pm - 10:00pm - Speeches
10:00pm - 12:00am - Dancing and socialising
The back of this invite holds the set menu for this event. If you require any changes due to any dietary requirements, please let us know in advance so we can accommodate this for you.
Yours faithfully,
Dean Delmona - Dean of Gressenheller University
“Yes, that is the one, being held in the events room usually used for the student’s activities and events. Will you be attending?” He asks setting his papers aside and closing the binder in front of him. A clear sign he is done for the day.
“I had replied back to the Dean that I was going to go, even if just to support the charity aspect of the evening. I just don’t know how I will deal with the mingling section if I don’t know anyone there. I was honestly just going to go around with Rosa, but I suppose it’d be good for me to make new friends. Will you be going?” I asked, readying my bag and standing up as the professor grabs his coat from the back of his office chair and swings it onto himself.
“Oh yes, as well as raising money for a good cause, it’s also a great chance to catch up with the professors at the other universities in the district, to compare findings and notes on expeditions taken throughout the year. Shall we?” He asks, opening the door for me to walk through like he does every time we walk home together.
“A true gentleman as always. And thank goodness for that! I now know at least one person at this event” I tease, walking through as he chuckles, locking up the office behind him as we make our way back towards the front of the school.
“Well, of course, a gentleman must always put the needs of a lady first. That includes going through doors. And yes, it is always comforting to know you’ll see at least one familiar face in the crowd, isn’t it? And you won’t only know one person… you’ll know two people since the dean will be there as well.”
“Well you say that, but the dean will probably be so busy with the board of directors, the deans of the other district universities and beneficiaries, I doubt he’ll have time to seek me out specifically Layton.”
“You’d be surprised. He always makes time for his staff at these events. Especially since he likes to make sure everyone’s having a good time. You’ll see.” He finished, giving a knowing look as we turned out of the university, past the bus stop I used on my first day and down the street towards home. It only felt like yesterday was my first day here. How time flies by when you’re having fun.
“Anyway, it’ll be great to meet up outside of work for once. I know you’ve had a lot on your plate recently, and even gentlemen deserve a break now and again surely? Where was it you had just come back from again?”
“Misthallery. And yes, I suppose I have been quite busy assisting with the official police report on that incident and corresponding with Luke’s father. Perhaps this charity gala is just what I need to unwind a little.”
“Then I’ll try my best to make it a night to remember! How is Luke settling in by the way? It must be awfully strange to be so far away from his parents. And at such a young age as well.”
“He’s doing quite alright, thank you for asking. I can tell he is feeling a little homesick, but you know how the boy is; always putting on a brave face and powering through one step at a time. Besides, he has made some quite fond friends during his stay, what with yourself and Emmy having been there for him during the settling-in period.”
“Well glad I could help! Just let him know that he’s always welcome at the library, just in case you go into one of your late-night thinking sessions and he wants to talk to someone while he waits.”
“Well, I’ll certainly pass on the message. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.” He chuckles as we made our way down the embankment. The light danced on the lapping waves of the Thames as boats of tourists and cargo used the waterways to go about their business. ‘How many lives coasted across its waves a day?’ I thought to myself as we made our way. How many people had we passed on our way home that we hadn’t noticed? Where were they going?
“But enough about me, how has your work been faring? I know the student’s work has been increasing by the day. Which must mean more work for you?”
“Oh yes! The library has been having quite an increase of students coming in. It has been a little bit hectic keeping up with the returns and books being taken, But it’s been nice to be up on my feet and helping the students with whatever it is they need. It’s almost like being an assistant to the great minds of the future. Even if that does mean I have to keep going up and down the stairs, but look at the positives! It technically classes as a good workout on the job!.”
“Perhaps you too are in need of a break then.” He said, offering me a look that said he knows well about ignoring the feeling of granting yourself a break.
“Hah, perhaps I do Professor. My feet could do with the break, that’s for sure. I hope there are seats at the event past the meal portion of the night.”
“Then allow me to be on hand to make the event a well-needed break from the day-to-day.” He offered, almost in the same vein as I had done earlier on our walk home.
“Then it’s agreed, we will both try our best to make sure one another has a grand old time and keep each other in check about worrying about day-to-day life.”
“Agreed. Speaking of, I was wondering…” He trailed off.
“Yes?” I asked, prompting the man next to me to continue with his thought. It was unlike him to suddenly go quiet like that. And was that apprehension etched in his brow? And something else, something deeper. Something I couldn’t quite decipher.
“Ahem. I was wondering, since we both live in the same direction, I was wondering if you would like to go together? As you said, it’s comforting to see a familiar face in a big crowd like this event is going to draw. It might be nice to start the night in that same vein before mingling?”
“Wait really?” I asked, not really expecting that. I don’t know why I hadn’t, since we had become fast friends. But still…
“Ah, my apologies, I fear I may have been a bit presumptuous in my suggestion. I didn’t mean to put any pressure on you to come with me if you have made other plans.” He replied, a bashful laugh leaving his mouth.
“Oh, no no no! Not at all! I was only thinking I wouldn’t want to delay you getting to the event was all! But yes, if that’s alright with you and Luke, I’d love to drop around yours first before we go to the gala! It’ll be nice to see Luke and Emmy before we go anyway and…oh! We're here already?”
And before either of us were really ready to say goodnight, the two of us were already in front of the Professor’s townhouse. The green lacquer door and yellow bricks shone like gold in the sunset’s light, glinting beautifully from the windows. Our usual parting point, come too soon.
“I was sure we had another five minutes until we got here. Oh well, what conversations can do I suppose.” I chuckle, more out of embarrassment of not being aware of my surroundings rather than anything being particularly funny. Thanks fully the Professor joined in as well.
“You’re quite right. Time does fly by when in good company I suppose. Now, are you sure I can’t walk you back to your house?”
“Professor, you ask me this every time we walk home together. And I really do appreciate the sentiment, but I only live a block away from here! I’m sure I can walk myself there without any issues occurring. No need to go out of your way just for me.” I reply, walking a few paces backwards to make the point clear.
“Well, you are quite the capable person I know. In that case, I wish you a good night (Y/N)” He finishes, tipping his hat just so.
“Good night Professor. I’ll see you tomorrow then. We can talk more about our plans for the gala in the morning.” I smile, before turning on my heel and walking into the night, a slight spring in my step at the anticipation of events to come.
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As they walked off into the night like they usually did, I felt a certain… lightness envelope me. Like a weight I had unknowingly been carrying had been lifted from my shoulders. Which was strange considering I had nothing particularly grating occurring in my life currently. Apart from that… but it’s best not to dwell on the past.
“What a conversation can do…” I said quietly to myself as they finally turned the corner, leaving my line of sight. Only once they were out of sight did I turn towards home and open the doors, closing it just behind me just as a pair of feet started to pad towards me.
“Oh, Professor! Welcome back! How did your lectures go?” A familiar voice called as he made his way to the hallway, where I unburdened myself of my coat and hat.
“Quite the success my boy. I believe you were right in relating this class’s topic to our excursion would do just the trick to make the material much more uplifting and engaging. I even had some of the students ask about you from the stories I told.”
“Oh wow! Glad I could help Professor! Was that (Y/N) I saw you speaking with outside? Did she
“Sadly they couldn’t come in tonight, as they have other things to take care of this evening. But, if it’s alright with you, they would like to come round for a little while next week. For that charity event I told you about.”
“Really! Oh, I’d love to have them around! I can show them all the things I learnt at the new school and all the puzzles I’ve helped solve…Oh! And I’ve even managed to finally solve that sliding block puzzle box you left me with! Come look Professer!” He exclaimed, before rushing off back to where he came from.
Chuckling to myself, I place my shoes away in the hall and follow Luke into the living room, only half focusing on my young apprentice and his newest achievement. The other half of me wondering about the gala and the evening ahead of us.