Assignment (Nance, Savy)

[Lovely]

Name: Robert Robin Nance Aliases: Nance played by: Tripp likeness used: Sean Bean

_______________

Name: Savanah Melody Aliases: Vana, Savy played by: Lovely likeness used: Megan Fox

[Lovely]

Febuary 9, 2009
University


There was an 'F' on the paper she'd worked hard to write and she stared at the grade.

~Come see me to discuss~ written at the top of her paper.

*waits till everyone else has left after class and strolls almost shyly up to his desk, paper in hand, her bag on her shoulder. "Excuse me.. you wanted to see me?" points to message on the paper near her horrible grade, which she didn't understand at all.

"Have a seat Miss Melody." He looked at her, nearly through her as she stood at the edge of his desk. Given the direction, he waited for her to be seated again and turned to clear the board of the hour's notes, taking the erasure at a painfully leisurely pace while she waited. He spoke over his shoulder. "You've been in my class nearly a year already. What can you tell me about your paper, hm?"

She sat down and waited while he took his time erasing the board. His question surprised her and pissed her off a little. "That you read it with your eyes closed." She muttered under her breath, glaring at his back. "It wasn't an F paper, not saying I deserved an A plus, but it was well put together and might even be considered thought provoking."

"Whose thoughts were you trying to provoke?" He chuckled, turning only a little before beginning to put down notes for the next class. "I suggest you pay more attention to what I'm teaching you, not what you've been daydreaming about, Savannah. Or do you want to pass this class?"

"I thought the point was for you to give us the knowledge and for us to go further with it?" She countered with a pout and a set to her jaw, determination mixed with the ire of failing and now having it rubbed in her face when she shouldn't have gotten and F to begin with. She'd worked her butt off on the paper and had even been proud of it when she'd read the finished product. Had she expected an 'A+' ? No, but she'd expected to get a decent grade on it.

"The point..," he emphasized with a crack of the chalk as he ended a sentence on the board and turned back to lean over his desk. "Is to do the assignment. You did not do the assignment. If you want to go further with your career here and if you want to go further with the information being taught here, do it in another class, not mine. If you intend to still pass this class, you're going to have to follow a few simple steps. You're to spend an hour of your social time here, going back over every assignment and rewriting this paper from the beginning, is that clear?"

"What?!" The exclaimation flew out of her mouth before she could stop it and the look of shock registered on her face. She just sat there after that trying to get something to come out of her damn mouth but she was so flabbergasted that her mouth was moving and her hand was gesturing but there was no sound.

"Vana!" The shout came from the door and the young man in his lovely letterman's jacket motioned a 'let's go' and tapped his watch. When she waved him off he scoffed and gave both her and the teacher a dirty look. "Fine, but I'm not waiting, you'll have to find your own ride home." With that he stalked off.

Professor Nance grinned slightly as the no-neck scurried away. His attention was drawn back to the girl who was now quite alone. "So I assume now you'll pay attention? And you'll need a way home? Miss Melody, my intention is to see you excel. So far this term, I haven't seen it. I want to see you do better," he sighed as he came around the front of the desk, taking a seat in the chair beside her. "I want you to do whatever is necessary to pass this class."

She sighed and leaned back in the chair, bringing her hands up to rub her temples as her eyes closed for a moment. "Professor.. no offence but you have no idea what my life is like." Her hands dropped and she turned a nearly annoyed look at him. "I just want to pass this class.. I'd love to be able to excel and be a star student. I just don't have the time for it. I bust my ass and do the best that I can on every assignment. What more do you want from me? What more can I possibly do to pass this class? since your opinion of all my efforts are that they suck."

"Is that my opinion?" He appeared shocked and slightly amused now, chuckling a little as he leaned an arm on the seat. "Perhaps your perception and your assessment are the problem, hm? When have I said your efforts... 'suck'? You do no less than a very good job when you're not even trying, but I don't see you trying. Why don't you spend the next hour telling me why you don't have the time, since now... that you've been left behind... you seem to have the time."

"Unbelievable." She whispered, closing her eyes against a sudden wave of angry frustrated tears that she blinked away. She took a deep breath and flexed her hands. "What? You think I was running of for a little date or some fun at the mall or maybe even just the backseat?" Her voice was slightly clipped and sarcastic. "You want to know why, really want to know why I don't have more time to devote to my studies, to this class, as much as I'd love to? Cause you know what, I would.. I love this class.. I can't. I don't even get to see him more than once a week." She gestured toward the door and the guy who'd left her behind. "..and when he does get to take me out I fall asleep and drool on his pretty jacket at the movies or I'm the one who actually goes upstairs to sleep without being piss drunk at the frat house. We fight because he thinks I'm cheating on him because I'm too exhausted to.. that's not your business, but anyway it doesn't seem to compute in his tiny little mind that I work double and triple shifts, go to classes and bust my a** doing my work for those classes which leaves me too exhausted to do anything and what time do I have to do it in? I'm here on a scholarship, and not a big one, I have rent to pay and a piece of crap car to try to keep on the road, which right now it isn't.. I have to eat.. " She finally wound down and leaned on her legs, looking over at him. "I apologise for sort of exploding all that out.. none of it matters. I need to pass this class or I lose that scholarship. So.. whatever you need me to do, I'll do it.. I'll find a way. You want me to rewrite the paper, I'll rewrite the paper." Her voice was softer, almost defeated, but with a spark of life in it that said she meant it.

"That's exactly what I was after," he murmured, leaning closer. "That fight is what I don't see on page one or page two or page five. If you put that sort of passion into the time you spend here, I don't see a problem with passing this class at all."

She laughed softly, rubbing her temples again and looking at her shoes as she did. "Sure.. I'll tell my boss and my landlord I have to work less because I need more energy to give me enough passion to satisfy my professor.. I'm sure they'll go for it.. "

He watched her silently a moment, the grin frozen though he seemed to be deep in thought. "You do have a point. They probably won't understand, but I think you do," he nodded, still leaning close and speaking quietly. "And you do need to eat. I'll give you a ride home. What would you like for dinner?"

Maybe she'd gotten it a moment ago but now she was confused, Savanah slowly lifted and turned her head to face him. "What?" She shook her head a little. "I appreciate you giving me a ride home but.. dinner?"

"You're upset which means you can't focus on your project, so we'll start fresh tomorrow. You appear to understand your assignment quite clearly now, though merely 'satisfactory' won't be enough for me... you -do- understand what I'm asking, don't you?"

She stared at him, her eyes narrowing and her expression clouding as she shook her head and then nodded it. "You want me to rewrite the paper?" She said slowly as if hesitating and thinking of saying something different.

"How badly do you want to keep that scholarship?" She'd missed the point it seemed and he was about to be quite blunt about it. "Try again, Miss Melody."

"It.. it's the only chance I have for any decent.. anything.. it's not wanting.. I need to keep that scholarship." Her gaze washed over him and she found herself swallowing a bit hard, her teeth nipping at the inside of her lower lip. "You want me to focus more on..." She trailed off as one thought came to her head, but he.. no.. he couldn't mean that.

He sighed, seemingly exasperated with her and her performance. "Consider everything you've just said and what I've told you. You still have forty five minutes to find the answer, but I think you know it. If you want to keep your grade and your scholarship, I'm sure you do. An hour after every class I will expect your complete and undivided attention."

Her jaw dropped, no words came again and she nearly did cry, it took quite an effort to blink it back this time. After a few moments with her head tipped down and getting her breathing semi normal she glanced up toward him again. "You.. you want me.. to.. " She gestured toward him, she couldn't say what she was thinking. "I.. I can't.. I.. my job.. I.. if I'm with you.. an hour.. I.. I'll lose my job.." She was stammering a little, not neccesarily meaning to speak to him, but more letting her thoughts tumble out. "I can't even with.." She pointed toward the door and the long gone boyfriend. ".. how am I supposed to.. with.. you?"

"Then I suppose that means you'll have more time to think about why you lost your money and your opportunity to graduate. Think about it... hard. Oh and I wouldn't go mentioning it to anyone, especially considering your boyfriend's already shaking standing on the team. Unlike you, he can't rely on intelligence to get by."

"If I lose my job, I lose my apartment, I can't eat, I can't buy my books.. which means my scholarship.. is nothing anyway.. " She said softly, timidly without as much bite, her head shaking and her jaw setting as she stood up. "Apparently I can't rely on intelligence to get by either." That comment had more bite to it as she glared at him.

"Gives you something to consider then, doesn't it? Oh, and the hour a day is just for this one paper. If you want to pass the others, I'm afraid that's going to cost you even more," he advised, seeming to enjoy watching how she squirmed.

Her mouth dropped a little and she gasped in disbelief. "..going to cost.. what? what more could you want?"

"What more? Plenty of things. Starting with axing your no-neck so-called boyfriend."

Her jaw tightened and her chin tipped slightly defiantly. "Why?" She licked at her lips, glaring at him a little. "..and plenty of things? So like you have a list? Should I write it down so I don't forget anything?"

"Because starting tonight, you'll have even less time than before, since you're adding another two hours improving your attitude... in addition to the one hour... after every class."

"Three hours!?" She exclaimed, her eyes opening wide. "Three hours.. I.. that's bull shit!" She so wanted to just walk out on him, but she didn't.. why didn't she? Her chest heaved slightly in angry breaths.

"So is a failing grade when you agree you deserve better, isn't it?" He smiled, tapping his pen on the desk before sliding it behind his ear. "I only want to see you excel, Savannah. Mediocre excuses stand in your way. Not enough time? Too tired, too lazy, too many demands. I'm trying to help you. What can I do for you? Is it only a matter of rent? A working car? Something more than ketchup in your refrigerator and mono-syllabic conversation with a man more intimate with a dead pig than he is with you? What I want is to give you everything you need to get where you should be, but... like everything, that takes a little bit of work on your part, doesn't it?"

"I'm not lazy." She defended and pouted quietly for a few moments. She didn't argue with the rest of what he said because despite his sleaze, he was right on the rest. "It's all those things, except the lazy part." She folded her arms, looking down rather than up at him, hating to admit he was right and hating even more that he was and that he had the control over her. "Fine. whatever.." She said softly, tilting her chin again and finally bringing her gaze up, ice in her eyes. "I'll break up with him.. happy now?"

He leaned back finally, looking her over as he stood up and returned to his own desk. "Almost. You still haven't told me what you want for dinner. You'll need to keep your strength up, won't you?"

"I'm not really hungry." She said quietly looking away as he got up and moved. She didn't want to look at him or wonder what he looked like when he wasn't.. dressed. She was going to have to see him and.. it was hard not to wonder, but that led to thinking about what she had to do and that made her stomach tighten and her cheeks heat up. Three hours a day.. break up with her boyfriend.. and he hadn't said that was all he wanted. She wondered what else there was on his mind and list of 'demands'. She was going to have to figure out something with work, she had no idea what or how she was going to manage it.

"That's alright. You can take it home for breakfast. You do still need to get home, don't you?" He was fishing something from his case while filing the day's papers away including hers. It was clearly a checkbook and he was opening it to fill one out. "I don't want you to think you're not independent and free-willed, Vana. Can I call you Vana? Maybe Savy... you are savvy, aren't you? How much will it take to fix your car? You'll need it."

She stared at him, confused once again by his words and actions. "My friends call me Vana.. so no, you can't call me that." She tried to be tough about it but it didn't come out as harsh as she'd wanted it to. Her eyes rested on his hands and the checkbook he held. "What are you doing?"

"Buying you time and freedom? You'll need to quit one of your jobs to concentrate on your study and your time here," he said, matter-of-factly though not cold. "If you do that, you can't fix your car, like you said. I'm not unsympathetic and you'll need your car starting next week. How much?"

She crossed, uncrossed, and then recrossed her legs before she answered him. "They said at least seventeen hundred." Savana told him with a sigh and started chewing her lip. "You're really serious.. not that I thought you were joking about all this but.. you really want me to quit? I have to break up with my boyfriend.. and devote an hou.. three hours to you. You're going to pay for my car and want to buy me dinner?"

"I told you, there's plenty of things I want," he chuckled, focusing on the paper as he scribbled out a larger sum than she'd rattled off. He tore out the check and folded it, holding it out to her. "And something a little more wholesome than ketchup," he grinned.

"Yes you did.. but you haven't told me what they are yet." She replied softly, reaching to take the check from him. "Thank you." Sleaze or not, she did need the money and the car and she was grateful for the help. She shifted her bag to put the check away and glanced at the amount, doing a double take. "I.. um.. this is for.." She gestured and looked back at him as if he couldn't have written it for that much over on purpose.

"A new start," he shrugged, folding his arms on the desk. "A loan to get on your feet, get some real food, a nice dress and shoes," he said, seeming to read into a woman's psyche that they were all about fashion and flash, or that he was simply teasing since he had no control over how she'd really spend it. He suspected she was true to her word, however, and would worry about her car first. "Now that's out of the way... you have two hours to discuss how we're going to improve your grade."

"I don't need a new dress or shoes, but thank you just the same." She was nearly insulted that he'd suggest she'd be frivolous with the money. Whatever was left after the car would be put into her savings and touched as little as possible. She didn't have any intention of going 'crazy' with it even on food. She put the check away and set her bag down by her feet. "Would you give me a few minutes? I need to go use the pay phone to call work."

He shook his head, silently saying 'aaah, no' as he pulled out his cell phone for her to use instead. He didn't want her wandering off just yet. " You can stay here. I don't mind at all." He set the phone on the edge of the desk and turned his attention back to the assignments on the board.

"Oh.. of course, you have a cell phone." She said with a slight chuckle over that fact as she didn't have one herself, that was a luxury she couldn't afford to indulge in. "Thank you." She said again as she picked it up gingerly, hoping it was simple to use otherwise she was going to cry. At least she knew her work number by heart and punching it in wasn't hard. She got up and walked away from the desk as her boss picked up and she tried to explain that she wouldn't be in today. It obviously didn't go over well as she argued a little and pleaded and finally just told him that she was failing a class and her teacher had pretty much ordered her to redo all the assignments and get a tutor.. after a few more minutes of ass kissing and such, she hung up with a sigh. She was really hating life at the moment and she still had to go face professor get in her pants and find out what else he expected her to do. A few deep breaths and she turned around with a small smile in case he happened to be watching. "All set.. I think."

He was done with scribbling on the board and was filing a few more papers away, looking up as she finished the call. "Good. We're going now."

[Lovely]

She was a little surprised but in a way it wasn't unexpected, she really didn't think their whole arrangement was going to take place here. "Oh... okay.. um, here." She held out the phone to him as she leaned down to grab the strap of her bag. "Where are we going?"

"Dinner, home and rest," he reiterated for the cliff's notes version, though not sounding annoyed in repeating it this time. "Much of what we have to discuss, should be done privately."

Savanah nodded, damn it he was right again and not being a jerk about it. Damn him, why couldn't he just be sleazey and stay that way? This half slime ball half nice guy crap was really messing with her head. "Right.. of course." She gave a small weak smile, shouldered her bag and motioned for him to lead the way.

"I don't bite, Savannah," he said quietly, closing his case and sliding his phone back in his pocket as he led her out of the room. "Get the lights and the door. We'll forget this place until tomorrow. For now, there are better things to think about."

"Too bad at least that would make it interesting." She murmured at his biting comment, but her smart though quiet remark faded away at his last comment. Maybe for him, but she wasn't so sure it was for her. "Got it." She spoke a little louder, intending him to hear her this time as she got the lights and pulled the door closed behind them. She stepped up beside him, almost a real smile peeked out. He wasn't calling her Vana and she was glad, keeping it more formal.. that was good.

The drive had been nearly silent except his humming to some of the songs on the radio. He was in good spirits and occassionally turned to her to make sure she wasn't going to jump out of the car at the street corner. The neighborhood he drove toward was a dense part of town where the larger houses and older trees were, where the distinguished and aspiring lived. Nance pulled into the drive of one such large home with its manicured landscaping and brass and terra-cotta trim that was polished and earthy, comfortable and exquisite, down to the wrought iron accents on the porch where ivy stretched and languished. He shut the engine off and sat there with her a moment, taking each of these steps slowly so he wouldn't frighten her.

Savy had spent the drive silent, trying not to let the fear and other emotions drown her. She was not going to break down in front of him, not ever. She looked out the window and down at her hands that were folded in her lap, down at her bag at her feet and every now and then at the man driving. He hummed, he smiled, he didn't talk either.. he was so confusing. She'd half expected him to be trying to maul her in the car or at least get his hand up her skirt... he didn't. Then they pulled into a driveway and she looked up at the house, she couldn't help the way her mouth parted in a silent gasp of surprise. She was awed by the house and by his behavior and couldn't say anything at the moment.

"Well the food is making me hungry, how about you? Any appetite? Come inside and I'll show you around. Okay?" Nance smiled warmly and got out of the car, coming around to open her door for her. He didn't expect her to be ecstatic and follow him with giggles and cuddles, but he seemed to be treating her as if she might.

"It's really up to you what we do, isn't it?" She said quietly as she got out of the car, again surprised by his manners and how he got the door for her. "I'm not hungry." She added quietly, trying not to be confrontational, hoping maybe.. maybe she could get out of this somehow.

His admission was caught in the frown as he shrugged a little. "I suppose it might be, but you do have a few choices. How about red or white? You strike me as a wine girl, maybe chablis?"

"Well there you go again, assuming you know anything about me." She bit her lip a moment after the words slipped past. She looked past his shoulder and tried not to let it show that she wasn't in total control of herself, even if she wasn't and he really had the upper hand. "Never had either.."

"I'm not exactly a connoisseur myself," he laughed a little, leading her to the door. "More a beer-and-pizza guy, Saturday game, maybe go down to the stadium and watch the rookies. Popcorn... ," he said almost dreamily, letting her more into his casual life outside the classroom she knew too well. "Anyway, you can have whatever you like."

"Mixed fruity drinks with those clever names.." She admitted and blushed a little, following him into the house. "Pizza and the rest is much more my style.. " She cleared her throat softly and told herself to shut up, she wasn't here to make friends. "I'm not hungry or anything.. I don't want anything.. thank you." She added more politely, trying to disengage from getting personal with him.

"Alright. Would you humor me with a drink of some kind to help you relax?" He closed the door behind her and tossed his keys in a brass bowl by the telephone. He sifted through the pile of mail from the floor and dropped the envelopes beside the bowl before taking his coat off to put on the tree and offered to take hers.

"You can drink whatever you want, it's your house." It was a slight tease as she bought herself a moment. She reluctantly let him take her coat, finding she didn't want to loose that protection from his view. She never thought of herself as dressing like a tramp but suddenly felt like the cute outfit she was wearing was too tight, too short, too revealing. She gave a nervous smile and clasped her hands together wishing her skirt went to the floor instead of ending mid thigh.

"I'll pour you something and you drink it or not," he said, not to be daunted. He tried to put his arm around her shoulder and walk with her into the large living room, bringing the bag with their dinner, his dinner at least, to the dining table. The space was immaculate, lacking clutter or disarray. "Welcome to my home, Savannah."

She reached up but stopped herself from shoving his arm off her. She pretended to just be brushing some hair from her face and then dropped her hand to her side, walking with him to the living room. "You have a very nice home... professor." She added the last, a small slight with a tiny daring smile, her sharp eyes on him.

He turned away, letting go, a little dismayed that she'd stay so formal when he was trying to keep things civil and friendly. "Please call me Robin?" He smiled as he asked, offering her a seat at the table that he pulled out for her.

"I thought your name was Robert?" She asked with a curious expression as she moved over to the table, but she stopped before sitting. She wanted to outright ask him what the hell he wanted from her, what he expected her to do but she was worried what his answer would be. She looked at him and at the chair and gently folded down into it. "Thank you, Robin."

"Robert for those who don't know me so well, Robin for a select few. Thank you," he nodded in return. He opened the bag and pulled out their dinner which was cooling quickly. He was losing interest in it while getting hungrier for other things.

She wasn't sure what to say to him, there were quite a few things she wanted to say, wanted to ask.. she couldn't help that the curiosity about him was growing within her. "Alright.. I guess I'm special then. You're a very confusing man, you know that?" She tried but she just couldn't hold back and play the shy timid girl, even if she did feel that way sometimes. Savy crossed and uncrossed her legs a few times, feeling a bit nervous and wondering what was going on in his head. "I may even like you if I can get past the.. not so nice parts."

[Lovely]

He chuckled, looking up to watch her shift uncomfortably. "I teach history, of course I'm confusing. It's getting cold," he muttered, holding up one of the boxes, then setting hers down for her. He left his as it was and moved behind her chair. "Guess it doesn't matter, though, whether we eat or not. Could reheat it after an hour or two." He rested his hands on her shoulders and gently kneaded,

"Right.." There was not really much for her to say and she really didn't feel like she could eat. She just sat there looking at the food he placed in front of her, she'd told him she wasn't interested in food. "I won't be he..." As soon as he touched her she tensed up more, she couldn't help it and didn't feel relaxed or comfortable. Savy wanted to push his hands off her and run for the door, she reminded herself what was at stake and remained in the chair. He seemed to be trying to be nice to her and the confusion was only growing everytime he did something new - whether 'mean' or nice. "Please stop.."

He stopped kneading but pulled his hands down her shoulders, leaning close enough she could smell a faint cologne. "You will be here.. long enough," he reminded, insisted, pulling her hair back over her shoulder.

She didn't say anything at first, wanting to slap him for taunting her and her jaw tensed as she sat there, her breath a bit heavier with her anger. She felt him move her long hair over her shoulder and then his warm breath from how closely he hovered, she could smell his cologne! "I'll be here exactly.." She looked at her watch and reached to set the timer on it, subtracting the time from when they had left the classroom. "..that long.. and I don't want your food. I'll eat later - after I'm home and I've disinfected myself."

He reached for the watch to reset it. "Plus a half hour for your insubordination, Savannah. And another for your tone. There's a sweet girl in there who's smart, that's whose company I want. Not the girl with the smart mouth."

Her breath was considerably more aggitated as she sat there, her hands clenching into fists for a moment before she reached to push his hands away from her. "You're a vile jerk.. you're a pig! You're blackmailing me and I have to be nice to you? Fine.. I'll.. whatever! Just as long as you know You disgust me!" She lashed out at him in a fit of angry words and to think for awhile she'd actually thought he was attractive.. his class had been her favorite! "So.. professor.. what interesting topic would you like to discuss now?"

[Lovely]

He stepped around her and leaned against the table beside her, folding his arms disapprovingly. "You. And add another hour - I intend to be incredibly detailed in that discussion," he said, a slight shake of his head as he held back any other reaction to her words.

She folded her arms as well, though for her it was an extention of the pout that had fixed upon her normally sweet face. Savy didn't look at him directly for a few moments, she was trying to bite her tongue and only glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Finally after a short silence she licked at her lips and brought her gaze back to him. "So four hours a day?" She purposely said a number that was lower than what she'd 'added on' since the start of this whole thing, maybe he wouldn't catch it or hadn't been keeping track. Savy had been and she was starting to realize she was digging herself deeper but damn it he got her riled up. "I still think you're a jerk." She muttered mostly under her breath but he was close enough he probably couldn't miss it.

"You've just earned another hour for me to tutor you in addition as well, hm? One and one makes for a happier teacher.. that's your first lesson," he teased darkly. He unfolded and put his hand in front of her on the edge of the table, leaning himself closer to her cheek. "How you learn that lesson is going to be up to you."

"Damn it." She whispered, not only had he been keeping track - he'd been paying attention to her comments. He was leaning closer and there was no where for her to shift to escape and though his voice was quiet his words sank into her like a threat. In honesty he was being much more decent than she expected someone would in this kind of situation. "What are my options?" She asked, nearly afraid of what his reply might be, she licked at her lips again, the smell of his faded cologne was stronger like this... it was a nice scent.

"Your options are very limited. You know that. All you need to do is put a smile on my face. To do that... you know how I think, you've been in my class long enough," he said, backing off to take his seat at the table. "Use what you know. It's not a written test. It's going to be a full presentation for the class," he said, leaning back casually, comfortably hooking his arm behind the chair back.

Her eyes widened and she stared at him in shock as for a moment she thought he meant to put her on display for the actual class with whatever they'd be doing here. She swallowed as she reasoned that he couldn't mean that, right? He meant just here.. and what he wanted from her.. that wasn't exactly very comforting but it was better than what she'd first thought. She leaned forward and rested her arms on the edge of the table, her gaze dropped and she gently pushed her still untasted food away from her, her stomach did a small flip flop and she knew there was no chance of eating anything. Part of her reasoned she should try but she was sure if she did she'd probably throw up and knowing her luck he'd get pissed and just tack on more time to teach her that throwing up was bad. Her head started to shake a little, she still couldn't believe this was happening. "Thing is.. I don't know. I have no idea how to.. what it is you really want and my head is just spinning. Any chance you'll just tell me.. or at least where to start?"

"Start by using your mouth for something sweeter than the words you've been using. Then you might not feel quite so green as you look," he said, observing the pale expression as she pushed the food aside. "Then you relax. If you're not going to eat, then we'll go light on drinks. Then... we talk."

"If the circumstances were different I might not feel this way." She countered with less bite and more of a simply saying it like it was tone. She sighed softly and slowly nodded her head, looking down at the top of the table for a moment before looking up to him. "I'll try to refrain from.. being.." The problem was she felt she had every right to be nasty to him considering the blackmail and all. "If you want me to relax you might want to go.. medium on the drinks." This time she was being honest rather than lashing out at him and if she relaxed maybe she could manage to eat a little. Maybe if she was a little drunk she wouldn't be bothered by all this.. and even find some way to enjoy it.

[Lovely]

"Can always go stronger," he reminded her, getting up to fill the glasses he'd sidestepped from earlier, taking a moment to return to the door and turn the deadbolt key and slide the key in his pocket. She hadn't considered running yet, but if he turned his back long enough he believed she might - and drunk was a worse state for her to fall out into the streets in an unfamiliar neighborhood. He didn't stay at the door long, or leave her alone long, bringing two glasses back filled with light brown liquid and ice, one lighter in color. "Medium, for the lady," he said kindly, setting the paler glass before her. It effervesced slightly with the lemon soda bubbling through it.

She thought about running for the door during the time he was away from her, shifting in her chair and trying to distract herself by looking around the area surrounding the table. That brought her to wonder how he afforded such an impressive home and furnishings, she thought about the check in her bag and then why on earth a man like him felt the need to coerce a girl like her into an affair. Couldn't he easily get a woman willing to throw herself at and all over him, even if it was only for the money? She was lost in her wandering thoughts a little when he returned with the drinks and she jumped slightly, startled as he was suddenly there. "Oh!.. ah.. heh.. thank you." She blushed softly, embarassed for being such a twit, god she needed this drink! The glass was lifted to her lips and she sipped from it, not knowing what it was on sight and not caring at the moment.

It amused him how she jumped at his presence and jumped after the drink. If only she could become so eager... "If you change your mind on having your shoulders rubbed .. you've been studying very hard and that ass boyfriend of yours makes you so tense every time you leave my class. Why do you put up with someone who would treat you that poorly, hm?" He asked kindly like an old friend.

"Well technically he's about to be my ex boyfriend." She reminded him quietly of that part of his instructions. After another sip was swallowed her gaze followed Nance, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You.. " She paused and bit her lip, seeming to take a deeper look at the man. "How do you know how he treats me? I mean.. out of all the people in your class.. you notice that?" She sort of stalled on answering him, because once it was pointed out she couldn't deny it and she didn't have a good reason.. other than she didn't think she deserved any better.

"I'm very thorough in my research. Much of history is based on facts, but the rest is observation and opinion. Same thing with everyday lives of normal people like you and me. An observation and an opinion, or so it seemed, but it appears to be a fact. I observed because you are very smart, very intriguing.. and you come to every class. I noticed," he chuckled.

"I really liked your class.. it was my favorite." She didn't think she'd be looking forward to or feel so eager in regard to his class anymore. If she started thinking on that too much she'd get upset and likely start making comments again so she switched back to talking about her soon to be ex. "Fact, huh? I guess it was.. it doesn't matter anymore, since I have to break up with him, does it?"

"I'm trying to help you, Savy. He's not good for you, and he's... you don't want to be a cheerleader all your life. You said it yourself, how independent and resourceful you are," he said, taking his stronger drink and leaning again beside her.

"I also don't like to hurt people.. not that I expect him to be all that heart broken over it.." She sighed again, shook her head once more, and then took another sip from her drink, quietly chewing her lip for a moment after. "There is a certain.. comfort and security in being in a relationship with someone. I like being independant.. but I also like that feeling. Of having that person, of belonging.. being valued.. okay so he's not really the greatest boyfriend but.. if I get freaked out by noises at night, I have someone to call and to come stay with me.. or the time that.. rat.." She cringed, shivered a little and spoke the word quietly. ".. was in my apartment.. he really came in handy then. I like knowing I can take care of myself but it's also nice to have someone to take care of you when you feel all wimpy and girly." Savy took another sip from her glass, letting her fingers drift over the side of it as she set it back down. "Then there is having someone to sleep with when I just don't feel like being alone, some days you just need to be held.. to know and feel the other person, warm, close.. and of course there is the sex.. when I'm not too tired for it.. I mean.. there are alot of reasons to have a boyfriend."

[Lovely]

"All of them sound perfectly reasonable," he agreed, finding himself staring a little more intently as she brought up the more private moments. "All of them except the choice. An intelligent, beautiful girl... hmph.. always seems to be the way, I suppose. Attaching themselves to brick walls and meatheaded... I'm sorry. I'm sure you do care for him, but you're right. You're going to stop wasting your time."

She was a little surprised that he didn't make fun of her and that he said her points were reasonable, he just didn't agree with her choice in boyfriends. Everyone was entitled to their opinion she supposed, though he was forcing her to do what he thought she should, which led her to gaze at him for a long moment and then ask. "So.. what sort of man do you think a girl like me should be in a relationship with?" She chuckled softly and took one more sip of her drink. "If you have names and numbers, that would be helpful too."

"They're on the check," he grinned slightly, lifting his glass and almost taking another sip. He instead reached for hers and traded them. "The sort of man who wants to see you succeed because of you, not because of him... although he might help along the way."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she was peering into him, her expression mostly questioning with a slight shock mixed in - his reply wasn't what she expected. She couldn't find or form the words she needed and wanted to use, her mouth opened as if to speak and then closed before she dragged her gaze away and reached for the glass he'd traded for hers. She took a drink and sat there for another moment or two in silence, working everything over in her head again with this revelation. "Are you.. saying that you want this to be.. like an actual.. relationship?"

"Was that fact, observation or opinion?" He teased her now and took sip of the lighter sweet drink she'd started with then set it aside. "See, you are an intelligent girl. And ... we're talking," he pointed out although he'd rendered her nearly speechless as she began to understand. He stepped behind her again and slipped his hands back over her shoulders.

"That's me being.. so.. confused." She admitted quietly, she still was a little too shocked to say much but on the bright side she wasn't attacking him with insults or harsh words. She took his reply to mean she was right in what she was now thinking but it made everything that had happened between them so far have a different meaning. She was going back over it all and seeing it in a different light, that didn't mean she wasn't still pissed as hell that he was blackmailing her into it. She didn't flinch or tense up when he put his hands on her shoulders, like she had before, she also didn't push him away. "We're talking.. heh.. and I am relaxing a little." She admitted though he probably had already observed that himself. "How.. is this supposed to work? You know.. what are your expectations, what is your plan with all this.. how do you see things happening between us?"

"My expectations? My expectations are that you carry on like a normal girl in a normal relationship with a normal man. However much of that you find to be true or not true, I leave to your power of reasoning." His touch was gentle and he began to massage lower down her back. "It works better the less you try to force it or fight against it," he said, more about the massage, but perhaps the words applied to a great deal more. He whispered at her ear as the stronger drink slowly worked its way into her thoughts. "What is the real reason you enjoy my class, hm?"

"I enjoyed your class because I admired and respected you." She said with a pout, at the moment she wasn't sure of why she had enjoyed his class, so much had happened in such a short time and she felt very lost. "I'm afraid I'll need you to be more specific with your answers.. I have no idea what -you- mean by a normal girl in a normal relationship, with a normal man.. that tells me nothing of what it is you expect of me. What one person considers normal is not always the same as what another person does and since I don't consider any of this normal.. well.. you'll need to expand on your answer." There was a tiny bit of bite in her voice again and she sat back against the chair more firmly to try to prevent him from moving the massage any lower.. at least until she got the answers to her questions.

He moved his hands quickly out of the way to her arms as if intending to hold her to the chair she'd glued her back to. He smirked a little and stayed close to her ear. "I believe you still do," he said of her admiration and respect though he likely confused her more. "If you want specifics... Savy... my expectations are for you to take every test I give you and for you to amaze me with your skill to pass with your exemplary talent, be it in the classroom, or here with me alone."

"Well see.. there you go, we have completely different views on what a normal relationship is." She sort of hmphed and folded her arms, at the same time she crossed her legs which pushed her skirt up her thigh but she didn't pay attention to the fact that she was 'showing' him more skin. "I don't believe a real or normal relationship should be about passing tests." She held her tongue -barely- on how little respect she had for him at the moment.

[Lovely]

He'd noticed the shift of her legs and the movement of her hemline as well as the clench of her jaw that made her profile even more elegant and appealing. He held back the kiss as narrowly as she held back the remainder of her commentary and he chuckled a little. "Sorry.. once a professor, always a little shit. What I meant was that my expectations are that you'll find yourself free to be yourself and explore any and every thing you've ever desired. Every playful thought or perverted whim. Not even sure your soon-to-be ex knows how to spell 'whim'," he murmured, sounding slightly angry with a touch of jealousy.

"Free to be myself as long as it includes some perverted sexual fantasy?" She actually laughed though it sounded more sarcastic than amused and her head shook ever so slightly. Her tongue played over her lower lip and she couldn't hold back the comments this time. "In other words you do just want sex and for me to play the part of the little nymph.. do you have some trashy skimpy little outfit you want me to wear?"

"I wouldn't object... but no. If your desire is to go to a football game in a parka and sweats, that's just as well, or enjoy a game of chess over a cup of cocoa." He drifted a hand away from its hold on her arm to brush her jaw softly. "In other words, regardless of the activity, I only want you to be the participant."

The gesture was so gentle and sweet, she had a hard time trying to ignore the effect it had on her and her jaw unclenched. "I've never played chess.." She said softly as she reached up to pull his hand away from her face. "I don't think you really want me to be myself.. since you haven't allowed me to be since our conversation first started in your classroom."

She tried to stop the stroke of his finger over her cheek which only encouraged him to hold her fingers and nestle closer to steal a kiss against her cheek instead. "Oh I really do want you... whether you are yourself or not."

She tried to jerk herself away from the kiss that seemed to be intended as some tender gesture but served to fuel her anger and desire to get up out of the chair. "My point exactly! You don't want me to be me.. you want me to be whatever your fantasy or idea of me is!"