Episode 1: Welcome to Wheldrake College: Part 4

Gwen might be a little bit of a nerd when it comes to enjoying class...

Gwen wouldn't dare sit at the back of the class, but she didn't seem to have much of a choice. She had arrived at class a few minutes late but had beaten Professor. Andy Ellis is there. She kept her head low, racing to the seat, feeling all the eyes falling on her. Everyone stared, and some whispered, not about her, but Gwen sure felt it had been about her.

She dropped into the seat, trying to grow small in the chair, not looking around at anyone.

"You're new here?" A sweet-faced man asked her to his side. She glanced over at him, seeing his pearly whites smiling back at her. "I'm Mason," he said, holding out his dark hand.

"Gwen," she said back, shaking it.

"You look new here," he said.

"I just started today," Gwen said.

"Cool, cool," Mason nodded. "Have you been to the Student Union yet?" He asked.

"I have no idea where that is," Gwen said.

"Ah, really?" He said. "It has the bookstore in it?"

"Nope."

"Oh, you are going to need the book for this class," Mason said. "Professor Ellis is a stickler for the book." He drummed his fingers on the chemistry book sitting in his lap. "This is my second time taking this class."

Gwen gulped and asked, "Is it that hard?" She didn't have time to spend every waking hour studying. She had three other classes and a full-time job to worry about, along with rent. She could study a little at work during her downtime, but she still didn't need a super hard class right now.

"Hm, we can study together," Mason said, hoping it was enough to calm the worry leaking from Gwen's eyes.

Gwen dropped her head, shaking, and said," Thanks. I might take you up on it."

"Hey, I can show you the bookstore after class," Mason said, turning his head to the door opening. The tall and big man came rushing into the room. He wore glasses, a shaved head, and a black beard. His nose hooked a bit, and his eyes were hard with age.

He growled," Sorry, I'm late for class. It will not happen again." He stood at the front of the room. "In fact, if you are late, then do not come to class. The door will be loc--- , "he said, looking over the room, and then stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Gwen. His eyes went wide for a moment, and then he pulled back in shock at her sitting in his classroom. A few other students glanced over their shoulders at Gwen, forcing her to dive deeper into her seat.

"The door will be locked," Professor Ellis barked, snapping everyone back to him. He went over everything about the class, filling the students with the stress of things to come. Many of the people were already sweating looking at the list of all the work due next week. The list seemed to be forever long, and Gwen wondered how much of a mistake she had made.

But then again, being a doctor would be far harder than some homework.

Before she could blink, the class was over, and Professor Ellis fled the room quicker than any of the students. He glanced once more at Gwen before stepping out of sight.

"Do you know him?" Mason asked, standing up.

"No, not at all," Gwen said, heading out into the hall. He could know my family, but I doubt it.

"Weird," he said.

"You're telling me."

They joked about it all the way down to the Student Union. A tall building, three stories high, with half of it rounded out front. On the left side of the front doors to the union sat the school bookstore, a coffee shop, and offices for the workers, mostly students.

"Thanks for walking with me."

"Not a problem," Mason said. "Hey," he dug into his book bag pulling out an orange flier, "if you aren't doing anything tonight, you should come to my party."

"Yeah, maybe," Gwen said, taking the flyer looking at the silly writing. She kicked herself for letting Mason think they were becoming friends. She couldn't let it become true. She didn't have time for friends or a party.

"I've got to go," Mason said, dashing off before she could tell him no. She watched the short man walk back out of the building, heading to his class and meeting up with a group of friends as he did. She turned back at the bookstore, shaking her head, not ready to see how much the book was going to cost. An arm and leg, more than likely, she mumbled to herself, heading for the coffee shop.

Once Gwen had gotten her coffee, she found a small table against the window overlooking the tiny park at the school. She glanced at her watch, seeing she had a little bit of time before her next class, and pulled out Anne Rice's 'The Tale of the Body Thief' to read for a bit. She opened it ready to go swimming in the world the author was bringing to life when ---

"You know, Professor River is a little odd," Scott said, sitting down in front of Gwen.

"Yeah, but I like her," Oliver said, sitting beside him. "She has funny hair."

Gwen looked up at the two, remembering them from the map. She looked between them as they both smiled at her.

"How was your class, Gwen?" Oliver asked. You didn't get too lost, did you? This place is so big�"" she held her arms out�"" it's almost crazy we found you again."

"It turns out," Scott said, pointing at Oliver and then himself, "we are taking sculpting together."

Gwen closed her book, looking at them both hard, and asked slowly, "What are you two doing?"