Chapter 9

The walk to the administration building in the middle of the campus gave Thorn time to calm down. He was no longer flustered when they reached the building. The two fell back into their usual banter with each other as they entered the building, and he guided her to the front desk.

              “Do you have the updated application for the apprenticeship program?” Thorn asked the receptionist as they stood before the front desk. She looked at him in shock, then at Nikki.

              “Of course.” The receptionist nodded. “One moment.” She said as she excused herself and stepped away from the desk. Thorn frowned as she left. He had expected her to have such necessary paperwork at her desk.

              “Oh.” Nikki clutched her stomach as it started to growl. Thorn turned to her. “Just feeling a bit peckish.” She assured him.

              “Did you eat lunch?” He asked. Nikki grimaced at the question.

              “I’m fine. It’s almost dinner time, is all.” She deflected. Thorn narrowed his eyes as she avoided answering his question.

              “Thorn!” A loud and boisterous man called out his name as he ran toward the pair.

              “Damn it.” Thorn scowled. “Dean Delwood.” He nodded. Nikki looked at the Dean and could immediately tell he was Ella’s father. They both had striking ash-blonde hair and light green eyes.

              “What’s this? I hear about you needing an apprentice application?” Delwood asked with a smile. His gaze then fell onto Nikki. “Oh! Miss Crowman.” He greeted her warmly. “It’s nice to get to meet you finally! You are the talk of the school, you know!” He laughed.

              “Yes. My procurement of the Exemplary Student scholarship is being treated like an impossible miracle.” Nikki replied.

              “It is exciting since we have not had a student receive such an honor in quite some time.” Delwood smiled. He then made the connection between the apprenticeship and Nikki.

“So, Tom, you’ve decided to offer this fine young lady the apprenticeship?” He said approvingly. “How fitting that such an amazing student ended up under the tutelage of our best professor!” He laughed.

“Why are you so loud?” Thorn complained as he continued to scowl. Delwood just laughed as the receptionist returned. Nikki chuckled as she watched the woman pull out the application from her desk.

“Here you are.” The receptionist smiled as she handed Delwood the application. Thorn continued to scowl at them.

“Miss Crowman.” Delwood addressed Nikki.

“Yes, sir?” She asked him.

“Do you want to be in Professor Thorn’s program?” He asked. “If there is another program that you would like to join, I can arrange everything for you.” He offered.

“Hey.” Thorn frowned.

“It’s alright,” Nikki assured him before addressing Delwood. “I have already selected the physical science degree path, the astrophysics concentration specifically.” She revealed.

“So, you are already in his four-year program but wish to continue into his master's and PhD programs.” Delwood nodded in understanding.

“Yes, sir.” Nikki smiled. “It is an amazing opportunity.” She added.

“It is indeed.” Delwood smiled. He then looked at Thorn. “I better not hear that you’re being a dick to her after I approve this.” He warned.

“Me? A dick?” Thorn scoffed. Delwood glared at him. “Tsk. You know I treat people accordingly.” He huffed.

“I am expecting great things from the both of you,” Delwood stated as he flipped to the last page of the application and pulled out his pen. Thorn and Nikki watched as he signed the form, giving his written approval before it was completed.

“I approve of the apprenticeship. Please complete your parts and turn this in to me by the end of the week.” Delwood instructed Thorn as he handed him the paperwork.

“I will check in on you periodically to see how she is doing under your guidance. You will need to help her prepare a grade report at the end of each semester and build a portfolio that can be submitted with the eventual funding request.”

“Understood,” Thorn said as he took the paperwork from him.

“The other professors are going to have a fit, you know.” Delwood smiled. “I don’t think any of them expected you, of all people, to show any interest in a student.”

“As if I care what the others think.” Thorn scoffed. “I am simply doing my job as an educator at Moonward University.” He said, acting as if there was nothing special about what he was doing for Nikki.

“Sure you are,” Delwood smirked as he looked at Nikki. “He’s a compassionate fellow, isn’t he?” He asked her, teasing Thorn.

“No. He’s an asshole.” Nikki replied honestly. Delwood snickered as Thorn frowned at her. “What? I am just being honest.” She shrugged.

“You don’t have to be so crude about it.” He complained as he approached her.

“That was me being nice.” Nikki deadpanned. Delwood watched as the pair bickered. He thought Thorn was just interested in her because of the status she gained from the scholarship, but as he watched them, he realized that was not the case.

“Oh, I see.” Delwood smiled. Thorn and Nikki both turned to him with scowls on their faces. “You’ve finally met your match.” He laughed.

“What nonsense are you spewing?” Thorn asked.

“I can see what you meant about him and Ella being a pain,” Nikki commented. Delwood only laughed harder as they teamed up against him.

“Come along,” Thorn said, guiding Nikki out of the office. Delwood’s laughter died down as he watched them leave together.

“Have a good evening, kids!” Delwood called out to them. The pair looked back at him and scowled. “Wow, they truly are a perfect pair.” He commented as they disappeared from view.

Thorn and Nikki left the administration building and headed to the faculty parking lot. As they walked together, he read through the application, mumbling about how much paperwork they would have to do for the apprenticeship. Nikki’s stomach growled loudly once more as they came to his car. Thorn stopped and stared at her. She blushed from embarrassment as he looked at her.

“Did you eat lunch?” He asked with a frown.

“I packed a snack.” Nikki sighed.

“But not a lunch?” Thorn asked. “Why didn’t you buy lunch at the campus café?”

“I-it’s fine. I can eat when I get home.” She told him. Thorn continued to look at her with a disapproving look.

“Get in the car,” he ordered as he opened the passenger-side door. A group of students passing by heard him, and they all turned to watch as Nikki silently obeyed him. He closed the door and then noticed the group. “Can I help you?” he snapped at them.

“No. No.” They quickly left, fearful of the infamous professor’s wrath. Thorn sighed as he approached the driver's side and climbed in.

“You don’t have to be a jerk about this.” Nikki huffed as she sat with her arms crossed in the passenger seat.

“You haven’t eaten all day,” Thorn replied, handing her his satchel. She frowned as she took it and sat it in her lap.

“I…don’t like eating around others,” Nikki admitted. “I have social anxiety,” She confessed.

“So, instead of facing your fears, you starve yourself?” Thorn questioned as he started his Jaguar and began to pull out of the parking lot.

“It’s better than having a panic attack.” She sighed. He frowned at her answer. He did not like learning that she had not eaten all day.

“I can’t let you go on starving yourself.” Thorn sighed.

“It’s not like I’m not eating at all. I eat as soon as I get home.” Nikki assured him.

“What did you plan on eating when you got home?” He asked.

“Oh, um…a sandwich,” Nikki mumbled out her answer.

“You haven’t eaten since breakfast and planned on eating a sandwich?” He frowned.

“Eh.” Nikki shrugged. Thorn rolled his eyes as they left the campus. There was no line of cars blocking the road at this time, so he quickly made his way down the hill.

“H-hey!” Nikki protested as he drove past her apartment complex. “Where are we going?” She snapped at him.

“I am taking you to a nearby restaurant where you can get a proper meal,” Thorn told her.

“I have food at home.” Nikki scowled. “And I don’t have any money to eat out right now.” She added.

              “I am paying, of course,” Thorn smirked.

              “I don’t need your charity,” Nikki stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.

              “Not charity, dear.” He told her. “My treat.”

              “Your treat?” She scoffed.

              “Yes. We need to celebrate you getting the apprenticeship after all, right?” He offered. It was a valid excuse to take her out to eat, so he hoped she would set her pride aside and let him treat her to a meal.

              “Well…” Nikki took a moment to consider his offer.

              “I am taking you to Reverie if that impacts your decision,” Thorn added with a smirk. Nikki perked up when he told her they were going to Reverie. It was the name of one of the most popular restaurants for high schoolers and college students alike.

              “Are you…sure?” Nikki asked. “I…haven’t been able to find anyone to go with me since high school.” She revealed.

              “Is it a favorite spot of yours? I only know that it’s popular amongst the other students.” Thorn admitted.

              “Yeah. I used to go with my ex-boyfriend when I was in high school, but I couldn’t find anyone to go with me after we broke up.” Nikki revealed. Thorn frowned as he heard her mention that she had an ex-boyfriend.

              “Well, then, perhaps I can take you now that we are acquainted. My treat, of course.” He offered smoothly.

              “Would you truly?” Nikki smiled excitedly. Thorn glanced over at her, taking in the sight of her smiling like an excited child.

              “Yes, of course.” He told her. “I’ll take you whenever you want.” He smiled as he continued driving to the restaurant.

              “I’ll hold you to that!” Nikki laughed lightly. She paused for a moment. “And…I will try to make sure I’m eating better at school.” She sighed. “I just need to find a place where I feel comfortable eating alone or someone to join me at the campus café.”

              “You can control your anxiety as long as someone is with you?” Thorn asked.

              “Yeah. I don’t like being alone in a crowd.” Nikki admitted sheepishly.

              “Had a traumatic experience with a large crowd?” He asked. Nikki fell silent for several moments. “Miss Crowman?” He said her name as he glanced over at her. Nikki was staring out of the window as they arrived at the restaurant. Thorn parked the car and turned to her. He stayed quiet as he saw her staring out of the window, a sad expression on her usually lively face. He reached out and took her hand in his, causing her to turn to him.

              “It’s fine.” He assured her. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”

              “No…” Nikki sighed. “…it’s probably best if you hear it from me first.” She frowned. Her stomach growled loudly before she could pour out her heart and soul.

              “Perhaps you can tell me over dinner?” Thorn asked with a soft smile. Nikki nodded, and the two got ready to head inside the restaurant.