lawful_lizzie (lawful_lizzie) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-11-16 23:21:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, elizabeth weir, spencer hastings |
Who: Spencer and Elizabeth
When: October
Where: Elizabeth’s classroom
What: After class
Rating/Warnings: None
Status: Complete
“So, I want you to read chapters five through ten, then I want you to work with a partner to give a five minute presentation regarding something contained within those chapters by next friday. Alright everyone, go! Have a great weekend!” Elizabeth told them cheerfully as the chatter of students leaving rose. Spotting someone who was a little slower packing up, she caught the girl’s eye and smiled. “Hey, do you have a minute?” she asked, nodding to her desk.
Spencer had agreed on a meeting time with her group from class, and then said her goodbyes as everyone else fled the classroom. But Spencer wasn’t in a rush to leave. She wasn’t one of those students simply counting down the minutes until the end of class. She turned at the sound of her professor’s voice and nodded curiously. “Yeah.”
Pulling her backpack over her shoulder, Spencer came forward to the teacher’s desk, just as the last students were filing out. “Yes, Professor?”
“Please, call me Elizabeth,” she smiled at the girl as she leaned back on her desk, hands folded in front of her. “I just wanted to have a quick chat really. See how you’re finding things,” she offered.
“Oh. Thanks.” Spencer said, moving forward, closer to the desk. She’d come into the semester a little late, after being ejected unceremoniously from Stanford, and though she was absolutely caught up on her reading and assignments, she’d missed the first couple classes. “Things are… fine. I’m caught up on all my work,” she assured her teacher.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Elizabeth smiled at Spencer happily as she nodded at the girl. Narrowing her eyes a little, she looked the girl over quickly. Her hesitation before replying to the question made Elizabeth wonder if school was ok but maybe something else was less so. “You’re obviously a very bright student and you’ve caught up to the others, which in my class is no mean feat. How about outside of class? Everything ok at home?” she asked gently. She didn’t mean to pry, but she wanted to let the girl know that she could talk about things here and they wouldn’t be repeated outside of these four walls.
Spencer might have taken it the wrong way. Just a few weeks ago, she might have been put on the defensive at a question like that. But in her current state? She was a little happier now, she had Hanna and Caroline and her new friend Anna. She was meeting all kinds of new people and making friends, this was Spencer reinvented. So she wasn’t quick to snap, to judge, to protect herself. She simply nodded, though it wasn’t exactly true.
“Things are fine. I’m thinking I really should move out--find a place where I’m not in such close proximity to my older sister, but… home’s okay. Thank you for asking.” The question hadn’t made her defensive, but it was a little strange.
“I’m glad to hear that. I know that moving schools can be stressful so I just wanted to check you were ok,” Elizabeth smiled at the girl calmly. “If you need anything then please come and see me, not that you seem to need any extra help, you’re very smart and you’ve caught up quickly. You’re a natural really,” she told the girl happily. “I hope you’re finding the work stimulating enough. If you would like anything a bit more challenging don’t be afraid to ask,” she offered. She could tell Spencer was a bright kid and Elizabeth didn’t want her to not feel challenged.
“That’s so kind of you,” relief spread through Spencer. She was worried she’d have to explain herself, or be asked to give secrets she wasn’t ready to spill just yet. But the other woman was simply being kind. And flattering, too. Spencer liked that. “No, so far the course has been great. I’ve been doing a little extra reading on the subject, maybe we can talk about it? But I have a class coming up, so maybe we can schedule a coffee sometime?”
“Absolutely fine by me, coffee is my favourite drink of all time,” Elizabeth grinned as she pushed herself up from where she was leant against the desk. “My door’s always open, except for when I’m called away by the UN, in which case Skype is probably your best bet,” she told the girl with a wry smile. “I think next monday at 2 would be good for me, if that’s alright with you?” she rounded her desk to look in her diary, flicking through the pages until she found the following week’s pages to confirm the space was free.
“Thank you,” Spencer said, really impressed and flattered that her professor was willing to give so much of herself to her students. And Spencer was definitely planning on taking advantage of that. “That is perfectly fine with me. I’ll add you to my calendar.” She pulled out her phone to tap the screen a few times, and added in the appointment to her Google Calendar. “I’ll see you Monday at two.”
“Great, I’ll let you get to your next class,” Elizabeth smiled at Spencer as the girl started to move towards the door. She hoped they could have a good partnership in the coming months.
“Thanks,” Spencer said again. She felt like a broken record a little, but she was just so honestly humbled and genuinely flattered by the older woman’s concern. “See you later.” Spencer said, then turned to head off down the hall for her next class.