#specifically them probably making comments about how i will be dressing for a grad party

[sunshine-girl-shines]

Me: I don’t bring straight vibes to the party

Therapist: *cackles* No, you don’t

[ncstings]

#3 a kiss on the forehead: georgia & benjamin

she’d probably never get used to walking down those halls. they’re cold, a bit musty--- frankly they make her feel like she should either be way smarter, or have way more money. but hey, she couldn’t imagine benjamin teaching anywhere else. 

it wasn’t like most times. most time she had the intention of entering his office and having him throw everything off his desk just so he can ravish her in the way she deserves. this time was a bit different. she knew his office hours would be coming to a close soon, but she didn’t mind waiting in the hall until he was done. 

she hears chatter coming from down the hall, only to grow louder until she finally looks up to see two ladies walking together. she clicks off her phone and listens to them.

“he called me girl last week and i nearly passed out.” one of them says. it’s enough to peak georgia’s interest, listening closer. she sees out of the corner of her eyes as they start to slow down. 

“sometimes i don’t even care what he’s saying i just close my eyes and listen.” the other one says.

ah. georgia can’t help but smirk. mostly because yeah, she’s been there too. a lot. she figured she’d be over it by now but sometimes it hits her. sometimes they’ll be laying on the couch or at the dinner table or in the kitchen and he’ll say something and it knocks her out. fully renders her speechless for a few seconds. there’s of course the times she can’t even understand him but even then she still finds it attractive.

“you ever hear him swear?” georgia finds herself speak up. the girls are lingering not far from her, they since stopped walking and seem to be loitering, or waiting for something. she figured, why not. “heard him say ‘fuck’ the other day and i’m pretty sure i lost it.”

the girls look at her, eyes gaping. there were a few moments of silence and she’s not sure if she broke them by them imagining what that might sound like, or they were just weirded out some stranger started talking to them.

one of the girls finally looks away, clicking her tongue. “i knew he was different with the grad students. tyler told me he heard he’s way more chill.”

grad student? georgia looks down at herself. she’s dressed in her pencil skirt, blouse, and long dusty pink coat. her hair’s still a bit wavy from curling it yesterday but she put it in a pony. did she look like a woman of science? god she didn’t think so. to be imagined in a room full of nerds talking about potions or whatever it was he taught.

“yeah,” she nods though. why not roll with it. “still not any easier though.” she shrugs. 

one of the girls sigh, slumping down into one of the chairs. “sucks he’s married.”

uhm. 

georgia inhales a speck of spits and breaks into a fit of coughs, putting a hand over her chest. that definitely wasn’t what she heard. “i’m sorry, what?”

the girl who’s still standing gives her a sympathetic look. “last semester someone saw him wearing a wedding band for a bit.” she fishes out her phone, pulling up a picture to show her. “it was just for a short time but we figured since he’s such an unorthodox guy he just doesn’t wear it sometimes.” she shrugs. “there was also the time he brought up his wife in class.”

georgia looks at the photo. kids were sneaky little shits. sure enough, there was benjamin in front of the whiteboard, sweater on his chest, stubble on his jaw--- looking handsome as per usual, but with a wedding band on his outstretched hand. gold, glimmering in the florescent light.

“well what did he say about this elusive wife?” she leans back from the phone. this answer would be super important.

“clarie, you were there that day, what did he say?” the girl turns to the one in the seat, waiting for a response.

“oh uh, he was talking about some molecular chemical reaction and then he was like ‘my wife told me i sound boring when i bring up this up so i made a fun power point’ and then he showed that presentation where he danced.” she rolls her eyes in a huff. “what i wouldn’t give to be that man’s wife.”

well how about that. first off, nice to know she’s the wife in this situation and not some secret woman. second off, a dance? she would certainly have to inquire about it more. “yeah me too.” she chuckles, though sounds like she might already be halfway there.

“are you here for a meeting with him?” the girl in the chair asks.

“yeah, something like that.” she presses her lips together, hoping the questions don’t get too specific.

the door opens, and a young man walks out, thanking benjamin before he’s soon following behind him, standing in the doorway to the hall. he looks at the sight of the girls first, right in front of him, then turns his head and looks down at her, a bit shocked. “hey,” but there’s a smile on his lips, “i didn’t know you were coming.”

“i wanted to surprise you.” she smiles back. from the corner of her eyes, she sees the two girls glued to the situation in front of them. “i wanted to do something nice.”

his eyebrows raise, looking to the girls for a moment before leaning in a bit, twisting his torso to try and cut them off a bit. “the typical nice or---... something different.”

“different.” she nods, reaching up to put her hand on his chest. “but you should help these girls out first.”

it takes a moment for him to look away from her. maybe not the typical look of undressing her with his eyes but the kind of look when he hasn’t seen her in a while and he’s drinking up every ounce of her. like he forgot. or like his memories didn’t do her justice. or maybe just looking at her overwhelmed him.

“ladies.” he straights his back. “office hours end in just a few minutes i hope you can make it quick.”

“claire has a question about the assignment. we were coming out of another class and figured to just drop by on our way back home.” the one still standing speaks up, and the girl named claire raises from her chair, giving an awkward smile. they’re both looking uncomfortable, to different degrees from the sight they just saw.

“benjie, can you please save these girls and yourself the future trouble and introduce me.” georgia sighs, standing up from her seat.

he clears his throat, entering the hall fully. “is it really that important.” he says quietly, looking down at her.

“they think you’re married, asshole, and they think i’m your grad student.” she glares.

“well now that’s a lie you could have solved yourself.”

“you called me your wife.” she states hastily.

that gets him to shut up. also gets a blush to creep over his face and she knows she caught him red handed. so he clears his throat, and addresses the girls again. “ladies, this is my girlfriend georgia.” his tone was a bit exhausted. “she is not my student she is a very talented wedding planner. i am not married i simply wear the ring sometimes and make those comments when i am uncomfortable.” it was recited like a speech, and he sounded tired by the whole ordeal.

“what do you mean when you’re uncomfortable?” claire speaks up, but they’re still looking at georgia.

“she’s so young.” the other squints.

“i am old at heart.” georgia puts her hand on her chest.

“no you’re not.” benjamin rolls his eyes, and she smirks at him, smacking his hip. he looks back at claire. “sometimes students can be a bit... overzealous towards me. usually they back off if i wear the ring or drop a hint.”

georgia frowns. she knows he’s attractive, but the idea that he’s ever be uncomfortable in his own class space with girls who are a bit too forward, hurts her. she knows the girls in front of her aren’t those types. they are the type to gossip and fantasize, but georgia was like that in college too so who is she to judge?

“oh.” one of them says. 

benjamin reaches up to rub his jaw. “what’s your question claire?”

claire instantly reaches into her shoulder bag to pull out one of her textbooks, and she approaches him to ask her question. georgia’s tuned it out at this point since she’s got no clue what they could be talking about, but she approaches the other. “were you expecting some old hag as his wife?” georgia smiles

“well shit i was hoping.” she smiles back. “thought it’s not a huge surprise. though i would have figured he’d gone with another stem gal.”

georgia hums and nods. “mmm, i think he probably likes having a person with a job he knows nothing about.” she shrugs. “and i know nothing about his.” she pauses for a moment. “hey, do you have a video of that presentation? he was dancing or something?”

“ah,” she nods, getting her phone out again. she makes a few taps and holds it out. sure enough. the video plays. the lights are off and even though there’s light through the windows, it’s pretty dark. there’s club music playing and the screen flashes with some party lights as benjamin starts to dance and jump around, also explaining some sort of reaction she’d never understand. there’s some laughter in the class, most people have their phones up. he doesn't stop. it goes on for longer than she’d ever thought and she’s shocked he can talk and move around like that without sounded completely unintelligible. she can hear herself snickering, and when it ends, she hads the phone back. “well did it work? did you learn it?”

“yeah i guess.” she shrugs. 

“hey.” benjamin taps her forearm. he now, got his coat over his arm and bag over his shoulder. “you ready?”

“you done?”

“it really was a quick question.” he smiles, looking back to the girls. “ladies, i hope you have a lovely evening. please don’t try and let this newfound information run too rampant but i understand i can’t control you.” he smirks. 

georgia waves, her other hand soon taken in his. when they’re a bit away, she turns to look at him. “you just keep a wedding band laying around?”

he shrugs. “it really does get weird sometimes.” 

she pouts, leaning over to kiss behind his ear. “i’ll fight off all the thirsty girls for you.” she brushes back some of his hair.

“that’s very reassuring. don’t think that’s really appropriate though.”

“well, as long as you know it, that’s what’s important.” she shrugs. “saw that video of you dancing.” she says as he pushes the door open for them, leading them to the crisp spring air.

“did you now?” he raises his eyebrow. 

“you don’t have that kind of energy for me.”

“oh i definitely do.” he nods, giving her a tight look. “but you wouldn’t give a shit about molecular redox reactions so i just channel that energy into fucking you.” he shrugs, fishing for his keys. “my car?”

she snorts. “fair point.” she looks around the parking lot. “we’re actually not going far we could just walk.”

“oh?” he says, intrigued. “what do you have played for us this evening, love?”

she grins, nudging him onto the patch of grass until he’s against a tree. “you know you’re still not off the hook for calling me your wife.” she brushes their noses together.

“you want to make me regret it?”

“you gonna keep calling me your wife when people flirt with you?”

“you want that?”

“i don’t mind being called your wife.” she looks over him, her grin fading just the smallest bit. “i know that’s not where we’re at but i don’t mind the sound of it.” she reaches up, her nail tracing his jaw. “and i hate thinking about anyone making you uncomfortable and i want you to know that even if i’m not there physically, i don’t mind you using me to keep yourself safe.” her other hand presses to his chest. “i know i’m batshit but i’ll never be offended or hurt if it’s to keep yourself out a situation you don’t want to be in.”

he looks down at her, finger tucking a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. leaning forward, he presses his lips to her forehead. “you’re my kind of batshit, though.”

she hums. “don’t think you’re not crazy either.” she points a finger to his chest. “that girl said she thought you’d be married to some old science hag and i was being to polite to say you’re much too off your rocker to handle a woman so well put together.”

he laughs, tilting his head back. his eyes crinkle at the corners and she’s sure her heart bursts while she watches. making him laugh like that always put her on some other level. making him laugh felt more powerful than making him hard. 

“you know i think you’re right.” he kisses her forehead again and nudges her off to continue on their walk. “now take me to this mystery place.”

“yes.” she nods, taking hold of his hand again. “away we go.”