"Patients, Please."

Boring Nights and Midday Fights

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Going back into the apartment with a majority of the things I just bought I notice a piece of paper on my door. Oh shit, I'm probably disturbing my downstairs neighbor by moving things around. I sigh and grab the paper, unlock the door and go inside. I put the things down beside the counter. I guess I'll do the quieter things tonight and just take a shower then go to bed. Walking to the bathroom I grab one of the boxes and drag it out to the hallway. There's a closet between the bedroom and the bathroom. I stack the towels that are in the box on the top rack, followed by the hand towels and things like that on the shelf right below it. Going through the other box, it was all the things that I had stashed under the sink. Unused body washes and shampoos, I put them in the shower and put the rest of the things under the sink. Two more boxes down. I leave them together and walk back to the kitchen putting the take out box in it. Then with the sharpie from before I write Trash across it.

In the bags I brought up is a shower curtain and rings to hang it with. I grab both and walk back to the bathroom were it feels like I spend the next hour hanging it. Walking away from that I take the trash from that back out to the kitchen and go to the bedroom I still need to dig my bedding out and put it on there. Now that my dressers in my closet where I want it, I start unpacking some of the boxes with clothes in it. I leave out a baggy shirt and shorts to sleep in and shirt for tomorrow. The rest of the things are now organized in the drawers.

The next box I start digging through I find two different sets of bedding. I sigh, finally, grabbing the dark colored one I start trying to put it on the bed and just like with the shower curtain, it takes me an exaggerated hour. I throw the comforter on the bed and my pillows, then look over at the time, it's already 11:20pm. I sigh, taking a shower right now would be the best thing for me to do. I grab the clothes I set out and the towel that I left in the middle of the floor and hop in the shower quickly.

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"Make sure your homework is turned in my midnight tonight," Mark says as the students around the room start to get there things together and leave. "Also, there's no class on Friday. I will see you all on Monday." I put my things together and sit back in my seat sighing, I have nothing to worry about until Monday. Well, classes wise anyway, I take a minute to start putting my things in my bag. Looking around the room I notice there was nobody left. Well besides, her.

"Why are all your classes canceled Friday?" she asks. I mean, I can't fault her for asking a good question this time. "Are you going out of town with someone special?" And back to the flirting.

He smiles and shakes his head, "Actually it's for a conference. One of the staff members I have is giving a speech and I'm tagging along." I'm kind of glad he's not dragging me into this.

She nods her head, "Is that really what you're doing or is it code for all weekend ragger?"

Mark chuckles to himself, "I'm not a party person and that's honestly what I am doing this weekend."

She grabs her bag, "Too bad, I was hoping you had nothing planned."

"Listen, I'm tired of you flirting with me," Mark says very blunt. My eyes widen and I try to keep my mouth shut because all I want to do is open it in shock. "I'm not interested in you, I'm not interested in dating on of my students. Let's just keep this professional between us, alright?"

She stammers then starts walking to the back of the room, she stops at the end of my row. "Why are you still here?"

"Why are you yelling at me?" I ask very confused. "Just because you got rejected doesn't mean you can go around to everybody in your path and yell at them."

She huffs, "Every time I leave you are the last one in here. Why? Is there something going on with you two?"

I roll my eyes and put my hands up, "You caught me. I work for him, I'm on the school payroll being his secretary. That must mean we're..."

"Hayley, you can leave Miss. (Y/L/N) be and leave my classroom now." Mark says.

She turns to him then back to me, "I'm going to figure out what's going on."

I stand up throwing my backpack over my shoulder, "Oh no." I say in a very monotone voice, "I'm so scared." I roll my eyes again, "You don't scare me." This time I respond with my normal voice.

"Wait until I tell the Dean." She says crossing her arms.

"Miss. Barone, I suggest you leave my classroom." Mark says trying to defend me.

I throw my hands up again, "Oh no," I say again in the sarcastic tone. "Please don't tell the Dean that I'm walking with my boss to the office that we share together. What will happen to my perfect record. How will I ever keep people off my trail that I'm doing my job and going to school at the same time." She rolls her eyes and huffs, Mark walks up beside me and she huffs one last time before walking out of the room. I roll my eyes for the third time as well. "I hate people like her." I mutter under my breath.

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The office was quiet today, which is nice but strange. I walk into Marks office, "Hey, do you want to work on grading today or tomorrow?"

He half-smiles, "You can do it tomorrow."

I look around, "What's wrong?"

He shakes his head, "Nothing?"

"No, there's something wrong." I say staring at him confused, "Was it about what happened in the classroom because honestly I don't care what she has to say. She's just some preppy girl that wants her way and when she didn't she..."

"It's not that..." he says cutting me off.

I point at him, "But there is something wrong." Taking a step into his office I close the door and sit in the seat I'm use to sitting in. "Tell me, you were there for me, now I'm here for you."

He runs his hands over his face, "You have to promise not to get mad."

I stare at him, "Why would I get mad."

He takes a second, "Because, I know I'm trying to tell the truth and trying to not be the same person I was before." I feel my heart drop, what could he have possibly done? "Friday, after we came back here and heard the elevator door ding, right after you left, I found something on your desk. I took it and hid it and I've felt guilty about it."

I shake my head, "What was it?"

He passes me a little note card with sloppy cursive handwriting across it. I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date? –Bill. Looking up Mark was just staring at me, "It had a rose with it as well but it started to wilt in my desk so I threw it away."

"So you took this off of my desk?" I ask trying not to laugh. "And you've felt guilty about it?"

He shakes his head lightly, "I should have just left it alone. I should have let you find it."

I stand up, "You know, I was much happier not knowing this was on my desk. The next time there's a note on my desk asking me out from him, you just take it and throw it in the garbage." Walking up to his desk I do the exact thing I said.

He stares at me confused, "So you're not mad that I took it from your desk and hid it from you for 5 days?"

"I would appreciate it if you would take them and hide them from me." I walk back to the door, "But, thank you for being honest with me."