Chapter Text
Being in University was a lot, especially being a Physics major and teacher aid for the same subject. You loved it, it was your passion and your professor was great. Its just the fucking students that drove you crazy.
So here you were, on the doorstep of Ellie Williams’ dorm, once again.
Was it wrong to smoke with one of your students? Probably yes. But right now with the amount of people accidentally setting fire during one of the labs where you specifically told them to keep substance A away from substance E because it could cause ignition, you could care less about morals.
Besides, Ellie was a friend. Maybe this was unprofessional but caring was beyond you right now.
The door opened before you could even knock. Ellie’s eyes lit up when she saw you and a smirk grew on her face.
“Come to see me again? It's the third time this week.”
“How’d you know it was me?” You questioned her, stepping inside and closing the door behind you.
“I could hear your heels clicking from miles away babe.”
“They're platforms, not heels.”
“Whatever shoes are shoes.”
“Of course you think that with your raggedy ass converse.”
“Damn professor, no need to attack me like that.”
You rolled your eyes.
“I'm stressed.”
“Now that I can help, come sit.” Ellie led you in and she grabbed her electric dab rig, filling it with some wax. You sat on her bed, watching her prepare the rig. She took the liberty of opening the windows and stuffing a towel under the door to prevent the smell from escaping.
“Extra cautious this time huh.”
“Well last time I used the rig it stank so bad it leaked into the common area. But it's your favorite, so we’re using it.”
Ellie handed you the rig and you grabbed it with greedy hands. Inhaling and exhaling, you felt smoke filling your lungs and after a few minutes you were completely relaxed. Dabs always hit the best. They were your favorite for that reason.
Ellie hit it after you, she was kind of an expert at it, when she was high you could hardly tell. You were sure she attended your classes baked. She always said it helped her focus. She took a few puffs and then got up, grabbing something from the mini fridge. Somewhere along the lines of your meetings she started to get your favorite snacks from when you got the munchies. She was caring for sure, or maybe she got tired of hearing your high self complain of cravings for edible cookie dough.
You felt so…content. It was like gravity was so much stronger, slowing your movements, your muscles were relaxed like jelly. You flopped down on Ellie’s bed on her constellation themed bed sheets. It smelt of her, laundry detergent and cannabis. It didn't seem like a pleasant combination, but it always soothed you.
“Gimme my cookie dough.” you mumbled and Ellie smiled. She loved when you were like this in front of her, happy, stress free, maybe a little vulnerable. She handed you the jar of Tollhouse edible cookie dough she had personally paid for. You immediately dug in and seeing you so joyful made her stomach turn in the most lovely way possible. She didn't know how you hadn't realized how much she liked you. She let you use her personal stash for free, bought you snacks, called you babe. But you were as oblivious as ever. Hiding under this mask of professionalism, never letting her get close enough unless you were high.
“My fucking students are drivin’ me nuts Els.”
Els. Oh she loved it when you called her Els.
“What’d they do babe?”
“They almost set the lab on fire after I warned them a hundred million trillion times to not mix substance A and E because it would cause ignition. And they care too much about looking cute to put on their googles so fucking whats his name got baking soda in his eye! And whose fault did that come down to? Me!”
“What's his name?”
“The crusty dude with a receding hairline, he thinks he's hot shit.”
“Owen?”
“Yes! Fucking Owen!”
Ellie threw her head back in laughter, you were such a kind, patient person to all of your students seeing this side of you was amusing.
“His hairline isn't that bad.”
“Dude he's like 20 something and looks 38.”
The smile Ellie had never left her face.
“Okay yea, good point.”
After eating, you ended up falling asleep. Sleeping in your students' bed? Probably also bad, cuddling with her, was probably even worse. But you blamed it on the drugs, on how tiny the bed was. You always snuck out while Ellie was still asleep, she didn't seem to mind. And though you were treating her like a booty call minus the sex and replace it with smoking she didn't really act like it bothered her. So, you assumed she didn't care.
That was the thing though, she couldn't help but to be disappointed every time she woke up alone. She just hid it well.
You snuck out of Ellie’s bed, escaping from her grasp on your waist. It was nearly 6 am. You had been out for many hours and you had a class to get to at 8. You left the dorm, shutting the door behind you gently and as you walked out, someone caught your eye, watching you.
Abby Anderson,med student and captain of the volleyball team. Also, one of your students. She raised an eyebrow at your disheveled appearance. Fuck, you looked like you were doing the walk of shame. You ignored her, pretending like you didn't make eye contact and left quickly for your own dorm. It wasn't too far away from Ellies, maybe an 8 minute walk. You showered, got ready and studied before class, same routine as always.
When it was time for work you were exhausted so you stopped by Ruston Coffee for a pick me up.
Upon entering once again, was Abby Anderson, she probably had the same idea as you, stopping to get a cold brew to stay awake. Still you didn't want to interact with her beyond professional reasons especially since she caught you sneaking out of Ellie’s dorm.
Your luck must've run out though, because she approached you, standing tall in a black wife beater and jeans, hair in her signature braid she took in your appearance.
“So… Ellie Williams huh.”
“Not even a hello before you interrogate me huh.” You responded, looking up at her. If you were anyone else you’d be intimidated by her muscular arms and snarky smile. But this was Abby, and you kept an eye on your students, you knew she was just like any other, she often cracked jokes and laughed in class with her friends, Owen and Mel. You weren't afraid.
“You got me there y/n I suppose I'm feeling a bit nosey. I saw you sneak out bright and early.”
“Stalker.”
“So you're not denying it.”
“You know Anderson with the amount you're questioning me about my sex life I would say you wanna take me on a date too.”
Abby smiled, “Maybe I do.”
You didn't expect that. You didn't have time to respond before your name was called for your order, you quickly turned away from her and grabbed it. Fleeing as if you committed a crime. Abby’s smile dropped. Perhaps she made you uncomfortable? She hoped not.
In reality you just didn't know what to say. You were never good with emotions, with flirting, so it was a miracle your name was called. Besides you already broke rules cuddling up with Ellie, it would be better to stay away from Abby’s advances. Right? She would give up, right?
You didn't avoid Abby for very long, she was in your next period. You stood beside your boss, Professor Servopoulus. Or to you, simply Tess. She insisted that you don't use formalities, because it made her feel “older than she was.” Today was an easier day, you would help Tess with lesson plans and grade some papers while she lectured on matter and energy. There was a mix of types of students in your classes. Some medical majors like Abby with physics as a prerequisite and some Astronomy majors like Ellie where physics was a necessity. There were always some like Owen who was in engineering and a few other students that seemed too simply just be there.
You sat at Tess’s desk while she lectured, she hated lectures she preferred lab days but sometimes traditional learning was in the lesson plan. You noticed some students nodding off an hour in. Of fucking course one of them was Ellie. Tess gave you a look and gestured for you to wake her up. You stood up and walked up the lecture hall, all the way in the back where Ellie was napping. Eyes watched you, everyone was quiet holding in laughter at Ellie’s display. You kneeled facing her,
“Williams, wake up.” You whispered.
No reaction, the closer you got the more you noticed some drool at the corner of her lips and the faint sound of snoring created giggles in the audience.
You almost smiled yourself at the noise. Ellie was in deep REM stage sleep. You tried again,
“Ellie. Wake up!” Now you were really smiling. She didn't move.
Finally you reached out and shook her gently, “Ellie wake up oh my god.”
Ellie jumped; she seemed to have forgotten where she was because she mumbled, “Babe, five more minutes.” before putting her head down again. You blushed, leave it to Ellie to break professional relationships in front of an entire class. Luckily no one seemed to hear and if they did they laughed it off.
“Ellie Williams!” You nudged her, she opened her eyes and looked around finally grasping her surroundings, turned beet red and sat up. Everyone was staring at her.
“My bad Professor Servopoulus! Sorry Y/n!” You simply nodded at her; you were totally gonna bully her about this during your next smoke session. You woke up the other students and returned to the desk. The entire time one set of eyes was watching you, observing intently.
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Abby Anderson was a people watcher, and no, it wasn't creepy. She was simply interested in the ways people interact, the way different mannerisms appear in relationships, but most importantly she was interested in you.
You, her pretty teacher’s aide who was shorter than her even in those platform mary janes with buckles on them you wore everyday, you whose hands were soft and manicured when they brushed with hers handing out supplies for labs, you who smelt of Coffee beans and clean shampoo, you who was gentle and understanding when helping struggling students, you who seemed to have it all together, you who she could look at for ages just watching your little quirks and focused expressions.
But it was clear that she wasn't the only one who had her eye on you. Ellie Williams seemed to gravitate towards you, asking you an abundance of questions during labs, looked at you with bright green eyes as if you created the sun itself and seemed to be just as enamored with you as Abby was.
It isn't everyday that you would see a teacher's aide that beautiful and around her age. She was sure you were an upperclassman no older than 22, who simply had a love for physics. That was something she would never understand. As a Medical student, she was only in physics because she had to be but you being there made it a lot easier. You were very helpful and a good communicator, having you was a blessing to everyone who wasn't as great with physics.
By the time the lecture came to an end, she tried to make eye contact with you and wave goodbye but you avoided looking at her, instead chatting it up with Ellie who stopped to ask you some “questions” as you were leaving.
The smile quickly dropped from her face as she watched the two of you. Your interactions seemed so natural. There had to be something going on, and she was going to figure it out.