Chapter 4: Class is in session

Can Madison keep up?

She looked desperately at her notes, panic beginning to set in. The next chapter was entitled “Class is in Session.” She looked back at the computer, the old plan wasn’t going to work. It was too long. She didn’t have time to do the elaborate plot that she wanted. Opening to a new page of notes, she wrote at the top: T.T.O.M.J.M.T. plan: triple revised. After a minute of staring at the page she began to write down a new plot that would not only be doable but would also set up another book which, in turn, would make her publishers happy. Turning back to the computer, she began to type as fast as her mind would allow her.

School came as it always did. Cold wind of August greeted Jo as she stepped out of the house. Phil had taken the car as usual, leaving Jo the bike. As she rode she remembered that she had a creative writing class to attend as well, adding another hour to her monday schedule. Grumbling the rest of the way, Jo arrived at the university about 15 minutes early for her first class. As was custom, she sat outside her accounting class reading her usual novel. This week’s selection was a little sci-fi novel called Starfall. Reading always helped to take her mind off of the issues in her life, it had since she was young. Ten minutes passed and the professor walked past her and unlocked the door. Like a river, the students flooded in behind him with Jo at the very back. Taking her seat in the middle of two strangers trying to have a conversation over her, the professor began to talk. Although she was sure the hour-long lecture abouts stocks was probably riveting, she instead spent the time daydreaming. It was mostly about Clint which was no surprise. After all, it was all she thought about these days. Phil might’ve had a cameo in the day dream but it was rather unmemorable. Like an overused gag in a sitcom. “Class dismissed.” The phrase caught her by surprise causing her to jolt out of the land where anything was possible and into this, slightly disappointing, reality. Rushing out of the lecture hall, Jo fought through a sea of students in the hall as she worked towards the door. Once the sea broke before her, she was in the open air of campus. With practiced timing, Jo walked towards the liberal arts building. French class was a bore. Finances followed shortly after. Phil was in that class as well. However she hardly spared him a glance and exchanged just a couple of customary words. She left that class excited. Not to study finances later but to see Clint just after lunch. 

Lunch came and went like anything else. Jo sat and ate upon a bench under a tree just outside one of the dorms. Over a salami and cheese sandwich, she completed Starfall at a record pace and pulled a shorter fantasy novel called Dark Earth out of her bag. Just as she was about to start in on it, Clint came along. “Where’s your boyfriend?” She caught herself staring and quickly averted her eyes. “Oh- um…he has class right now-” Clint shrugged and sat down next to her. “I was just wondering if you wanted to walk to class with me. I know it's not very far but it would be nice.” As he smiled, she could feel herself begin to blush. Jo hid this by pretending she had an itch on her cheek. “I don’t know… let me think about it.” She looked away playfully. Clint laughed and grabbed her hand. “Come on, please?” She looked back at him and smiled. “Of course.” 

“Alright, class. Let's talk about what we have been reading. A writer without reading is a worker without nourishment. Clint, how about you start.” Clint picked up the small paperback that was on the table in front of him and made his way to the front of the small classroom. For Jo having such a small class after being in lecture halls the rest of the day felt almost claustrophobic, like she was being suffocated by creative talent. On top of this, everyone in the class was strange. Being around Business majors, when put up against English majors, was like comparing night and day. Clint reached the front of the class and brandished a book with a salmon pink cover titled: Tale of a Fading Heartache. Jo couldn’t help but cringe at the title but still she listened to him describe it. “So, I actually just finished this one and it's about how life after high-school has been hard on this young woman named Millie. After existing for a bit she quickly finds that no problem could ever be greater for her than that of love. To abide with the ides and tides of this new feeling she has to work harder than any person has ever to make ends meet, even if her boyfriend is unwilling to help her. I think it's a really compelling story and hits you right in the heart.” After a moment Clint returned to his seat next to Jo. Something about that plot felt oddly familiar but she couldn’t quite place it. She turned to Clint. “What did you say it was called again?” He handed the book to her. “It's called Tale of a Fading Heartache. Did you want to read it?” She accepted the book. Immediately she was met with the same strange feeling but so much stronger, it made her feel almost attached to it but not in a good way. “Um…I’m not sure.” Clint released the book into her grasp “Definitely consider it. You can keep this copy, I got it for free.” Jo took the book and shoved it into her butterfly tote bag, deep enough that she couldn’t see it through the notebooks. “Are you doing anything tonight, Jo?”

Jo hasn’t come home. Phil sat on the bed staring at the wall closest to his side. She’s out with Clint, I just know it. She usually comes home about an hour ago. Although it was only eight, Phil lay down and shut his eyes. He didn’t have work today and usually spent the evening with Jo doing the usual mundane things that he always enjoyed doing with her. Phil had assumed tonight would be the same. Instead, he is left to do the dishes alone, feed Emily alone, and talk about the day to himself. He had never felt this lonely. For a moment his mind began to question the status of their relationship before it landed on a definitive answer: shattered. Despite wanting to just sleep, his mind was still racing. Rolling over, he moved to put his arm on the woman that was not there. I can’t take this anymore. Pushing himself out of bed, Phil began to pace around the room. His internal rant was interrupted by the click of a lock and the creak of the hinges. “Jo?” He addressed the mysterious visitor beyond the bedroom door. “Hey, Phil.” He opened the door to see his girlfriend sitting in the arm chair on her phone. “What were you doing?” He sat on the floor beside the chair, leaning on the side. She hesitated before answering “Studying, how about you?” She continued to text a contact called ‘Cell Services’ as she spoke. Phil shrugged “Not too much. Just the usual.” Jo only nodded and continued to text. Phil knew he was being ignored, he never liked being ignored. “Hey, honey?” “Hmm?” He shifted to stand once more. “Is there anything you want to do?” She shook her head and looked up from her phone “No, I’m tired.” He took her hand. “How about we get you to bed then.” She didn’t resist his pull towards the bedroom. It was a habit that she had developed that, whenever she was stressed, devastated or distracted, she would turn into a straight faced rag doll. Tonight she was distracted. With Phil demanding attention and Clint wanting the same, she felt like she was getting lost in all of the strings. Phil led her to the bed, helping her to change. He was well aware of this habit and he could kind of figure out why but he didn’t want to say anything that would make it worse.