The rain was quiet and warm as it fell softly onto the sidewalks outside the cafe. People were laughing and talking with friends, drinking their cup of coffee, or reading the newspaper just to pass the time. He placed his glass down and looked through the information in front of him. The waitress looked at him with a smile on her face and he nodded to her. He looked around the restaurant and then he left.

His pace carried him to his hotel room and he quietly entered the dark place. He checked his cell phone and found that he had missed three calls, but only one smart person left a voicemail. He shed his coat and hung it up in the closet to dry. When he picked up his information, he tossed it onto the tiny table in the corner and checked his voicemail. It was of no use to him and he removed it from his memory.

@#$%

With the last question answered, she closed her test and placed her pencil back into her bag. Then the bell rang and she gathered up her stuff. She picked up her test and carried it up front to the front desk. As she placed her test on the stack, Kari ran into the classroom like she was on fire. Kat shook her head and Kari tackled her in a hug that knocked the wind out of her.

When she looked at her professor, he was watching them with some disappointment, but mainly he was amused. She managed to get free from the death hug and fixed her strap on her shoulder. She turned to Kari and found her scoping out her professor.

She grabbed the woman's wrist and said "Let's go."

Kari looked at her and asked "Is that your professor?"

Afraid of the response she would receive, she nodded her head slowly.

The woman's eyes widened in glee and she whispered "He's a hottie."

Kat groaned under her breath and said "Let's just go."

They got to the door and Professor Daniels asked "Would you please introduce this young lady?"

She bit her tongue and said "Professor Daniels, this is my friend Kari Doberman."

His eyes brightened and he said "Ahhh, the troublesome student the faculty is trying to handle but fails miserably."

Kari smiled and said "That's me! Nice to meet you Professor Daniels. I hope my friend isn't too much of a good student."

He laughed and said "She's an excellent student to tell the truth. However, sometimes I can't help but wonder if something is bothering her."

Kat groaned and Kari sai, "Try living with her for two years. Just the other week she woke me up screaming Bloody Mary!"

Daniels chuckled and said "You have a bright friend here, Miss Shadow. I hope you talk to at least her."

Kat looked at her feet and Kari asked "Are you kidding? She doesn't tell me anything! That's what makes us such good friends!"

Then he looked at Kat and said "It's good that you have a good relationship with Miss Doberman, but try to remember that you have to get things out in the open so you can heal."

She nodded and asked "Now, am I allowed to go?"

He sighed and said "Go on and get out of here. Oh and Miss Doberman, please try and sign up for my class next semester. You'd add some fun to it."

Kari nodded and was about to speak when Kat drug her away from Daniels. They walked out of the classroom and then she let go of the woman. She continued walking and Kari followed after. When they left the campus, they stopped at a local side stand and grabbed a couple bottled waters. Once they reached the apartment complex, Kat unlocked the door and went inside.

She went to her room and started putting her stuff away when Kari entered the room. The woman was watching her with a stupid grin on her face and it only made her roll her eyes. When she sat down on her bed, Kari closed the door and sat down.

"When were you going to tell me you had a professor after you?"

Kat leaned back and said "I don't have a professor after me. Prof. Daniels is just being my instructor."

Kari laughed and said "Please. He was clearly trying to gain information about you while we talked. I saw the way he would look at you, especially when you handed in your test."

She moaned and asked "What on earth is wrong with you? Prof. Daniels is not interested in me."

Kari rolled her eyes and said "Don't kid yourself. I honestly don't see why you wouldn't believe me, but that's your deal."

Then she got to her feet and left the room. When the door closed, Kat rested her hand on her eyes and let out a moan. She was tired of the hints several men gave her and the one that Kari just pointed out about her instructor didn't help her situation one bit. Everything was going backwards and forwards around her and she just needed a break. It was a good thing it was almost Christmas Break and she knew exactly where she was going.

Stef had gotten a nice vacation home out west in California and had offered her and Kari a chance to come check it out. With a sigh, she curled up into a ball and stared at her wall. Slowly her mind began to quit the race and she felt exhaustion return. She fumbled around on her side table and found the remote to her stereo. When she could hear the music perfectly, she laid the remote down and drifted to sleep.

PGS