Chapter 2: Set Up
The hum of the classroom was punctuated by the rhythmic tapping of Dr. Davidson's pen against the podium as he awaited the stragglers to find their seats. The air was thick with the scent of freshly sharpened pencils and the faint whisper of turning pages as students flipped to a new chapter in their notebooks. Alex, still flustered from his earlier thoughts, fidgeted in his seat, his eyes darting between the professor and the window, where the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the quad.
Dr. Davidson continued his lecture, but Alex found it difficult to focus. Every time the professor turned to write on the board, Alex's eyes were drawn to his rear end, now more prominent in the fitted khakis.
As the lecture wrapped up, Dr. Davidson gathered his notes and tucked them into his leather satchel. "Any questions before we call it a day?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room.
Alex raised his hand tentatively, hoping to distract himself from his wandering thoughts. "What about the influence of the Enlightenment on the Romantic era?
I've always found that interesting," Alex asked, trying to focus on anything but the curve of Dr. Davidson's butt in those khakis.
Dr. Davidson turned to face Alex, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Great question, Alex. The Enlightenment had a significant influence on the Romantic era. The Romantics were, in many ways, reacting against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and order. They sought to emphasize emotion, intuition, and the irrational."
He paused, his smile softening as he looked at Alex. "You seem particularly interested in this topic. Have you thought about exploring it further?
Perhaps even writing a paper?" Dr. Davidson asked, his gaze lingering on Alex a moment too long.
Alex felt his heart skip a beat. "I-I'd love to, actually." It was true, too. The thought of diving deeper into a subject he was passionate about, with Dr. Davidson as his guide, was incredibly appealing.
"Excellent," Dr. Davidson said, clapping his hands together. "Come see me during my office hours this week, and we can discuss it further."
Alex nodded, a smile spreading across his face.
"Sounds good. I'll do that."
Dr. Davidson turned to the rest of the class. "Alright, everyone, don't forget to read chapters 5 and 6 for next time." He picked up his satchel and started to pack up his things. "That's all for today. See you all on Thursday."
As the class began to pack up and file out, Alex tried to focus on gathering his own things. But his mind was racing with thoughts of meeting with Dr. Davidson one-on-one. How should he approach the topic? What should he wear?
Something casual, but not too casual. Maybe a button-down shirt and jeans? But not the ones with the ripped knees, because that would be too casual. Maybe the dark wash jeans with the slight distressing at the thighs. Yeah, that would work.
Alex shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He was overthinking this. It was just a meeting with his professor to discuss a paper topic. No big deal.
Except it kind of was a big deal. Because he was crushing on his professor. Hard.
He started to pack up his things, attempting to shove his notebook into his backpack without tearing any pages.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Dr. Davidson standing behind him, a warm smile on his face.
"Alex, right?" he asked, extending a hand.
Alex felt a jolt of electricity at the touch and tried to hide the sudden blush creeping up his cheeks. "Yeah, that's me," he replied, attempting to keep his voice steady.
Dr. Davidson gave him a knowing look, as if he could see right through Alex's flustered exterior. "Look, I know these office hours can be intimidating, but really, they're just a chance for us to discuss your ideas in a more relaxed environment.
You don't have to be nervous," Dr. Davidson said, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.
Alex felt his heart pounding in his chest, but he tried to maintain a casual demeanor. "No, I'm not nervous. Just excited to talk about the paper," he said, hoping he didn't look as flustered as he felt.
Dr. Davidson laughed softly, and Alex could have sworn he heard a hint of relief in the sound. "That's the spirit. So, when do you want to meet?
During my office hours next week?" Alex asked, trying to keep his voice steady as he shoved his notebook into his backpack.
Dr. Davidson looked down at his watch, then back up at Alex. "Actually, I have a slot open today if you're free. It's not quite office hours, but I'm here for another hour or so."
Alex felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. Today? That was so soon. But the thought of seeing Dr. Davidson again, and so soon, was too appealing to resist. "Yeah, sure, that would work for me," Alex said, trying to sound nonchalant.
He was pretty sure he failed miserably.
Dr. Davidson grinned. "Great. Why don't you head over to my office, and I'll meet you there in about 15 minutes? It's room 203, down the hall and to the left."
Alex nodded, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. I'll see you there." He walked out of the classroom, trying to act like he didn't have a million butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.
The walk to Dr. Davidson's office was short, but Alex's mind was racing the entire time.
He knew he should be focusing on the paper topic, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Dr. Davidson's ass. It was like he had been hypnotized by those perfectly rounded curves, and he couldn't shake the image from his mind.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door to room 203 and stepped inside. Dr. Davidson's office was the typical academic space, filled with bookshelves lined with dusty tomes, a large wooden desk, and a few uncomfortable-looking chairs. But there was something cozy about it, too.
The dim lighting, the scent of old paper, and the framed degrees and certificates lining the walls gave the room a sense of comfort and familiarity. Alex ran a hand through his short brown hair, trying to look confident as he took a seat in one of the chairs opposite Dr. Davidson's desk.
Dr. Davidson entered the office a few moments later, carrying a mug of steaming coffee. He set it down on the desk and sat across from Alex, looking every bit the professor with his wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
"So, Alex," he began, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers, "what's on your mind?"
Alex swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way Dr. Davidson's khakis stretched taut across his thighs as he sat down. "Well, I was thinking about the influence of the Enlightenment on the Romantic era, like we talked about in class. And I thought it might be interesting to explore how that played out in the works of, say, Wordsworth and Coleridge."
Dr. Davidson nodded, his eyes lighting up with interest. "That's a great starting point.
Wordsworth and Coleridge were certainly influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, even as they rejected some of its core principles," Dr. Davidson said, his voice animated as he spoke.
Alex nodded, trying to focus on the conversation and not on the way Dr. Davidson's blue eyes seemed to sparkle when he talked about literature. "Exactly. I think it would be interesting to look at how they drew from Enlightenment ideas about nature and rationality, but also how they challenged those ideas by emphasizing emotion and imagination."
Dr. Davidson leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on the desk.
"I like where your head's at, Alex. That's a nuanced perspective that could make for a fascinating paper." He paused, his gaze softening as he looked at Alex. "You know, I've always found that the best papers come from genuine passion and curiosity. It's clear you've got both when it comes to this topic."
Alex felt a warmth spread through him at Dr. Davidson's words. He had always loved literature, but it meant so much more to have someone like Dr. Davidson—someone he respected and admired—recognize his passion. "Thank you," he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
He tried to act casual, but he could feel his heart racing. This was what he loved, discussing literature, bouncing ideas off someone who understood and appreciated it as much as he did. And with Dr. Davidson, it felt even more special.
Dr. Davidson leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his coffee. "So, what do you think about adding a section on the role of the supernatural in their works? Coleridge, in particular, had a fascination with the otherworldly."
Alex nodded, the wheels in his mind turning. "That's a great idea. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense.
As Dr. Davidson spoke, Alex's gaze lingered on his lips, tracing their movement as if each word were a secret being whispered just for him. He quickly looked away, feeling his cheeks grow warm. The office suddenly felt stuffy, and he wished he could roll up his sleeves without drawing attention to himself.
Dr. Davidson glanced down at his notebook, jotting down a few notes before looking back up at Alex. "How does that sound? A section on the supernatural and how it ties into their reaction against Enlightenment ideals?"
Alex nodded, trying to refocus his thoughts on the topic at hand. "It sounds great. I can start researching that angle right away," he said, his voice steady despite the fluttering in his stomach.
Dr. Davidson smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places," he said, his gaze meeting Alex's for a moment before drifting back to his notebook. Alex's heart skipped a beat as his eyes, drawn like a magnet, followed the movement. He quickly looked away, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He was usually so good at hiding his feelings, but Dr. Davidson seemed to have a knack for making him lose control of his emotions.
"Sorry," Alex muttered, feeling a pit of discomfort form in his stomach. He hoped Dr. Davidson hadn't noticed his wandering gaze. He quickly changed the subject, eager to redirect the conversation away from his own awkwardness. "So, um, what kind of sources should I be looking at for this paper? I want to make sure I'm using credible research."
Dr. Davidson looked up from his notebook, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"For credible sources, definitely start with scholarly articles and literary criticism. Oxford Scholarship Online and JSTOR are great databases to pull from." As he spoke, Alex's eyes drifted to Dr. Davidson's lips, tracing the curve of his smile as he spoke. He quickly looked away, feeling a flush of warmth spread across his cheeks.
"Uh, I'll definitely check those out," Alex stammered, trying to hide his embarrassment. He fidgeted with the strap of his backpack, desperate to regain control of his wandering gaze. Dr. Davidson seemed not to notice Alex's discomfort, continuing to speak with an easygoing smile.
"And don't forget to look at primary sources as well.
Wordsworth's preface to the Lyrical Ballads is a great place to start," Dr. Davidson said, standing up and turning to his bookshelf. As he bent over to grab a book for Alex, his khakis stretched even tighter across his rear end, the curve of his butt now even more pronounced. Alex's breath hitched, and he quickly averted his gaze, feeling a surge of heat in his cheeks.
Dr. Davidson glanced back at Alex, a puzzled expression on his face. "Alex, are you alright? You look a bit red," he said, handing Alex the book.
Alex fumbled with the book, trying to maintain eye contact with Dr. Davidson and not let his gaze wander. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just, um, excited about the paper, I guess," he stammered, feeling his heart pounding in his chest.
Dr. Davidson looked at him for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Look, I can't pretend I don't know why you're blushing. These khakis are a bit snug, aren't they?" he said, glancing down at his rear end. "I've been meaning to get back to the gym. It's been tough with the semester starting, but I'm determined to make it a habit again."
Alex felt his cheeks burn even hotter at Dr. Davidson's words. He had been trying so hard to hide his thoughts, and now it seemed like Dr. Davidson knew exactly what he was thinking. "Oh, yeah, that's, uh, that's important," he managed to stammer out, avoiding Dr. Davidson's gaze. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.