Easy As Falling For The Hype.
by: Angharad llaw dost
part: 344

I was trying to finish the Observer crossword, the cryptic one, when Simon put down his book with a sigh and began rubbing my thigh. I should perhaps mention we were in bed. I ignored him, so his hand moved higher up and sneaked under my arm to gently stroke my breast.

"Hmmmmm," was all I said.

Actually, that was all I said for about an hour and I never did get to complete the crossword. He had also learned that if he wanted to 'get me going' he had to work for it. His technique was improving and I wasn't complaining.

Next morning, the sun shone and I was tempted not to take my bike owing to being a little tender in the nether regions, however, I decided I needed to keep the fitness thing going. I was really pleased that I could now store two or three gigs of data on a memory stick,and which could be carried in a relatively small bag. This was so much better than carrying a laptop back and fore.

I got to the university and went to park the Scott in my office as usual. "You shouldn't really bring bicycles into the building," said one of the security guards.

"If it disappears, and it has once, have you got four thousand to replace it?" I asked.

"Don't be daft, it's only a bike."

"Only a bike, yeah, top of the range is nearly eight thousand."

"What, for a bloody bicycle?"

"Yep, and a Cannondale top model is getting on for ten grand."

"They seen you coming, didn't they?"

Ignoring his grammar, I replied, "No, I'm well pleased with it, I have another one which is four grand's worth, too."

"More money than sense, if you ask me."

"Good job I didn't then, isn't it?"

As I walked on a student ran up to me, "Lady Cameron, can you spare a moment...?"

"Oh, that explains it all, bloody finishing school for the rich, in we?" said the burly bigot.

This last comment left me feeling very irritated, but I said nothing, well not to him. "Certainly, Sophie, isn't it?"

The girl's face lit up, "Gosh, you remembered my name," then she blushed.

"Don't expect it every time, I can't remember my own some days. Now how can I help you?"

"I need to ask for an extension on an assignment."

"Come to my office," I said pushing the bike towards the broom cupboard I called an office. I then lifted the bike onto two hooks and locked it there.

"Gosh, you lifted that like it was a feather," commented my companion.

"It is like a feather, it's plastic."

"Plastic?" she looked bemused.

"Okay, carbon fibre. It weighs about seventeen pounds, or eight kilos to you."

"Goodness, and you're not afraid of it snapping?"

"No, why should it?"

"If it's plastic?"

"It's very strong stuff, they make golf clubs from it and sports cars."

"Goodness, how amazing."

I was rapidly forming the impression that Sophie wasn't the brightest of my students. "Yes, isn't it;" duh! "Your assignment, you have a problem?"

"Yes." She blushed and her expression changed to that of a small child. "I have a problem."

I took off my helmet and jacket and asked her to sit down. "Your problem?"

"It's a bit embarrassing." She sat with her hands squeezed between her legs, which were clamped tight together.

"Well, whatever you tell me is confidential, although I have to warn you that I might have to reveal some of it if questions are asked about your progress at a later time."

"I understand," she said her hands stayed between her thighs and she was looking at the carpet.

"Take your time," I said wishing she'd get a move on, I had dozens of things to do, including a class in half an hour.

"I erm, don't know where to start," she said blushing and I thought her eyes looked a bit moist.

"The beginning," I suggested.

"Yeah, silly of me. I think I might have cancer," she suddenly said and then burst into tears.

Oh shit! What do you say? Was this a genuine thing or a try on to get in a late assignment, you'd be surprised what students will say. "That sounds pretty serious, how do you know?"

"My mother died of cervical cancer, so did my grandmother. I get a smear test every year, I just had the results on friday. I have abnormal cells, they want me to go and see my doctor."

"I see, have you made an appointment?"

"Yeah, I see him this afters."

"Good, you need to act as quickly as possible."

"My assignment, I..."

"I think that can wait until we know what's happening, don't you?"

"Thank you, Lady Cameron."

"Who else have you told?" I asked, she was still weeping despite the brave face she was showing me.

"No one, I mean who can I tell?"

"There's a student counselling service and health centre on campus."

"I know, but they aren't always the best people to talk to."

"They're all supposed to be trained to deal with medical problems, including potentially serious ones."

"I'd rather talk to you?"

"Me, why? I don't have any special skills in that direction."

"I heard how you helped Stevie."

"I didn't do very much for him, I'm afraid."

"That isn't what I heard."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Just be there for me," she started to sob.

"What about your dad, shouldn't you tell him?"

"No, I couldn't face him, not yet. He's still mourning my mother."

"When did she die?"

"About five years ago," she sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with the tissue I offered her.

"We don't know if it is cancerous yet, only that it's abnormal. Maybe it's some other anomaly, they do get specimens wrong."

"With my family history, I doubt it."

"I see, so when will you know?"

"Today, I hope."

"Have you got someone to go with you?"

"No, that's why I've come to you."

Oh shit and double shit, I don't need this, not right now! How do you tell someone who can't be more than nineteen that you'd prefer that they found another person to help them. "Wow, that's a lot of responsibility, Sophie."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." She stood up and went to march out of my room.

"Sophie, please sit down."

"What for? You don't wanna know, do you?"

"I didn't say that," I was blushing.

"Not with your mouth..."

Oh shit, why can't I learn to control my non-verbals? "What time is the appointment?"

"It doesn't matter, you're too busy." She went to get up again.

"I asked what time it was?"

"Four."

I looked at my diary, if I switched something around, I could make it. "Where is it?"

She told me, it wasn't too far away, but I'd need to go home at lunch and get my car, it was too far to walk.

"Come and collect me at half past three and I'll come with you. Do you have transport?"

"No, I usually take the bus."

"I'll bring my car in."

"You don't have to, I'll go on my own. Yeah, maybe that's for the better?"

"Sophie, please don't mess me about. I've said I'll come with you, be here at three thirty! Now wipe your face and clear off, I have a class to teach."

Sophie stood up and threw her arms around me, "Thank you, Lady Cameron. Thank you so much."

I got Pippa to alter a tutorial I had for three thirty, to two thirty. I told her to explain to Tom that I had another Stevie type incident and needed to leave early.

My ride home at lunch time was my fastest yet. I dashed in, washed and changed, put on some lipstick and combed my hair. It was a bit greasy from my helmet, but I didn't have time to wash it. I grabbed a few biscuits and a banana and drove back to work. Thank goodness I didn't have a class that afternoon.

At three thirty, I got rid of my tutorial student and waited for Sophie Clark to turn up. She was late, it was nearly three forty when she walked in.

"Are you all right?" I asked, she looked very pale.

"No," she burst into tears, "I'm frightened...I don't wanna die," she sobbed. I held her as she sobbed onto my shoulder.

"Hey, come on, we don't know that yet. If they catch it early enough they can do wonders. Come on, dry your tears and let's go and find out what we're dealing with."

"We?" she said.

"Well, you asked for my help didn't you?"

"Yes," she sniffed.

"Well, you've got it, we're in this together now."

"Lady Cameron, you're so kind."

"It's, Cathy, and don't tell everyone, they'll all want to hand in their stuff late."

She laughed as we walked to the car.