Eric looked surprised. “Professor Audley? Isn’t she a little…” Lost for words, he made a face like he’d eaten something rancid. With a little laugh, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, that was rude, I haven’t even really met her. She kinda keeps to herself, you know?”

He looked helplessly around the room like he was searching for an answer to the second thing, her request. “I, ah… well, there’s not a whole lot that needs doing, I don’t have a lot here. And I’m not sure, really, how long I’ll be staying. But if I find anything? You’re my girl.”

Eric tossed the other half of cookie in his mouth and brushed his hands off. “That’s great!” On so many levels, he thought. “Do you like it? What are you doing?”

He nodded emphatically and chewed. “They’re great, well done,” he said, gesturing with the uneaten half and setting the plate down. His arms casually crossed as he leaned against the desk. “If I keel over later, though, I’ll know to blame you.”

Suddenly he realized there wasn’t much to say other than the mundane. Not really where he wanted to go, but what else could he do… Better that than nothing at all. “So how’re classes? Anything good? Besides mine, of course. I mean, really, nothing’s more interesting than cephalopods, right?”

He took a cookie for himself and then offered the plate for her as well. “Dah wauuruh bou eh. Fwu waa wan?” he said with a childish smile, the treat hanging halfway out of his mouth. His attempt to lighten the mood. He did, however, glance back at the door to make sure it still stood open on its hinges.

He took the cookies from her with a tentative but friendly smile. “Thank you. It’s up to you, if you wanna… come in…” he said quietly, his tone warm. “I don’t want to make you feel…” He searched for a euphemism for uncomfortable. If he said it, he thought, it would instantly become that way. “My door is always open.”

To say that Eric was shocked to see her would have been an understatement. After a moment of surprised silence, he finally spoke: “Hi… Hi. Ah…” He glanced at his empty office and back to Ariel. “Come in…?” He wasn’t sure if it was a request or a question. He’d thought about her a lot and still wasn’t sure of anything really other than he really hadn’t liked the way things turned out. He’d reacted before thinking and he’d really messed things up.