Collateral Damage [JAMES - Casual]

[laz]

A.J. made a point never to sit in the front row for any class. That was a place reserved for the attention seeking, competitive, hand-flailing-when-they-know-the-answer snobs who if this were an 80s movie would have pocket protectors and excessively large glasses. Aurora sat in the third row off on the left side away from the flailing arms, away from the twenty pound binders and away from the pale, piercing eyes of Professor Edwards. She had a single subject notebook, three pens of varying colors, and the class textbook. If this were an 80s movie, AJ would be the stoic indie kid; seemingly carefree with her devil-may-care urban fashion and quiet rhetoric but, turns out to be a closet intellectual.

Professor Edwards was finishing up his lecture so the TA stood up and began distributing the corrected essays from last week. AJ watched the boy walk up and down the rows methodically checking names with faces before handing over the paper. It took what seemed like ages for him to finally appear in front of her. He looked at her, looked at the name, looked at her, looked at the name before releasing the essay. It slid across the desk facedown. AJ lightly stopped it with her palm, her heart beating deep in her chest. It didn’t matter how many papers she’d written in college, she always got the same terrified sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach each time they were handed back. This was the first paper of the semester for Professor Edwards and she’d heard all about his grading scale. AJ spent everyday since he assigned the essay working on it.

She flipped the page over and stopped breathing. The students around her began collecting their things but, she remained frozen in place staring at the circled letter. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, it was a B. Reopening her eyes she slid her books into her bag and zipped up her leather jacket. AJ waited a moment for the rest of the class to pile out before walking down the steps of the lecture hall toward Professor Edwards. Her back ached as she walked, the remnants of a little parkour mishap a few nights ago. There were small abrasions on her knuckles and one just below her right eye; nothing terribly noticeable but, painful nonetheless.

Her boots barely made a sound as she walked. She paused a few paces away from him, “Professor Edwards, may I talk with you about my paper?” her voice was soft and even. She wasn’t going to beg for a grade bump, she’d gotten B’s before, it wasn’t that big of a deal but, it would be nice to figure out what she could do to get an A next time. She may not have been competitive with others about grades but, she took pride in doing well. A high GPA looked great on applications, hell it’d gotten her this damn scholarship to NYU, otherwise she’d be going to community college and working at McDonald’s. She gently brushed her hair behind her ear wondering if James was as much of a hard ass as everyone said. Her bet was yes.

[JAMES MORIARTY EDWARDS]

James hated his job with a passion at times. It was a mood that usually passed when he found a new way to make his students ever more miserable than they already were. This particular go around, James decided to take his frustrations out on their essays. Normally, he, like any other professor, he would mark the essays up, pointing out every little flaw and making comments, but this time he restrained himself. This time, James just put a letter grade at the top of the papers and called it a day. There were some students who it would drive crazy and James counted on that.

If he was miserable, they were going to be too.

Making his TA hand back almost 120 papers was a bit on the cruel side as well but really, what was the point of having a TA if one didn't make them do the grunt work? James straightened up his lecture notes at the front of the room as the papers were passed back. Surely one or two students would confront him about their grade. And when they did he would, in a polite, professional way, tell them to go cry in their corner.

He was not a popular teacher and he liked that.

James thrived on respected earned through fear and hate. It gave him an insane amount of power which, of course, he loved. James was addicted to power. It was one of the many reasons why he became a professor. He held these students' educational future in his hands and he loved to destroy them. James purposely assigned almost impossible tasks and made the test painfully difficult to complete. It was a game to him.

“Professor Edwards, may I talk with you about my paper?”

James looked up from his task. Aurora Scarlett, student there on scholarship; she was taking all of his courses.

"What is there to discuss? You got a solid B."

[laz]

There was a list of reasons AJ didn’t like sitting up front and Professor James Edwards was reason number one. Fear wasn’t a word that AJ liked to use because, it wasn’t fear exactly that he instilled in her. It was belittlement. The man had power at this University and he squandered in it. Even the President was scared of him. She’d heard stories about him; past students who claimed him to be the hardest professor at NYU. AJ was curious, to be sure, about him but, knew better than to quench that curiosity. However, graduation requirements had another plan for Aurora. A double major in Political Science and English was tough enough as it was but, in order to graduate on time she’d have to take three of her core classes with Professor Edwards. AJ could literally hear her GPA flushing down the toilet.

Professor James Edwards was famous for his “no A” policy and it was literally going to kill her. AJ was a straight A student and she needed a high GPA for the internships and graduate schools she was looking into. A dent to that lovely 3.9 would skew her chances especially against Lucy Fairbanks who was going for the same internship this summer. Lucy was a first row sitter; a hand flailing, GPA competitive, snob who did what ever she could to taunt AJ. Oh, and she didn’t have a single class with Professor Edwards. AJ was in trouble and she knew there was no chance that Edwards was going to give her an inch.

Professor Edwards glanced up from his notes, his steely gaze meeting hers. She immediately felt her lungs constrict; this wasn’t going to go well, she could already tell.

"What is there to discuss? You got a solid B."

A solid B. She remained emotionless although she wanted desperately to laugh. The sad thing was that there was no outward pressure for AJ to succeed; it was all inner motivation. She just wanted to prove to the world that a poor kid from a terrible neighborhood, who witnessed her father’s murder, could overcome all the shit she’d been through and do something great with her life. Hell, she just wanted to prove it to herself.
“I understand that your grades are final, sir. I was just hoping that you might be able to tell me what I’d need to do to get an A on the next paper.” It wasn’t like he’d left any comments on the margins. No, there was just a thick B circled in red at the top of the page. Because, that was extremely helpful to students. This was one of those tests that they were talking about; he enjoyed fucking with people. Her job was to keep it from bothering her. Good luck with that.

[JAMES MORIARTY EDWARDS]

“I understand that your grades are final, sir. I was just hoping that you might be able to tell me what I’d need to do to get an A on the next paper.”

James raised his eyebrow at Scarlett. Of course that's what she would ask. Some students took his class because they had to and some students took his class just to see if he was really as tough as the rumors made him out to be. That idea always amused him: he was some sort of challenge to the students. Those who passed his class at all were the lucky ones, the ones who got B's were champions.

James loved being the monster of the university. It gave him something to look forward to.

James turned back to his papers, continuing to sort them. "In order to get an A, Miss Scarlett, all you have to do is answer the essay prompt adequately enough to warrant receiving one." It was his policy to never tell students what they would have to do to earn an A. For one thing, it would take the fun out of learning (fun in his opinion, that is). In addition, it would discourage people even further. It was nearly impossible to get an A because James only doled them out to people

"Simply put, do better."

[laz]

"In order to get an A, Miss Scarlett, all you have to do is answer the essay prompt adequately enough to warrant receiving one."

He was trying to get a rise out of her; it was how he operated. He got some sick pleasure out of making others suffer and while it bothered AJ immensely she took pride in her composure. Keeping her eyes on him as she spoke she couldn’t help but wonder what had turned him into such a hard ass. Certainly, people couldn’t be born that way. But, perhaps it was just as simple as that. No torturous parents or traumatic childhood; just sadism. AJ had dealt with her fair share of sadists and essentially the trick was not to let them see your emotions. The moment you’re vulnerable they gain all the power. Now, this was a lot easier said than done but, she’d try her best.

"Simply put, do better."

She may not have agreed with his methods but, Professor Edwards was right in some respects. AJ would have to do better. She was certain she’d preformed above average work but, that was not so in the eyes of her professor. She would just have to work harder on the next essay; although, she doubted that would earn her an A. He’d come up with some reason to bump it down to a B whether it was justified or not. Her back cramped as she shifted her books from one arm to the other. Her lips pursed as she stifled a wince, “Fair enough.” AJ murmured. There was really no sense in arguing.

She didn’t smile as she spoke. Her face remained emotionless and calm; her tone soft and polite. If it had been Robin he would have had a few choice words for Professor Edwards. That and explicit hand gesture. Not AJ. She wasn’t going to go with the flow, most certainly not, but she was going to comply for the time being. No sense in being the cog in the works until she had to be. “Thank you for your time.”
Unfortunately, she’d be back later that day for a lecture on Thomas Hardy. She’d read through the collection of works Professor Edwards had assigned and then took it upon herself to read the rest of his pieces. He wasn’t to be trusted, this James Edwards.

Do not do an immoral thing for moral reasons. That’s what Hardy had written in Jude the Obscure. And yet, AJ did immoral things every day for so called right reasons. Was she any better than James? She would like to think so but, it’s probably not the case. Her stitches on her shoulder pulled again; the white patch of the bandage peeked out over the edge of her shirt. It was probably time to have the wound cleaned again but, she was too preoccupied with Professor Edwards’ eyes. Each time he glanced up from his papers she saw something dark deep within those glinting blue eyes.

My argument is that War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading. Perhaps Thomas Hardy and James had something in common. Perhaps, AJ had something in common with James. She turned to leave but, paused. She may not be able to get a straight answer from him about grades but, perhaps he could be helpful in another way. AJ spun slowly back around to face him, “Sir, I’m curious. I was going to write my essay on Public Domain but, unfortunately I wasn’t able to find a proper amount of evidence to support my thesis. Arrest records for citizens over eighteen are considered public domain and the 4th District Court of Appeals in Springfield ruled internal affairs files are a public record regardless of the outcome of the probe. What about dismissed cases. You know the ones that get thrown out before they make it to court. Could those be considered public domain?”

[JAMES MORIARTY EDWARDS]

“Sir, I’m curious. I was going to write my essay on Public Domain but, unfortunately I wasn’t able to find a proper amount of evidence to support my thesis. Arrest records for citizens over eighteen are considered public domain and the 4th District Court of Appeals in Springfield ruled internal affairs files are a public record regardless of the outcome of the probe. What about dismissed cases. You know the ones that get thrown out before they make it to court. Could those be considered public domain?”

"Miss Scarlett." James snapped, turning around and fixing her with a pointed look. "I am not a personal resource for you to pick at. There's this called a library you see, and inside the library are books. When you open the books, there are little words that will tell you what you need." James raised an eyebrow, wondering what on earth possessed this stupid girl to ask him that. What a ridiculous thing. Did she honestly think that he had time to cater to her personal research needs? He was far too busy for that, especially when it was a simple minded, too quiet bint who was asking him. She wasn't an outstanding student, she wasn't a poor student, she didn't deserve any extra attention or help until she earned.

And at that point, she most definitely hadn't earned it.

Students like Miss Scarlett exhausted James. He was very clear what he expected from them and what he would give. He had office hours for a reason and any student disrespectful enough to bother him during teaching hours was useless.

"If, after you've thoroughly scoured the expansive law section in the library and your question, however banal, has not been answered, drop by my office hours and we will discuss it." James turned back to what he was doing, finally getting everything ready for his next class.

"Is that all, Miss Scarlett?"

[laz]

He snapped. AJ didn’t look surprised, she kept a steady gaze. The professor was clearly irritated, in fact, irritated probably didn’t do it justice. She couldn’t quite tell you what he was; but, she did have the notion that he might slap her if she asked any more questions. Is that all, Miss Scarlett? he’d cocked an eyebrow and she knew this was a hint to get the fuck out of his face.

AJ knew that he wasn’t going to be easy to talk to; he had a reputation as a prick. But, she had assumed he’d be more willing to talk about Law than her essay. Most professors liked to talk about their disciplines. In fact, you usually had to shut them up because they can talk for hours about their research. But, Professor Edwards was clearly different. You couldn’t get him to start. She had to urge to tell him to pull out the stick that was shoved up his ass but, decided she didn’t want to become a bigger blip on his radar. Robin would have said it but, he didn’t have an entire semester left with him. AJ would simply have to do the research it herself; as if she had the time.

“Yes, sir. Thank you for your time.” she retorted smoothly, nodding her head slightly. Not slightly enough, the stitches in her shoulder pulled with her neck and ignoring the pain was growing harder by the second. She’d taken the last two painkillers the night before and hadn’t had a chance to run to the store yet today because of classes that morning. Her eye twitched ever so slightly and her lips pursed at the corners as she bit back the urge to cry out. Doctor Lanyon had done excellent work on her back but, even he couldn’t curb the pain. She turned away from Professor Edwards, her hand instinctively brushing the hair away from her neck so she could massage the pain away with her fingers.

What a week, eh? Almost get shanked on a rooftop, get knifed in the back, and have your professor tell you that you are an insolent little bitch who doesn’t have a brain or a future. Well, not in so many words. She murmured a “see you next period” as she headed for the door. There was a slight gap between the classes but, basically it was back to back torture with this son of a bitch every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Joy.