Follow up to "Dinner and Taxes"

[athenaktt]

Title: Rumor Mill
Author: AthenaKTT
Rating: All ages
Disclaimer: I don't own characters or Atlantis, don't so me.
Pairing: Sheppard and Weir
Summary: I'm picking up on a plot bunny inspired from barker9 about the possible headline John teased about in Dinner and Taxes


Doctor Radek Zelenka sat in the lab he shared with Doctor Rodney McKay reading the Langford Daily newspaper, while Rodney busily searched for something among his mess of papers. Instead of finding what he searched for, he found an open bag of chips.

“Radek, have you seen my notes?” Rodney asked looking into the bag of chips.

“Your notes are where you left it Rodney, and I’m pretty sure they aren’t in that bag of stale chips,” the Czech scientist said without looking away from his newspaper.

“They are obviously not where I left them,” Rodney said annoyed. “Are you sure you didn’t move my notes just to spite me?”

“No, Rodney, I didn’t touch your notes, especially after that one incident your assistant accidentally moved your notes,” Radek said pushing up his glasses with a finger.

“I wasn’t that mean to her,” Rodney said popping a stale chip into his mouth. “I just chided her a little.”

“You made her cry.”

“She was just overly sensitive,” he said eating another stale chip.

“I don’t know…Comparing accidentally destroying the world to accidentally moving your notes is a bit extreme.”

“Whatever.” Rodney tossed the bag of chips on top of the pile of papers in front of him and started to look under another pile. “Did anyone come in here today?”

Radek lowered the paper he was reading and looked at Rodney. “Doctor Carter was here earlier.”

“Really? Was she looking for me?” Rodney asked hopefully.

“No, she said something about notes and teaching a lesson.”

“Notes and teaching a lesson?” Rodney stopped searching and looked in Radek’s direction. “What were her exact words?”

Radek tried to remember Sam’s exact words. “She said ‘This will teach McKay to take my notes again.’ I think that’s what she said.”

“Did she say anything else?”

“Yeah, she told me to tell you to go suck a lemon.”

Rodney smiled at Radek’s report. Radek furrowed his eyebrows and wondered if all the stale potato chips Rodney had eaten had finally rotted his brain.

“Rodney, you have a very skewed perception of affection.”

“I know. Isn’t that great?” Rodney said, still lost in his thoughts of Doctor Carter.

“I think she took them,” Radek said.

“Hm.?”

“Your notes, I think Doctor Carter took them.”

Finally Rodney’s mind snapped back to reality. “And you let her leave with it?!”

“I’m just here to make sure you two don’t blow up the university, not to be your martyr,” Radek said and lifted up the newspaper he was reading again.

Doctor Carter was definitely a sly one to come and take his notes while he was out. Rodney knew that she couldn’t keep herself away from him. At least now he had an excuse to go and find her at her lab.

He was about to go and find Sam, but he remembered that she was lecturing a class at this time. She always seemed to have lectures when he was free, and had her breaks when he was teaching. Rodney figured that it was probably just another hurdle destiny had thrown in their path of true love.

Since he didn’t have his notes to work on, Rodney just sat behind the table and watched Radek read. Then something on the back of the newspaper caught his eye. He walked closer to read the headline on the other side of the of Radek’s paper.

The next thing Radek knew, Rodney had grabbed the paper from his hands.

“I knew it!” Rodney exclaimed reading the back of the paper.

“Uh…I was still reading that,” Radek looked at the empty space between his hands.

“Look at this.” Rodney folded the paper and pointed to the headliner in big black bold letters “Doctor Weir Says Doctor Sheppard is Dreamy.”

“I saw that. What about it?” Radek shrugged.

“It’s proof that Elizabeth is dating Sheppard.”

Radek furrowed his eyes at Rodney’s claim. “That quote doesn’t mean their dating. A lot of people think Sheppard is dreamy. I think he’s dreamy.”

Rodney looked at Radek oddly. “You’re strange.”

“I work with you. Strange is a compliment.”

“Shut up and listen to this. ‘Over the course of the semester, there have been reports that Mathematics Professor Doctor John Sheppard can be found more often in the office of Doctor Elizabeth Weir, School of Law Dean, than his own. Those who’ve worked closely with the pair state that they are only good friends and nothing more.’ Yeah, right. I’ve seen them eating dinner together,” Rodney said.

“You’ve eaten dinner with me and we hang out together all the time. Doesn’t mean we’re dating,” Radek pointed out.

“This isn’t the same. Elizabeth thinks he’s ‘dreamy’.”

“And I think you’re insane. I prefer it when you’re building nuclear bombs to gossiping.”

Radek grabbed his newspaper back from Rodney and opened it back to the page he was reading before Rodney rudely interrupted him.

Sitting at one of the tables outside of the campus café, Elizabeth enjoyed the beautiful spring morning as she looking through her palm pilot and listened to her assistant Kyle, explain the little situation that occurred yesterday.

“I don’t know what happened,” said a young man nervously brushing his hand through his blond hair and his blue eyes watched Elizabeth.

Elizabeth calmly took a sip from her coffee and looked at Kyle. She was slightly amused by her assistant’s nervousness.

“Calm down, Kyle. So what happened exactly?” Elizabeth asked.

“I was setting up the reception area for guest speakers before the panel like you told me to. I remember you said something about a case of wine in the back room, which was reserved for the guests, and not to touch them with out your permission,” Kyle began.

Elizabeth nodded clicking something one her palm pilot screen. “I guess my question was what happened to the case of wine? I’d understand if someone swiped a bottle or two, but a whole case?”

“I was in the backroom making a tally of all the supplies in the backroom. Just to make sure everything was where it was suppose to be. The case of wine was there. Then Nora came asking me to help her out with one of the tables. When I came back into the backroom, the case wasn’t there anymore, and I was gone for no more then a couple minutes. At first I thought someone had taken the wine and moved it somewhere else. When I couldn’t find it anywhere, I called you.”

Elizabeth finally looked up and gave Kyle a blank look. “Sounds like the case of things spontaneously going missing has visited the Law School,” Elizabeth shrugged. “Besides relax everything went as planned last night. You and Nora were able to by the lost case of wine. The guest speakers got their two-hour to talk; we provided them with food and refreshments. Everyone is happy again.”

Kyle scratched his head in confusion. He was sure he was going to get a scolding for somehow losing a case of wine. It wasn’t expensive wine, but still he managed to lose a case of wine.
“I don’t understand. You sounded pretty pissed when I talked to you yesterday on the phone,” he said hesitantly.

“I wasn’t pissed. I admit I was irritated, but when you called me, I just got out of a very long meeting with the Board of Trustees,” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “And I’m sure you know how long winded Robert Kinsey can be.”

Kyle nodded. “I’ve read about him. He doesn’t seem like a fun one to be around.”

“No, not at all.” Elizabeth made a face when she thought about the meeting. “He has a way of getting under your skin, but we won’t get into that. I believe you have class right now.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kyle said and excused himself.

“And Kyle don’t worry about it. I’m sure the case of wine will turn up somewhere,” she said waving to Kyle.

Elizabeth decided to sit outside longer before heading into her office since it was still early. She took another sip of her coffee as she read over a student’s essay.

As Elizabeth was about to write a comment on the essay, someone tossed the day’s issue of Langford Daily in front of her. Elizabeth was about to complain about the sudden rude interruption, but then she saw the headline in bold black letters. ‘Doctor Elizabeth Weir Says Doctor John Sheppard is Dreamy.’

“What is this?” Elizabeth asked looking up the find the red haired professor Doctor Jacqueline Hathor taking a seat where Kyle had recently vacated.

“Well, well, well, looks like our little diplomat has caught the attention of Doctor Sheppard,” Jacqueline said, leaning back in the chair and crossing her legs.

“Is this a joke?” Elizabeth asked skimming through the article.

“You tell me Doctor Weir. I heard rumors of the two of you floating around, but I didn’t think you had the skills to seduce a man like Doctor Sheppard.”

Elizabeth saw no point in confirming or denying this bit of news to someone that she loathed. If it were any other colleague, she would have immediately clear up the rumor, but since it was Jacqueline, Elizabeth decided it was best to leave it.

“Am I sensing a hit of jealousy in your voice Hathor?” Elizabeth asked amused.

Jacqueline let out a haughty laugh, “Of course not, I can get any man I want Elizabeth. If I really wanted John Sheppard, I can have him.”

“Really?” Elizabeth asked raising an eyebrow. Elizabeth resisted the urge to accidentally spill her coffee on Jacqueline.

“Just watch,” Jacqueline said.

“Sure thing,” Elizabeth said gathering her things. “Excuse me I have to go.” Elizabeth gave Jacqueline a curt nod and left.

Elizabeth would definitely be watching how John would handle the university’s infamous seductress.

John was loitering by Peter’s desk, when Elizabeth arrived at her office.

Elizabeth walked right passed him into her office with him he trailing behind her.

“Did you see this?” Elizabeth tossed the newspaper on her desk.

John closed the office door and held up his own copy for Elizabeth to see. “Peter just handed it to me. Is this real?”

“Did you read it yet?”

John sighed, “Yeah, now everyone knows my hiding place is here.” He plopped down into the chair in front of Elizabeth’s desk.

“Reading this article is like reading my resume,” Elizabeth said taking her seat and scooting her chair forward. “I didn’t know you like, college football, Ferris wheels, and anything that goes more than two hundred miles per hour.”

“Now you do,” he said. “It says here that you are a skilled diplomat who can handle any tough negotiations, and that you are definitely a prime example of grace under pressure,” John said, reading from his own copy. “And you have a pet dog named Sedge. I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“Now you do.” Elizabeth shrugged and started to search the article for a passage. “Here it is, ‘From an undisclosed source, it was heard in a private meeting between the couple that Doctor Weir had described Doctor Sheppard as dreamy. As many other students of Doctor Sheppard have been known to describe him as.’ Who is this undisclosed source?” Elizabeth wondered. “You didn’t do this right?”

“Of course not, though this is kind of funny. Who knew my imagination had the power to make things come true.”

“If only,” Elizabeth muttered. “You think that in a university such as Langford. The school paper would focus on more important news like world politics, global warming, third world countries, or even sports.”

“But reading gossip about professors is so much more interesting. Wasn’t it last year Jack O’Neill and Samantha Carter were an item? What ever happened to that rumor?”

“They found us,” Elizabeth said dryly.

“You know what they say. You aren’t famous until there are rumors about you.”

“I don’t want to be famous.” Elizabeth tossed the paper aside and leaned back into her chair. “That’s why I came here, to get away from it all.”

“So what are we going to do about this?” John asked.

“What is there to do about it?”

“Either we explain ourselves or have an affair. I personally think the later is easier.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “What’s option C?” she asked instead.

“Find out who this ‘undisclosed source’ is,” John suggested.

“I’m sure that’s easy. We had the conversation here, who else is in earshot of our conversations everyday?” Elizabeth asked.

“You think Grodin did it?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “We won’t know unless we asked him.” Elizabeth pressed the intercom. “Peter, can you please come in here.”

Seconds later Peter walked into her office. “Yes, Doctor Weir.
“You’ve seen the newspaper article,” Elizabeth asked Peter.

"Yes, Ma’am, but I had nothing to do with it,” he said quickly.

“Peter, I’m not saying you did, but was there someone else who happen to overhear our conversation yesterday?”

“I’m sorry Doctor, I don’t know. There was moment when I had to leave my desk to make copies. Who ever the ‘undisclosed’ source is might have come by then. There are always people come in looking for you.”

“Peter is right. When I left your office yesterday, Peter wasn’t at his desk. Could have been anyone,” John said.

Elizabeth sighed. “I guess there is nothing we can do then. Thank you Peter.” Peter nodded and exited the room. “At least it’s Friday, we won’t have to go through a whole week with the rumors.”

“Not until Monday,” John said. “I guess it time I got back to work. On the bright side, maybe if everyone thinks I’m dating you. The groupies will stop stalking me.”

“I doubt it.” Elizabeth said. “And one more thing, you better add Hathor to your groupie of stalkers.”
John groaned. “Why?”

“Because she hates me,” Elizabeth smiled.

“Does she have to hate me too?” He asked as he got up to leave.

“No, she loves you,” Elizabeth teased.

“You know there is a thin line between love and hate.”

“I’m just giving you a heads up,” Elizabeth said apologetically.

“Thanks, maybe I should just stay here by your side where it’s safe.”

“Let’s leave the new rumors out of the rumor mill, at least until next week.”

“No argument there.” John quickly departed and prepared for the bombarding of questions by his colleagues.

After class John had locked himself in his office for most of the day. This strategy allowed him to avoid any unwanted visits by his colleagues and students and to actually get some work done.

It was nearly six o’clock; he figured he would be safe from any nosey students or faculty members. He basically shoved all the papers he needed into his briefcases and headed to the door. He was free and ready for the weekend. Walking down he passed Elizabeth’s office. The lights inside were off and the door was closed. Then he remembered she had to attend some social gathering for the law school. Elizabeth’s schedule was always packed. John hadn’t bothered to keep up.

Except for some students who were unlucky enough to be stuck with a late class, the campus was relatively empty. John lost in his thoughts started walking towards the direction of the parking lot. Before he reached the parking lot, he was intercepted by none other then Doctor Jacqueline Hathor.

“Doctor Hathor,” John said, groaning inwardly.

Since he started working here, he hadn’t been Hathor’s target yet, but he heard stories about her seductions of Jack O’Neill and Doctor Daniel Jackson. She was an attractive woman and apparently one of the best biology professors in the university, but there was something about her that frightened John. Might have been the fact that her name was spelled just like the Egyptian goddess of fertility, or the fact that she didn’t have a problem with wearing revealing clothing to work.

John remembered there were vocal protests by the other women professors in the faculty that objected to Hathor’s sense of style, which were more ‘suitable for clubs and bars’ but not suitable for academia. Hathor had decided to comply with ‘suitable’ clothing, but that didn’t stop her from wearing a low cut blouse or kept her from standing very close to him and having her perfume invade his nostrils.

“Doctor Sheppard, I see you’re working late,” she said.

“And so are you Doctor Hathor,” John said and continued walking. Hoping she wouldn’t follow, but she did.

“Please, call me Jacequeline or Jackie. What ever you prefer,” she said with a breathy voice.

“I prefer Doctor,” John said, holding a hand out to keep her from coming closer.

“Are you afraid of me, John?” she asked seductively caressing John’s arm.

John quickly pulled away from her touch. “No, I try to limit the number of times my name appearing on the headlines to once a week.”

“Is it true, that you are dating Doctor Weir?” She stepped in front of him to keep him from walking forward.

John was starting to get a headache from the intoxicating scent of her perfume. He didn’t know what brand it was, but it we messing with his head. He needed to think of a get away quick or he’d end up her next victim.

He frantically looked around from an escape. Then he noticed that he was by the archeology building.

“Sorry, Doctor, but I just remembered I’m late for a meeting with Doctor Jackson,” he quickly said and ran up the stairs into the archeology building.

As soon as the building door closed behind him John ducked into the first opened door he saw to make sure Hathor wasn’t following him.

He winced when he heard the door open and he heard the click of heels on the floor. John quickly slid in further into the room he was in. The next thing he knew a hand cupped over his mouth and pulled him behind a file cabinet just as Hathor stuck her head through the opened door.

“Doctor Sheppard? Doctor Jackson? You don’t think you can hide from us can you?” she hissed.

A shiver came over John as he heard Hathor say his name. The woman was dangerous. When she finally left, the hand over his mouth released him and he let out a sigh of relief.

John looked around the room and found that it was obviously someone’s office with artifacts from all over the world placed in an organized mess around the room. He turned around to see Doctor Jackson.

“Doctor Jackson.” John was surprised to actually run into the scapegoat that he used as his get away. “Thanks.”

Daniel peered out from the side of the cabinet to if the coast was clear and if Hathor was gone. “No problem. Why is Hathor stalking you?”

“Elizabeth said something about Hathor hating her and now I’m her new prey.”

Daniel raised his brows the furrowed them, “Sounds like something Hathor would do.”

Suddenly Daniel froze. “Someone is coming.” Daniel pushed John back into their hiding corner and waited.

Jonas Quinn walked into the office munching on a granola bar. Jonas stopped in the middle of the room, furrowed his eyebrows, and turned towards the corner John and Daniel were hiding in.

He looked at them oddly. “Hathor?” The two men nodded. “She’s gone. I just saw her walk after Dixon.”

John and Daniel simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

“Aren’t you afraid of Hathor?” John asked Jonas.

Jonas shook his head taking another bite for his granola bar. “This is good. Who know a simple bar with nuts, dried fruit, and oatmeal stuck together could be so fulfilling.”

“Jonas here has to deal with Doctor Nirreti,” Daniel said patting Jonas on the back.

“You mean the genetics professor?” John asked.

“Yup, she’s obsessed with Jonas’s genes apparently, and Hathor doesn’t mess with Nirreti,” Daniel told John.

John nodded. He was starting wonder what other strange women was part of the faculty. “So the stories about Hathor are true?”

“Pretty much,” Jonas grinned, “Daniel knows first-handedly.”

“Hey, she drugged me!” Daniel said.

“She drugged you? How? Even with those arms?!” John said, pointing to Daniel’s well toned arms.

“That is the reason I got the arms,” Daniel said.

“Too bad those arms don’t keep Vala away,” Jonas winked at Daniel and pulled out a book from one of the shelves.

“Vala is a fruit cake! The woman is crazy and violent,” Daniel insisted.

“Are there any normal women in this university?” John wondered.

“Sure there are,” Daniel thought for a moment, “a few,” he added. “You’re dating one of them.”

John rolled his eyes. “Elizabeth and I aren’t dating. I think. You know what? I’m not even sure anymore.
Everyone keeps insisting that we are dating. I’m starting to think we are dating.”

“I know the feeling,” Daniel said.

“Really?”

“No, I was just trying to be sympathetic,” Daniel shrugged.

“I’m hungry,” Jonas announced. “You guys want to head to the local pub for dinner and a couple drinks?”

“I can sure use a drink right now,” John said.

“Let’s go,” Jonas said clapping his hand and rubbing them together.

Jack O’Neill hated social functions, yet he was standing in a party hall with overdressed people. He tugged at his necktie. He didn’t even know why he was here. This was a party for lawyers, and he sure as hell wasn’t a lawyer. He’d rather be fishing. At least the food was good. He picked another hor’dourves from a waiter that walked passed him with a tray.

Jack hated the senseless mingling that was required in these kinds of parties. He quickly finished the glass of champagne in his hand replaced it on a tray and took another glass to replace the first.
His eyes wandered over the crowds of people, and his eyes landed on a curly browned haired woman dressed in a deep red dress with a draping neckline and a low back to compliment it.

Finally someone he knew. He made his direction towards the woman, who was expertly entertaining the couple she conversed with. Jack arrived at the woman’s side as the couple politely departed to mingle with another couple.

“Doctor Elizabeth Weir.”

“Jack,” Elizabeth smiled, “I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you’d be doing something fun.”

“This is fun,” Jack held his hands out, “and you look very nice.

“Thank you, Jack. You look very dashing yourself. You should dress up more often.”

“No, thank you. If I don’t have to, I won’t. You look especially nice tonight. Dressed up for a ‘dreamy’ someone?” he teased.

Elizabeth gave Jack a look. “That is going to haunt me forever isn’t it?”

“You betcha. As long as they don’t have my name in the headlines again, I’m a happy camper.” Jack grinned and took a drink from his glass. “So how much longer do I have to stay here, before I can leave without being rude?”

“You are actually worried about being rude?”

“Actually I’m looking for some cake. I overheard someone say the chocolate cake was enticing and tantalizing to the taste buds.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “I don’t know about enticing and tantalizing to the test buds, but I think the cake is at the other side of the room. Where’s Doctor Carter?”

“She didn’t want to come. She said she’s having fun torturing McKay,” Jack said. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Don’t look at me,” Jack said. “I have no idea what goes on in the physic department wars. Now where was that cake again?”

Elizabeth smiled and pointed to a spot in the room.

Jack looked at the general direction that Elizabeth pointed to. “I guess that is where I’m headed first then. Don’t try to have too much fun now.”

Elizabeth waved good bye to Jack, who quickly disappeared into the crowd. Then she looked around the room to see who she hadn’t mingled with yet, and made her way to continue working the crowd. This was going to be a long night.

With his chin resting on one hand waiting, Daniel drummed his other hands on the bar counter. Daniel was sure Harry Maybourne was purposely making him wait for his beers. He should have sent Jonas or Sheppard to get the next round of beers. He turned to see Jonas eating a French fry and John telling some sort of joke.

Daniel tried to peer into the backroom to see what illegal activities the Harry might be conspiring with. Finally Harry came out with a case of wine. He saw Daniel waiting and put the case down behind the bar.

“Daniel, didn’t see you. Where’s Jack?” Harry asked.

“Jack is at some social function.”

“I see suit and tie type deal. I bet he’s having lots of fun. What can I get you?”

Daniel noticed that not long after Harry came out of the backroom, he saw Apophis and his two minions Bob and Steve slip out the front door.

“Three beers,” Daniel said holding up three fingers. “You know that Apophis and his boys have a bad rep right?”

“Really? I didn’t notice. They are always selling me extra stuff. Today they got me this case of wine.”

“Do you even know where they got it from?” Daniel asked with suspicion.

“As long as the stuff is good. I don’t care.”

“What if it’s stolen?”

“Hey I don’t know if it’s stolen. My philosophy, don’t ask.” Harry shrugged.

“Don’t ask. Don’t tell. Right?”

“No, I just don’t ask.” He lined three pints of beers on the bar. “Here you go three beers. Enjoy,” Harry said, holding and shaking a tip jar.

Daniel put the glasses he had gathered in his hand back down again and shelled out some loose change in his pocket and dropped them into the jar. Daniel pushed the three glasses together again so he could carry all three at once to their table.

On his way back to the table a couple of his students flirtatiously waved a hello to him. Daniel only nodded and smiled obliviously and continued towards his table. He placed the drinks at the center of the table and plopped back down on his seat.

“What did I miss?” Daniel asked.

“We were talking about how you are oblivious to the students who stalk you.” John grabbed his drink and took a gulp.

Daniel looked confused. “I have student’s that stalk me?”

“What about those girls over there? The ones that just said hi to you,” John said nodded his head in the direction of the girls.

“Oh them, I always bump into them here and there,” Daniel said.

“And everywhere,” Jonas added.

“Yes ‘bump’ into them. Let me guess these are the same girls who happen to always come to your office hours and they ask most of the questions in class,” John said popping French fry in his mouth.

“And they are actually interested in your theories bout the Egyptian Pyramids being alien landing platforms,” Jonas said.

“My theories are valid. I just haven’t found the proof that I need to convince the general public.”

“Frankly, I don’t think the general public is ready for your theories yet Doctor Jackson,” John said leaning back into his chair and dangling an arm over the back of the chair.

“I don’t think so either,” Daniel agreed.

“That’s why he’s teaching in the middle of no where,” Jonas said with his mouth full.

“At least here, Doctor Jackson can work on a new theory about crop circles,” John teased.

“Very funny guys, so you guys are going to spend the rest of the night making fun of me?” Daniel asked crossing his arms across his chest.

“Not all night. Just for one more hour,” Jonas said, in between bites of his burger.

John walked the empty streets of the campus as he headed back to his office. After his dinner with Daniel and Jonas, he remembered he left something he needed in his office.

It had been a while since John had been on campus at night. The campus was dark except for some buildings with dim lights and streetlights lighting the paths for some unlucky soul stuck working late. The atmosphere of the campus at night was different. It was quiet and relaxing. During the day it always seemed as though people were rushing everywhere. Rushing to class, rushing to eat, rushing to turn in homework, rushing to an exam, rushing to their offices, rushing to a meeting, everyone was always rushing. At night there was none of that, and John enjoyed this by languidly walking to towards his office.

John used his keys, entered the building, and continued his leisure walk down the dimly lit halls of the building. The halls were empty and it felt odd that he was in the building all by himself, but he liked it. He opened the door to his office, found the papers he needed, and stepped back into the empty hallway again. Then he noticed a light come on from one of the doors down the hall. It was either someone who forgot something, like him, or someone who was a workaholic working late.

Curiosity struck him and he decided to observe who else was in the building with him. As he got closer to the opened door, he realized the light was coming from Elizabeth’s office.
He peered into the office door and saw Peter’s desk was empty, but the door to Elizabeth’s office was open and he could hear the shuffling of papers inside. He stepped carefully inside Elizabeth’s office to find Elizabeth’s back to him. She still wore the red dress she wore earlier at the social gathering.
The sight stunned John. Elizabeth always dressed well, but tonight she was exceptionally beautiful.

When John entered her office, Elizabeth had one hand reaching up on the topmost shelf for a book, but even with the extra height from her heels, she still couldn’t quite reach it. John quick stepped up beside her.

“Here, let me get that.” He easily pulled the book she wanted and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said, her face was flushed from her struggle to get the book earlier. “What are you still doing on campus?”

“I forgot some of my notes, so I had to come back for them. I thought you were at a party. And the looks of your outfit, I guess you were…You look beautiful,” John finally said.

Elizabeth blushed. “Thank you, John.”

“So why are you here?” John asked, scratching the back of his head.

“When I was at the party, I remembered I had to look up something. As soon as I had a chance to leave, I came here. I just got here,” she said, walking over to her desk and picked up the shawl she carelessly threw on her chair.

“I know.”

“You know?”

“When I went to my office, your office door was still closed.”

“I see,” Elizabeth nodded and wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. “So how did you survive the rumor mill today?”

“I’m still here,” John smirked.

Elizabeth smiled, “Yes you are. At least it’s the weekend now; hopefully by Monday there will be some new
rumors to go around.”

After Elizabeth secured her shawl around her shoulders, she picked up her purse and the book she came for and ushered John out as she turned off the lights and locked her office door.

“For some reason, I feel obligated to offer you my arm, since I’m being escorted by a lovely lady,” John said, offering his right arm for Elizabeth as they walked out of the building.

Elizabeth laughed and obliged John’s offer and hooked her hand through John’s arm.

“Now do you feel like a gentleman?” Elizabeth teased.

“I’m always a gentleman,” John protested.

“Except when you are running away from your female groupies.”

“Okay not always just usually. Happy now?”

Elizabeth smiled and held onto John’s arm tighter. “Yes, quite happy.”

“I have a question,” John said, when they reached Elizabeth’s car. “Are we dating?”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow as she let go of John’s arm to open her car door. “That’s not a question a gentleman asks a lady,” she with a beautiful smile and got into her car.

John was confused by Elizabeth’s vague response. But by now Elizabeth’s car had long gone. All he remembered was the smile she gave him before getting into her car. John shook his head. He had never understood women before and probably never will. He decided it was better leave that question for another time.