Him

I stared at the familiar screen of glowing fibers and with a solemn expression I drew my hand to my lip as if I was going to tear a piece off. Instead of a bit of chapped lip skin a gold needle with a hollow sphere formed. The image of him doing this same process flickered across my eyes as I let out an exhale, finalizing the needle's transformation. Making it silver.

"Activate: Glaixul." I ordered. 

"Glaixul activated." The threads lost their glow.

"Glaixul, a strawberry shake with a burger please, at Wesley College." I gasped, feeling a coldness spark underneath my eyes. I bit my tongue a little before turning around leaving the small little room. 

"About time you finished ordering!" A cheery voice called out, an arm wrapping around my shoulders. I offered a weak smile looking at the brunette.

"Oh hush Travis." I say with a laugh. His chuckle was real and true. He pulled me close, kissing the top of my head. My chest clenched. 

"Sorry Samantha. It just takes so long for me to get Glaixul activated." Travis replies, his arm now around my waist. I nodded understandingly.

"I get it. You'll master it soon enough, hm?"

"Hopefully. I've heard it's draining, the more you do it." He says a little disappointingly. My jaw clenched. "Is that true?" He asked looking at me. I glanced at him, avoiding those bright green eyes. He's not him, quit it Sam. I grumble. 

"It does, yeah. You'll get cold shocks underneath your eyes first." He hummed a little and we continued our walk to the college. 

Travis and I met a few years ago. I've been a professor here for a year already and he walked up to me, asking if there was a teaching spot open. There wasn't but after reviewing his credentials I hired him as an assistant. 

I shove my hands into my pockets. We've been getting closer and closer.. My mouth twitched. But I can't. I sighed, looking at him again. He seemed lost in thought, and once more I felt my chest hurt.

The two of us walked into the class hall heading to our respective desks immediately. The strawberry shake I ordered sat on mine, and the burger on his. 

Letting out a small yawn I sat down, eyeing the various amounts of essays to grade. You'd think with our magic advanced AI we wouldn't have to hand grade papers.. But nooo, we must do it as if we're in the 1900's. I groan, sipping on the shake. The cool strawberries calming me. 

"Want to split the load?" I heard Travis ask. From the corner of my eye I saw him bite into the stupid burger. 

"Sure. Take class 4's essays." I say taking another sip, sliding said essays over. He set the burger down, grabbing them. 

"Oh jeez, I can already see this kid failed.." He muttered as he stared at them, walking back to his desk. I chuckled. 

"Jari?"

"Uh.. Esme Jari? Yeah. They did it on necromancy." I snorted. "Wasn't the topic history?" He asks with a slight laugh.

"Yeah, it was." I sigh.

"How do you fuck up that bad? Good Gods." I hum in agreement.

I leaned against the back of my seat. The two of us sat here, snacking or sipping, for who knows how long, grading essays upon essays. I bit my lip before turning to look at Travis. His eyes were wide in shock as he read one of the essays. "Hey, Travis. How about we call it a day, hm?" He glanced up at me, before looking back at the essay, taking the red pen to mark it. I huff a little.

"Yeah- just lemme finish this one." A look of focus came upon him, and once more my jaw clenched. 

I shook my head standing up. Pushing in my seat, I grabbed the empty shake cup, tossing it into the garbage portal. I grabbed the burger wrapper too, tossing that as well. I shoved my hands into my pockets again leaning against the wall used for the holographic lessons. The two of us quickly left the class hall. He looked at me with a smile, one I did my best to return. His eyes faltered and he looked towards the front doors letting out a frustrated sigh of sorts.

"What is it?" I ask. He looked at me with tired eyes. Again, I saw him. He muttered something before nodding towards the door. I rose a brow following after him. "Hm?"

"It's not fair." He said a little louder, stern. I blink.

"What's not fair?" Travis scoffed.

"Seriously, Samantha?" He stopped and looked at me. I stumbled to a stop, jaw setting. 

"What?" His shoulders dropped. 

"Dane's been gone for years, Samantha. The Glaixul took him." His voice sounded tense. I gulped, inhaling deeply. "Why can't you get over him?" He looked at our feet. "You were freshman. You're a professor now." Travis whispered. I looked at the front doors, jaw clenched once more. 

Moments of silence past. 

And moments more, till it felt like an eternity. An eternity of me loving Dane too much still, and falling for Travis.

Or was I? I'm pushing him away.

"..Samantha." He says softly, hand on my shoulder. I twisted my shoulder away. Shaking my head. 

"Stop, Travis." I said plain and quiet. He blinked. "It's a mistake." He stood up straight, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Apparently." He says quietly. "Should've known that." He let out a faint laugh. "Falling for a girl not over a dead guy." His laugh turned harsh. I scowled. I looked at him, only to freeze. Travis's eyes lost their adorable warmth. They were ice cold. Dead, watery.

Yet again I saw Dane, his eyes when someone made a remark about me he didn't like. The person who gave the remark jumping him, his fists going red as he defended me. I was reminded of Travis, who would do just the same. For me.

"Tra-" He shook his head turning towards the doors. 

"Leave it, Samantha. I'm not him. Get over it."