Love Birds

Lark Summers tiredly opened the door to her apartment. Her silent apartment. Since Robin moved in with Alex shortly after the new year, it was nothing short of depressing entering her own home. To top it all off, Seth was grading papers in his office. Not at his home, or hers for that matter, like a normal professor.

Kicking her shoes off as she entered her bedroom, it took her a moment to realize what was on the bed. It wasn’t Seth, as she half hoped. But from the handwriting on the note atop the box, it was from him. In the two months they’d been dating, he’d proven full of surprises. Getting this into her apartment was one of the simpler ones.

Ripping open the envelope, Lark pulled out the sheet of paper. Seth’s letterhead stared back at her, but she ignored it, all too familiar with his many degrees.

Miss Summers, you are instructed to wear this uniform and meet me in my office no later than 2 p.m. If you are even one minute late, there will be consequences.

Professor Turner

Lark shivered at the thought – of both the consequences and what he had planned even if she was on time. Glancing at the clock, she noted she had only fifty-nine minutes to change and make it across town to the American University campus. Should she be late just for the punishment?

Tossing the lid to the box aside, she pulled out a white shirt so sheer as to be almost invisible. “Naughty professor,” she muttered.
Her cell chirped and she snatched it up, half expecting it to be Seth. It was Paige Nightingale.

“Can’t talk long, Nightingale,” she said, tossing the shirt onto the bed. “I have an appointment with a professor.”

“Enjoy,” she said, but didn’t sound too happy. “I have to work.”
Lark paused in taking her shoes off and sat straight. “I thought you were doing something with Adam?”

“We are,” she replied. “Were. Don’t know what’s happening now, but I’m still at the office and it hasn’t been a pretty day.”

“Oh,” she nodded, and resumed changing. “I’m sorry. Let me know if you managed anything.”

“Enjoy your professor!” Nightingale laughed, and the line went dead.
Lark looked back at the clothes on her bed. “Oh, I will.”