Chapter 10

On Wednesday, Gideon discovered that Megs did not, in fact, understand his grading decisions. His first clue was a flash of green as she burst through the door wearing a bomber jacket and scarf, then marched to the front of the class and took the seat next to Erik. A far cry from her entrance on Monday.

"Hey, Erik," she said a little too loudly. “I missed a lot last week, can you help me catch up?"

"Of course.” Erik straightened and his mouth twisted into what Gideon could only assume was a smile. "I'll send you my notes and we can go over anything you're not sure about later."

"Thanks. I’m so glad someone here is willing to help me fill in the gaps. The notes online weren’t easy to navigate.” Her eyes flicked up to meet his, then dropped to her bag as she pulled out her laptop.

Gideon’s blood heated, but before he could open his mouth, Erik was already talking.

“Professor Adams is excellent at explaining details, but I agree, his notes aren’t the most thorough.”

Gideon’s jaw nearly hit the table. Weren’t thorough? He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. What exactly was missing in the notes?”

Erik turned, and with his mussed white hair and wide eyes, he looked like the older brother of that actor on Third Rock from the Sun. “No, Professor, I simply meant that there are some things that can’t be translated. Your lectures aren’t replaceable by diagrams and paragraphs.”

Gideon nodded once and refused to look at Megs, though he was fully aware of how she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. He made a note to go through his notes for the first two weeks of class and see if there were areas needing improvement.

The clock announced it was time for him to begin. Based on the submissions he’d received, he’d adjusted the class to delve deeper into Digital Audio Workstations, but now was regretting his decision. He struggled to share his personal music with anyone, let alone someone who was hostile.

“Would anyone be open to having their submission used as an example for today’s class?” he asked, then regretted the question when a hand shot up.

He nodded. “Thank you, Jennifer.” She beamed back at him, squeezing her arms to her side and boosting her already noticeable cleavage. Megs leaned over and whispered something to Erik. He exhaled sharply in what Gideon guessed was his version of a laugh.

This was torture. He’d spent one night with this girl, and she’d hijacked every pathway to his frontal cortex. Gideon focused on his screen and found Jennifer’s submission, then dropped it into Logic Pro. He planned to walk through at least three DAWs in class, but this was the workstation he used most frequently.

He straightened and addressed the class. “I want you to listen as I play this sample, and then we’re going to play with some settings.” Jennifer’s submission was ukulele. He’d helped her and a friend record it last week during his open hours, and she hadn’t been half bad.

Megs stared at the projection on the whiteboard with a stony expression. Gideon pressed on through the lecture, and diving into the music helped pull him out of his head. When he finally opened things up for questions and discussion, he could almost convince himself it was a typical Wednesday.

His stomach jumped into his throat when a hand raised in the air, and this time it was Megs. Gideon nodded.

“I was just wondering if you had late submission policies for assignments. I couldn’t find the information when I searched through the course information.”

Gideon’s jaw tensed. “I don’t typically deduct points. I figure if you’re willing to do the assignments anytime, you should be given credit.”

“Very generous of you.” She flashed a smile that, even after only spending one night together, he could tell wasn’t genuine. “I’m not sure if you know, but I only added this class at the end of last week.”

He nodded. Was that how they were going to play this? That they didn’t know each other? “Well, welcome. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up.”

Gideon closed his laptop and thanked everyone for attending, then pretended to busy himself with packing up his things even though it only took him a few seconds to unplug his laptop cord and slide it into his bag.

“You’re in a hurry,” Erik noted.

Megs sighed. “Yeah. I’m trying to catch someone in the admin office before I head home. Only have twenty minutes before they close.”

“What for?”

“Nothing regarding this class, just another course I was enrolled in.”

Gideon glanced up to find Erik standing next to Megs. Erik put his hands on his hips. “I’d be happy to help you anytime. I could wait in the atrium and we could go over notes after your meeting.”

Megs tensed, and Gideon had to hold back a smile. She’d been bluffing, but she didn’t know Erik well yet. He was as literal as they came, and no excuse was going to convince him they couldn’t make a study session work.

“I had a shift at work this morning, so—”

“It won’t take long. A half-hour should be sufficient.”

Megs closed her mouth and nodded. “Okay, then. After my meeting, I’ll meet you in the atrium.”

“Excellent.” Erik’s lips twisted again. Megs didn’t need to worry. Erik was harmless despite his lack of perception when it came to social cues.

Gideon picked up his bag and followed as Megs walked to the back of the class. Since he’d heard her say she was going to the admin building, he turned right and walked down the same hall. As soon as they passed through the doors to the walkway and it was less likely anyone from class would witness him talking to her, he sped up.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he fell into step next to her. Her head snapped up, but she didn’t respond. “I was putting in grades and—”

“You don’t owe me an explanation. I get that I missed the deadlines.”

Gideon worked to calm his breathing. Was she walking faster? “I didn’t mean to blindside you.”

Megs tucked her curls behind her ear. “It’s fine.”

Gideon looked toward the parking lot as they reached the fork in the sidewalk, but he didn’t turn left. Instead, he continued on with Megs toward the doors of the main building.

“What are you doing?” she asked, not looking over at him.

“Walking.”

“Your car is parked over there.”

Gideon’s pulse flared. She’d noticed his car? Or had she only remembered he’d parked there the other night? “Maybe I have business to take care of in the admin building as well.”

“What kind of business?”

His mouth went dry. “A question. For one of the counselors.”

Megs raised an eyebrow, but thankfully she didn’t dig deeper. She pulled on the door he’d swiped her through on Friday night when she’d missed her class and strode toward the front desk.

What was he doing? He didn’t have business here, but his feet kept pushing forward alongside her. She’d mentioned to Erik that she was trying to talk to someone about another course she was enrolled in, and his curiosity got the better of him. “You’re talking to someone about the certification course?”

Megs sighed. “I’m going to try to. I figure the worst they can do is echo what the professor already told me.”

Even that tiny tidbit settled him. He didn’t want to talk to Megs like a typical student—like he didn’t know anything about her life. That should’ve set off warning bells in his head, but instead, it did the opposite.

When Megs asked the secretary at the desk which office she should go to, Gideon slowed next to her, then continued on in the same direction.

“Are you going to try and convince me the counselor you’re talking to is in the office next door?”

“No, I have new business to take care of.”

Megs’ brow furrowed as she scanned the room numbers of the offices in the hall. She stopped in front of one-twelve, then finally met his eyes as she raised her closed hand to knock. “Professor, while I appreciate the extremely odd escort—”

“I’m coming with you.”

The office door opened, and Megs’ fist still hovered in the air.

“Can I help you?”

Megs spun, still reeling from the fact that Gideon had followed her to the community outreach coordinator’s office. “Uh, yes. I was hoping to meet with you about the coding certification course.”

The woman pulled the door wider and motioned for Megs to take a seat. She looked up in surprise as Gideon followed her into the room. “I’m Ms. Martinez, and you are?”

“Megs.”

“Professor Adams, from audio engineering.”

The scent of stale coffee and old paper filled Megs’ nostrils as she approached Ms. Martinez's desk. Megs sat in one of the two wide-set chairs and shot Gideon a sideways glance as he did the same. What was he doing here?

Ms. Martinez sat behind her desk and swiped a finger over her mouse scroll button. “Are you enrolled in the course? And . . . can I ask why your professor is here for this meeting?”

“Yes I’m enrolled, and I would love for you to ask, actually.” Megs turned to look at Gideon.

He gripped the wooden armrests and leaned forward. “I insisted on coming to this meeting because I contributed to Megs being late for one of her classes last weekend. We had a miscommunication about her working in the recording studio, and by the time she made her way to this building, the doors were locked.”

Ms. Martinez nodded and typed something on her keyboard. “So you were late and missed the class?”

“I was only fifteen minutes late, but with the doors locked, I waited for most of the class to get into the building. Then when I talked with my professor, he said I’d just need to enroll next semester.”

“And that’s not an option?”

“It shouldn’t have to be an option,” Gideon answered. “Megs and I were working on a recording project together, and I started our session later than planned. As a result, she was late to the course. She’s more than capable of making up the work, and she’s already paid for the course.”

Ms. Martinez glanced between Megs and Gideon. Megs shifted in her seat. Why was Gideon doing this for her? Did he feel bad about, well, everything? He didn’t need to. All he’d done was follow school policy . . . and break her sandal. And kiss her so thoroughly she couldn’t think straight all weekend. But the audition? The certification course? The enrollment in his class? That had been all her.

“It was my fault,” Megs added. “I understand that this course has a short timeline, and I shouldn’t have scheduled anything that could’ve conflicted. If I’m being honest, the reason I’m here is because money is tight. I need to move at the end of this month, and I have a job lined up that requires this certificate. I don’t expect you to fix this, but I’d really appreciate another shot.”

Ms. Martinez turned her focus to her computer screen. “Well, I’m sending a message to your instructor with the recommendation that he make an allowance for you. I assume you’ll be able to attend the second weekend of classes?”

“Yes, absolutely. And if he has to do anything extra to make this work—”

“He should be able to forward you his presentation for the class you missed, but you’ll be responsible for the assignments. From his class information, it looks like they’re due Friday morning.”

“Right.” Megs pursed her lips. There were four assignments, all of them tedious, but she’d get them done. Plus the assignments she had to submit for Gideon’s class so she wasn’t sitting at a zero. “Thank you so much.”

Relief washed over her like a warm wave. There was still a chance her instructor wouldn’t make a concession, but at least now she had a chance. Megs couldn't help but steal a glance at Gideon, who sat stoically in the chair next to her.

“Thank you, Ms. Martinez.” Gideon stood. He didn’t look at her as he turned, but said, “I’ll see you in class, Megs.”

What was that? Megs stood slowly and thanked the coordinator, then exited the room. Had Gideon thought she was incapable of handling this herself? Worse, did he believe his status as a male professor would pull more weight than a female student? Not that he was wrong, but she still hated that that was a thing.

She mulled over their interactions as she walked back to the other building. Had she given him the idea that she was a damsel in distress? They’d met at the coffee shop where she hadn’t needed any help. If anything, she was the one offering him assistance. Then she’d been assertive and probably a tad bit annoying when she’d shown up at his office.

But then he’d found her wallowing against the brick wall of the admin building, then carried her to her car when her sandal broke. His fault, but still.

It didn’t seem he was trying to give her preferential treatment in class. If he was, he sucked at it, but she didn’t need one more person in her life to view her as a charity case.

Megs entered the arts building and strode to the atrium where Erik was waiting, talking to some— She groaned internally. Gideon. He was talking to Gideon. Of course, he was.

“Hey, Erik. You ready to work?”

Erik’s face contorted into what she’d realized was his version of a smile. It was endearing and also a bit disturbing. “I was asking Professor Adams if we could use the recording studio. I realized the first class during week two was mostly about the mixing board, and I thought it might be good to show you.”

Megs gripped the straps of her backpack. “And what did Professor Adams say?”

Gideon smiled tightly. “I’d be glad to let you in.”

“No supervision?”

“I trust Erik.”

Megs’ nostrils flared. “Excellent.”

They walked together back toward Gideon’s office.

“I probably could’ve learned about the mixing board when I recorded my audition if someone would’ve trusted me,” she muttered under her breath.

“And been even more late to the certification course.”

Megs scoffed. “Not possible.”

“What isn’t possible?” Erik asked, but before either of them could answer, two girls who looked barely eighteen approached as they rounded the corner.

“Hey, Professor Adams.” The brunette in the duo flashed a shy smile. Gideon nodded and continued on.

“Students of yours?” Megs asked.

“No.”

“No? How do they know who you are?”

Erik cleared his throat. “I believe most females here know who Professor Adams is. Probably because he’s a musician and young women find that intriguing.”

Megs stifled a smile, then sobered when she remembered what she’d said to Gideon that night at the burger bar. Audio is sexy.

“Thank you for that, Erik.” Gideon’s face was unreadable as he led them to the studio—different from the one she’d first recorded in—and pulled out his key. Gideon knew she found him attractive, which made all of this more awkward. But didn’t she also know that he was interested? He’d texted her all weekend and he’d been more invested than she was in making sure her class was dropped.

Something swirled in Megs’ middle. What would’ve happened if she had successfully dropped Intro to Recording? What would’ve been Gideon’s next move?

Gideon opened the door and reached out to flick on the lights. Megs’ mouth went dry as she stood in the corner, as far from Gideon as possible, and let Erik move into place between them. The last time they’d been in here together, Professor Adams had been watching her voice two lovers. Gideon glanced up, and by the slight flush of his cheeks, Megs wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

“Alright, then. Anything you need from me, Erik?”

Erik shook his head. “Thank you, Professor.”

Gideon glanced up and briefly caught Megs’ eyes before turning and exiting back into the hall.

Erik opened his laptop and spun the screen to face her. “I told you half an hour, and while you were in your meeting, I analyzed the material we’ve already covered and determined these to be the points most in need of clarification. Let’s get started so you can leave as planned.”

Megs pursed her lips and nodded. Erik was a character, and every sentence out of his mouth surprised her. Without even meaning to, she was taking notes. Watching how he quirked his lips or blinked more than needed when someone asked him a question. The intonation in his voice, and the way his shoulders twitched right before he started to speak.

Megs scanned the mixing board. The studio's dim lighting cast a soft glow over the vast expanse of knobs, buttons, and sliders, each organized and labeled with strange initials.

Erik began without preamble. "This section," he said, pointing to a cluster of knobs on the left, "controls the microphone preamps. Turn to increase or decrease the sensitivity of your mic. Always watch the levels here. Red indicates clipping, and you never want that."

Megs held up a hand. “I’m going to need some definitions. What’s a preamp?”

Erik turned his head but didn’t look directly at her. "A preamplifier, or preamp for short, is a device that amplifies weak signals, making them stronger and suitable for further processing or amplification. Your voice, when you speak or sing into a microphone, is almost a whisper in electrical terms. The preamp takes that whisper and makes it louder, so the rest of the equipment can work with it effectively."

Erik pointed at the sound-level bars. "Without a preamp, you'd barely see any movement here, even if you sang at the top of your lungs. But with it, even a soft hum can be detected and amplified."

"So, for vocals, you boost the signal from the get-go."

Erik nodded. "Exactly. It's the first step in ensuring the sound is captured accurately and clearly." He moved his hand to the center, where a series of vertical sliders dominated. "These are your faders. They control the volume of each input. Move them up to increase, down to decrease.”

“Are these the same on every board?”

“I believe they’re similar.” Erik pointed to a row of small, square buttons above the faders. He was dedicated to keeping their deadline. “These buttons are your mute buttons. Press once to mute. Press again to unmute. Simple."

Megs pressed one for fun as Erik moved his hand over to a group of multicolor knobs. "These are your equalizers. Adjust them to modify frequency responses, like bass, mid, and treble.”

“For instruments?”

“And voice. You can also adjust this in your digital audio workstation after recording.”

“I assume knowing what to adjust will come later?”

Erik nodded. “That’s in module seven.”

“Right.” Megs exhaled, then focused as Erik showed her a few more examples on the board.

As soon as the clock turned to five twenty-five, Erik straightened and closed his notes. Half an hour on the dot. Megs smiled. “Thank you so much for this, Erik. Incredibly helpful.” She wasn’t just padding his ego, she meant it.

“You’re welcome.” Erik slipped his computer into his shoulder bag. “Anytime.” Megs had no doubt he meant that, too.

Erik was sure to turn off the power to the board and flick the lights. As they stepped into the hall, he turned left. “I always park in the back parking lot since I can get there with less traffic.”

“Oh, perfect. Well, have a great rest of your week.”

Erik nodded. “See you on Monday. You’re welcome to sit at my table again.”

Megs grinned. “Perfect.” Her steps seemed lighter as she walked through the mostly empty hall. She slowed as she neared Gideon’s office and noticed his door was open, then sped up to hopefully avoid notice.

“Megs,” he called out. She paused but didn’t pull to a complete stop until he stepped out into the hall. “How did it go?”

She drew a deep breath and turned. “Really well. Erik’s an excellent teacher.” Gideon’s hand rested on the doorframe and the way he was leaning accentuated his tapered waist and broad shoulders—something she shouldn’t be noticing.

“His notes weren’t . . . lacking?”

Megs pursed her lips to hide a burgeoning grin. “Were you offended by that?”

Gideon frowned. “No, I just—”

“You were. That comment got under your skin.” She didn’t hide her amusement now, and that only deepened Gideon’s glower.

He tapped his fingers on the gun-metal gray door casing. “I’m glad it went well.”

“I’m also glad it went well.” They were at a well-wishing standoff, and Megs couldn’t wait to see who won.

Gideon dropped his arm before she unfolded hers. “Then we agree.”

Megs nodded. “Seems like it.”

Gideon turned to duck back into his office, then stopped. “I’ll actually see you Friday. For the first finalist event.” It was as if he was talking to himself, correcting his earlier parting statement in the coordinator’s office.

“No, you won’t.” Megs swallowed hard. It was the right decision, but there was still a sharp pang in her stomach when she had to voice it out loud.

Gideon looked up. “Why not?”

“Because I can’t go. Not if Mr. Fletcher lets me back into the certification course. I’m not screwing that up again.”

Gideon opened his mouth, then closed it. “Right.”

“Not meant to be, I guess.” Megs rocked on her feet once, then took a step back down the hall. “Good luck.”

“You, too.”

“I won’t need it. Unless you’re talking about turning in all of my assignments, in which case, thank you.”

Gideon looked up, and his eyes reflected slate-gray in the fluorescent lights. “Have a good weekend, Megs.” With that, he turned and stalked back into his office.