Chapter Text
Dennis Whitaker's hands were shaking as he logged on to his email. He had been waiting for six weeks to hear back about the TA position he applied for. He really needed the money. He was ramen for every lunch and dinner broke. A granola bar for breakfast was a luxury level of broke. All of his money went to textbooks for his theology classes, his dingy apartment that was not safe to leave alone at night and located 20 minutes away from campus (hey it was near a bus stop at least), and maintaining his bike that his parents bought him back in middle school because they knew they could never afford to buy him a car.
He applied to be a TA at the end of his junior year fall semester after he took an anatomy class that met his non-major credit requirement and fit in his packed schedule and he ended up absolutely loving it. His professor was so knowledgeable but also knew how to teach those who weren’t experts like him. A lot of college professors only seemed to have one of those traits and lacked the other. Dennis went to his office hours almost every week and loved hearing Dr. Abbot's perspectives on the world. He was a medic in the army before he was injured and lost his foot and some of his leg after someone threw a grenade into the medical tent. He had used his body to shield a patient form the blast. Dennis had never met anyone that was so selfless and kind, especially after going through as much as Dr. Abbot had. Dr. Abbot had encouraged Dennis to apply for the TA position for his class the next semester. They had built up a great rapport throughout the semester and Dennis passed the class with flying colors. One of the best grades on his transcript. Dr. Abbot had given him his number at the end of the semester and told him to reach out if he needed anything and said he would keep an eye out for his TA application. Dr. Abbot even told him to call him Jack, but Dennis didn't think he would ever be able to do that. He was raised with manners and referred to everyone as 'Sir' or 'Ma'am.' Being on a first name basis with a superior felt impolite.
Once his email loaded, Dennis saw a new message from the university. Dennis moved his mouse over the email and turned his head as he clicked, bracing for the possibility of rejection. He half turned back to the screen and opened one eye slowly and saw the word "Congratulations!" Dennis jumped off of the couch so fast he startled himself and tripped over his coffee table, tumbling to the ground. All of the air in his lungs disappeared for a second, but returned a moment later and Dennis couldn't help but laugh at himself. He stayed on the floor and stared at the ceiling.
Moments like this made Dennis want to call home. He missed his mom. She did not approve of Dennis moving halfway across the country and leaving her behind on the farm with his dad. His four older brothers had already moved out and started their own lives. He was the last one to fly the nest. He stayed a few years after graduating high school to help with the farm back in Broken Bow, Nebraska. Waves of guilt would hit him randomly, sometimes he wished he had stayed longer to help them, but then he remembered his friends who had no choice but to stay. Who had encouraged him to finally apply to school. When he was accepted to the University of Pittsburgh and offered a near full ride if he majored in theology, Dennis had to accept. He knew he wouldn't get another opportunity like this. He had packed the few belongings he had and took a bus to Pittsburgh that fall. His mom wrote him letters occasionally, giving him updates about life in Nebraska, his brothers, his nieces and nephews. Dennis always wrote back and would call every few months. His dad never wrote and never picked up the phone, only his mom. She may not have approved of him moving, but she still loved him and wanted to maintain a relationship with him. He had never gotten along with his father. He was a stoic man who hated relying on anyone but himself. He rarely spoke, and when he did there was no sense of any feeling behind his words. Dennis always likened him to a brick wall. Hard, cold, and unmoving. Anything you said to him just seemed to bounce off like an echo. Dennis thought about picking up the phone but stopped himself. He didn't know how his mom would react to him being a TA for an anatomy professor when he should be working with the theology professors. He decided against calling, but, if his mom asked, he wouldn't lie about it.
Dennis went back to the email. It said that he needed to confirm by the end of the week if he wanted to be the TA for the Spring semester. Dennis did not finish reading the email before clicking the link that was attached and he filled out all of the forms he needed to. He went back to the email when he was done. It said he would need to report to the Murdoch Building next Monday. He recognized the name, but had never been to it so he made a mental note to figure out the directions. He skimmed through the rest of the email and his eyes caught on a sentence about three quarters of the way down.
"Dr. Abbot will be taking a sabbatical this semester so you will be the TA for his replacement. You will meet him next week at your orientation."
Dennis reread those two sentences five times to make sure his eyes weren't playing a trick on him. Dr. Abbot hadn't mentioned anything about taking a sabbatical. Dennis was almost tempted to call him but decided against it. It felt too personal and he didn't think he had earned the right to. He started writing an email to him instead. That felt more appropriate. He asked how Dr. Abbot was doing and what he did over winter break and then got into the reason for the email. He didn't know how to word it without seeming like he was prying, but he was genuinely concerned for Dr. Abbot. The sabbatical news was so sudden, and Dr. Abbot said he would be there in the Spring the last time they talked so something must have come up and it must have been serious. He decided to focus the email on him being confused as to the switch of professors so that Dr. Abbot could choose to address it if he wanted. He ended it with saying that he hoped everything was alright and sent it.
Dennis started making dinner (shrimp flavored ramen to spice it up) and tried to distract himself so that he wouldn't check his email for a response every two seconds. He ended up grabbing his favorite book that he always kept on him no matter where he went. His sixth grade English teacher had given it to him when he had finished all of the books they were meant to read throughout the year in two months. His worn paperback of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' was one of his most prized possessions. It probably wasn't worth more than a few bucks, but it meant everything to him. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn's relationship reminded him of his relationship with his best friend growing up, Carter. They had been nearly inseparable from ages four to seventeen when Carter had moved with his family to Kansas. What most people didn't know was that he and Carter started dating when they were fourteen after a game of spin-the-bottle made Dennis realize there was more than friendship between them. Carter moved away after Carter's dad caught them in the hayloft one night in the fall of their senior year of high school.
Dennis was so caught up in his thoughts of Carter that he jumped when his phone alerted him to a new email. It was from Dr. Abbot.
'Dennis,
I am so sorry. I meant to reach out to you, but everything has been pure chaos lately. I'm sorry you had to find out from the school and not from me. I had to take an unexpected sabbatical because my wife, Samira who I think I have mentioned to you, is pregnant but she is being put on bedrest to lower her risk of preeclampsia. I'm staying home to help her and then we will both have the first month or two with the baby.
I recommended a friend of mine from med school to take over the class for me. I think the two of you will get along quite well. He's a little rough around the edges but don't take it personally, that’s just how he is. I know this isn’t exactly what you signed up for but I have a feeling you’re gonna be a great TA.
If you need anything this semester, please feel free to reach out to me. I won’t be checking my email too often so if it’s urgent, feel free to shoot me a text. Again my number is (412) 555-0174.
Best of luck,
Jack'
Dennis didn’t know what to do. He felt horrible for Dr. Abbot’s wife. He felt guilty for wishing that Dr. Abbot wouldn't take a sabbatical because he had no idea how he would get along with this complete stranger. He was nervous about all of the uncertainty before him. He took a minute to pace the apartment, trying to shake off the weird energy that seemed to wrap around his entire body like a weighted blanket. He thought about reaching out to the school and rescinding his acceptance. He knew he would feel ten times guiltier if he did.
In the end, Dennis decided to look at the bright side. Maybe he and the new professor would get along like Dr. Abbot said. Maybe he would find another mentor he could go to for guidance. He knew that the experience he would get from being a TA would be insurmountable. Sure it started with a hiccup, but this could be one of the best experiences of his undergrad. He would at least see how meeting the new professor goes before he made any rash decisions.
Dennis tried anything and everything to keep himself busy while he waited for Monday to arrive. He made sure to get all of the textbooks he needed for his classes this semester, he did a little grocery shopping to try and prevent a Ramen shortage in the first week of classes, he even picked up a few shifts at the library to help cover the start of the semester fees. He loved his job at the library, but it didn't pay very well. It was a pretty easy gig and he usually had lots of time to study when they scheduled him at the desk. He knew that being a TA and working at the library would keep him pretty busy this semester, but he figured he could grade at the desk if he needed to.
Finally Monday came and Dennis could barely contain his anxiety as he walked over to the Murdoch Building. He had no idea what to expect from his mystery professor. He trusted Dr. Abbot's opinion, but what if Dr. Abbot was wrong? What if he was about to enter the lion's den and he didn't even being a torch to see? Dennis shook his head, trying to get the thoughts to quiet down. The email said to go up to the third floor so he found an elevator and pressed three. Someone ran at the elevator, shoving their arm between the closing doors. Dennis startled as he looked up and noticed a girl with sleek black hair that was tied into two ponytails, one a bit higher than the other.
"Didn't mean to startle you there. I'm running to orientation and don't want to be late." She had this smirk on her face as she said it that made Dennis wonder if she was being serious.
"No problem. Are you a TA too?" Dennis tried to make conversation so the elevator ride wouldn't be full of awkward silence.
"Yeah I'm working with one of the organic chemistry professors this semester. You?"
"Anatomy. I heard O-Chem was one of the hardest subjects to take for STEM people. You must be pretty smart. "
"Guess you could say that. I'm Trinity by the way. Trinity Santos." She stuck her hand out.
"Dennis Whitaker. Nice to meet you." Dennis took her hand and shook it quickly before dropping it.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Dennis could see a dozen or so students around his age with refreshments and packets in hand. He noticed a check in table off to the left and he walked towards it with Trinity following behind him. He stuttered when giving his name to the woman handing out the packets and Trinity snorted behind him. He shot her a glare before grabbing his packet and moving off to the side so Trinity could give her name. Dennis noticed a few professors throughout the groups of students, trying to figure out who might be Dr. Abbot's replacement. He eyed a man standing off by himself with short brown hair, black rimmed glasses, and a nose that belonged on a statue. Dennis had never seen him before, he would have remembered that face. He caught Dennis staring and nodded at him. Dennis fought off a blush as he turned away. He stuck close to Trinity and grabbed a lemonade so he had something to do with his hands while he waited.
Eventually a woman with red hair got everyone's attention.
"Hello everyone, my name is Lena and I help coordinate everything involving teaching assistants. If you ever have any questions on the administration side of things, please feel free to come talk to me or shoot me an email. Right now we are going to introduce everyone to the professors you will be working with this semester. Many of you have probably already worked with your professor before, but please still pay attention as I go through the list. Once everyone is sorted I will give you thirty minutes to meet with your professor and then we will take the students into their training."
Dennis listened as she started going through the list of students and realized he would be one of the last as it was alphabetical by last name. His ears perked up when he heard a familiar name.
"Trinity Santos you are with Dr. Garcia." Trinity smiled and started walking towards a woman with her hair tied back in a bun. Trinity seemed to recognize her and Dennis assumed Trinity had taken a class with her. Although the way Dr. Garcia looked at Trinity made him suspect there was something more there.
"Finally Dennis Whitaker," Dennis whipped his head to look at Lena, his chest feeling tight. "You will be with Dr. Robinavitch."