Crystal’s mom drove us back to Britechester. I was glad to have gone to Del Sol Valley, because I learned some things about Crystal I never would have known. The Brian incident helped me understand why she was always so hard on guys. It helped us grow a lot closer as friends.
I got back to my room and there was a message from my Anthropology professor, Dr. Fogy, on my voice mail. I was to meet him after class on Monday. I had no idea what the deal was, but I wasn’t worried because I knew I was doing extremely well in the class.
After Anthropology I went to Dr. Fogy’s office for our meeting. The door was closed and I could hear Dr. Fogy talking to another student. I sat down in a chair across from his office door. After about ten minutes, his door opened and Shante stepped out. I was surprised at first. Then I remembered she was also taking Dr. Fogy for Anthropology, but at a different time. “Hey Shante.” I said.
“Hey.” She said before hurrying away.
“Come in Miss Daniels.” Dr. Fogy called out.
I stood up and walked into Dr. Fogy’s small office. He had different fossils and artifacts hung on the walls and ceilings. Next to the door was a full-size model of a human skeleton.
“Close the door, Miss Daniels.” I did as instructed. “Please sit down.” Dr. Fogy said pointing towards a small chair next to his desk.
I sat. “Miss Daniels, I heard you speaking to Miss Jean Pierre as she was leaving. Am I correct in assuming that you know her?”
“Yes.”
“And how do you know Miss Jean Pierre?”
“She’s my roommate.”
“I see.” Dr. Fogy said before running his hands through his gray hair and removing his glasses. His glasses left a deep red spot on his pale white skin. He replaced his glasses. “We have a problem, Miss Daniels.”
I didn’t say anything.
Dr. Fogy continued. “You see, I was correcting your paper and I came across Miss Jean Pierre’s paper and they are just alike.”
“What do you mean?” I leaned forward in my chair.
“See for yourself.” Dr. Fogy handed me two folders. Inside each was a paper. I pulled them out and started reading. Sure enough, Shante’s paper was almost identical to mine. I was shocked.
“I don’t believe this.” My eyes continued to scan the two papers. After I’d seen enough, I placed the papers back into the folders.
Dr. Fogy reached over and gently took them out of my hand. “I did not know what to think about it.” He placed the folders on his desk. “You have turned in ‘A’ papers throughout the semester. You are one of my best students. I did not want to believe that you would put all of that on the line to help another student commit plagiarism.”
“I didn’t. She must of copied it all from my word processor.”
“Miss Jean Pierre claimed that you helped her with the assignment.”
“She’s lying!” I moved the edge of the chair.
“Calm down Miss Daniels. I believe you.”
I sat back in my chair. “What happens now?”
Mr. Fogy paused for a few seconds. “I thought about it and I decided to give you your rightful grade, but I am going to give Miss Jean Pierre an ‘F’ on this assignment.”
“Will she get expelled?” Just saying the word ‘expelled’ made my heart rate speed up.
Dr. Fogy glanced at the folders on his desk. “I am going to hold off on reporting this time. I am going to handle this one myself.”
I exhaled all the tension and fear that had built up since I walked into the office. “Thank you Dr. Fogy.”
“You are welcome Miss Daniels. You are dismissed.”
I stood up and walked out of the room. The fear was gone, but rage replaced it. Shante had copied my paper and risked getting me expelled from school. I stomped across the campus. I was so mad that I didn’t notice Crystal running up beside me.
“Hey girl. Where you…” Crystal stopped when she saw my expression. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You won’t believe what this bitch has done.”
“Who?”
“Shante!”
“What or who has she done now?” Crystal saw that I wasn’t amused. “Whoa. This is serious.”
Crystal didn’t ask any more questions. She just followed me to my dorm room. I burst through the door hoping to find Shante there.
She wasn’t there. Instead, I found a note:
Chantal I’m sorry. I’m not going to tell you why I did it. It’s not important. I’m moving out tomorrow so we don’t have to live together anymore. Sorry
Shante
I showed Crystal the note and explained to her what happened.
“She’d better be glad that she’s moving,” Crystal said as if the situation was a joke.
“Why?” Crystal’s amusement irritated me a little.
“Because you looked like you were getting ready to kick some serious ass.” That broke the tension and we fell out on the bed cracking up.
Shante moved out of the dorms into an apartment with one of her boyfriends the next day. It was too late in the semester for the dorm director to assign a new roommate, so Crystal unofficially moved into the room with me. I saw Shante from time to time on campus during the rest of the semester, but I wasn’t mad anymore so I made it a point to be civil towards her.
Like I said, that year flew by. But even after going through the crazy roommate and guy situations that I’d been through that year, I still wasn’t prepared for the next semester.
Labels: Window Eyes Window Heart Window Mind - Part 1
