The next week, Melissa showed up dressed in a pair of jeans, a respectable shirt and sandals. Patrick noticed but didn't say anything. He didn't believe for one second that the one confrontation with Kevyn was enough to initiate the change in attire and attitude. Nor did he believe that she was through with him, she was still up to no good.
Patrick wasn't the only one who didn't believe it; Kevyn watched Melissa and saw through the act. She asked herself the same question she had been asking herself all week, "why do I care?" She had been early as she usually was with Patrick arriving a few minutes after she did. They talked for a few minutes with him always asking about spunky and she continued the lie although she knew that he knew that she was lying. It was almost to the point where it had become a private joke between them.
What was different about tonight was that Melissa didn't come in until it was almost time for class to start and she didn't speak to Patrick in her usual attempted seductive tone.
"Hi Dr. Sinclaire." she said and sat down. She didn't even grumble when Patrick passed out the pop quiz from the week before. Alarm bells rang in Patrick's head, "yep" he thought, she's up to no good he thought as he passed out the rest of the quizzes handing Kevyn the last quiz with a smile.
"Alright, you know the drill, fifteen minutes and we'll grade them when everyone is done." He went back to his desk and looked over the class, there were ten of the original thirty left and these were the ones that would finish the class. He looked up at Kevyn and saw that her pencil was already down and she was chewing her lip, she was anxious he realized and wondered why she was putting so much pressure on herself over a quiz. If she was like this over a quiz, what was she going to be like with the first big test?
The quizzes were graded and Patrick began his lecture for the evening noting that Melissa didn't raise her hand once. Patrick laughed to himself; he was old enough that he had fought in wars that Melissa had never even heard of, she was hoping to lull him into a false sense of security. Then he stopped laughing remembering that the week before when that little slip of a girl had indeed almost caught him.
At the end of the class, everyone stopped by the desk so that Patrick could record their grades. Melissa was first and out of the door instead of being one of the last and trying to linger. This time Kevyn was last and he found out why, her quiz paper was blank.
"Miss Morris, what happened?"
"I don't know, I knew it and then I panicked and..."
"Kevyn, why are you so stressed over a quiz?" Patrick asked.
"I'll do some of the extra credit projects to make it up." Kevyn replied not answering the question.
"That's fine but it doesn't answer the question." Patrick replied.
"I have to go, Spunky needs to be walked." Kevyn said as she hurried out of the door.
Kevyn walked right past Melissa not seeing her as she hurried by. "He called her by her first name!" Melissa fumed as she stomped out.
Patrick sat at his desk for a few minutes and then packed up; maybe he needed to do a background check on Kevyn too.
*******
Kevyn went home in a funk. She had failed a quiz that she should have easily passed. She knew the answers and they just wouldn't come! On the bus ride home she looked at the quiz and answered every single question without hesitation. She couldn't keep doing this; one quiz wouldn't hurt anything but what if she failed the test? It couldn't happen! She had to pass this class with at least a "C" screw the "B" she thought as she changed into her night clothes.
********
Melissa was in a funk as well, Patrick had called the black woman by her first name but not only that, she heard the concern and care in his voice when he said it. She was tempted to send him an email but didn't, she had to stick to the plan. She had come to another decision, her mother could just go fuck herself, and whatever money she got from Patrick was going into her own personal account. After all, she was the one doing all of the work, that money was hers. After she was done with Patrick, he could go to hell and take the black woman with him for all she cared.
Her mother tapped on the door and walked in without invitation.
"How's the fishing going?" she asked.
"Fine." Melissa replied not offering any other details.
"Can I help in anyway?"
"No, I've got it under control." Melissa said and closed her eyes willing her mother to leave.
"Mel, you're not planning anything stupid are you?" Linda asked.
"No mother, now go away I'm tired."
"If you can't get him into bed without the threat of blackmail, let him go. It's not worth going to prison for."
Melissa didn't reply but turned on her side in effect dismissing her mother.
Linda Hunter looked at her daughter and for the first time she was really concerned about her. She had changed since she met Patrick Sinclaire, he was no longer just a mark or a means to an end, and this had become personal. Just how much of this had to do with the black woman Linda didn't know and though it was probably too late to play the concerned mother, she had to try.
"Mel, look, let it go and find someone else. I'm worried about you."
Melissa turned over and looked at her mother, "since when do you give a damn about me other than to ask how much money I made?" she asked.
Linda jumped at the anger in Melissa's voice.
"Mel..."
"Get out mother." Melissa said turning her back on Linda.
Linda left the room and shut the door behind her. Her little girl was playing a very dangerous game and she had tried to warn her. Oh well....
*******
Patrick was concerned about Kevyn but she wasn't in any danger but Melissa was dangerous. What was it about her that she was able to push his buttons? She reminded him of someone but whom? It really didn't matter, he had to stay away from her and he had to get her out of his class. The other class wasn't full, like his, that class had lost several students in the first two weeks, he would send Melissa there. It didn't matter that it met on another night, as a matter of fact that was even better.
Patrick logged on to his school email account and sent an email to Melissa.
"Miss Hunter,
I feel that it is for the best that you no longer attend my class. Dr. Robertson has space in his class and he would be more than happy to have you attend. I am aware that his class meets on Thursdays and I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause you. He and I are following the same lesson plan so there will be no issues there. I wish you the best in your studies.
Dr. P. Sinclaire
He hit the send button and then sent an email to Kevyn.
"Kevyn,
I would like to meet with you before the test next week to discuss how I can assist you with your apparent test anxiety. You may either use this email address or call me at this number, 555-1002.
Patrick"
He hesitated and then sent the email fully aware that he had just crossed the line from instructor into something else just by using their first names and by giving her his cell phone number.
