Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. A blonde girl opens her blue eyes sleep-drunken as the alarm clock rings beside her. She fumbles for it and manages to silence the beeping. She sighs, stretches, and heads slowly but eagerly into the bathroom. After a refreshing shower and teeth brushing, she puts on an ankle-length dress. She ties her hair into a neat ponytail and straightens her bangs. Taking a deep breath, she grabs her backpack and heads out of her room towards university. She takes a seat inside a large but sparsely filled lecture hall.

At the lectern stands an elderly man with nerdy glasses and a messy tie. „Good Morning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Waynfort University of Hawnee for Medical Science and to this introductory lecture in medical studies. My name is Professor Doctor James Crawley. I’m the Professor of Medical Education and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.“

The blonde student tries to listen attentively, while Professor Crawley speaks. „As you surely know, the first four weeks will not be easy. You have to attend four basic knowledge courses and understand their content to the fullest extent possible. Every week, the lecturers will introduce you to another subject in the following order: microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics.“

The entrance door creaks open as a red-haired student strides confidently into the lecture hall. Her short skirt swings with each step, and „BANG!“ is written in bold white letters across her black T-shirt. Professor Crawley glances briefly at the new arrival but continues without hesitation. „It will be tested, on how well you understand the contents at the beginning of each following week through exams. In order to be able to continue your studies, you need to pass at least three of them. The conducted exams are quite hard, and require you not only to learn by heart but to understand the relationships between the topics.“

While the red-haired student takes a seat beside the blonde, Professor Crawley starts to speak about the university institutions: „We recommend you for study purposes to visit our university library. In addition to a unique selection of literature relevant to your studies, the library also provides a convenient quiet space, where you can study together with your fellow students free from any deflection.“

The red-haired student puts out her laptop and turns her head to the blonde. „Hi, I’m Sheena. I saw you sitting here alone and thought I'd come over and introduce myself.“

The blonde turns her head in surprise. „Oh…, hi... I… I'm Jenny. Nice to meet you.“

Sheena looks around. „This place feels a bit… sterile, don’t you think?“

Jenny shrugs. „Well… it’s a lecture hall. It’s supposed to be functional, not cozy.“

Sheena grins nervously: „True... but I was hoping for something with urm... more character, you know. A creaky floor, a chandelier at the ceiling, and some strange scientific gadgets up front, like in those old movies, my aunt used to watch.“

Jenny smiles slightly. „Sounds definitely charming, but I think those movies you mention might be set a century ago.“

„Yeah, you’re probably right“, Sheena grins, „and it was the only place here that accepted me, so I guess, I have to make some compromises.“

Jenny raises her eyebrows and smiles. „Oh, really? I must confess, it’s similar for me. I always wanted to study a subject that would let me become a physician, but this was the only university that accepted me - and that I could afford.“

„Don't get me wrong, I am excited.“, Sheena answers, „But I don't really know much about the university or the course. I just hope I'll learn something useful and meet some cool people.“

At this moment, the front door of the lecture hall swings open, and a group of students step inside. Jenny and Sheena turn their heads and look curiously at the new arrivals. They see two men and two women, all dressed in matching ties and colors. One man presents himself in long trousers and a short-sleeved shirt, while the other wears short trousers and a sleeveless shirt with deep cutout. One woman is dressed in a calf-length skirt and a short-sleeved blouse, the other wears a miniskirt and a sleeveless cropped top. Sheena looks suspicious, Jenny interested.

Professor Crawley takes a short satisfied glance at the group and continues with firm voice: „By joining the Waynfort University as a student you do not only enjoy a first-class education, but you are also a representative of one of the most prestigious medical academies of the country. It’s not only the university that feeds you, but also you that feed the university, not only with your knowledge and your dedication but also with how you are perceived in public. You make visible for everyone, that they encounter a member of the honorable Waynfort University, when you proudly present them your uniform…“

„Bullshit.“ Sheena suddenly erupts in anger, loud enough to be heard in the whole lecture hall.

Professor Crawley looks bewildered. „Sorry ma’am, do you have a question?“

Sheena is still enraged. „Yeah, are we supposed to wear those carnival costumes in the lectures?“

Everyone looks at Jenny and Sheena. Jenny gets beet red, and Professor Crawley gets tense.

„Those…“, Professor Crawley takes a deep breath but stays calm, „…uniforms, young lady represent the pride of our university. They are in blue, the color of patience, with which the patients are treated, white the color of hygiene and cleanliness with which we conduct all our treatments and research, and red, the color of passion with which any of us pursues the research. Uniforms are absolutely mandatory, there is no exception to this rule.“

Sheena opens her mouth but stays speechless, Jenny relaxes. Professor Crawley continues: „To allow you individuality and adapt to your personal study style, we provide our uniforms in four versions. You are free to choose between each of the uniforms presented by the four students in front of the class and even to mix them. I'm afraid I'm quite pressed for time at the moment, so unfortunately I can’t answer any further of your questions. Please go now and collect your uniforms at the reception desk on the first floor. The desk will be open now approximately for an hour. Acquiring your uniform later will come at an extra fee. Come back wearing your uniform for the first lecture in the afternoon. Professor Doctor Cavanaugh will be your lecturer. Thanks for your attention.“

Professor Crawley closes the lecture and walks out of the room.

Sheena looks still enraged at Jenny. „Hell, this ain’t true, is it? Can anybody wake me up?“

Jenny explains nervously: „Oh… well…, yes, that’s true. Didn’t you read the enrollment documents? They say, that the Waynfort University has uniform rules. Even though, they seem to be quite lax. As you see, they even allow students to wear skimpy skirts and blouses. I guess, those are for the more urm… promiscuous ones.“

Sheena smiles hesitantly: „Well, I don’t mind some cute clothing. But do we really have to look like clones of each other?“

Jenny shrugs. „I think we have no choice here.“

Sheena looks angry. „Damn it.“

Slowly the lecture hall empties. Jenny and Sheena are among the last to leave. When they walk through the entrance door, Sheena glances sideways and asks Jenny with firm but hesitant voice: „Do we really have to go to the uniform desk?“

Jenny looks thoughtful. „Well, I don’t want to risk paying the extra fee.“

Sheena raises an eyebrow. „You don’t think, that’s just some stupid joke to mess with us?“

Jenny shakes her head. „It sounded pretty serious to me. And I’d rather not like to find it out the hard way.“

Sheena grumbles. „Hmm… fine. Let’s go… we can still decide later if we’ll actually wear them.“

***

Jenny and Sheena row themselves in the crowd at the uniform desk and wait. At the uniform desk stands the manager, a young man with short brown hair. A name tag identifies him as Carter Mayhem. He welcomes them with a warm, self-confident smile.  „Hey, Waynfort University adventurers! We've got a wide variety of uniforms that help you on your journey through college. How can I help you find the perfect attire for your scientific quests“

Sheena looks repulsive: „At first, stop talking bullshit. We already know, that there are only two types of uniforms available, a cute uniform and an old-fashioned one. I personally prefer the cute one. So can you bring me a cutie blouse in M and a cutie skirt in S.“

Jenny smiles. „Urm. For me please a long uniform blouse and a long uniform skirt, both in S.“

Sheena makes a questioning face. „Are you really sure to wear this one, the other one would fit you much better.“

Jenny answers determined. „Urm, sorry Sheena, I’m quite sure, that I like the long one more.“

Sheena glances questioningly at Jenny, then snaps at Carter Mayhem: „So give me and my friend here please what we want.“

Carter Mayhem bows. „To your service young maidens.“ He scrambles in the uniform wardrobe and returns with two uniforms, which he hands over to Sheena and Jenny. „A female standard students’ uniform for the enchantress and a female advanced students’ uniform for the mighty warrior.“

Sheena rolls her eyes. „Could you please stop talking bullshit, you don’t make yourself any friends with that.“

Jenny smiles. „Good bye dear robe merchant.“

 „Come on Jenny“, Sheena winks, „let’s spend the rest of the morning doing something useful. I saw a park some 500 meters from here. We should go there and catch some sun before we return to this hell.“

Jenny nods. „Sounds good Sheena.“

Jenny and Sheena spend the morning in the sun. Jenny is reading a book, while Sheena types on her smartphone.

***

For lunch, Sheena and Jenny return to the university and head to the dining hall. A display shows the menu of the day, as there is: hamburger, rice with tofu, and chicken with salad. The dining hall assistant is a sturdy, stoic-looking person with short black hair. His name tag says, that he is Denver Marley. Jenny stands in front of Sheena in the row. Soon the row shortens and the two stand in front of Denver Marley. „Eating what?“

Jenny makes an asking face. „What do you say?“

Denver Marley repeats: „Eating What?“

Jenny looks reinsuring to Sheena, who answers. „There is hamburger with fries, rice with tofu, and chicken with salad. So what do you want to eat?“

Jenny looks quite intimidated. „Urm… a hamburger… please…“

Denver Marley puts the hamburger and fries on the plate with quite rough movements and puts it in front of Jenny. „Next“ - He takes a short pause. „Eating what?“

Sheena grins. „Oh, I’d like to have the chicken with salad.“

Denver Marley puts the chicken and the salad on the plate and places it in front of Sheena.

Sheena smiles seductively. „Oh, you’re such a cutie pie, could you give me some additional salad and some French dressing.“

Denver Marley starts to smile a little and puts some extra salad and some extra dressing on the plate and places it in front of Sheena.

Sheena grins. „Thanks, my dear.“

Denver Marley answers stoically. „Welcome“. He makes again a short pause and says. „Next“

Jenny and Sheena go to one of the tables, where they sit down.

Jenny looks at Sheena. „Enjoy your meal.“

Sheena smiles: „Thanks darling, you too.“

„Hmm… tasty“, Jenny’s eyes lighten up, „I didn’t expect such a good hamburger in a dining hall.“

Sheena nods, eyes wide with enthusiasm. „Hell, the chicken and salad are also very good. The salad really tastes fresh as if it came directly from the field. Whoever is responsible for this has to be awarded a medal.“

Jenny looks worried. „When we’re finished, we should put on the uniforms, it is not long until the next lecture.“

Sheena wrinkles her eyebrows. „Do you really want to put those on? I mean, they are still good enough to make some impression, but I can imagine better things, than looking like a cosplayer.“

„Well, the lecturer sounded pretty serious about it, though.“, Jenny argues.

„Come on“, Sheena raises her eyes, „the worst that can happen is they throw us out of the lecture for not showing up in these clown suits. Then we can still change and come back.“

Jenny looks thoughtful: „Well… Sheena… hmmm… I guess you’re right. There’s not much, they can really do. I think, I’ll stick with you.“

„Great“, Sheena grins, „I knew I could count on you.“

***

Jenny and Sheena walk back to the lecture hall for the next lecture. The lecture is held by a stern and gloomy-looking man. „Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Professor Doctor Donald Cavanaugh and I will be your lecturer for this afternoon. I graduated with a doctorate in medicine, biology, physics, and chemistry at the BSC California and I’m here at the university as professor of biochemistry and the head of the medical lecturer council of the Waynfort-university of Hawnee. I will provide to you the first lectures in the discipline of microbiology and also lectures in anatomy, physics, and chemistry, so we might see each other quite often… at least for those of you who’ll actually manage to pass the exams.“

„Before we start“, Professor Cavanaugh continues“, I have to discuss a serious issue with you. As my honorable colleague, Professor Doctor Crawley already told you, we have here a very strict uniform policy, which you have to follow. And as I further see, many of you do already understand the essence of that policy and wear proudly the colors of our beautiful university. For those, who don’t…“, Professor Cavanaugh’s mine gets even darker and he shouts: „GET YOUR FRICKEN UNIFORM.“

Professor Cavanaugh rages and gestures wildly. „Anybody who’s not in uniform gets suspended from the study with no option to return to the campus again. Only today, I’ll be gracious and give you the opportunity to leave, get your uniform, and show up tomorrow in uniform to show you adapted to the uniform rules. But anybody, who isn’t seen in uniform in the lecture tomorrow will be expelled immediately, as it is stated in the university rules. Do not try the patience of the honorable members of this university in any way. For now, I’m giving only a very friendly warning, but starting from the beginning of tomorrow’s first lecture, this is a strict law, you have always to follow.  Anybody who is seen there without proper uniform or isn’t seen here at all without proper reason gets immediately expelled. Remember, I will only today be this generous and allow you to get your uniform.“

A female student in uniform in the front row raises her hand. Her long black hair falls freely down her back. „Dear Professor Doctor Cavanaugh, don’t you think that you are a little too harsh in enforcing the rules on the students?“

Professor Doctor Cavanaugh answers enraged: „What do you mean with too harsh, Miss?“

„Well, Professor Doctor Cavanaugh“, the female student answers, „those are only some pieces of clothing… Do you really think, it is justified to expel students from university for this?“

Professor Doctor Cavanaugh looks appalled. „Young lady, despite wearing the uniform, you do not seem to have the maturity to be an honorable member of this university as you still don’t understand the essence of the uniform policy. You can be glad to have me as your lecturer in this first lecture. The honorable Professor Corlin Waynfort, my predecessor would have not been that gracious. He would not only have expelled anybody, visiting the first lecture without proper uniform, but also those, who do not understand the absolute necessity of the uniform policy and put them into university jail. This is not high school anymore, this is real life, and you have responsibility from now on not only for your shitty self but also for the institution, you are part of, one of the most acknowledged scientific research institutions of this country. And a quite simple but highly effective way to show this responsibility to the outside is by wearing the colors of our university on your skin. You better may just leave, if you don’t understand this. I personally have no interest in providing my knowledge to ignorant people like you.“

The female student looks scared: „I… I…“

Professor Doctor Cavanaugh points angrily at the student: „Shut up… any further word of you, and I might forget my very humble manners.“

He watches in the masses and waves his hand in the air. „And for all of you, who still wear no uniform. Why are you still here? Get fricken out of here and get your proper uniform, or else you get immediately expelled. And please don’t return for this lecture. Don’t dare to come back and interfere in my ongoing presentation. You are not welcome and have to rework the contents afterward.“

Jenny and Sheena leave the lecture hall.

Sheena says: „Shit that went wrong“

Jenny looks contrite and angry at Sheena. „Yeah, that went wrong.“

Sheena grins. „But fuck, we can now spend the afternoon in the sun, I already found a swimming pool nearby. Wanna come with me?“

Jenny looks anxiously. „I understand that you want to relax, Sheena, but… what about our studies? We really shouldn’t fall behind, especially after already missing the first lecture.“

Sheena grins relaxed. „Jenny, listen, sometimes taking a break helps you to learn better. And… I already checked the website. There are no slides, so we can’t even start to study.“

Jenny sighs surrendering. „Alright, Sheena. How about this: I come with you to the beach in the afternoon and we’ll go studying in the evening. That way, we have a bit of both, studying and fun.“

„Sounds good“, Sheena says, „Let's take some time to reload our batteries this afternoon, and then you can focus on munching vocabulary.“

***

Jenny and Sheena arrive at the swimming pool which is hardly big enough to swim any decent lap. The sunbathing area is only on one side of the pool and consists of a row of eight deck chairs, behind them two small cabins for changing. Only two swimmers occupy the pool, one is doing slow, careful laps, while the other sits on the edge, dangling her feet in the water. A man with sunglasses sits on a chair close to the pool and wipes his smartphone. Red trousers do identify him as the local lifeguard.

Sheena looks around. „So, that’s the local swimming pool.“

Jenny looks skeptically. „Quite a small one, don’t you think?“

Sheena nods. „Yeah, and there are also only few people. I wonder where the others are?“

Jenny shrugs her shoulders. „I don’t mind, the less people, the more space for us.“

Both change and lay down on the beach chairs. Jenny gets her smartphone out and types in ‘job opportunities Hawnee’. She comes to the site HawneeJobs.

Sheena looks over at Jenny’s smartphone. „Are you looking for a job?“

„Yes“, Jenny answers, „I wanna take some holidays this year in Sri Lanka, and I need still some money for this.“

„Oh, you do this the old-fashioned way“, Sheena wonders, „why don’t you just try to invest some money in stocks?“

Jenny looks shocked: „And lose everything? Are you kidding?“

„You just have to look for the right opportunities.“, Sheena replies, „See, after the news of those ChatGPT came out, I got some stocks of NVIDIA. I sold them only 6 months later and had my deployment more than doubled.“

Jenny shakes her head. „Sorry Sheena, as soon, as there would have been some problems visible with ChatGPT or the governments would have made regulations, the stock would have dropped into never seen lows. This is just too unsafe for me.“

Sheena twists her brown eyes. „If you say so.“

„After some time passes, Jenny lays her smartphone aside and leans back.“

„And have you found something?“, Sheena asks.

„There are not that many job offers for Hawnee.“, Jenny answers, „I wonder if this is because of the upcoming semester? There is just a job in a restaurant called ‘The Stag’. I have written them a message and will see, what happens.“

Jenny’s Smartphone buzzes and she looks at it: „Oh, I already got an answer. I should come to the restaurant immediately. Sorry Sheena, this is more important than lying on the beach. I have to go now. Have a nice afternoon and don’t forget we’re meeting this evening in the library. Can you give me your number, so we don’t miss each other?“

Sheena smiles. „Yeah, of course, here it is!“

Sheena shows Jenny her number on her smartphone.

Jenny rings Sheena briefly. „Thanks, here you have mine as well.“

Sheena looks down on her smartphone. „Good thing.“ Then she leans back in her chair.

After Jenny prepared to leave she says goodbye to Sheena: „See you in the library, Sheena.“

Sheena replies lazily: „Yeah, yeah, bye.“

***

When Jenny arrives at ‘The Stag’ she looks around the restaurant anxiously. The dining room is dimly lit. The air is thick with a heavy smell of stale beer and fried food, mixed with a hint of something musty. Jenny steps further inside, noticing a young woman with long, open brown hair serving the tables. Her neat outfit is a sharp contrast to the shabby furniture of the restaurant. When she spots Jenny at the entrance, she smiles warmly and Jenny smiles back. The waitress approaches. „Hello Mrs., how can I help you?“

„Hello, I’m Jenny Simpson“, Jenny replies, „I have applied for the job announced on HawneeJobs.“

The waitress smiles. „Oh, hello, nice to meet you, I’m Caroline, I work here only as a waitress. For a job application, you have to talk to Lester. He’s the boss here. You’ll find him behind the bar, pouring drinks.“

Jenny nods in thanks and makes her way to the bar. There she sees a man with three-day-beard and greasy brown hair, filling glasses. „Hi, I’m Jenny Simpson, I have applied for the announced job on HawneeJobs.“

„Who? I don’t know any Jenny Simpson.“, Lester looks dismissive, „if my father sent you, get out here right now.“

Jenny gets a little angry but stays friendly. „Well Mister, I sent you an application for a job offer earlier.“

Lester nods. „Ah, yes the job offer. There is a lot of work to do. Currently, I’m looking for a person who can wash the dishes, as our dishwasher has broken. But when you work fast and good, I may have another job for you later as well. You get 15 Dollars for a shift, and it would be good if you can start immediately. A shift ends when all dishes are clean. Do you agree?“

Jenny answers: „Well, how much is it to wash up?“

Lester points through a door behind the bar. „The heap is up there in the kitchen.“

Jenny takes a look at the dishes, an enormous stack of dirty dishes piled high in the sink with remnants of food clinging stubbornly to their surfaces. „It’s quite a lot. That will at least take two hours. Could we make 20 Dollars for a shift?“

Lester shrugs. „You are not the only one, applying for a job sweetie, if you have better to do, I can call another applicant.“

Jenny gets nervous. „Okay, then… I’ll do it…“

Lester answers: „Good, then start. See you when the work is done.“

Jenny starts unwillingly to clean the dishes. Two hours later, all the dishes are cleaned and she goes back to Lester. „Hey Lester, I’m done with the work, can I have my payment?“

„Here are your 15 Dollars Jenny.“, Lester hands her the salary, „Can you come by tomorrow afternoon again? There will be another heap of dishes to wash.“

Jenny looks derisive. „Yes, I guess… I have no other choice.“

Lester answers: „Don’t get cheeky, brat... Get out, you're wasting my time.“

Jenny glares briefly at Lester and leaves ‘the Stag’. She heads home to make herself some dinner.

***

When Jenny arrives home, she enters the kitchen and sees the couple she rents her room from. Her landlady stands at the counter and puts spaghetti on a plate. Her long brown hair is spilling over the shoulders of a flowy blouse. Her landlord sits at the dinner table and types on his smartphone. His short black hair is a little wild. He wears a simple white shirt and chinos. They both look up as Jenny enters and smiles.

Jenny greets: „Hello Mr. and Mrs. Milton. Oh, I hope, I’m not disturbing you. Enjoy your dinner.“

Mrs. Milton smiles warmly. „Thank you, Jenny…“.

„Yes, thank you, Miss Simpson.“ Mr. Milton nods politely.

Mrs. Milton laughs slightly. „Oh sorry - I called you by your first name without asking.“

„No problem at all Mrs. Milton“, Jenny smiles gently, „I promise, I won’t be offended.“

Mrs. Milton looks relieved. „I’m glad to hear that. Is it alright if we keep it casual? I don’t like formalities that much. I’m Susan by the way.“

Mr. Milton joins in: „And I’m Jack.“

Jenny smiles a little embarrassed: „That’s totally fine. You can call me Jenny.“

Susan gestures to the table. „Would you like to eat with us? My husband is a wonderful cook. He made Spaghetti Carbonara.  But it is so much, that we cannot eat it all alone. The sauce is vegetarian, but there is some fried pancetta in the pan as well.“

Jenny’s face starts gleaming. „Where… where can I find a plate?“

Susan looks puzzled and points to the cupboards. „You can take one out of the cupboard there… and Cutlery is in the drawer over there.“

Jenny catches herself and realizes that she just behaved quite impolitely. „Sorry, I’m… pretty… pretty flustered. I had quite a rough day. One of our Profs is quite… well… harsh and in the afternoon I started a new job and had to wash a huge pile of dishes. Couldn’t be worse. But now you invite me to one of my favorite dishes for dinner.  Thanks to both of you. This is so great.“

She sits down at the table and stuffs Spaghetti Carbonara down her throat. „Hou wuz yr day, Jack an Susan?“

Jack and Susan smile a little. Susan answers: „Oh, actually quite good. We were able to release little Judy home today, who had recovered from tonsil surgery. She was a wonderful girl. It's almost too bad that she went home.“

Jenny smiles. „Oh, how sweet. Where are you working?“

„I’m a nurse in the SunnyCare Hospital of Hawnee.“, Susan replies.

„That’s quite an important job, isn’t it?“, Jenny says, „I also want to work with people later on, that’s why I’m studying here at the Waynfort University, and you Jack?“

Jack grabs the hand of this wife. „Unfortunately not that good. I focused today totally on my side project, creating a visual novel. Unfortunately, it develops only slowly. I’m currently caught in a review cycle about my dialogues. I look at my writings, find problems, correct them, and re-read again, only to find even more problems. That’s quite time-consuming.“

Jenny answers: „Oh, that sounds frustrating.“

„Well, it’s still my own decision,“ Mr. Milton says, „Susan’s job is much harder and more important.“

Susan argues: „Come on my dear, we have a good care ratio of one to four, so it is not that bad after all. I rather care about you working til late at night.“

„It won’t be for long“, Jack says, „I still have to do some coding, and the graphic designer will hopefully deliver the images soon, then the evenings will be shorter again.“

Jack kisses his wife and then looks at the watch. „Oh, unfortunately, we have to go now. We’ve got an appointment and have to get ready for that. Please just put the dishes in the dishwasher. We will start it later.“

„Ah, OK.“, Jenny says, „Thank you very much for the meal and the talk.“

Jack replies: „No problem, goodbye.“

Susan says also: „Goodbye Jenny.“

Jenny answers: „Bye-bye.“

The Miltons leave and Jenny finishes her meal. She puts the dishes in the dishwasher, takes her backpack, and heads to the library.

***

The library is filled with towering dark-toned bookshelves. Golden ceiling lights cast a warm glow across the polished oak floor. Worn wooden chairs and heavy tables upgraded with modern power and USB ports invite students and scientists to read and write scientific works. When Jenny enters, she looks amazed at the sheer scale of the space. Her eyes sweep over rows upon rows of neatly organized books. She takes a deep breath and savors the atmosphere, then steps further inside and pulls out her smartphone.

Jenny writes Sheena a message: ‘Where are you sitting?’

Jenny looks shortly around. When her smartphone buzzes, she turns her head back on the screen. ‘Come in a minute, please find us a free seat.’

Jenny looks for an empty table, sits down, and takes out her laptop. When Sheena arrives, she sits down next to Jenny. „I think, this first exam will work quite well. This whole thing with the cell and that, that’s here in the slides … We already had this in high school.“

Jenny says: „I’m also quite confident about this lecture. But we shouldn’t take that too easy. There is still a lot of stuff to learn. And you can’t know how tough their questions will be in the end. It’s also still eight lectures with new content ahead of us.“

„Yeah, you might have a point“, Sheena agrees, „I’m just saying, we shouldn’t overdo this studying stuff. I mean, it’s still early in the week and we still have plenty of time.“

Jenny looks sternly at Jenny. „If you wanna go, I can also study alone, I don’t need you for this.“

„No“, Sheena replies, „that’s not what I want to say, but there is this live broadcast of the handball championship on Sports+ later in the evening, so I might leave a little earlier than planned.“

Jenny says: „Well, if you want, I can’t stop you. But now let’s start studying, otherwise we’ll spend all our time chatting.“

„Ok, so let’s see“, Sheena replies, „The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life forms… well, that’s good. One fact learned…“

Sheena looks at Jenny. Jenny smiles and shakes her head. „Oh… Sheena…“

Jenny turns her eyes back to her book. Two hours later, Sheena’s smartphone buzzes.

Sheena turns her head up and says: „So Jenny, it’s my time, I need to go home.“

Jenny answers: „Ok, then see you tomorrow.“

„Yeah, see you then“, Sheena says, „and you should also finish soon, you’ve been studying for a long time now, that can’t be good.“

Jenny shakes her head. „Oh, Sheena.“

An hour after Sheena has left, Jenny still sits in the library and studies Microbiology. When Jenny looks up briefly, she sees a woman walking between the bookshelves. Her ash-blonde hair falls loosely on her naked shoulders. Her bare ass bounces vividly with every step she takes. Jenny looks briefly down but up again with eyes wide open but can’t see the naked woman anymore. After moments of shock, she starts to walk in the direction where the person stood, but she still can’t see her. She looks left and right, but nothing to see. She walks in the directions but still can find nothing. Jenny is puzzled and scratches her head. She walks through any of the shelves but can see no one. She walks to the main reception and asks if the receptionist has seen a sparely clothed woman walking out there, but he denies it. Jenny goes back to her desk and looks puzzled.

***

When Jenny walks home, she’s still in deep thought. She absentmindedly brushes her teeth and goes to bed. She lies in bed with thinking face still for some time but finally falls asleep. In her dreams, Jenny walks through the library in search of an important book for her microbiology studies. She looks around and realizes, that many people stare at her, some amused, some in bewilderment. Suddenly, Professor Cavanaugh stands in front of her and glares at Jenny with an angry face. He holds one arm outstretched and points in the direction of the entrance. When Jenny looks down, she realizes the lack of a proper uniform on her body. She actually doesn't see anything else than her bare skin. Her face blushes and she freezes in shock. She hides her crotch and her breasts with her hands and starts to run to the entrance.

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. The alarm clock rings, and Jenny opens her eyes.

Chapter Text

Beep-Beep… Beep-beep. Jenny opens her eyes and lies still for a second, then she hastily starts to run her hand over her chest. As her fingers brush against the soft fabric of her nightwear, a sigh of relief escapes her and she sinks back into the mattress. Slowly, it dawns on her, that her naked walk through the library was nothing more than a bad, bad dream.

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. The sound of the alarm clock finally drags Jenny back to reality. She reaches for it with a groggy hand and manages to silence it. After a moment, she swings her legs over the side and frowns slightly as she rubs her temples. She gets up and walks slowly into the bathroom.

After a refreshing shower, she brushes her teeth, fixes her hair, and puts on her uniform. She gathers her backpack and heads out of her room toward the university.

***

When Jenny arrives at the lecture hall, Professor Cavanaugh stands at his lectern and types something on his laptop with a stern expression. She sits down in the same place as the day before and looks tensely at the front of the room.

„Hey,“ Sheena’s cheerful voice snaps Jenny out of her thoughts. She sits down at the seat next to Jenny, leaning close. „Are you okay? You look like you wanna eat Cavanaugh alive. I wouldn’t mind getting rid of him, but I think, he’s not that tasty.“

Jenny startles but slowly a smile forms on her lips. „Hi Sheena, I urm… just didn’t sleep well, that’s all.“

Sheena raises an eyebrow. „Hmm… your face tells different, you know.“

Jenny shakes her head quickly, her voice is tense. „It’s nothing, really.“

„Fine,” Sheena holds up her hands in mock surrender, “keep your secrets. But if you continue to stare at Cavanaugh like that, he’s gonna think you’ve got a crush on him, and that’s a nightmare I don’t need.“

Jenny blushes and laughs. „Okay.“

At this moment, Professor Cavanaugh, turns his head and directs his strict eyes to the audience. „Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the second lecture in microbiology. As I can see, everyone has adopted the uniform rules and dressed accordingly. So I don’t have to dismiss anyone today, do I?“

Professor Cavanaugh scans the rows thoroughly with his eyes and his facial expression turns slowly from excitement to disappointment: „This is... well… great, as any delay for throwing the culprit out of the lecture would go to your disadvantage. Any topics we do not cover in this lecture you will have to work out by yourself.“

Professor Cavanaugh straightens. His voice rises slightly. „But now enough of chatting, There is still a wealth of knowledge to be conveyed for your future professional life as a medic and of course for the coming exam. I will give a short introduction to the smallest living creatures known on earth, which can consist only of a single cell: the bacteria. As you already know, the outermost layer of an animal cell is the plasmalemma, which is also called cell membrane. But the structure of the bacteria cell goes beyond this. It adds an additional layer to its outer limits known as the cell wall. The cell wall consists of murein, a complex of sugars and amino acids. It builds a natural barrier that supports and protects the cell just as our academic institution does with you, dear students.“

He makes a sweeping gesture to encompass the entire room. „But as it is with us humans, not any bacteria can be considered harmless and fit itself seamlessly into its environment. Sometimes bacteria just fall out of their natural given role. They can trigger fevers, pains, and in rare cases even hallucinations due to toxins affecting the nervous system. They can destroy the human body up to the point of its total failure. Medical scientists are in this case, the savior of society. We know means to dissolve the cell wall protection of the bacteria by exposing it to strong antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Penicillin. This stops the reproduction of the cell wall, exposes the vulnerable inner cell of the culprit, and...“, he slides his fingers grinning across his throat., „...leaves it to its certain death.“

A murmur goes through the room. Sheena whispers to Jenny: „He behaves even creepier than yesterday.“

Jenny looks uncomfortable: „Indeed.“

Professor Cavanaugh slaps his fist annoyed on the table. „This is university and not a coffee party. If you have questions, please ask them! If you have to discuss anything private, only do so after the lecture! Now back to topic. I will now introduce you to the classification of the bacteria.“

***

After the lecture, Jenny and Sheena leave the lecture hall and join the queue at the dining hall’s food counter. Jenny walks with her gaze, lost in thought, while Sheena watches her with a mix of curiosity and concern. „You still don’t wanna talk about what happened?“ Sheena asks, breaking the silence.

Jenny hesitates before replying, her tone uncertain. „Hmm… I think I need to see a doctor.“ She raises an eyebrow. „ I… I think I had a hallucination last night! After you left, I saw something. I don’t know, it was so real, but it can’t be real, l… like a ghost…“

Sheena’s brow furrows in confusion, then lifts in mock disbelief. „Like some weirdo under a bed sheet?“

„No,” Jenny smiles skeptically at Sheena and shakes her head. “not a bed sheet. She did actually wear nothing at all.“

Sheena leans back, crosses her arms, and smirks. „What?“

Jenny puts her hand up. „No clothes, no underwear, you know?“

Sheena’s grin widens, a playful glint in her eyes. „You mean like naked?“

Jenny looks away, embarrassed. „Yes, urm kind of…“

Sheena laughs. „Really? Cool! I wish I had your imagination.“

Jenny’s frown deepens. „This is not funny, Sheena. I could be really sick.“

Sheena looks thoughtful. „Hmm… for me it sounds rather like stress. I told you not to study that long.“

Jenny’s face is pensive. „I don’t know, Sheena… I don’t think it’s just stress. It… it felt... way too real... you know?“

„Come on Darling.“ Sheena says, her tone light. „It’s well known, that working too long can cause people to daydream. But as long, as those are such nice daydreams, I personally wouldn’t mind!“

Jenny mutters, shaking her head: „Nice is definitely different. It was quite a shock!“

Sheena gives her a playful nudge. „I wouldn’t give too much on it, just make sure you don't overdo it again.“

Jenny sighs but manages a small smile. „Okay, Sheena.“

Meanwhile, the two reached the front of the queue. Denver, standing behind the counter welcomes them with a friendly stoic: „Eating what?“

Sheena beams. „Oh, the charming guy from yesterday again, I would like to have the baked potato with salmon and your phone number.“

Jenny asks perplexed: „What?“

Sheena gestures and tries to explain: „Well, Jenny… salmon, the fish, you know?“

Jenny hesitates. „Yeah I know but…“

Denver says stoically: „+1-A23-555-0A79“

Sheena types the number down in her smartphone and says smiling at Denver: „Thanks“

Denver puts the salmon on the plate and passes it to Sheena. „Next“

Jenny looks astonished at Sheena. „Wow, you are quite out…“

„Eating what?“ Denver asks stoically.

Jenny looks confused at Denver. „Oh…, well…, for me please: Steak with fries.“

Jenny looks back to Sheena. „You are quite outgoing Sheena.“

„Well, no venture, no gain,“ Sheena says self-assured.

Denver puts Steak with fries on the plate and passes it to Jenny. „Here“

Jenny takes the plate and looks at Denver. „Thanks“ Then she looks at Sheena. „Now let’s look for a table to sit down“

Denver says stoically: „Next“

***

The two go to a table and eat. After eating, Sheena turns her head to Jenny. „What do you do in the afternoon?“

Jenny replies: „I have to work.“

Sheena sighs, looking slightly disappointed at Jenny: „A pity, I’ve got two tickets for Fight Club and was hoping, you’d join me at the cinema?“

„Fight club?” Jenny wrinkles her nose. „Never heard of that. Sounds rough!“

Sheena’s eyes gleam. „Exactly! And the best part - the tickets were free - so nothing to pay!“

Jenny smiles apologetically. „Sorry, still a no, if I don’t earn enough, I can drop my holidays off the bridge.“

Sheena thinks for a moment. „That’s a pity, but well hmm… I still got Denver’s phone number.“ She starts to smile and looks at Jenny. „What do you think, would he…“

Jenny shrugs her shoulders. „Give it a try, you’ve already got his attention.“

Sheena looks determined. „Yeah, you’re right, I’ll text him.“

She takes out her phone. Jenny looks down, a little exhausted. „And now… yet another lecture with Mr. Sado.“

Sheena turns her head to Jenny. „Don’t mention it!“

Jenny replies with forced confidence: „Well, we’ll survive it. Come on, Sheena.“

Sheena nods, a little disappointed, as they gather their things and leave.

***

Sheena and Jenny sit again in the lecture of Professor Cavanaugh. Professor Cavanaugh stands straight and authoritarian at his desk. „I will now lecture about the methods medical practitioners use to counter pathogenic bacteria in greater detail. Just to make it clear, bacteria are the smallest living beings we know. I gave you this morning already an insight into the world of bacteria, its classifications, and its significance for the human being. For the good as well as for the bad. But I guess, most of you already forgot, what I said this morning. Next Monday you will have to know it definitely. I will introduce you to...“

Suddenly, a sharp „Ding“ interrupts Professor Cavanaugh’s presentation - a smartphone chime, bright and unmistakable.

Professor Cavanaugh gets tense. „Who was this?“

No one answers.

Professor Cavanaugh puts his hands on his hips. „I know, that it is hard for you youngsters to be unavailable for just one lecture. But if this ever happens again, and this isn’t written public in the rules… but your shitty smartphones have to be turned off. If this happens ever again in my lecture, I will throw the culprit out immediately and he or she may have to rework everything told in the lecture. And if there is no culprit, the blame will fall on everyone. Is this understood?“

The students in the lecture hall look tense, but no one speaks.

Professor Cavanaugh clenches his fists and speaks louder: „IS THIS UNDERSTOOD EVERYONE?“

A female student in the front row, the same student that argued with Professor Cavanaugh on Monday says: „Yes Professor Cavanaugh“

Professor Cavanaugh looks sternly through the rows. „I really, really hope so…“ He relaxes a bit. „So, back to topic… I will now introduce you to methods of treating pathogenic bacterial infections...“

Professor Cavanaugh turns around and moves on to the next slide. Sheena looks at Jenny and shows her smartphone. Under Sheena’s friendly ‘Hey sweetheart, wanna have some fun in the cinema with Fight Club’ it shows a stoic  ‘Hmmm’ from Denver. Sheena grins at Jenny and gives a triumphant thumbs-up.

***

After the lecture, Jenny goes to „the Stag“ and meets Caroline who is waiting tables there. Lester is nowhere to be seen. Jenny goes to Caroline. „Hi Caroline, do you know where Lester is?“

Caroline smiles. „Hi Jenny, he said, he had some work to do in the office. You have to go through the back door and then to the left to get there.“

Jenny beams. „Thanks, Caroline“, and walks through the back door and then to the left. She sees Lester’s office door wide open. Lester‘s sitting at his desk and glances at two naked, big-breasted women. The two are caressing each other’s private parts on his large computer screen. His eyes are contorted with pleasure as he frantically rubs his manhood. „Oah yes, oah yes… oahhhh uuhhhhhhhhh…“

A big load of white liquid shoots out of Lester's glans and up onto his desk.

Jenny looks disgusted. „Good Shepherd, couldn’t you at least close that damn door, when you’re doing your things, Lester?“

Lester snaps: „Mind your own business bitch and stop whining.“ He pulls up his pants and steps closer to Jenny. He points his fingers in the direction of the kitchen. „Actually it’s good that you’re here. There are lots of dirty dishes to wash again. I’ll give you 15 Dollars, same pay as yesterday, to take care of it.“

Jenny looks at the table full of dirty dishes and startles. „Damn no, this is much more than yesterday.“

She turns her head and looks determined and dismissive to Lester. „This work is not worth 15 Dollars, 25 Dollars and I will do it.“

Lester looks derogatory. „Ah, I see. You’re a greedy bitch, who wants to exploit a hardworking man. There may be a few more plates than yesterday, but nothing that’s gonna take you much longer. I’ll give you 20 Dollars and no penny more.“

Jenny replies harshly: „20 Dollars is far too little. It will take an extra hour to wash all the dishes.“

„Well Jenny”, Lester shrugs, “if you don’t want the job, I can call another applicant.“

„Fuck you, Lester.“ Jenny is outraged.

Lester smirks. „Gladly is this an offer?“

„Leave me alone.“ Jenny replies dismissively.

Lester grins pretentious: „Come to me when the work is done.“ He leaves the kitchen and Jenny pulls out her smartphone. She starts looking for other jobs. The front page of HawneeJobs shows an advertisement: ’Lumberjack Games hires female employees in the mail department’ - a full-time job, that requires a Master’s degree. Jenny searches for part-time jobs in Hawnee and surroundings but finds nothing and puts her smartphone away. She starts washing the dishes just when Caroline approaches her with a worried face. „Are you okay Jenny?“

Jenny looks defiant. „Yes, I’m okay.“

Caroline smiles. „I like how you stand up to him. You’re quite a strong woman, you know that?“

„Thanks.“ Jenny’s lips curl into a small appreciative smile.

Caroline’s expression brightens. „Anyway, do you still have plans for tonight? I’m meeting with some friends at Ronny’s Ranch.“

„Sorry,” Jenny shakes her head apologetically, “I’d love to, but I have to study for the entrance exam for Medicine.“

Caroline startles. „Holy flock, I’ve heard about that. Best of luck for it! And hey, if you ever need a drink or someone to talk to, here is my number.“ She shows Jenny her number on her Smartphone and Jenny types it into her own.

Jenny smiles. „Thanks, Caro.“

When Caroline leaves she starts to wash the dishes and heads thereafter over to Lester. She addresses him harshly: „ I’m done.“

Lester looks dismissive. „Okay, here are your 20 Dollars. Can you come tomorrow again at the same time?“

Jenny turns and walks toward the front door. „Yes, we will see.“

When Jenny walks out, Lester looks defiantly after her.

***

Jenny goes home and into the kitchen. She opens the fridge and pulls together some sandwich ingredients. Just as she reaches for the bread, she hears a soft voice: „Hi Jenny.“

Jenny turns her head and looks smiling at her landlady. „Oh, hi Susan.“

Susan points at a pan on the oven. „You’re welcome to some casserole if you’d like. It’s fresh, we made it this evening but couldn’t eat it all. It‘s still warm in the oven.“

„Oh,“ Jenny looks a bit embarrassed, ”this is so nice of you, but I can’t eat all your food.“

Susan smiles. „Please. My husband and I won’t be home tomorrow anyway, and we’d rather you enjoy it than throw it away.“

Jenny smiles nervously. „O… Okay. Thank you, Susan.“

While Susan leaves the kitchen, Jenny takes the casserole from the oven and eats. Afterward, she heads to the library.

***

When Jenny arrives at the library, she sees that Carter is working there today. He sits bent over his laptop and doesn’t see Jenny approaching. Jenny smirks provocatively. „The robe merchant is also the guardian of knowledge, that’s uncommon for a roleplay.“

Carter smiles slyly. „Hi little enchantress, how may I help you on your journey through the realm of wisdom?“

„Oh,” Jenny replies, “actually I only came by to say hi. I didn’t see you yesterday. Were you here?“

Carter shakes his head. „No, I was on day shift yesterday. I had to swap today, as I was playing a part in the theatre this afternoon.“

Jenny smiles admiring. „Aaah, what play were you in?“

Carter replies: „King Lear.“

„Oh, cool,” Jenny nods, “a Shakespearean Drama. What role were you playing? Surely a quite important one!“

Carter blushes. „Ah, no, unfortunately just a humble servant of the king. It was actually my first appearance on stage, so they didn’t want to give me a big role.“

Jenny nods appreciatively. „Nevertheless, nice, nice Mr. Servant. Unfortunately, I cannot stay for long to talk. I have to go and study now. But it was nice to meet you again.“

„Same here.” Carter replies. “I guess, as you are an applicant in Medicine, I may see you here quite constantly during the next four weeks. To make our encounters less random, I would very much appreciate if we could exchange telephone numbers.“

Jenny smiles. „As the mighty guardian of knowledge, you deserve to have my phone number, so here it is.“ She gives Carter her number with a playful smile. „You can store it under enchantress or under Jenny”. That’s up to you.

Carter smiles. „This can only be enchantress.“

Jenny grins as Carter types on his smartphone. „I will ring you briefly, then you have mine too.“ Her smartphone rings and she looks down at it. „Nice, thanks mighty servant, and farewell Carter.“

„Farewell Enchantress.“, Carter replies.

Jenny’s smile gets broader. She waves playfully as she begins to walk away. He smiles as she leaves and watches her walk.

***

Jenny goes further into the library. She sees Sheena sitting next to two other people. A girl with long dark-blonde hair put together in a high ponytail and a guy with wavy brown hair, brows furrowed in concentration. They all are focused on their laptops.

Jenny closes in on Sheena. „Hi Sheena, sorry, I’m late.“

Sheena looks up to Jenny. „Doesn’t matter, I’ve got to know these two meanwhile.“ She gestures to her new acquaintances. „They are Tina and Steven. They also sit in our lectures.“

Tina turns her face to Jenny. She smiles softly at Jenny through the long bangs that frame her face. Her eyes sparkle with curiosity. „Hi“

Steven looks up and waves lazily focused on his laptop. „Hi“

Jenny smiles and replies: „Hi, nice to meet you two.“ She sits down, opens her laptop, and looks at Sheena. „How was the movie?“

Sheena smirks. „I actually can hardly remember, had too much to do making out with Denver. The guy is passive but a damn good kisser. Guess, I’ll call him later that week again for more action.“

Jenny laughs nervously. „Wow, you’re getting to it pretty quick…“

Sheena shrugs. „Come on, it’s just for fun, not for life.“

„I hope, you don’t mind me asking,” Tina replies softly, ”but doesn’t it feel empty when you move so fast? How do you even enjoy it without really knowing the person?“

Sheena looks dismissive. „Well, I rather like to keep things fun and casual. Not sure if Mr. or Mrs. Right exists. And even if, it would be too much time to waste to find them.“

Tina pauses and looks thoughtful. „But what’s the point if it doesn’t mean anything? Don’t you think you’re missing out on something deeply satisfying?“

„Might be, but I'm also missing out on some deep pain, once the satisfaction is over.“ Sheena shrugs and leans back.

Tina frowns slightly. „That’s why you have to work hard to keep it going - it’s worth it when you do.“

Sheena looks puzzled at Tina. „Good for you, but not my thing. Got too many other things to do...“

Jenny looks back and forth between Sheena and Tina with interest, then shrugs with a small smile. "I guess everyone just looks for happiness in their own way, but I’m also rather on the slow side of things."

„Urm… sorry girls,” Steven gestures at his laptop with a half-smile, “it is interesting to listen to your discussion, but I really need to get this knowledge into my head.“

Jenny says: „Yes, I agree. Let’s start to study.“

Sheena smirks. „Guess there’s no escaping it.“

All bow over their laptops to study. Some time goes by before Tina looks up. „So far, the learning material is relatively simple, isn't it? We've already covered a lot of this at school. When this continues like this, we'll pass the exam easily.“

Steven looks anxious. „You lucky girl. I have much more to do with that. We had some biology in school, but never dug that deep.“

Sheena says dismissively: „Yeah, this all is surely quite a lot to know, but studying is not everything in life. I’m quite sure we’ll find a way to go through all this.“

„You are really a lucky girl.” Jenny replies anxiously. ”The content of yesterday’s lecture was at least partly familiar, but what we learned today went far beyond what I learned at school. I still have a lot to do before Monday. But I’m even more worried about the week after when we have anatomy. This is said to be even much more to learn than that.“

Tina glances at her Smartphone. „Oh, I’m sorry, I already have to leave. I’m meeting with my boyfriend Michael tonight. She starts to pack her things.“

„Oh girls and boys,” Sheena agrees, “my time is running out too. Today is foxy-style night at Ronny’s Ranch. Anybody wants to join me?“

Steven shakes his head. „Sorry, I still have to learn.“

Jenny looks apologetically. „Sorry, me neither, I have also still to learn. I didn’t come here early, and this is still a lot to know.“

„Okay,” Sheena shrugs her shoulders, ”you don’t know, what you’re missing. See you tomorrow at Mr. Sado’s lecture.“

Tina raises her eyebrows. „Ah, no, tomorrow it’s actually another lecturer. We won’t see Professor Cavanaugh before Friday again.“

Sheena grins. „Nice.“ She starts to pack her things.

Tina says goodbye and leaves. When Sheena has also packed her things, she looks at Steven and Jenny and says. „Goodbye you all, and Jenny - don’t stay too long. Otherwise, you’re gonna see ghosts again.“

Jenny blushes. „Okay, bye-bye.“

Then Sheena also walks out of the library.

Steven looks at Jenny questioningly. „What did she mean by ghosts?“

Jenny hesitates, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. „Oh, it’s just… something silly. Yesterday, I thought I saw something weird in the library. But it’s probably just my imagination.“

Steven raises an eyebrow, intrigued. „Weird like what?“

„Okay,” Jenny sighs. ,”don’t laugh, but urm… I thought I saw a naked woman walking through the library.“

Steven blinks. He looks clearly surprised. „A naked woman? Are you serious?“

Jenny shrugs, half-laughing. „I mean, it couldn’t have been real, right? I was probably tired and overworked. My brain must’ve been playing tricks on me.“

Steven grins. „Well..., if you ever see her again, take a photo and show it to me, then I can tell you if I see her too.“

Jenny grins suspiciously. „You just want to look at a nudie, don’t you?“

„What do you think of me?” Steven raises his hands defensively. “I only wanna help a lady in need.“

Jenny rolls her eyes, grinning. „Sure, very gentlemanlike. Let’s just get back to studying.“

Steven chuckles: „Okay, okay.“

The two focus on their laptops again and study in silence for a while. Around 11 PM, Jenny stretches and closes her laptop. „It’s now time for me, too. I’m going home.“

Steven nods. „Me too, my head is bursting. Did you see the ghost again?“

„No,” Jenny replies laughing. “I guess, it’s still not her time tonight. Yesterday it was past 11 PM.“

Steven raises an eyebrow. „Is this the reason you want to go?“

„Kind of…”, Jenny replies, ”I really don’t want this to happen again.“

Steven nods. „Yeah, I get it. But somehow it is tempting to wait.“

Jenny laughs. „You’re welcome to stay here til 12 PM.“

„Oh no…,” Steven shakes his head, “studying alone is urm… not my thing.“

Jenny smiles. „Okay.“

Steven and Jenny pack their stuff into their backpack and put them on their shoulders. Then the two walk toward the entrance door.

Jenny says: „Goodnight Steven.“ and Steven replies: „Same to you, Jenny. And try not to dream about ghosts.“

Jenny laughs. „And you don’t stay up looking for them.“

Steven walks out. Jenny glances at Carter at the entrance. „Goodnight Carter“

Carter looks up and waves a hand. „Goodnight Jenny.“

Jenny heads through the entrance door and walks home.

***

When Jenny arrives home, she takes out pencil and paper and starts to write a short letter to her mom.

Dear Mom,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I wanted to take a moment to write and let you know that I am doing well and how things are going here in my first days in Hawnee.

The entrance courses for the medical study program have begun and are quite challenging, but I am determined to push through them. Our lecturer is obviously committed to ensure, that we all do well in our studies. Just getting to know him is a valuable learning experience. He is a dedicated and very strict teacher who only wants to bring out the best in the students.

I also found a job here to support me during my studies. It's not the most glamorous job, because I work in the service department of a gastronomic institution. But I'm getting by and learn to be more independent.

The library here is a fascinating place - a mix of the wisdom of the past and the thirst for knowledge of the modern. Together with my newly found friends Sheena, Tina, and Steven, we formed today a study group in there, that will make the learning experience much more comfortable.

I promise to keep you updated on my progress and I hope you are doing well in your studies. I hope, VoConTel will restore the cable communication in Shepherd’s Meadow soon, so we can talk again. I know you don’t like to have a mobile phone, but it would make communication much easier now that we are so far from each other. I look forward to your reply.

All my love,

Jenny

After writing, Jenny immediately heads to bed, her mind still occupied by the strange experience of the night before.

Chapter Text

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. Jenny opens her eyes as the alarm clock rings beside her. She lies still for a moment as the memory of the naked woman in the library flickers briefly in her mind. This time, however, it feels distant, like the chirping birds she used to hear in her childhood when she played in the meadows with her friends. A small smile unfolds on her lips as she exhales a calm sigh. The last remnants of unease slowly drift away with the breath.

She swings her legs over the side, yawns, and stretches, and then slowly trots into the bathroom. Refreshed by a shower, she brushes her teeth and ties her hair into her usually neat ponytail. Then she gets dressed in her uniform, grabs her backpack, and heads out of the house. On her way to university, she drops the letter for her mother into a letterbox. A soft smile lingers on her lips.

***

Jenny enters the lecture hall and notices Tina and Steven. Not seeing Sheena yet, she takes the place next to Steven.

A moment later, the front door opens, and a woman steps in. Her presence immediately attracts the attention of the students. Her black updo is flawless, and her structured blouson fits her frame with quiet authority. With one gloved hand holding a bag and a laptop tucked under her other arm, she strides confidently toward the lectern.

Jenny blinks, momentarily taken aback by the appearance of the new lecturer. At this moment Sheena slides into the seat next to Jenny. “Hooh, is this the new lecturer? I hope her fashion sense is not the only thing that sets her apart from Sado.”

Jenny nods approvingly. “Yes, her outfit looks really great.”

Tina glances at the lecturer and sighs. “Don’t let the clothes mislead you. Many in my old school wore Chiton and Urmani like her. But not many of them were friendly and kind.”

 “Urm… there are surely such and such,” Steven weighs in, “but come on, you need to clothe well to make it in this world…”

Tina looks dismissive. “So you think dressing well is all it takes to impress?”

 “No, that’s not what I mean. She just doesn’t look like the arrogant type… And my cousin spent months applying for a job, but he only got a good offer after watching ‘Fashion Eye’ and replacing his C&M-suit with a proper one”, Steven replies.

While Steven and Tina debate, Sheena nudges Jenny with a sly grin. “What about your personal ‘clothing experiences'? You look more rested today. No more naked ghosts haunting you?”

Jenny glances around nervously. Her heart quickens for a moment. “N… no… I think it was really just a daydream.”

Sheena smiles knowingly. “I told you, just relax a bit and everything is fine.”

Jenny smiles mildly. “Yes, but studying is still important. Otherwise, we’ll never pass those exams.”

Sheena rolls her eyes. “Urm… yeah… we should go studying. But there is also a life after that! And tonight is Ladies’ Night in Ronnie’s Ranch. Entrance is free and all cocktails only one Dollar. I’d really like to go there after studying. Would you come with me?”

Jenny smiles apologetically. “Sorry Sheena, I really need all time I can get to study.”

At this moment, the lecturer’s voice cuts through the murmur of the room with precision. “Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Professor Amanda Lambert and today I’ll lead you through the beautiful world of viruses, the smallest yet most lethal entities in the microbial universe. Viruses are smart little fighters that defy the ordinary rules of life. Neither truly alive, nor truly dead do they exist to challenge, to provoke, and to push the limits of our understanding.”

Professor Lambert pauses briefly. Her eyes scan the room with a glint of strength. “Each virus has its own distinctive style, some as round as planets, others twisted like river serpentines. But they all have one thing in common: They cannot reproduce themselves on their own. They found another way to overcome this restriction. They infiltrate host cells, inject their genetic code, and force them to reproduce their own genes over and over again. Definitely a cruel method, but undeniably very effective.”

“And the adaptability they display in doing so“, her eyes start to gleam,” forces us medical professionals to constantly develop new strategies to keep the upper hand! In the next lectures, I will give you a deep insight into the vicious beauty of those relentless little warriors, which come in totally different shapes. Some of them might even exceed your wildest fantasies, as they are just as unique and individual as human fashion styles.”

Sheena leans toward Jenny. “Ha, I couldn’t laugh harder.” She points to her chest. “Those rags we’re forced to wear have nothing individual.”

Jenny smirks. “Hey, come on, we still have four styles to choose from.”

“Yeah,” Sheena rolls her eyes, ”four shades of dull!”

Professor Lambert gestures to the canvas on the wall as a series of distinct virus models appear. “After this brief introduction, I’ll lead you through the composition, reproduction, and classification of viruses. By the end of today, you’ll definitely understand why some people call them nature’s most dangerous and intricate paradox…”

***

After the lecture the group heads to the dining hall. They fetch their meals at the food counter and Sheena greets Denver with an intense kiss. Then all settle at a table with their trays.

Sheena grins at Tina and Steven. “Ronnie’s Ranch is having a party tonight with cocktails for a Dollar. Does anyone of you wanna join me?”

 “That’s Ladies' Night, isn’t it?” Steven raises an eyebrow. “Are guys even allowed there?”

Sheena smirks. “Ladies' Night just means cheap drinks for anyone who feels like a Lady and meeting hot Ladies for all the other ones. So let’s be real - if there were no men, it’d only be half the fun.”

Steven smiles. “I’ll think about it, but only after some studying. I mean, Professor Lambert was better at explaining than Professor Cavanaugh, but I still only understood half of the stuff she said.”

“Fair enough.” Sheena nods.

Sheena turns to Tina. “What about you?”

Tina smiles apologetically. “I’d love to, but my boyfriend and I already have plans.”

Jenny tilts her head, thinking. “What about Denver, did you ask him already?”

“Yeah.” Sheena nods. “He said he’d be hitting the town with some friends, having some beers, so no time for the Lady.”

Jenny frowns. “Wait… that’s not really what he said, is it?”

Sheena smirks. “Yeah, but his long stretched ‘Hnnn…’ was pretty clear.

“O… kay…” Jenny glances skeptically at Sheena.

***

After eating lunch, the group walks back to their seats in the lecture hall.

Sheena grins. “And here she comes again.”

Professor Lambert strides confidently to the lectern. “Welcome back, dear attendees. This morning I began to introduce you to the beautiful world of viruses. While I talked then about viruses as an entity, I will now focus on the interaction between viruses and the human organism.”

The canvas behind her springs to life, displaying an image reminiscent of a science fiction movie -  a small group of human immune cells battles a horde of alien-like viral invaders.

“The body's immune defenses are in a constant battle against many of those tiny intruders. The immune system uses a number of clever tactics to neutralize viruses and stop them from replicating and spreading, but it’s not able to keep up its defenses indefinitely. In order to help the body prevent a breakdown, medicines can use a variety of methods. Vaccinations for example serve as trainers. They prepare the immune system for the combat against the viruses. When the real viruses attack, the immune system is primed and ready to launch a swift counterattack.” Professor Lambert raises her arms dramatically, mimicking a fighter’s stance. “And if that’s not enough we bring in the heavy artillery - antiviral drugs weaken the enemy with aerial bombardment…”, She throws a sharp punch. “… and monoclonal antibodies hit them with surgical precision.” She swiftly follows with a precise jab.

Jenny’s smartphone suddenly vibrates. She looks down at it and sees a message from the Student Service Office. Her fingers tighten around the device as she checks it nervously.

IMPORTANT! Risk of De-Registration! Missing signature on Enrollment Application!

Dear Mrs. Simpson,

During a routine enrollment review, we noticed a severe problem with your enrollment application. There is a missing signature on page 4, line 20.

Unfortunately, all signatures must be verified by Thursday, 7a.m. Missing signatures will result in immediate de-registration.

Please come immediately to the Student Service Office to resolve this issue. The office is open from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.

Jane Novy

Wayne University Student Service Office

- We’re always there for you!! -

Jenny’s face loses any color and she shouts out loud: “Oh shit, what is this?”

The sudden noise lets Professor Lambert’s sharp gaze cut through the air, landing directly on Jenny. “Is something unclear, young lady?”

Jenny looks up and blushes. “Oh sorry, Mrs. I… I just got a weird message from the Student Service Office.”

Professor Lambert throws a sharp glance at Jenny. “Miss, this is a scientific lecture, not the right space to discuss private matters out loud. Please, kindly keep your focus?”

“Oh, sorry,…” Jenny’s blush deepens. “I was just surprised… This won’t.., won’t happen again. Sorry.”

Sheena leans over and whispers: “Careful Jenny, you don't want to replace me as the troublemaker, do you?”

Jenny glares, and whispers back, “Of course not…” She sneaks a glance at Professor Lambert, who’s still watching her with stern expression. Jenny’s face flushes beet red again.

***

After the lecture, Jenny shows the message to Sheena, Tina, and Steven. “I’m quite sure I signed everything.”

Steven crosses his arms. “It’s probably just another way to weed people out, like those damn entrance exams. They’ll use anything they can to make things harder and try to flush us out like the immune system does with those virus-things.”

 “Yeah,” Sheena nods, “that’s why you gotta fight back like a virus, hard and without mercy. Run down in that fucking office and show them who’s the boss. If they push you, push harder.“

Jenny frowns. “That rather sounds like a fast track to getting expelled than a proper solution! I don’t think, that works as intended!”

Tina adjusts her bag and says calmly: “Hmm…you could also get some help from outside and call a lawyer. They’d take care of it perfectly, and you’d use the time to focus on something meaningful like studying!”

“Urm…, sure…. but…,” Jenny shifts nervously, “isn’t that expensive?”

Tina looks genuinely puzzled for a moment, then waves her hand dismissively. “I don’t know. They’ve always been worth it to my parents. It’s just easier that way.”

Sheena thrusts in with rising voice. “You could also ask Mrs. Lambert to help you! She’d surely storm down there in those fancy boots of hers and crush that fucking office!”

Jenny raises an eyebrow at Sheena. “Urm you mean the lecturer…? Really? Why should she help me?” She shakes her head, exhaling. “I think I’ll just go see what they actually want.”

Steven nods. “Yeah, but don’t let them get to you. This damn system just tries to grind you off. Calm down, get it sorted, and move on.”

“Yes, that’s probably best.” Tina agrees, her face marked with concern. “But make sure they don’t try to pull anything shady.”

Jenny glances at her phone, her heart racing. “Sorry, I really need to hurry. I have to work later and still want to study tonight.”

Sheena leans back in her chair. “Text me if you need backup. I’ll bring the cavalry,” she says with a wink.

Jenny smiles faintly to Sheena. “Urm… okay… thanks…”, then she hurries out of the lecture hall.

***

When she arrives at the Service office, a brisk woman with brown hair pinned up in a bun sits typing at her desk. Spotting Jenny, she stands up and walks to the counter. “Hello, Mrs… how can I help you?”

Jenny asks: “Hello, are you Mrs. Novy?”

Mrs. Novy adjusts her glasses in confusion. “Yes, I am, and you are?”

Jenny…, Jenny Simpson…”, Jenny hesitates. ”…you sent me a message!”

Recognition dawns on Mrs. Novy’s face. “Ah, Mrs. Simpson. I was reviewing your enrollment application and noticed a missing signature from Professor Dr. Brown. Without it, your enrollment is invalid.”

Jenny throws up her hands dismissively. “But… but… this is not my fault. Isn’t that something Professor Brown should handle?”

Mrs. Novy frowns. “Normally, this should be part of processing. But seemingly not in this case. That’s unfortunate but happens. Without having that signature by tomorrow you’ll face immediate de-registration according to the study regulations. But you can still prevent this from happening by going to Professor Brown and getting his signature.”

“Where can I find him?” Jenny is panicking.

Mrs. Novy gestures toward the window. “Well, you have to go to the university’s main administration building, about 2 miles from here. But I suggest you to hurry. I’m only here until 4:30 p.m., and I’ll need the completed form by then. Professor Brown is a good man. I’m sure, he will give you the signature.”

“But… but… I don’t have that much time.” Jenny groans in frustration. “What a hell kind of university puts so much pressure on its students?”

Mrs. Novy’s tone grows sharp “This is an excellent establishment! It follows rules that have stood the test of time! If you cannot adhere to them, perhaps you should reconsider your place here, Mrs. Simpson!”

Jenny frowns and shakes her head in desperation. “I should really call a lawyer.”

Mrs. Novy raises an unimpressed eyebrow. “Oh, you’re free to try, but our legal department is quite strong. The last case like this was dismissed within days.” Then, without another word, she turns briskly back to her desk. “It was nice to meet you.”

Jenny bites her lip and nods. “Urm okay. I’ll try my best to get the signature.” Then she hurries out of the office.

***

Jenny rushes to the main administration building and enters Professor Brown’s office reception area. The secretary, whose name is Mrs. Katelyn Jenkins according to a sign on the entrance door, looks smiling at Jenny under her brown bob. “Good afternoon. How can I help you?

“I have to see Professor Brown,” Jenny snorts, “I need a signature on my enrollment application.”

Mrs. Jenkins looks apologetically. “Sorry, the Professor is currently busy.”

Loud moaning noises come from the office.

Jenny looks confused for a moment, then pleads: “Sorry, urm... it’s urgent. If I don’t get the signature in time, I get de-registered from my study. Couldn’t you go in and ask him if he could take a… well… short break and put his signature under my document.”

Mrs. Jenkins looks dismissive. “The professor can only conduct his work completely undisturbed and would be very annoyed if I were to bother him over such a minor issue.”

 “Urm, okay.” Jenny is unnerved. “How long will this last, I need to bring the signature back to the Student Service Office until 4:30 p.m. .”

Mrs. Jenkins crosses her arms resolutely. “Well, the professor’s meetings last as long, as necessary.“

Jenny’s head and shoulder sink and she puts her hand scratching tensely on her forehead as the moaning grows louder. Mrs. Jenkins starts to smile. “Oh, I think, it’s your lucky day. This one will probably be over very soon.”

Two loud screams of joy are heard from the office, then silence. Jenny grows nervous, her eyes widen. Shortly after this incident a female student with gleaming blue eyes and disheveled blonde hair leaves the office of Professor Brown grinning. “Goodbye Mrs. Jenkins”

Mrs. Jenkins smiles. “Goodbye Mrs. Davis.”

Jenny says dryly: “Is this a standard procedure of the professor?”

“Of course not.” Mrs. Jenkins glances offended.”This is a special treatment only reserved for highly gifted students.”

At this moment, Professor Brown emerges from his office, looking satisfied. Mrs. Jenkins’ blue eyes gleam. “Good that you’re here Professor. There is still another student for you.” She points at Jenny.

Professor Brown smiles. “Oh, please come in.”

Jenny looks anxious but determined. “Erm… could we handle this outside? I need just a simple signature.”

Professor Brown raises an eyebrow. “Ah, so you’re not here for a special treatment?”

“Flock, no,” Jenny looks shocked, “I have a totally different problem. See, a signature’s missing under my enrollment application.”

Professor Brown looks astonished. “Did you not sign it?”

Jenny is a little unnerved. “Well, I did sign it, but it seems you didn’t!”

Professor Brown crosses his arms. “But I did already sign them all.”

“Apparently,” Jenny gets totally unnerved, “there was a problem with the signature on my application.”

Professor Brown points his finger threateningly at Jenny. “Do you intend to say, that I made a mistake?”

Jenny looks embarrassed. “Oh, well… well… that…”

Professor Brown smirks. “Ha… just joking. Of course, even a professor can make a mistake.“ He points his finger to his office. “I will of course immediately sign the enrollment application in my office, please come in and close the door.”

Professor Brown walks into his office. Jenny looks embarrassed and unnerved but follows Professor Brown and closes the door. Professor Brown sits down behind his desk and points smiling at a chair in front of his desk. “Please take a seat.”

Jenny hesitates but sits down.

Professor Brown signs the document and hands Jenny the paper. “Here is your document.”

“Thanks, Professor.” Jenny smiles relieved.

Professor Brown looks at Jenny. “And you are sure, that you don’t want a special treatment?”

Jenny forces a smile. “Unfortunately, I have to turn down this generous offer.”

Professor Brown looks disappointed. “A pity, but you look like a perfect candidate for my special training program for highly gifted students.” He smiles again. “Nevertheless, I wish you a nice day. Goodbye Mrs. Simpson, I hope you overthink your decision.”

Jenny rises quickly. “Goodbye Professor Brown.” She leaves the office as Prof. Brown winks her. She looks relieved and hurries back to the Student Service office.

***

Jenny arrives back at Mrs. Novy’s counter, slightly out of breath. “Here is the missing signature Mrs. Novy.”

Mrs. Novy takes the paper, scans it with her eyes, and nods approvingly. “You are perfect Jenny. Thank you very much.” She turns her head to Jenny and raises an eyebrow. “Did you register for Professor Brown’s highly gifted students program?”

Jenny frowns. “What??? Was this all about…???”

Mrs. Novy holds dismissively her hands in front of her body. “Of course not… just personal curiosity.” She glances at her watch. “I’m sorry, but my time is running out. I have to go.” She smiles determinedly. “Goodbye Mrs. Simpson, would you please leave the office.”

Jenny stands there baffled and angry. She leaves the office and heads to ‘The Stag’ to work.

***

When Jenny enters ‘The Stag’, visibly exhausted. Lester stands behind the bar, his arms crossed. “Hi Lester”

“You are late.” Lester glares.

Jenny looks annoyed but apologetic. “Sorry, I had some stress with my enrollment. It was a mess.”

Lester is unmoved. “That’s no excuse for not being on time. You could at least have sent a message.”

Jenny holds her hands defensively in front of her body. “Sorry Lester, it all happened that fast, I didn’t think about it. I’m sorry, okay?”

“Whatever,” Lester says angrily, “your work is the same as the days before. You have to wash the dishes for 20 Dollars.”

Jenny walks into the kitchen and freezes. Her eyes widen at the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink. She storms back into the bar, and points annoyed toward the kitchen. “But… but… that is much more than yesterday! Twice at least! This work is not worth 20 Dollars, this wouldn’t be worth even 30 Dollars. 40 Dollars and I’m doing it.”

Lester’s face hardens. “First you’re late, now you’re making claims? You’re an awful prick.”

“You call me a prick?” Jenny gets furious. “You give me more and more work every day for same poor payment, you are a lousy exploiter.”

Lester slams his hand on the bar. “How dare you to insult me like that. I give you a job and I let your tardiness slide without notice and this is the thanks I get…?”

Jenny yells. “Shut your mouth Lester, you’re just not finding anyone, who would do this shitty work for you for peanuts. I guess, if you had found somebody, you wouldn’t have waited for so long, and just fired me like that!”

Lester points to the door. “That’s too much bitch, apologize, or I’ll kick you out…”

Jenny replies furiously: “Fuck you, Lester, you don’t have to fire me… I quit.”

Lester glares at Jenny. “Fine, then just get out… Good luck finding another job in the town, but don’t creep back if you can’t…”

Jenny looks disgusted. “I will rather lie dead in a ditch than ever return to your shitty place.”

On her way out, Jenny passes Caroline, who gives her a supportive smile. Jenny manages a small nod before leaving.

***

Jenny arrives home, slamming the door behind her. The house is empty, the Miltons are out. She drops her bag on the kitchen counter and pulls out some bread and cold cuts, assembling a simple sandwich. She sits at the table and eats, staring into empty space. She eats in silence. Her thoughts race in her head. Once finished, she cleans up, grabs her backpack, and heads to the library.

***

Jenny arrives at the library and finds Sheena, Tina, and Steven deep in their studies. She sits down and flips through her notes on the laptop without much focus. She occasionally checks her phone, visibly distracted.

After an hour, Sheena nudges her. “Hey Jen. What’s wrong?”

Jenny sighs heavily. “Uh, Sheena, the world is going down in shit. First I waited for hours to get a signature from a Professor because he had sex with one of his students. And that bastard even asked me if I wanted to have sex with him too?”

“Then I got into a huge quarrel with my boss because I was late and he’s been piling on more and more work every day for the same lousy pay. I can’t even say if I quit or he fired me, but I really don’t regret leaving this job for good. Lester is an asshole, and even if I had been on time, he wouldn't have paid me properly. But the job market here in Hawnee is completely empty. I can’t find a single job-ad on the Internet and when I find one and ask, they tell me, that they have too many applicants and they can’t accept any more. This is sheer horror.”

Sheena smirks. “Hmmm maybe you can hit both birds with one stone and ask that Professor, if he is interested to pay for his sex. I wouldn’t have rejected such an offer if he had given me something in reverse.”

Jenny groans. “Sheena please, I’m not one of those girls. And he is way too old for me.”

“Just saying.” Sheena shrugs.

Steven shakes his head in disappointment. “I don't know what else you can do either. And going back to this asshole is really the worst thing, you can do.”

Tina looks thoughtful. “Why do you need a job so badly? Don’t your parents support you enough?”

Jenny replies: “My mom’s a paralegal and studies law alongside her job. So she doesn’t have much to help me out. And honestly, I'm saving up for a trip to Sri Lanka. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and it’s the one thing I really look forward to.”

“I get it totally.” Steven nods. “My parents can’t help me much either. My father’s a carpenter and my mother’s an accountant, and they have to take care of two other children besides me. So I mainly have to take care of myself. There is a small student loan, I got. But this is not enough for the daily living. I do some part-time carpentry to earn a bit. This helps a lot.”

Tina looks compassionate. “You both do have a hard life, don’t you? I really feel sorry for you. I’ll definitely keep my eyes and ears open. I will also ask my parents and my friends. They might know something here in Hawnee, where you can work.”

Sheena agrees determined. “Same here. I’ll keep my eyes open.”

Steven nods. “Me too.”

“Thank you very much. You’re the best.” Jenny smiles touched and hugs the group. “But we have to keep studying now, there was lots of stuff to memorize again today and I haven’t learned that much so far.”

The group continues to study. Jenny tries to refocus on learning but struggles to concentrate. Later, when Sheena looks up again, she notices Jenny’s distraction. “Everything fine with you, Jen?”

Jenny looks up depressed. “No, not at all. Everything is bullshit, everything.”

“Jenny, nothing is worth torturing yourself over.” Sheena says determined. “Maybe it's just good to leave the books alone and do something other than study. There’s still that Lady's Night at Ronny's Ranch. All cocktails for a Dollar. What do you think about just dancing the stress away?”

Jenny hesitates. “I don’t know…”

Sheena nudges her. “C’mon, it’ll be fun. You need a little distraction.” Sheena looks questioningly at Steven. “Steven, have you made up your mind?”

Steven smiles “Hmm… yeah, I think, I’m in too...”

Sheena smirks and turns her eyes to Jenny. “See the party train’s growing, we just need our driver.”

“Okay, okay…,” Jenny smiles, “you may be right. Let’s go.”

Sheena looks at Tina. “What about you?

Tina looks sadly. “Sorry, I have an appointment with my boyfriend.”

“Then let’s hurry up,” Sheena says. The three pack their things bid farewell to Tina and head out.

***

Jenny, Sheena, and Steven head to Ronnie’s Ranch. They drink, dance, and let go of their stress. Around midnight, Steven leaves. Jenny and Sheena continue partying until 3 a.m. when they stumble out of the club clearly tipsy. On the way out she bumps into a woman. She turns to apologize and catches a glimpse of ash-blonde hair falling over bare shoulders - eerily like the naked woman from the library. Jenny shakes her head, but before she can focus, the woman has disappeared into the throng of people, who stand in the hallway of Ronnie’s Ranch.

Jenny babbles. “Sheeeena, thish wash sho good.”

 “Yeah,” Sheena slurs, “Shenny, gan you shdill find se right way, I see doo of sem. I mushd go do Muffmello… aye mean… Marsemello Shdreed for…”

Jenny blinks, trying to focus. “Yeh I fink I shdill shee se way.”

The two walk staggering along the street, til they get to some apartment complex.

“Is sis your house?”, Jenny asks.

Sheena looks up with glassy eyes. “Yeh, looks like sat.”

Jenny smiles. “Then goot nite and see you domorrow.”

Sheena waves clumsily. “Yeh dil domorrow Shenny.”

***

Jenny staggers home and collapses into bed the moment she arrives. She manages to set her alarm clock and then falls asleep exhausted.

Chapter Text

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. Jenny fumbles wearily for her alarm clock as it rings for like the 20^th time. She takes a look at it from her half-open eyes and is startled as it shows a time far too late and her lectures are to begin far too soon. She leaps out of her bed, storms out of her room down the stairs, and into the bathroom. She eagerly starts to brush her teeth but freezes mid-step as she hears the sound of a gentle spray of water from behind. When Jenny looks in the mirror, she sees a soft face, and a pair of hands slowly gliding from two soapy gleaming breasts down to a pair of well-rounded hips. Jenny’s eyes widen, and she blushes. „I… I’m sho shorry Shooshan.”

Susan smiles at ease. „Doesn’t matter. I’ll be out soon. If you want, you can take a shower afterward. But my husband still needs to brush his teeth and will be leaving soon as well. So he’s probably in here when you’re showering Jenny.“ She bows down and soaps her legs.

Jenny takes the toothbrush out of her mouth. „Oh, if I can brush my teeth, that’s great. I’ll just shower later. I have to leave soon either.“

Susan replies. „That works.“

Jenny continues to brush her teeth with the showering Susan in the background.

Every now and then Jenny throws a shy look at her landlady in the mirror and examines her body from top to bottom. Sometimes Susan smiles back at Jenny but shows no other sign of recognition. Every time Jenny catches Susan’s eyes, she blushes and looks away.

Finally, Susan steps out, winds a towel around her hair, and leaves the bathroom. Jenny finishes brushing and exits as well. She makes herself ready and leaves for the university.

***

Jenny enters the lecture hall, where rows of students are already seated, laptops open. She quickly spots Sheena, Tina, and Steven, and slides into a seat beside them. At the lectern, Professor Brown adjusts his laptop, preparing to begin. Jenny eyes him warily, recalling the unsettling encounter from the day before.

Professor Brown finally directs a warm parental smile at the students. „Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen”. The room quiets, and his smile deepens. “It is always a pleasure to stand before an audience like you, the bright young new minds of our institution. I am Professor Doctor Robert Brown, Dean of this esteemed medical faculty, and head of the clinical research department. I began my medical journey at Harford, completed my doctoral works in biochemistry and neurosexuology here at Hawnee, and spent many years working in medical practice across Boston, New York, and Oxford before my friend and mentor, the brilliant Professor Doctor George Waynfort called for me to return to the university. Here I share the wealth of my experience with the next generation. His inspiration not only guided my practical works but also instilled in me the profound joy of teaching. He was a true visionary who left us far too soon.“

 “Today, I will continue the work of my esteemed colleagues, Professor Doctor Cavanaugh and Professor Doctor Lambert, and will introduce you to two additional classes of microorganisms, which can pose significant threats to the human well-being: Parasites and Fungi…”

In this lecture, I will start with the fungi.” His expression grows serious. “Fungi, my dear students, are nature's masters of adaptation, deception, and survival. They've evolved cunning strategies to coexist with - and sometimes challenge their hosts. Understanding these intricacies is critical for our medical practice.“

Professor Brown leans slightly toward the audience. “Consider Candida, for instance. This seemingly innocuous organism can transform into a formidable enemy when our immune defenses falter, leading to quite persistent oral and genital infections. Or the opportunistic Aspergillus, ever-present in our environment, which can manifest as a severe lung infection…“

A mix of curiosity and apprehension fills the air of the lecture hall.

„As medical professionals,” Prof. Brown declares firmly, “it is our mission to find solutions to the challenges those unwelcome intruders throw at us. And hospitals, biotech pioneers, and of course the pharmaceutical industry play a crucial role in this effort. Only through collaboration are we able to explore new technologies, medications, and treatments that may help us confront these relentless enemies. Take, for example, the antifungal drug "Mycorix". We recently submitted an article about this great medicine for peer review in major science journals. It has been developed by our department together with the ‘BioHag Ltd.’ and in a recent clinical study, we were able to prove its high efficacy. It shows lots of promise in addressing stubborn fungal infections like Candida Auris and Aspergillus. The finalization process of Mycorix proceeds very promisingly and the product will soon be ready for the market.

A murmur sweeps through the room, and before Professor Brown can continue, a student in the back speaks up, his voice sharp and tense. “Despite the side effects?“

A shadow crosses Professor Brown’s face, but he maintains his composure. “Excuse me, Mister? We found no considerable side effects,” he explains. “Only a slightly measurable temporary increase in arousal in some participants. Nothing significant, but we nevertheless address this problem and try to decrease the effect.“

The student leans forward, his voice rising. „Well, my brother wouldn’t call those insignificant. Being given a so-called ‘harmless experimental drug’, he struggled with having a permanent hard-on for a full month, you won’t believe how embarrassing this is.”

The room falls silent. Professor Brown’s face tightens but softens again, showing deep empathy. „I have never heard about those rumors… and I highly doubt what you say is true. But I will nevertheless immediately inquire if there were any people experiencing such side effects. We take every reported side effect seriously. In our pursuit of medical progress, we must always remember our primary goal is to alleviate suffering and improve lives. Please understand that we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in our work and we’re always working to reduce any side effects no matter how significant. Sometimes in the pursuit of medical advancements, however, there may be unforeseen... complications. But rest assured, our intentions are always to benefit humanity and… should any unexpected problems arise, those affected will be generously compensated.“

He pauses, scanning the room, his face a mixture of concern and determination. „But let's shift now our focus away from the past and return back to the world of microorganisms… Together, we will explore innovative ways to combat fungal and other infections with the help of the pharmaceutical industry, all while keeping the well-being of our patients at the forefront of our minds.“

Jenny leans closer to Sheena and whispers: „I bet he’s lying about those ‘side effects’.“

Sheena looks at her, puzzled. „How can you say that? He seems to be quite a nice guy…“

Jenny scoffs, her voice low: „It’s actually him, who wanted to have sex with me yesterday. He might come along as charming, but the stink of corruption drags all the way here.”

Sheena’s eyes widen, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Really? That’s... intriguing.” She leans back and rubs her chin absent-mindedly with her fingers.

Before Jenny can reply, Prof. Brown resumes his lecture.

***

Over lunch, the group assembles in the dining hall and talks about the morning lecture.

“I liked Professor Brown.” Tina says, ”He seemed pleasant and approachable. Much better than Cavanaugh.“

Steven shakes his head. „I don’t trust him. There’s something off about the way he talks – sure it may come around as charming but it’s also so eerie and slick. He’s way too cozy with the pharmaceutical industry. Acts like their profits align with the common good, but for me, they are more of a parasite in the ass of society. That’s shady as hell.“

Jenny nods. „Me neither. This mysterious ‘side effect’ of Mycorix and then…I had some… urm weird experience with him yesterday.“

Steven raises an eyebrow. „What happened?“

Jenny hesitates, then sighs. „It was him that I witnessed having sex with one of his students when I was waiting with his secretary,”

Steven mocks disbelievingly: „How this? Was it a public fuck session?“

Jenny’s eyes widen. „Oh… no, no… I was just waiting with his secretary to get a form signed and then… I… I heard loud moaning coming from his office. Soon after, a female student with disheveled hair walked out… smiling. The secretary said she got a ‘special treatment’. And when he then appeared,… he… he asked me, if I was there for this purpose too.“

Tina laughs nervously. „I mean, yeah, that’s weird, but… he’s a neurosexuologist after all, right? Maybe you just stumbled in one of his experimental sessions.“

Jenny stares at Tina in disbelief. „Which coincidentally includes loud moaning?“

Tina shrugs. „Well… researching human sexual acts urm… does involve loud moaning sounds. We are humans after all. And if it’s for research purposes, what’s to object?”

Jenny snaps: „What is there to object? That he fucks his students, his charges!“

Tina replies, a little defensively. „Well, you didn’t see it. And even if I personally wouldn’t get involved in such an indecent behavior, having sex for science doesn’t sound to me like a disgraceful act. It’s for science after all, not for his own satisfaction. If the student wasn’t forced to do it, who cares about it?”

“Uh, I don’t know.” Steven cuts in. “If I was in his shoes, I’d probably be tempted too to get involved with some of the students. Power can be dangerous, especially without oversight.”

Sheena throws in determined. „Come on, you’re interpreting too much. I personally found him also quite a nice person. Approximately on one level with Mrs. Lambert. And it’s definitely not all bad about that. One just needs to know how to handle the Prof, then one might even get something out of it!“

“But that’s not fair.”, Tina weighs in.

“No, not fair, but still legal…”, Sheena smirks, “if you play your cards right.”

***

Later the group returns back to the lecture hall and settles into their seats, with Professor Brown already waiting at the lectern.

“Good afternoon, dear ladies and gentlemen.”, he begins. His voice carries easily over the rustling crowd. “It's a pleasure to see you again this afternoon. My schedule is quite packed, but I'm still delighted to have the opportunity to share more knowledge with eager minds like yours.”

“But before I continue to delve deep into the world of Microorganism, I’d like to discuss a personal matter, one that holds also a great opportunity for some of you.” He pauses for a beat. ”As I’ve mentioned, I’m a researcher in neurosexuology and my Chair aims to thoroughly understand the cognitive aspects of human sexuality - a field growing more and more important in view of declining birth rates and shifting social dynamics.

Professor Brown pauses dramatically, “The fight for brilliant minds is fierce, and it has become increasingly important to attract top talents already at an early stage. To that end, the Waynfort-University in conjunction with our sponsors has launched an initiative to introduce young high potential students to the field through an elite assistance program.”

Jenny swallows hard.

“I know that many of you are ambitious. Many of you wish to make an impact - to be part of something truly groundbreaking.” He smiles and scans the students. “The highly gifted students program offers that opportunity. You get a chance to participate in cutting-edge research, to work alongside top professionals, to deepen our understanding of cognitive processes in interindividual sexual relations, and to shape the future of reproductive medicine. But an open mind is essential - our methods are unconventional, yet… highly effective.”

Professor Brown continues, his tone smooth. “Naturally, the selection process is rigorous, of course. The competition is intense and only those with exceptional potential are invited. But for those who make it…” He chuckles softly. “The rewards are immeasurable.”

He smiles once more before concluding. “If you’re interested in a spot in my highly gifted program, please send your application documents to my personal e-mail-address with the subject ‘highly gifted program’. I guarantee you I urm… and of course, my team will study any application very thoroughly. But of course, we can select only the most appropriate candidates. So don’t be too disappointed, if you receive a negative reply.

Jenny leans over to Sheena and whispers scornfully. “Guess, he just wants to have more girls to fuck for his Harem!”

Sheena smirks. “Yeah… probably but as long as he pays well, I don’t mind… I actually think about applying for that.”

Jenny looks bewildered at Sheena. “Really you…”, she rolls her eyes, ”you’re weird! But seriously…”, she shakes her head “I think, you don’t stand a chance. He surely only wants to fuck the best of the best, right? But urm… good luck either way.”

Sheena grins. “Oh, come on. Did it seem like he had any scientific criteria when he invited you yesterday?”

Jenny blushes. “I mean… yes urm no… It was kind of weird...”

“See… I think, the Professor just needs some good Lady to fuck his brains out - like every other cis-guy…”

Sheena smiles and turns her head to the front, Jenny also turns her head. Professor Brown has meanwhile switched on the Projector. The first slide shows the topic of the lecture: ‘Parasites – Nature’s cunning opportunists’.

Two hours later, the students shuffle out of their seats, packing up their bags. Tina slings her bag over her shoulder. „I need to head home; I’m meeting my parents for tea. See you later.“

Steven follows suit. “Same here. Workshop shift calls. See you all in the library later.”

They wave and leave. Jenny and Sheena slowly leave the lecture hall as well.

I’m going to Karate training now.” Sheena says casually.” Wanna come with me?“

Jenny looks surprised. „You’re training a martial art?“

Sheena grins. „Just a bit. I’m still quite a beginner.“

Jenny yawns. „Sorry Sheena, I’m just too tired after last night. I’ll go home and get some rest. Will you be in the library tonight?“

“Yes of course.”  Sheena nods. “Might need a little help with making up an application.“

Jenny smiles and shakes her head in disbelief. „You really want to go through with it, after all?“

Sheena shrugs, smiling coyly. „Yeah, of course. Why not?

Jenny raises her hand in warning. „Remember that rumor about that boy getting a hard-on?”

Sheena smirks. “Oh, I don’t mind to get a bit aroused. And after all, I’m not applying as guinea pig, rather the other way round”

Jenny looks skeptically and shakes her head. “Please be careful in what you do!”

Sheena smiles. “Don’t worry! It’s all gonna be fine. But I still need to be accepted.”

Jenny smiles tiredly. “Yes, right…”

Sheena looks at her Smartphone and starts to hurry. “Sorry, I have to leave for my Karate training now. See you later in the library.“ She waves her hand.

Jenny waves tiredly. “See you later Sheena.” Then she slowly walks home.

***

Jenny unlocks the door and finds Susan and Jack in the kitchen, chatting in their underwear.

Jack waves casually. „Hi Jenny, everything fine with you?“

Jenny groans. „Sorry, no, I’ve just had a rough time.“

Susan looks worried. „Oh no, I hope, it’s not because of this morning.“

Jenny frowns. „What…? Oh… urm… no… this is actually… well… fine. It’s another thing. I … got into a struggle with my boss yesterday and lost my job. It was a quite heated situation. Lester is quite an asshole. I don’t regret it’s over but it took nevertheless its toll on me, the night was longer, and the lectures too long today. So now I’m totally exhausted and just want to get some sleep.“

Jack nods. „Oh, okay…. Then get a good rest.“

Jenny mumbles, „Yes,… good night.“

“Sleep well,” Susan calls after her, as Jenny disappears up the stairs. Moments later, she enters her room, collapses into her bed, and drifts into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

Jenny wakes up feeling somewhat refreshed and makes her way downstairs. The aroma of spices floats through the air as she finds Jack and Susan setting the table for dinner. The two are still casually dressed in their underwear.

Susan glances up with a warm smile. „Are you feeling better?“

Jenny nods and stretches a little. „Oh, much better. Thanks.”

 “Do you want to join us for dinner, Jenny?“ Jack gestures to the table where a pot of steaming soup sits invitingly.

Jenny hesitates. „Sorry, I’m in a hurry. I didn’t catch much of the lectures today and the exam isn’t far away.“

„Oh, that’s a pity,” Jack’s brows furrow, “but at least take some of the daal soup I made. It’ll keep you going. We also have some cans for transporting.“

Jenny blinks, delighted by the gesture. „Oh, may…, may I?“

Jack nods. „Yes, of course, Jenny, just take a portion.”

Gratefully, Jenny fills some soup in a can. Then she impulsively hugs both, Susan and Jack. „You two are so kind. Thank you very much.“

“It’s nothing,” Susan says with a laugh.

Jenny grabs her bag and heads for the door, pausing to glance back. „I’m so sorry, that I can’t do more to help at the moment. I really have to hurry to the library to get something in my brain.“

Susan waves her off with a nod. „That's okay. We understand. The entrance courses are very stressful. Good luck!“

Jack smiles. „We'll keep our fingers crossed.“

„Thanks, “Jenny says with a small wave. “Bye!“

 “Bye, Jenny,” the couple chime in unison as she hurries out the door.

***

At the library, Jenny joins her friends Tina, Sheena, and Steven at their usual table.

Tina looks animated. She practically buzzes with excitement. „This lecture about fungi was fascinating. What struck me most was the Professor’s mention of the intricate communication networks that fungi use to coordinate their attacks on host organisms. It's like a microscopic battlefield strategy.“

Steven leans back in his chair and frowns. „I was rather concerned with how much the Professor praised the pharma industry! Economic interests and public health have never worked well together. And that Mycorix discussion left me wondering about how many potential side effects they actually try to hide.“

Tina rolls her eyes. „Oh come on Steven… Many of the pathologic fungi can cause severe damage or even be deadly. The side effects are much more harmless than that. I must admit that a doctor must be careful with testing and handling antibiotics, antifungicides, and virostatics but you’re making it sound like they shouldn’t use them at all.“

Jenny blushes slightly. „Well, I guess, I have still a lot to read about fungi and parasites. I was so tired today. I didn’t get much of the content of the lecture. But what you’re saying Tina, sounds quite interesting.“

Sheena types on her laptop and murmurs absently: „Yeah…, quite interesting.“

Jenny turns her head to Sheena and smiles curiously. „You seem really absorbed. Was the lecture today so fascinating, that you can’t get enough of it?

Sheena grins. “Ha, silly, I’m writing an application for that highly gifted program! Just finished an early draft. Want to take a look?”

Jenny nods. “Gladly.”

Sheena turns her laptop around to the group with a proud grin. Jenny starts reading while Steven and Tina peer over her shoulder. Within seconds, Tina’s mouth falls open, and Steven smirks.

Jenny raises an eyebrow. “My former math teacher praised my oral skills. – you’re not actually including that, do you?”

Tina’s expression twists in shock. “That rather sounds like an application for the adult industry than for a position in a scientific institution?”

Steven bursts out laughing “I let all his expertise sink deep into me...? What the hell did you do with him?”

Sheena shrugs coyly. “I’m just stating my experience. I mean, it’s for neursexuology after all and I have lots of experience in that field. And that little… ‘extracurricular project’ with my math teacher just shows my early passion for science.”

Jenny coughs. “You… cannot put that in your application! It’s urm…

“…absolutely unprofessional and inappropriate.” Tina interrupts, still in shock.

Jenny blushes. “Yes, urm… kind of what she says. If you want to get into this program, you need to focus on some actual qualifications. Isn’t there something else?”

Sheena frowns. “Oh, come on, that was hands-on experience and I think, the Professor wants rather to work with an expert than a newcomer especially when it comes to pleasuring his very own needs.”

“Uh no, for pleasure, guys prefer to knock on a virgin door… urm… I heard.”, Steven snickers.

Sheena groans “Flock dammit, ugh, you guys are no fun, hmm… but good, I will look over my application again and may tone down it a little  bit!”

Jenny nods with a small smile. “That will do your application really good, believe me.”

Tina still looks skeptically. “Definitely.”

At this moment, Sheena’s Smartphone chimes. She looks down at it, reads, and smiles. “Wow, just got the longest message from Denver ever – ten whole words! He’s writing about a trip to watch the Perseids tomorrow. Does anyone of you know what that is?”

Jenny and Steven exchange puzzled looks. „Perseids?“

“Oh, yes!” Tina perks up. “That’s a meteor shower seen from the earth as shooting stars!”

„Uh, okay!” Sheena starts to smile. “Sounds fantastic. Denver writes they are celebrating it at Mount Delamore, about 35 miles from here.“

Jenny eyes her warily. „And you want to go there?“

Sheena smiles determinedly. „Yes, of course, would you all come too?“

Jenny hesitates. „How should we even get there? Public transport?“

„You could call an Uber.“, Tina suggests.

Jenny blushes and gives her a skeptical look. „Well..., I think, that’s a little expensive!“

„No Need for that,” Sheena says with a confident grin. “Denver’s friend Frankie has a van with four unused seats. He can take us all there. So, it’s for free. We would spend a night outside and get back early next morning.“

Jenny shifts uncomfortably. „But I really need to study.“

Sheena rolls her eyes. „This is just one evening. You still can study all weekend long.”

Jenny looks skeptically. “I’ll think about it.“

Sheena turns to the others. ”Tina? Steven?“

Tina shakes her head apologetically. „Sorry, I already got tickets to ‘Phantom of the Opera’ with my boyfriend.”

Sheena turns her head hopefully to Steven.

Steven shrugs. „Well, I got no plans right now. Could be interesting.“

Sheena grins. “That’s good, then I better add you to the list, before the bus is too full.“

„Wait. I still said ‘maybe’. “ Steven protests.

Sheena smirks. „Jenny, I’ll save a spot for you too – just in case.“

Jenny sighs, a bit amused. „I said, I’d think about it.“

Sheena nods. “I know, but then there is no space free anymore.

Jenny groans. “Okay, okay, but I really need to think about it. No promises!”

The group sinks again over their laptops to study and after a while, Sheena stretches. “Okay, I rewrote my application. Here take a look…” She turns her laptop toward the group.

Jenny scans it and nods appreciatively. “…I developed a considerable interest in studying sexuality already in high school… - That sounds much much better.”

Tina smiles. “For sure.”

Steven raises an eyebrow. “Wait, what about that certificate, that says that you did a math project about the connection between Fibonacci numbers and rabbit reproduction? Did you make thàt up?”

Sheena grins smugly. “Nope… that’s what I got for my little Hanky-Panky. I even got the best mark for it! Here look.” She opens the certificate on her laptop. “I don’t know what that Fibonacci is, but reproduction fits perfectly with the Professor’s program. Sometimes you just get lucky…“

Jenny shakes her head, amused. “You definitely have plenty of that.”

As the group continues their work, Tina eventually packs up and waves goodbye and the group continues to study without incidents. Until Steven turns up for stretching and his mouth suddenly drops. “I think, I’m seeing your naked ghost now!” His hand hovers over his open mouth in disbelief.

Jenny and Sheena whip their head where he is staring.

Sheena’s eyes glitter. Jenny however freezes, her stomach tightens as her gaze darts. A familiar bare figure flickers at the edge of her vision then vanishes behind a towering bookshelf. Her pulse spikes. “Holy shit,” she whispers.

Sheena jumps to her feet, practically vibrating with excitement. “Come on! This time, we catch her!” Then she bolts in the direction where the figure just disappeared.

Steven and Jenny exchange bewildered glances before following.

They reach Sheena at a junction at the end of the bookshelf passage - her expression equally disappointed and intrigued. “She’s gone, I walked in every direction, but not the slightest sign of her...”

Jenny looks frustrated. “Not again.”

Sheena says sternly. “That can’t be real. We need to figure out where that damn girl has gone.”

Jenny hesitates. “I don’t know… I mean, we still have to read a lot…?” A sense of anxiousness washes over her.

“Oh, please, come on darling. We just need a little break. And if we don’t solve this now, we may never get this riddle solved.”, Sheena snorts.

Jenny shudders. “I doubt that. I already saw her twice now... in four days, so she’ll turn up again soon.”

Sheena huffs, placing her hands on her hips. “That still doesn’t explain why she just vanishes like that. She’s gotta be hiding somewhere. We shouldn’t give up that easily.”

Steven replies. “Maybe she just ran back to the entrance.”

Sheena looks skeptical. “You know that the entrance is the other way?”

Jenny nods. “I asked the librarian already on Monday, he didn’t see anything weird.”

“We could ask him again.” Sheena weighs in.

Jenny replies. “I’m not gonna ask Carter  if he saw a naked woman out there in the library!”

“Why do you have a crush?”. Sheena smirks.

Jenny blushes. “None of your business.”

Steven smiles. “However, she surely won’t hide in a bookshelf, maybe there’s some hidden door here!”

Sheena starts to search the shelves. Steven and Jenny follow. After some time of searching, Steven says: “The shelves look all rock-solid.

Sheena nods. “Yeah, I also can’t see a crack between them, if there’s a secret door, it is hidden very well. “

Sheena starts to think. “Hmm… maybe she’s a time traveler like in that Terminator movie. They couldn’t wear clothes either when traveling. ”

Jenny looks skeptical. “This has only one major flaw - time travel is impossible.”

Sheena tilts her head. “Just because it’s not invented yet, doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

Steven says determinedly. “But scientists say, time traveling to the past is impossible, at least!”

Sheena says disappointed, “I thought you are that science-skeptical guy. - Uh, fuck, this ain’t no fun…, guess we’ll really never gonna solve this riddle.”

Jenny looks skeptical “I really wouldn’t mind never seeing her again.”

Sheena pats Jenny’s back reassuringly. “Huh, don’t worry that much… but let’s better turn back to our seats. Currently, it makes no sense to stay here any longer.”

Steven nods. “True.”

The group starts to walk slowly and returns to their seats.

Steven says: „Next time it might be better we take a photo… urm as proof for others.“

Sheena weighs in: „I like that, but only if you ask her if she’s ok with that. It’s after all quite an intimate situation.”

Jenny gets angry. „We shouldn’t take photos of any nude persons, not now, not ever. And now let’s continue to study“

Sheena sighs „Fine… but to have at least one positive experience today, I’m gonna send my application now.“

Sheena’s gaze flits for seconds over the lines she has written then presses ‘send’ on her laptop. “Done.”

Jenny hesitates. “Don’t you think, it would have been better to reread it again carefully?”

Sheena raises an eyebrow. “You overthink things too much Jen. I overworked it for so long and if I change it again, it won’t be better. That’s just a waste of time. If it works, it works and if I fail, I can take the time to try something different. That’s efficiency darling.”

Jenny looks skeptically. “I don’t know if that’s any good. But let’s now continue to study. We still have to learn a lot.”

Sheena smiles. “Okay, okay.”

They delve into their laptops until midnight, when Carter, the librarian,  comes by. „Hey you adventurers of knowledge, I must inform you, that the library will close very soon. So, you have to leave now, unfortunately.“

Sheena groans. „Flock dammit, not that guy again.“

Carter bows mockingly. „Always pleased to see you, mighty warrior.“

Jenny smiles timidly. „Thanks, Carter.“

The four walk out of the library and Carter closes the library door. Steven and Sheena say goodbye and walk home. Jenny waits until Carter closes the door and he asks: “Did you hear about the Perseids tomorrow?“

Jenny smiles. „Yeah, Sheena the warrior-lady, told me about it.“

Carter nods. „Ah. I’m going with some friends to Mount Delamore to watch it. It’d be great if you'd come along with us?“

Jenny hesitates. „Oh, that is nice, you’re going with Denver, don’t you? I already told Sheena, that I’m not sure, if I would go there, but I will definitely think about it. Thanks for the invite“

Carter nods. „Then I hope to see you there tomorrow.“

Jenny smiles. „Yes, I’ll definitely think about it. Unfortunately, I can’t stay for long. I have to go home now. Need to get up early. Bye-bye.“

Carter waves. „Goodbye.“

Jenny and Carter walk home in different directions.

***

When Jenny arrives home, she sets her alarm clock, slips into her night wear and goes to sleep.

Chapter Text

Beep-beep… Beep-beep. Jenny opens her eyes and fumbles for her alarm clock. She manages to silence the beeping quite fast. Strangely, she feels very refreshed today. Her recent encounter with the naked girl in the library obviously hasn’t sneaked into her sleep after all. She stretches, groans slightly, and rises from her bed. At the bathroom door, she hesitates for a moment, then knocks – just in case her landlady is in the shower again. After a refreshing shower and brushing her teeth, she fixes her hair, slips into her uniform, and gives herself a last satisfied smile in the mirror. Then she grabs her backpack and heads out toward the university.

***

Jenny slides into a seat beside Sheena, Tina, and Steven in the lecture hall. The room hums with quiet conversation as students settle in.

Jenny sighs. “Another day with Professor Cavanaugh, isn’t it? Hope he’s in a better mood as the weekend looms.”

“Yeah, it’s Sado again.” Sheena nods glaring with disgust. “But I hope it’s over soon and we can move on to the good parts of the week!”

At this moment, the door at the front opens, and an androgynous person in their early thirties enters. Their short blonde pixie cut and tailored jacket give them a professional yet relaxed appearance. They move toward the lectern, adjusting the microphone with practiced ease. Jenny and Sheena look to the front in surprise before the lecturer offers the students a warm, composed smile. "Good morning, dear students, and a hearty welcome to this lecture. My name is Alex Swince, and I’ll be standing in for Professor Doctor Cavanaugh, who, unfortunately, can’t be here today. I am honored to be your lecturer for a cross-cutting topic that is closely interwoven with the other subjects discussed this week: the human immune system."

They inhale deeply, as their hands rest tensely on the lectern. "I must confess… this is my first lecture, and I'm still finding my footing here. But I assure you, I’ve come prepared to make this session both informative and, I hope, inspiring."

While the lecturer starts to introduce herself, Sheena yawns and glances bored at her Smartphone. She scrolls absently through stock market news as Professor Swince’s gaze sharpens and flicks toward her for a brief moment.

"The immune system is an important part of the human body - a quiet guardian that works steadily to shield us from microbial invaders. It’s an orchestra of cells, tissues, and organs. Each part plays a different unique role, and only when they perform together in harmony do they create a wonderful symphony of protection and care. When it’s working well, it’s a marvel of precision and robustness. But like any system, it isn’t infallible. If even one section falls out of tune - or worse, goes silent entirely - the entire harmony can collapse into confusion, leaving the body vulnerable - not just to infections, but to its own misguided defenses. In this lecture, I will discuss the impressive strengths of the immune system as well as the challenges that arise when it malfunctions. We will talk about innate and adaptive immunity, examine key immune cells and antibodies, and look at the significance of immune memory. But we will also discuss issues such as immunodeficiency, autoimmune diseases, and the importance of immunization to keep the music playing."

Professor Swince scans the room with a calm but expectant expression before they continue.

"Before we start, I’d like to gently remind everyone to stay engaged - this material is important for your understanding and, of course, for passing the exam on Monday."

Their tone shifts slightly, carrying more weight now. "So it would be better to concentrate on the lecture… than on your smartphones."

Sheena’s head snaps up.

"Yes, this applies especially to you, Mrs. Hawk.", Professor Swince glares at Sheena.

Sheena freezes, her cheeks flushing as she realizes Professor Swince’s gaze is locked directly on her. With an almost sheepish movement, she tucks her phone away. Jenny bites the inside of her cheek to suppress a grin - until Sheena, now slightly defensive, nudges her under the table.

Professor Swince’s expression softens again, their voice returning to its previous gentle warmth.

"I hope I won’t… urm, overwhelm you with all this knowledge, and I promise to break things down step by step. But it is necessary that you study all this thoroughly for your exam on Monday. So, urm… let’s better dive directly into the topic."

***

Later, at lunch, Jenny, Sheena, Tina, and Steven sit together in the dining hall, trays of food in front of them. The atmosphere is relaxed, but Sheena seems preoccupied, absentmindedly stirring her food with a fork.

"How did he know my name?" she blurts suddenly, looking up.

Tina glances at her. "Who?"

"Mr. Swince," Sheena replies.

Tina frowns. "Urm, I think it was Mrs. Swince."

"No, it was Mr. Swince." Sheena insists and crosses her arms.

Steven raises an eyebrow. "Wait, the lecturer didn’t mention their gender, did they?"

Sheena huffs, "Come on. Only a man would call me out like that - so smug."

Jenny smirks. "But you’re not exactly the shy type either."

"I’m just direct.”, Sheena mutters, “Still - how did he know my name?"

Tina shrugs. "I guess she was just well prepared."

"Yeah,” Steven says, stabbing a potato, “they probably got a list of our names and photos to enforce that stupid uniform rule… and to weed out rebels like you!"

"Wouldn’t surprise me,” Sheena mutters. “This place gets weirder every day."

She shifts in her seat, then turns to Jenny, her tone more focused. "Anyway. Let’s talk about things that really matter. I spoke with Denver, Jenny. The train to Lake Mount Delamore leaves at 7 p.m. Frankie’s driving. All you need is a mat and a sleeping bag! And trust me, you don’t want to miss this."

Jenny blinks, caught off guard. "I really don’t know …"

"Come on." Sheena grins. "There's some water for taking a dip, those shooting stars, and a campfire. Everything one needs to recover from the stress of the week, at least for a little while!"

Jenny exhales, then nods reluctantly. "I really need to think about it, but if there is a lake I’d better take my swimsuit, don’t you think?"

Sheena waves it off. “Clothes are totally overrated. Honestly, I wish everyone just went nude. Would save us the whole “what are they” - guessing game. Just be open about what you’ve got - like that naked woman in the library."

“Sorry, I’m not going skinny dipping!” Jenny says firmly.

Tina looks dismissive. "I’m quite sure a world of obscenity isn’t coming anytime soon. And you also do know gender isn’t just about genitals, right?"

Sheena shrugs. "Sure, sure. There’s behavior, identity, how you feel inside, and all that stuff... But you can’t deny clothes just complicate everything. Layers and layers of made-up rules and expectations.”

Steven laughs. "And your solution is full public nudity?"

Sheena nods. “Sure, down with those rags and show your own weirdness – bodies are fun, no matter what label they’ve got.”

Tina raises her voice. “Under no circumstances!”

Jenny grins. "And surely not with Professor Cavanaugh."

“Exactly why I like the idea." Sheena smirks.

Jenny exhales. "But still a no. I’m bringing a swimsuit.”

Sheena shrugs. "Your choice, Darling, but I really don’t think this is necessary!"

“For me it is,” Jenny says firmly. “And let’s definitely study this afternoon. We’ve still got a long way to go before we pass that exam."

Sheena grins. "Promised! But tonight? Fun, fun, fun."

“Then let’s continue eating”, Jenny says firmly, “and then head back to the lecture…”

***

After lunch, the students return to the lecture hall. Professor Swince enters with brisk, determined strides, moving straight to the lectern. Their voice is sharp and commanding and slices through the room’s post-lunch murmur.

"Good afternoon. This will be your final lecture before the exam. I'm not a fan of big forewords, so let’s get straight to the point. Today’s topic is 'Hygiene'.”

They pause, scanning the room.

“Whether we're dealing with viruses, bacteria, or larger invaders like fungi or parasites, hygiene remains one of the most effective tools for protection. And one of the simplest yet most powerful defense measures is - believe it or not - just washing your hands thoroughly." Professor Swince tone hardens slightly: "This won’t do much good, of course, if you have them buried as deep in filth as some of the professors at this university. But for everyone else, thorough hand hygiene can reduce the microbial load by more than 90 percent."

They continue to lead the students through antiseptic techniques, transmission protocols, precise and unsparing, and finally get to the darker side of infection control.

"Sometimes, hygiene protocols require action that affects individuals rather than the public sphere. In certain cases, it may be necessary to quarantine or isolate individuals to prevent harm to others. If you ever find yourself in a situation where such measures are required, you better have a solid, legally compliant reason. Without a clear legal justification, enforced quarantine means deprivation of liberty - and the penalties for that are severe, even if the subjects may morally deserve it. Believe me, I have studied that thoroughly."

A tense silence follows. Swince lets it hang in the air before concluding.

"Finally, I urge you to spend your weekend wisely. The exam on Monday will be challenging, and thorough preparation is essential. Thank you for your attention, and good luck."

Without another word, Professor Swince exits the room as briskly as they entered.

Tina exhales. "Okay, I take it back. It’s probably rather Mr. Swince."

Steven rubs his chin. "I’m not so sure. Was it even the same person?"

Sheena stretches. "Same, it’s over! Let’s get to the good parts of the day."

Jenny looks sharply at Sheena. "We still have to study."

Sheena nods reluctantly. "Yeah, unfortunately. Then hush, let’s get to the library." She glances at the others. "Tina, Steven, are you in for a study session?"

Steven nods, grabbing his bag. "Yeah, I really need to study or I won’t pass this exam."

Sheena claps her hands together. "Alright then - let’s get this over with."

***

The group leaves the lecture hall and heads straight to the library. When they arrive, they settle around a table and pull out their laptops. The air is thick with the quiet hum of focused students. They hear pages turning and keyboards clicking.

"I think it’s a good idea to look for some old exams," Steven suggests, opening his laptop. "Back in school, our teachers often reused their old tests for new classes. Studying those was a fast way to pass a test."

Sheena nods. "Good idea, indeed."

Jenny, already typing on her laptop, scans the screen. "I found the student council's website. They’ve got microbiology exams from previous semesters. I’m sending you the link now."

"Yes, please," Tina says eagerly.

"You’ve got mail," Jenny says.

The others open their laptop and check their inboxes. Sheena waits for her mailbox to update on the mail with the link but the first new message, that springs to her eyes is from the Office of Professor Brown. She opens it – then freezes.

“Son of a Bitch… You’ve got to be kidding me. ‘Dear Mrs. Hawk blablabla… we received a large number of very strong applications yada yada… but we selected other candidates who better align with our institutional priorities. Signed: The limpest dick in the world.’” Sheena spits out angrily.

Jenny glances up, concerned. “We told you it would be tough.”

Sheena slams her laptop shut. “Yeah. I know. But I still had hope.”

The others scroll through the exams.

"Hmm," Tina murmurs. "Each exam seems to have a total of 100 points."

Jenny smiles faintly. "And the first question is: ‘Describe the structure of the cell’ - for five points. Then some multiple-choice questions.”

Sheena calms down a bit and starts to scroll. “Oh, yeah, stuff like ‘What is the basic structural and functional unit of life?’ and ‘What does the nucleus of a cell contain?’ – Easy peasy, answer to the first one is ‘the Cell’, and to the second ‘DNA’. Seems manageable!"

"The last question appears in almost every exam," Tina notes.

"Yes," Jenny agrees. "I’ve only seen one without it so far."

Steven leans forward. "Then it might be best if we start by answering all the frequently asked questions first. That way, we build a bit of a safety buffer."

"That seems like a solid strategy," Jenny nods.

Sheena grins. "Sounds good."

Jenny grows serious. "But we still need to pay attention to the rest too. Only studying past questions would be a fatal mistake."

Sheena hesitates. "Hmmm…"

Steven sighs as he scrolls through another exam. "Oh god, This one looks completely different. I’m already totally lost with the first question. What the hell are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that affect how antibiotics target bacterial infections?"

Tina thinks for a moment. "Urm… Prokaryotic cells, unlike eukaryotes, lack a nucleus, and their cell walls have distinct features, that antibiotics are designed to target specifically.…"

Jenny and Steven look at her appreciatively. Sheena looks skeptical.

Sheena overlooks the exam. “Damn it. They didn’t really turn those exams upside-down last year, did they? Maybe it’s just an outlier.”

“… or Cavanaugh’s growing influence,” Jenny adds seriously.

Steven turns to Jenny and Sheena. "Sorry”, he shakes his head. "That’s too risky for me. I won’t come with you tonight. I have to work tomorrow and have only the evening and Sunday left to study."

Sheena looks disappointed. “Oh, come on…

“Sorry, no,” Steven says firmly.

Sheena turns to Jenny. “But you won't let me down, do you?”

Jenny hesitates. “I don’t know… I should really focus. I’m still on job-search, and can’t afford to fail this exam.”

“Sheena looks pleading. “Come on Darling, there is Denver and also that uniform-desk-guy - Walter or something. And a last relaxing swim before hell breaks loose. It’s just that one evening. You can’t miss that…”

Jenny sighs. “Okay…, okay… I’ll come with you…!”

Sheena smiles. “Perfect. Let’s cram this brain junk in and get it over with!”

They continue to study for a while. When Sheena’s phone chimes, she glances at it. “Oh, time to start the good parts of the day. I’m heading home to freshen up. See you at 7 p.m. in front of the library, Jenny, and for the rest of you: Don’t stress yourself too much, alright?”

Just then, Jenny’s phone dings. She reads the message and her eyes get wide. “Urm… I just got a message from Professor Brown.”

Sheena perks up. “What?”

“A reminder… To apply for that highly gifted program. It says there are still a few positions open.” She reads in disbelief. “And that I should send in my application soon.”

Sheena’s smile fades. “Are you serious?”

Jenny just nods, baffled.

Tina frowns. “Maybe it’s a mistake?”

Steven shakes his head. “No, it’s not. I bet that guy has an agenda. Don’t you see the scheme? First that missing signature on Wednesday, now that. He probably had Jenny on his list right from the start.”

Tina throws in: “Come on Steven, not everything is part of some secret master plan.”

Jenny looks uneasy. “Actually, I’m starting to think it’s not a coincidence either.”

Sheena looks thoughtful and stands up. “Anyway... Have to get my things. See you later.”

Jenny manages a smile. “Yes, I have to go as well. “See you later and the rest of you - don't beat yourselves up too much.”

The group says goodbye and Jenny walks home.

***

When Jenny gets home, she pulls together some sandwiches and eats them. Then she goes to her room, takes off her uniform, and puts on an ankle-length dress. She pauses a moment in front of the mirror and adjusts the fabric. Then she tucks her swimsuit into her backpack, slings it over her shoulder, picks up a mat and a sleeping bag, and heads out to the library.

At the library entrance, she waits, the evening air warm against her skin. A few minutes later, the rumble of an approaching van breaks the silence. The vehicle pulls up in front of her, and as the door slides open, Sheena’s face appears, grinning.

"Hey, Jen, come in. You already know those two.” she points at Denver and Carter. “And the others are Lisa, and our driver Frankie."

Jenny steps closer, offering a polite smile. "Hi, I’m Jenny."

Frankie nods from the driver’s seat. "Hi."

"Nice to meet you all," Jenny says, climbing into the van. "And thanks for taking us with you."

Frankie gives a small shrug. "No problem. Just hop in."

As Jenny settles into her seat, Frankie shifts gears. "Next stop: Mount Delamore."

***

The group arrives at Mount Delamore, a vast open field beside a tranquil lake, surrounded by dense woodland. Jenny steps out of the van and looks around curiously. “This is a nice strip of land.”

Sheena nods. “I told you you’d have missed something if you hadn’t come along with us.”

Carter leaves the van and looks around. “Shepherd’s work and Delamore’s blessing.”

Sheena smirks. “What does he say?”

Lisa explains: “Mount Delamore was the owner of a company that excavated gravel in this area. The lake is all that’s left from their work and was named after him."

Sheena shrugs uninterested. "Uh, ok." She stretches, her voice excited. "I need some refreshment. Who joins me in jumping into the lake?"

Frankie, Denver, Carter, Lisa, and Jenny eagerly raise their hands simultaneously and the group starts to undress. Sheena doesn’t wear a bra, so her suntanned breasts start to gleam in the lowering sun as soon, as she takes off her shirt.

Jenny looks around. “Is there somewhere, I can change into my swimsuit – urm… undisturbed?”

Sheena rolls her eyes. "Darling, I told you, you don’t need a bikini, see." She points to Lisa who just takes off her bra, revealing her pear-shaped breasts.

Jenny shakes her head. "Well, I’m not gonna strip naked in front of all those people here."

Sheena grins and teases. "Oh Darling, we are here in a pretty familiar circle. This is only Frankie, Lisa, Denver, Carter, and me being here."

Jenny folds her arms defensively. "No, sorry! You may do that, but not me. What should my mom say about this?"

Sheena has put off her skirt meanwhile and stands fully naked in front of Jenny. She puts her hands on her hips and says in a sharp tone. “Come on Darling, your mom isn’t here!”

Jenny shoots her a look.

Sheena looks daunted “Okay, okay, Lisa and I will form a screen for you.”

Jenny glances at Lisa who just bows and slips her panties off her feet. “Yes, we take two towels and form a screen.”

When Jenny looks at the boys, she realizes they have shed all their clothes as well, their best bits dangling around like soft spaghetti. She blushes. Sheena and Lisa walk around Jenny and form a screen. “Come on, change in your bikini, we don’t have all day.”

Jenny hesitates. “Could you please close your eyes?”

Sheena sighs dramatically. “Huh, okay, the things you do for a friend.”

Jenny slips quickly into her swimsuit. “It’s okay, you can open them now.”

Sheena opens her eyes, and takes a glance at Jenny in a one-piece swimsuit. “Hell damned, did you inherit this from your granny?”

Jenny blushes even more. “Urm… no, I bought it with my mom.”

“Huh, okay. I hope ‘Walter’ will like that.” Sheena mocks.

Jenny glares smiling. "It’s Carter or guardian of knowledge of course."

Carter mocks. “You can use both, if it pleases you, clamorous warrior.”

Sheena smirks. “If you stop talking like that, I’m gonna stick with Carter.”

Jenny replies. “I like him talking like that.”

Sheena looks shocked. “Good shepherd.”

At this moment Lisa raises her voice. “Everybody ready now?”

The group looks at her and responds in unison. "Yes!"

Sheena grins widely. "Then let’s dive into the lake. The last one in is a chicken!" She shouts and starts to run into the water.

Jenny can’t let this go and follows her immediately, with the others close on her heels. Frankie has a slow start and is the last in the water but no action follows Sheena’s words. Jenny really enjoys the cool water. She lies down with a smile and lets herself drift. Suddenly Sheena throws a stream of water in Jenny’s direction, taking her by surprise. Jenny wants to strike back at Sheena but hits Carter instead. The whole situation escalates to a big water battle.

Eventually, the group leaves the lake, breathless and laughing. Frankie has brought some firewood to make a little campfire. Not that it is necessary in these temperatures but it enlightens the night and creates a pleasant atmosphere. At the campfire, Frankie cuddles up to his naked girlfriend, and Sheena and Denver basically eat each other up alive. But also Jenny has not to suffer any solitude.

After swimming Carter puts his trunks back on again and sits down beside Jenny. He extends his arm with a playful smile.

"May I offer my arm to the beautiful enchantress?"

Jenny smiles softly, her voice teasing. "Of course, my guardian."

Carter lays his arm around Jenny and the group spent their time, looking brightly at the sky where one shooting star after another thrusts their way through the night. Later, out of the corner of her eye, Jenny sees Sheena pulling Denver into the woods - by his erected little man. She doesn’t blush, just a faint smile forms on her lips as she closes her eyes in Carter’s arms.

***

In the night, Jenny dreams about the library. She and Sheena are standing in front of Professor Cavanaugh. Sheena is of course naked and when Jenny looks down, she blushes a bit, as there is not a stitch of clothing on her body as well. Somehow she manages to keep her posture and smile when Professor Cavanaugh congratulates the two with a glare in his eyes for having passed all the entrance exams. After that Carter comes by and gives her a warm congratulatory hug, but she turns her head when she suddenly hears loud moaning sounds coming from the entrance. She sees Professor Brown, pants down, bumping his hips rhythmically against the bare bottom of the student she’d seen coming out of his office. But his eyes are gleaming - directly at Jenny.

The shelves start to drip like wax and the rows of books sag into shadows as Jenny slowly emerges back into reality. She wakes up slowly, face scrunched, but the moaning hasn’t stopped. The world is quiet, except for that sound. She sits up groggily and looks around until her eyes land on the van.

Lisa stands there, still naked, palms pressed against the front of the van. Her body is shaken by Frankie, who’s standing behind her, holding her waist, thrusting his hips against her pelvis again and again in quick, determined thrusts. The two are moaning... rhythmically in ecstasy. Suddenly the van is moving a little. Jenny gasps, stunned. But before she can shout, the van starts to roll. Slowly, silently, the wheels start turning. Down the slope, straight for the lake.

It only stops after a few meters, when the water is already up to the door handles.

Jenny screams, “No - wait! Stop! STOP!”

Frankie lets go of Lisa and they look startled at the van. Carter wakes up to Jenny's scream and Denver and Sheena storm naked out of the woods. Sheena looks confused at Jenny and then in the direction of the half-sunken van, Jenny is pointing at.

***

The group stands at the edge of the lake, staring in disbelief at the half-submerged van. Frankie holds his arms above his head, clearly frantic. Lisa stands nearby, slightly bent forward, her head bowed.

Frankie mutters, “Fuck, fuck, fuck, sorry for this, fuck…”

Carter stares at the van. “Oh my god, what happened?”

Jenny crosses her arms, fury flaring. “Two horny bits, that obviously humped their brains out.”

Sheena laughs. “Definitely not us - we were in the woods.”

Lisa and Frankie lower their head and mumble together, “Sorry.”

Denver says stoic as ever: “Make plan.”

Lisa steps closer, voice tentative. “Maybe we can call a recovery service to drag the car out of the lake. Does anyone have a smartphone on hand?”

 “Yes,” Jenny shows her phone, annoyed, “but there is no mobile reception here. I can’t even make an emergency call.”

Frankie gestures toward the lake. “There’s a rope in the trunk of the van. If we get it, we may be able to drag the van out. Maybe it’s still running, and we can just drive back home.”

Denver plainly says, “Keys!”

Frankie replies, “It’s unlocked, you should be able to open it directly.”

Denver doesn’t hesitate a moment and dives into the water. The others watch as he swims with steady strokes to the half-sunken van. After a short struggle underwater, he manages to open the trunk, grab the rope, and tie it to the towing ring. He climbs back out, water pouring off his naked skin.

Sheena smiles warmly. “You are my hero.”

She steps forward, wraps her arms around him, and gives him a kiss.

Denver grins, joyful. “Hrmmm…”

Jenny says quiet but hopeful: “Thank you, Denver. I hope so much, this works.”

Frankie takes charge again. “Alright, now we need all your help to drag the van. One person alone can’t do this. We need three people on each side to grab the rope to get the damn car out. When we drag, it has to be together.”

Carter nods. “Okay.”

Sheena goes into fighting position. “Sounds good, let’s tackle it.”

The group lines up, hands gripping the rope, feet braced against the slick ground.

Frankie calls out, “I’ll count down from three, then we drag. Ready? Three, two, one… Drag!”

They pull hard, bodies straining - but the van doesn’t move an inch.

Jenny groans. “Damn, this isn’t working, Frankie.”

Frankie doesn’t give up. “We’ll try again. Three, two, one… Drag!”

They dig their heels in, faces tight with effort. Nothing.

Sheena pants. “Damn, we’re not strong enough…”

Frankie shouts, “Again! Three, two, one… Drag!”

Another surge of energy. Still no shift.

Lisa wipes sweat from her brow. “Damn, this doesn’t work, Frankie. We need another plan.”

Everyone pauses, breathing heavily. Carter’s eyes flicker with thought. He seems to calculate something, then suddenly lights up and snaps his fingers.

“Wait, I have an idea! Do we have some carabiners?”

Frankie blinks. “Carabiners? Urm… well… we actually have some of those in the trunk too…”

“Perfect!” Carter exclaims.

Before anyone else moves, Denver dives into the lake again.

Sheena raises an eyebrow. “How the hell are some carabiners going to help us?”

Carter explains, animated now. “We can make a makeshift tackle - just like it’s used in mountain rescue in Switzerland. The rope is long enough, but using the tackle will give us more force and increase our leverage. We’ll be able to drag the van out with less effort…”

Sheena raises an eyebrow. “And this works?”

“I hope so,” Carter admits. “We’ll see. I’ve never tried it in real life.”

Denver emerges again, tossing the dripping carabiners onto the grass. Carter immediately gets to work, constructing the makeshift tackle. Once it's assembled, Denver swims out once more and attaches it to the van.

Everyone returns to the rope, lining up again. The air is heavy with tension.

Frankie raises his voice. “Alright, everyone in position…”

Carter echoes, “Let’s do this.”

“Three, two, one… Drag!” Frankie yells.

The van groans, then shudders forward just a little.

Frankie’s eyes light up. “It’s moving! Again - three, two, one… Drag!”

Their muscles burn, but the van moves farther up the shore. The group pauses for a breath until Frankie shouts for the last time. “Three, two, one… Drag!”

With a final collective grunt, the van lurches out of the lake, water gushing from its doors. It slams onto solid ground with a muddy thud. Frankie rushes over and yanks the handbrake into place.

Jenny sinks onto the grass, letting out a breath. “Damn, that was a shock. I’m so done. And it’s still 3:00 a.m. I need to sleep and I just want to forget everything for one night.”

Sheena doesn’t argue. “Well said.”

Denver nods. “Agreed.”

Exhausted, they all collapse onto their mats, and within moments, their breathing evens out. Only the van stands in the moonlight, glistening wet, quiet and still.

Chapter Text

Rerrrrrrr-rerhmm... Rerrrrrrr-rerhmm... Roaring noises tear Jenny from her sleep. She groans and turns onto her left side... Rerrrrrrr-rerhmm... Rerrrrrrr-rerhmm... Jenny groans again and fumbles blindly. "Ugh... where the hell is that alarm clock?"

But as she doesn't feel the familiar wood-surface of her nightstand at her side, the van-incident of the previous night suddenly flashes back into her consciousness, and her eyes snap open. She immediately straightens up and blinks tensely in the direction of the lake. But what she sees makes her eyes widen in shock. Frankie sits in the driver's seat of the van, repeatedly turning the ignition. Denver, Carter, and Lisa stand nearby and watch him with strained faces.

"No… this can't be happening!" Jenny gasps, scrambling upright.

Frankie steps out of the van, shaking his head desperately. Denver slips into the driver's seat next and gives it a try – but he can't drag more than a tired Rerrrrrrr-rerhmm... from the engine either.

Jenny runs over, her breath shallow. "W… What is going on with the van?"

Frankie says with a quiet voice. "Urm… It's… well… dead."

"No… no, no, no!" Jenny shakes her head violently. "Then how are we supposed to get back to Hawnee? I need to study! My exam's on Monday!"

"Sorry, Jenny," Carter says calmly. "It's not looking good. We may need to find another way to get back to town."

From behind them comes a groggy groan. Sheena sits up halfway, hair a wild mess. "Could you blease be a liddle quieter… Sanks?" she mumbles, then flops back down and turns over.

"Sheena… wake up!" Jenny shouts, agitated. "The van is broken down. We're not getting home anytime soon. We need to do something…"

"What van?" Sheena asks, her eyes half-lidded.

"The van that took us here yesterday!" Jenny snaps.

Sheena blinks slowly. "Denver, can you please call a towing service?"

"There's no cell service out here!" Jenny throws up her hands in desperation. "We can't call anyone…"

With a groan, Sheena pushes herself up again, rubbing her eyes. "Uh, urm. Any coffee here?"

"No," Denver says stoically.

Sheena sighs and gives Denver a comforting look. "Uh, sweetheart, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."

Carter approaches the group, his face full of thoughts. "The van seems to be really broken. So we'll have to walk back to Hawnee."

Jenny stares at him, horrified. "What? That's 35 miles. That's at least a two-day hike."

"Yes, urm… unfortunately," Frankie says. "And since it's weekend, the chances of finding help are slim. But…"

Jenny presses, "But what?"

"There is another way back to Hawnee, urm… straight through the forest." Frankie scratches his head nervously. "It's only 15 miles - way shorter, but rough. There are no marked trails, and there might be quite thick underbrush."

Jenny mutters, "Hmmm."

"…and the Great Wall of Hawnee!" Lisa adds.

Jenny frowns. "What's that?"

"I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard of it." Frankie looks thoughtful. "A meter-thick wall of scrub that stretches for miles."

"Yeah," Lisa cuts in. "It's nasty as shit. And I'm not gonna wrestle with the brambles at sunset."

"But it's faster," Jenny insists. "And a bit of thick scrub doesn't sound like an impassable hurdle to me."

Carter nods. "We've also still got some bottles with water and some crates with cereal bars - the ones we sat on yesterday. They're unaffected by the water. So we won't starve or dehydrate, but we won't be able to get back to civilization anytime soon."

"Fine," Jenny sighs, grimacing. "Then let's take the way through the forest! We have to."

"Nope. I'm not doing that forest," Lisa says firmly. "Sorry, don't want to be eaten by a bear or something."

"You're a bit overcautious, honey." Frankie gently strokes Lisa's head. "There haven't been any sightings of large wild animals in this region for ages."

Lisa insists, "Still a no."

"Well, I don't need to rush - can't withdraw my stocks anyway - so there's no urgent need to get back." Sheena shrugs. "So I think I'd prefer the roads."

"Sheena," Jenny snaps, "we have that damn exam on Monday - and we still have to study!"

"Oh… shit, yeah." Sheena scratches her head, squinting. "Then the short way."

"No way am I letting my Lisa walk alone." Frankie gives her a kiss. "So roads."

"Forest," Denver simply states.

"That's my Sweetheart," Sheena plants a kiss on his mouth. "He has lots of experience hiking through the forest."

"Hmmm…," Denver hums contentedly.

Carter looks sheepish. "Uh, so he told you already?"

Sheena looks puzzled. "About what?"

"Nothing," Denver replies stoically.

Carter mutters, "Well… debatable."

Denver looks soothingly at Carter. "Hmmm…"

"Anyway, I'll come with you through the forest as well," Carter adds. "I have a map on my smartphone, so we won't get lost and can find the straightest path to Hawnee. Fortunately, GPS still works here."

He turns his head to Frankie and Lisa. "What about you? Do you really want to walk the road, or join us on our adventure?"

Lisa shakes her head. "Sorry, no! I mean, maybe we find somebody on the road to take us back to Hawnee or get the van running again. Then we'll be back to Hawnee much faster."

Frankie nods. "We'll definitely try it, even if the chance is really low."

Jenny shakes her head. "No, I won't take that risk. Maybe it's best if we split up. Everyone takes two bottles of water and a handful of cereal bars, and then every group takes their own way."

Carter nods. "Yes, that's a good idea. So, let's pack our belongings and start as soon as possible."

The groups begin quietly packing their things. Tension and anticipation hang in the air as the hikes loom ahead. Soon, the groups say their goodbyes, and Jenny and her friends begin their descent into the forest.

***

The path Jenny's group takes quickly turns out to be quite tough, especially for Jenny. Her dress keeps getting tangled on low branches and hidden thorns in the underbrush, forcing her to stop again and again.

"Damn it," she growls in frustration. "Why does this keep happening? Could you please wait for me for a moment?"

The group halts and turns back. Jenny is crouching by a bush, tugging at the hem of her dress caught in a thorny stem.

"Okay," Carter replies with a worried voice.

Sheena raises an eyebrow. "That dress is quite a bad choice for a hike."

"Yeah," Jenny shoots back, exasperated, "but no one even expected a hike."

She gives the dress another frustrated tug and mutters under her breath, "This all happened just because two people were too horny to think straight for even two seconds and lock the van's brakes - or just find a better place for their little hanky-panky."

"Yeah, that's unfortunate," Sheena says soothingly but firmly, "but we can't change it. We need to look at what's before us and get out of that wilderness. And if we stop every five minutes to free your dress, we're not gonna make it to Hawnee today."

"So what do you think I should do?" Jenny snaps. "Take off the dress?"

She gives the fabric another yank and can finally get it loose.

"Well," Sheena says lightly, "as you say it, we all saw you in your swimsuit yesterday, and your underwear is probably way nicer than that granny-suit."

Jenny glares, muttering, "Hmm…"

Carter, who's been silent, rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Unfortunately, I have to agree with Sheena. Your dress is lovely, but the fabric might tear if this continues, and then it'll be irreparably damaged."

Denver's brows furrow minimally. "Agreed."

Jenny sighs. She looks down at the dress again, then up at the trail ahead. "Hmm… do you know if the path gets better up ahead? I really don't want to walk into Hawnee in just my underwear."

"I'm sorry." Carter shrugs. "I really can't say for sure."

Jenny groans. "Hmm, let's just keep walking. I'll just try to be a bit more careful."

Jenny lifts the hem of her dress a bit and then takes a few hesitant steps, but her dress soon gets stuck in the undergrowth again, and a sharp ripping sound is heard. Jenny carefully tries to get her dress loose again and looks at it anxiously once she has succeeded. She can see no visible damage, but it's probably close.

"Damn," she mutters, looking nervously around. "Okay. I do it." Then Jenny starts to take off her dress.

"Good choice, darling!" Sheena grins. "I'll show my solidarity and join you."

Without hesitation, Sheena reaches for the hem of her shirt and pulls it over her head. Jenny blurts, stunned, "But you're not wearing any under…" while Sheena drops her skirt down.

Sheena grins proudly, standing stark naked and completely unfazed while Jenny's expression shifts into something between shock and amused resignation. "You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"

"I'm just showing solidarity," Sheena says with a smirk.

Jenny rolls her eyes, but can't help smiling. She unzips her backpack, folds her dress neatly, and tucks it inside.

Carter glances at Sheena. "I'm just glad you're keeping your shoes on. The ground is pretty rough."

The corners of Denver's mouth turn upwards slightly.

Sheena looks mocking at Carter. "Shut up, stage mouth," then she turns to Denver with a smile. "And you stop grinning!"

Then Sheena turns back to Jenny. "See, you look much better in your underwear. I told you."

Jenny blushes with a small smile, then nods toward the path. "Okay, let's continue."

And so, the group presses on, deeper into the forest, with lighter clothes but lifted spirits.

***

The forest stretches endlessly before them as the group continues hiking for hours. Their pace slows, and weariness settles into their limbs. The strain of the journey grows heavier with each step.

"I need a break," Jenny rasps. "I can't walk any further."

Carter checks his smartphone and nods. "Okay, let's take a break and eat something. It's 1 p.m. already."

"1 p.m.? Really?" Jenny stares at him, wide-eyed. "Time's run like crazy."

"Clearing," Denver says, pointing in the direction. "Eat."

"Thanks, great observation, buddy." Carter nods. "Let's settle down there and eat something."

Sheena replies, "Yeah, let's head over there. My tummy hurts."

The group walks to the clearing, lays out their mats, and settles down to eat. Sheena flops down comfortably, totally unbothered by her ongoing lack of clothing. Jenny pointedly avoids looking at her while she chews on a cereal bar.

Sheena looks at Carter and says casually. "You and Denver have been close for a long time?"

Carter raises his brow, surprised by the question, but nods. "Yes. We've known each other since kindergarten. Back then, he used to talk so much, I couldn't get a word in - not that I ever tried."

Jenny chuckles faintly. "Doesn't seem like the type."

Carter's smile fades just a little. "Yes, not since the incident."

Sheena looks interested. "What incident?"

Carter swallows. "He got lost once. Really lost."

Jenny looks up. "What happened?"

"We were with our parents in the Harborough-Plains," Carter says, "and did play some hide and seek and… I was a little tired of his constant chatting and urm… took some time… and urm… he hid in a lorry that urm… suddenly drove off…"

"Good Shepherd," Jenny says, flustered.

"He was found three days later. Five hundred miles away." He shakes his head. "Monks found him. Literal monks. Somewhere near the border, he sprang off the lorry and walked then for two days through the forest."

"And he was so shocked that he lost his speech?" Jenny asks, eyes wide open.

Carter shakes his head. "No, from the few words, the monks said it was clear that he chatted away happily when they first met. But the encounter with the monks touched him deeply. He started to study their philosophy and visited them regularly, and got calmer and calmer in the process."

"No bla – only meaning," Denver says stoically.

"But don't you think you're overdoing it a bit?" Jenny says hesitantly.

Denver grumbles. "Hrmmm…"

"Okay, okay…" Jenny smiles sheepishly.

Sheena smiles. "I like him the way he is – a potent man, who lets me have my freedom - my big boy." And she gives Denver another kiss.

Denver smiles slightly. "Hmmm…"

The group continues to eat while chatting. After Jenny finishes eating, she looks at her Smartphone. "Oh, it's 1:30 p.m. already. I think it's time to break up. How far have we come?"

Carter looks at his Smartphone and sighs. "Unfortunately, we haven't come that far by now. We're only five miles closer to Hawnee."

"So, ten miles still to go?" Jenny asks, already reaching for her backpack.

"Yes, ten more," Carter confirms with a nod.

Jenny's shoulders slump in despair. "Holy crap, we'll never make it tonight."

Her face crumples. "We'll need to spend another night in this awful forest."

"Calm down, Jen," Sheena says, her voice calm but resolute.

Jenny snaps. "How should I calm down? We have an exam on Monday that could decide our future! We can't learn today… We probably won't learn tomorrow. And you're talking as if it doesn't matter at all?"

Sheena shifts uncomfortably but doesn't speak as Jenny's frustration builds and spills over.

"I should just have said no when you asked me to come with you. That would've been so much more reasonable," Jenny mutters. "Now we're stuck in the wilderness, with no way out."

She buries her face in her hands, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Why didn't I just say no?" Her voice breaks as she sobs.

Without hesitation, Sheena steps closer and gently holds Jenny by her shoulders. "Jen, darling. Listen to me. We've already passed five miles in four hours, and even if we take more rests, we'll make the next ten miles by tonight. So even if it doesn't feel like much, we will definitely be back in Hawnee before midnight."

"She's right," Carter adds, his tone encouraging. "I think we'll arrive in Hawnee in the evening. We've crossed a lot of impassable terrain by now, but it probably gets better the closer we get, especially once we have overcome that Great Wall of Hawnee. Then we can move faster and may even arrive earlier."

"Agreed," Denver says simply.

Jenny throws in. "But we still have to overcome that Wall. What if we don't pass it?"

Sheena says soothingly. "Darling, this is just the first exam. Even if we don't pass it, there are still three more we can pass - and that will be enough to get us into the medical program at Hawnee."

Jenny sniffs, her voice small. "But that also means more pressure for the next exams and more intensive studying, Sheena…"

She shakes her head. "This is so… awful. It feels as if the whole world is falling apart."

Sheena gently strokes her back, her voice calm and steady. "Darling, calm down. I know it feels overwhelming. But we'll get through this. We're urm… a team, kind of…"

Jenny's breathing begins to steady. Her sobs fade. The tears stop. Slowly, determination flickers in her eyes, overtaking the despair.

"You're right. Damn, you're right. We will make this somehow," she says, defiantly wiping her face.

She lifts her chin, her voice steady. "We're reaching Hawnee tonight - and we will do whatever it takes tomorrow to pass the exam on Monday."

She turns sharply to Sheena, her tone firm. "And you will be in the library the whole day, whether you want to or not."

"Jen, Jen…" the naked girl smiles with a hint of discomfort. "I never said I wouldn't go. I will be there with you."

Jenny nods with a resolute expression. "So, let's grab our backpacks." She looks at Carter. "Can I borrow your smartphone for the map? I will lead the way now."

Carter smiles and hands it to her with a nod.

"That's my Jenny," Sheena says proudly, "a true warrior… not me, Carter." She smirks over to the librarian.

Carter smirks back at her, mischievous but silent.

Jenny checks their position, then lifts her head, her confidence restored. She takes a bold step forward, and the group silently follows her.

***

The group continues their hike through the forest for several hours, making their way up a gentle but seemingly endless hill. The undergrowth of the forest has become thinner, but the exertion of the hike is slowly taking its toll.

Jenny pants, but with a spark of optimism in her voice, she says, "We made twelve miles by now. This went way faster than I thought."

Sheena nods, wiping sweat from her brow. "Yeah, Carter was right. The track got easier, and we're moving much faster now."

As they reach the top of the hill, a bizarre sight unfolds before them. They stop in their tracks, eyes widening as they take in a meter-high, tangled wall of scrub that stretches endlessly in both directions.

Jenny stops abruptly, her eyes wide. "Fuck, I guess, that's that Great Wall of Hawnee!"

"Yes," Carter nods, "like Frankie and Lisa said, but I didn't imagine it that high."

"No way we're getting through this," Sheena says skeptically, eyeing the thicket. "Unless one of us turns into a chainsaw, we better look for a way around."

Jenny shakes her head. "This stretches miles in every direction. Walking around will take us hours!"

"Yeah," Carter agrees, not sounding too thrilled.

Sheena says resolutely, "But we might not have another choice."

Jenny narrows her eyes at the wall of tangled branches. "Let's take a closer look. Maybe there's a way through it."

"Yeah, let's take a closer look," Carter echoes.

They approach the scrub, and up close, the barrier looks even more imposing. Thick, intertwining branches weave together into an almost impenetrable mass.

"Shit, that is really thick," Sheena says, poking at the bush with a stick. "This might shred any clothes or, well, skin to pieces, if we try to get through by hand."

"Oh, no, it's definitely not thick enough," Jenny shoots back sharply. "I can see the sunshine on the other side, and we don't have the time to look for a way around."

Sheena's tone shifts to alarm. "You don't intend to…"

"We can't give up that close to Hawnee," Jenny cuts her off.

Without waiting for a reply, Jenny grabs the nearest branches and begins forcing her way through the scrub. Twigs snap and scratch against her skin, but she keeps pushing, her body twisting and fighting through the dense thickets.

"Jenny, stop! Let us…" Carter calls out, alarmed.

But Jenny doesn't listen. Driven by determination, she fights her way through the barrier. After several grueling meters, she bursts through to the other side, emerging into thinner woodland once again. She turns around with a triumphant grin, raising her arms into the air.

"I made it to the other side!" she shouts joyfully. "You just have to follow me!"

The others quickly begin forcing their way through. Sheena is the first to reach Jenny, but her expression freezes when she gets a good look at her. "Well… Jenny… urm…"

"Yeah?" Jenny asks, still glowing with triumph.

Denver appears from the scrub and looks stoic. "Lost something."

"I… lost something?" Jenny blinks.

Carter, eyes darting away, clears his throat awkwardly. "Urm… your, uh… upper delegation seems to have gone rogue…"

"What?" Jenny looks puzzled.

Sheena rolls her eyes. "Your tits are out, darling."

"My ti…" Jenny looks down, staring at her bare breasts in shock. Her bra is gone, ripped away during her mad dash through the scrub.

"Oh, my Lord Shepherd…" she gasps, instantly throwing her hands over her chest.

Just then, a familiar mocking voice echoes through the trees. "Why so shy, bitch?"

Jenny freezes again, her expression shifting from embarrassment to fury. "Fuck you, Lester. What do you even do here?"

Lester stands a few meters away, holding up his smartphone, a smug grin plastered on his face. "Catching the beauty of nature. I already caught four peaches and one plum."

Jenny growls, "You didn't take photos of us, did you?"

"No, speed learner, I didn't take photos of you, I'm still taking photos," Lester mocks. "Say cheese, babe."

He raises his smartphone and takes another photo. Both Jenny and Sheena throw their hands in front of themselves, glaring. But then Sheena's expression shifts. She flashes a slow, sultry smile and lets her hands drop, offering her sweet, bare body to the view of the rude aggressor.

"Didn't your mommy tell you to be nice to young ladies?" she purrs seductively.

"No, she was too eager kicking asses of bitches like you," Lester replies smugly.

Sheena starts moving toward him, swaying her naked hips ever so slightly. "Oh, come on, tiger, where are your manners? Do you often encounter an innocent nude lady in the forest? I don't think so, do you?"

Lester shifts uncomfortably. "Hey bitch, what are you trying?"

Sheena moves even closer. Her voice is low and playful as she raises her hand. "I just wanna have a closer look at your muscular body."

Suddenly, Lester jerks his head sideways - he's spotted Carter and Denver sneaking up behind him. The two rush in, but Lester throws them off easily, sending them sprawling.

"Nice try, bitch," he growls. "But not good enough."

Sheena ignores the failed ambush and continues her seductive approach. "Forget those losers. I wanna have a real man who isn't repelled by a bare hand…," she rubs her inner thighs, "a strong man like you, honey."

"Don't come closer or I… or I… er…" Lester stammers, his self-confidence crumbles.

Sheena gives him her most seductive smile and presses her naked body up against his, feeling his growing erection. She straddles him lightly and looks into his eyes, her voice a silky whisper.

"What harm should I do to you, Cherry? I just wanna caress your balls…"

Her face hardens mid-sentence, and she drives her knee into Lester's crotch. He crumples with a strangled gasp.

"…stroke your hands…" she continues sweetly, grabs his wrist, and twists it. His phone slips from his grip and hits the ground.

"…and kiss you good night." She lands a sharp palm strike to his chin, sending him collapsing to the forest floor.

Sheena turns her naked body back to the others and smiles innocently. "Isn't he cute?"

Jenny smirks, placing her hands on her hips. "That's definitely a meeting he won't forget anytime soon."

"Nice," Carter mutters.

"Good," Denver adds with a small nod.

"We should better put our clothes back on." Sheena looks at Jenny. "I don't want to run into another creep like him tonight."

Jenny suddenly realizes she's practically showing off her bare breasts to the group, blushes, and puts her hands back over her chest. "Urm… yeah… You're… right… Sorry… I… I… forgot… Could you please turn around, guys?"

Carter and Denver politely turn their backs. The two girls quickly retrieve their clothes from their bags and pull them on.

"You can watch again," Jenny says a moment later.

Carter and Denver turn back. Carter points at Lester, who lies still unconscious on the ground. "What do we do with him?"

"Well, he'll wake up soon…" Sheena shrugs. "I didn't strike him that hard. But I hope he's learned how to behave around a lady."

"What about his smartphone?" Jenny asks.

Sheena picks it up and looks at it. "Nice, it got a fingerprint-unlock, wait, I'll delete the photos…" She puts Lester's thumb on the sensor. Sheena starts swiping and tapping, then tosses the phone back onto Lester's body. "Here, asshole, have your smartphone back."

With that, the group turns their backs on Lester and continues their journey toward Hawnee, the sun slowly lowering behind the trees as they move forward.

***

The group continues to walk into Hawnee without further problems. The city lights glow softly as evening settles over the town, and the group finally reaches the entrance of the university.

Jenny exhales heavily. "I guess this is the time that we part ways. Sorry, I'm totally exhausted. I can't even think about studying tonight. I just want to go home. We really need to study tomorrow, Sheena."

Sheena nods wearily. "Hmm… yeah."

Carter stretches his shoulders with a sigh. "Yes, the day was awfully rough. By the way, Jenny… do you have some time on Monday afternoon after the exam? For some coffee or something?"

Jenny pauses, her expression thoughtful. Then her face clouds over. "Sorry, I'm not sure. I have to find a new job first. After today, I don't think Lester will ever hire me again."

Sheena's arms cross as her brow furrows. "Was that asshole your boss?"

"Huh… yes," Jenny says, trying to shrug it off. "He's the owner of The Stag."

"Son of a bitch," Sheena snaps. "I should've hit him harder."

Jenny tries not to grin. "It's okay. He seemed to be sleeping long enough, hehe."

"Never long enough," Denver adds in his usual stoic tone.

Sheena turns to him, surprised. "Oh, sweetie, I didn't know you had a gruesome side."

"Hmpf," Denver replies, unbothered.

"Yeah," Sheena agrees. "You're right. That asshole definitely deserved it."

Jenny turns back to Carter. "What about Tuesday Evening. Would you be ready for some dinner, or do you work in the library?"

"Yes," Carter smiles. "Tuesday is fine. I know a nice bistrot, where we can meet, the Quiet Flame on Willow Street."

Jenny gives him a warm smile. "That sounds beautiful, so I'm looking forward to Tuesday."

Then she looks at Sheena with a smirk. "And you - see you tomorrow in the library, warrior-bitch."

Sheena pulls the seam of her skirt up and sticks her bare bottom out at Jenny. "Who do you call a warrior, darling?"

"You know how I mean that…" Jenny says, rolling her eyes.

"Aye aye, Madame Generale," Sheena replies with a cheeky grin.

Jenny looks at Denver, her tone softening. "Thank you very much for the support, big boy."

"Welcome," Denver says simply.

Jenny hesitates, a bit embarrassed. "Oh, you don't need to become sentiment…"

A flicker of confusion crosses her face as she glances between the others, and then back to Denver. "Urm… thank you very much."

She straightens a bit. "So… see you tomorrow, Sheena. And you others - soon."

She blows a kiss to Sheena, who smiles warmly in return.

"Yeah, goodbye, honey," Sheena says.

"Bye," Denver offers quietly.

Jenny starts to turn away, her steps slow, but Carter steps closer. She pauses and looks back at him, gentle curiosity in her tired eyes. Carter hesitates for just a breath, then speaks softly.

"Goodbye, sorceress."

Before she can answer, Carter leans in and brushes a gentle kiss against her cheek. Jenny's face flushes a deep red, but she doesn't step back. Instead, she tilts her head slightly and meets his gaze, a shy smile forming.

"Goodbye, mighty guardian," she says quietly, with a hint of playfulness.

Then, on impulse, Jenny leans in and kisses him. It's soft, fleeting, but sincere. When she pulls back, there's a spark of warmth in her eyes.

"Goodbye, mighty guardian," she repeats with a smile.

From a few steps away, Sheena lets out a low whistle. "Finally…"

Jenny blushes deeper and glances at Sheena with mock anger. "Shut up, bitch."

Sheena smirks. "Hehe, that's my warrior."

Carter steps back, his cheeks a little flushed too, but he wears a satisfied smile.

"See you Tuesday, Jenny," he says softly.

And with that, the group parts ways. Jenny turns and walks away, heading back home under the dimming sky.

***

When Jenny enters her home, she hears the voices of Susan and Jack calling her. "Hi Jenny."

"Hi, together," Jenny replies, as she makes her way toward the living room, where the Miltons are lounging in front of the TV – completely naked.

Jenny freezes for a split second, then starts to smile. "Did you start the final phase?"

"Yeah," Susan says, "are you okay with that?"

Jenny bursts into exhausted laughter. "Sorry, it's not about you - it's just… I've seen more naked people this week than I have in my entire life."

Jack and Susan chuckle warmly.

"You seem to have had quite an experience," Susan says gently.

Jenny nods, sighing. "Yeah, it was… definitely something."

Susan adds. "Maybe we can cheer you up Monday with another portion of that Spaghetti Carbonara."

Jenny beams. "Oh, yes, I'd even pay for that?"

"Great, then we do have a date for dinner," Jack replies with a grin.

"Gladly," Jenny answers, stretching slightly as the exhaustion of the day finally catches up to her. "I'll go to bed now. I had a hard day… and a lot of studying to do tomorrow."

"Good night, you two."

"Good night, Jenny," Jack and Susan respond in unison.

As Jenny disappears up the stairs toward her room, Jack and Susan remain in the living room, watching TV - comfortably nude, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

When Jenny gets to her room, she opens her laptop and tries to glance over the slides of her lectures, but the experiences of the day have drained her. After a few moments, she closes the lid and lays it aside. She lies down in her bed, and as soon as she closes her eyes, she falls into a long, dreamless sleep.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Bright daylight shines on Jenny's face when she opens her eyes. But when she grabs for her sheet to make sure she's really in her bed, she feels the strain of the past day in these small movements. She rises slowly, her face contorted, and then walks slowly to the bathroom. She knocks, then enters and takes a long, thorough shower. After brushing her teeth, she puts on her uniform, fixes her hair, and gets ready for another day in the library. She grabs her backpack, takes one last look in the mirror, and finally leaves the house.

***

When Jenny enters the library, she sees Steven and Tina already sitting at a table, completely focused on their studies.

As she walks over and joins them, Tina looks up and smiles. "Hi Jenny, long time no see."

Jenny frowns. "Yeah..., yesterday was just horrible."

Steven smirks, clearly intrigued. "Sounds like you have a story to tell. Don't you?"

"Oh, no, urm…" Jenny stammers. "There was nothing… just some people, urm… doing things… with the van… you know… and then everything went downhill."

Steven and Tina exchange confused glances.

"What?" The two ask in unison.

Jenny blushes. "There was just this couple who, well… thrusted too enthusiastically against the van... during, you know... and accidentally pushed the van into the lake, breaking it and so, urm… we spent the whole Saturday hiking back to Hawnee."

Steven and Tina's eyes widen in shock.

"Oh. That's... wow," Steven scratches his head.

Before he or Tina can say anything else, Sheena arrives. Jenny's demeanor shifts - more reserved now.

Steven turns to Sheena. "Have you been the one fucking in front of the van?"

"No," Sheena replies flippantly. "I've been the one walking back to Hawnee in the nude. Did little Miss Prude here already tell you about our little trip?"

Steven stares, mouth open. "N… not in this detail."

"Well, our way back to Hawnee went perfectly fine," Sheena snaps, "until we ran into this asshole of Jenny's former boss and he started taking pictures of Jenny and me with his smartphone."

Tina stares at Jenny, her voice wavering. "Were you… also…?"

Jenny's eyes widen, and she waves her hands frantically. "N… N… N… NOOOOO!" she almost screams. Blushing hard, she puts her hands in front of her mouth. Then, quieter, she adds, "Well, I had a little incident… during which my… urm… top got some damage, and this asshole caught us shortly after when I wasn't able to fix anything."

"Oh… sorry to hear that." Steven's brow furrows as he offers a sympathetic smile.

Tina asks with worried voice, "Could you handle the situation somehow?"

"Well, not me, not the boys we were with, but…" Jenny grins and points at Sheena. "Miss Cobra Kai here just knocked that asshole out."

Tina and Steven stare astonished at Sheena, who raises her hands defensively. "Hey, what are you looking at me? I just landed a lucky hit."

"Lucky hit?" Jenny raises her eyebrows and smirks while Tina and Steven turn their heads back to Jenny. "She kneed his crotch, twisted his wrist, and hit his chin with what looked like a single move. He got knocked out in like 15 seconds. It was like watching a damn action movie."

Sheena blushes, rolls her eyes, and waves her hands dismissively. "She's exaggerating. Makes it sound way wilder than it was." She smiles in annoyed amusement. "Stop talking bullshit and let's study."

Jenny leans toward Steven and Tina, mock-whispering behind her hand, "She's really a great warrior."

Sheena rolls her eyes again but smirks as she opens her laptop. "Sit down, we have a lot to study."

Jenny flashes a mischievous grin, then settles in, grabs her laptop, and gets ready to work.

***

Later, at midday, Sheena stretches and groans, "My belly's crying out for something to eat."

"Good idea, I'm already starving too," Steven says.

Jenny tilts her head. "Is the dining hall even open on Sundays?"

"No, as far as I recall, it remains closed," Tina replies.

Steven leans in. "I ate at this restaurant on North Cherokee Avenue the other day…"

Jenny's eyes widen. "The Stag?"

"Yeah, that's it." Steven nods. "The waitress there was really a thing… brown hair, shoulder-length."

Jenny grins. "Oh, that's Caroline. I see she made quite an impression."

"You know her?" Steven smirks. "We could go there today too."

Jenny bites her lip and shakes her head. "Urm… better not."

"Yeah, we'd better give this shithole a wide berth," Sheena says.

"What happened?" Tina asks, clearly concerned.

"Oh, well…," Jenny scratches her head, "the owner is that creep that tried to take photos of us yesterday."

Tina looks horrified. "Oh no, then we should definitely avoid that place."

"I saw a fast food restaurant near my dorm. It's called Joe's Burgers. Maybe that's something," Sheena offers.

"Yes, Burger sounds good," Tina nods.

Jenny smiles. "I'm also in."

"Oh, wait a moment." Sheena's face suddenly tenses, and she whistles, "Wheeet! Over here… lady!"

All heads follow Sheena's gaze. Tina's face contorts, Steven's mouth opens, and Jenny's eyes widen. At the end of the corridor, emerging from between the tall shelves, stands the same woman Jenny had seen on Monday and again on Thursday from behind. This time, however, she offers a full frontal view of her naked body, calm and seemingly unbothered by the attention. Jenny glances hesitantly at her body. Her ash-blonde hair falls loosely over her shoulders down to her well-rounded breasts. Lower still, only a bundle of hardly visible blonde hair gathers over her pubic mound. A few books cradled in her arms, she looks at the group with a puzzled expression. "Sorry, do I know you?"

Sheena grins. "You've been sneaking around this place in the buff for days. I think it's time we got your name."

The woman smiles faintly. "Oh, sorry. I'm Brigitte. I just started working here. Book re-shelving and logistics, mostly in the Boone Building."

Jenny frowns. "But why are you… uh… not wearing clothes? There is a dress code in here, isn't it?"

Brigitte tilts her head thoughtfully. "Oh, sorry, is there? The library in the Boone Building is clothing-optional and urm… I wasn't aware that it's different in here." Embarrassed, she places a book in front of her intimate area. "Urm… sorry for the… disruption."

"Urm… no… no, urm… it's okay," Steven blushes. "But what is that Boone Building?"

Brigitte points casually toward a shelf-ail. "It's the building behind this one."

Sheena interjects with a glint in her eye, "Are you saying, there's a secret nude library behind the shelves, and no one told us?"

Tina sighs. "It's no secret! Prof. Crawley explained it on Monday in detail. You can just go in right through the entrance door. Weren't you at the introduction lecture?"

Jenny looks puzzled. "What? When did he say that? I… I should have heard that!"

Tina replies, "It was when he started talking about the libraries, right before presenting the uniforms."

Jenny blushes in embarrassment. "Oh my flock, I think, I must have been talking with Sheena right then."

Steven wonders. "But, how do you enter this library? We urm... tried to follow you, urm… last time we saw you, but… it looked as if you just vanished."

Brigitte points again casually toward a shelf aisle. "Urm… there's a door concealed behind one of the shelves. Well hidden and a bit strange, I admit. It leads to a corridor to the Boone-Building, that ends," she lifts one hand, "surprise – in another door behind a bookshelf." She stems one hand on her bare hip and looks conspiratorially at the group. "It took me ages to find the right spot the first time when I went here."

Jenny rubs her temples. "I can't believe this is real."

"Oh, it's very real," Sheena says, clearly delighted. "And we have to go there."

Jenny and Tina shoot in unison. "NOOOO…"

Jenny crosses her arms. "We can't! We have an exam tomorrow. We don't have time for urm… that."

Tina throws up her hands. "If you want to visit hell, you have to go alone."

"I'm with Tina," Steven nods. "I don't really want to… be like that. It's urm… weird."

"It's not weird," Brigitte says as kindly as possible, but her naked body clearly tenses. "It's actually… quite freeing and pleasant, you really need to try it!"

Jenny looks at her nervously. "So urm...  you're just walking around nude, putting books back on shelves?"

Brigitte nods. "Yup."

Jenny shakes her head slowly. "This university just keeps getting stranger."

"Come on," Sheena's already packing her things. "We're going. Just a peek. A scientific mission."

"No," Jenny says firmly.

Sheena raises an eyebrow, her smile fades a little. "Maybe after lunch?"

"Still a no," Jenny repeats.

Brigitte bows a little and lifts her books to her chest. "Well, if you won't mind, I'm going back to work. Still have to do a lot back there."

"No, no… that's okay." Jenny blushes.

With that, Brigitte pads off silently, giving the group another view of her charming naked backside before she vanishes once again between the shelves.

The group sits in stunned silence for a moment.

Then Sheena mutters, "Hell, I've got to see that building."

Jenny groans. "I just want something to eat. Let's head to Joe's Burger."

Sheena looks around the group. "So none of you wants to come with me?"

She faces crossed arms and tense faces.

Sheena sighs. "Okay, okay. Let's eat first. But I might hit that building later."

Jenny shakes her head with a fond smile as the group gathers their things and heads out together.

***

Jenny, Sheena, Tina, and Steven step into Joe's Burgers. The place is warm and welcoming, filled with the smell of grilled patties. Behind the counter, a cheerful older man flips burgers with flair. He's singing loudly, his voice rich and warm, "I like de flowers, I like de daffodils, I like de mountains, I like de rolling hills, I like de fireside when de light is low, Doom-di-daa-dee..., Doom-di-daa-dee..., Doom-di-daa-dee..., Doom…"

Sheena claps enthusiastically, grinning, and the others - Jenny, Tina, and Steven - join in with applause.

The man turns around with a theatrical bow and a big smile. "Thanks, mates, and hello to Joe's Burgers. What can I get you?"

"You have a wonderful voice… Joe, aren't you?" Sheena asks.

He smiles, cheeks flushing red. "Aye, that's me. Thanks, lass. Now, what'll it be?"

"We're basically starving. So we urgently need something to eat," Sheena slaps her head on the table.

"Can't have that! Grab a seat, and I'll bring the menus at once," Joe rubs his hands with an honest smile and walks away to fetch them.

They sit down at a table, and Joe comes over to bring the menus. The group studies the pages carefully. No sooner have they closed them than Joe reappears at the table, grinning. "Have you decided what shall fill your bellies?"

"Yeah, I'll take the Vita-Burger," Sheena says.

"For me, the Double-Cheese-Burger with extra cheese," Steven adds.

"I'd like the Veggie Burger, please," Tina says.

"A Cheese-Burger, please," Jenny finishes.

Joe nods, puts it all down, and heads back to the counter. A short while later, he returns, carefully balancing four plates of food. He sets them down in front of the group, then peers at them curiously. "Are you students from the Waynfort School?"

"Yeah, we formed a study group for the medicine entrance exams," Sheena explains.

Joe's eyes widen in awe, and the corners of his mouth drop. "Aye, I heard about that. Hard stuff… hard stuff, I think." His smile quickly returns. "But you young mates are strong and you'll make it through. And hey, even if you don't, wind's gonna blow your sails either way."

Sheena suddenly hugs him, catching him completely off guard. "True words, true words, buddy."

He freezes for a moment, then chuckles and hugs her as well, patting her back gently.

Jenny looks hesitant. "Well, I don't know… I tried really hard to get into these entrance courses, and I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't get into the program."

"Darling, you've been studying the whole week. You're fine. You will pass that entrance test for sure!" Sheena says with firm conviction.

"But I lost two days, Wednesday and Saturday, for learning! I'm really not that sure!"

"Yeah, but even if you fail one of the exams. There's nothing lost. We have to pass only three of them, so there's one shot for free."

"Damn your optimism, Sheena. The first exam is still in a subject we already had at school. Anatomy will get much harder."

"Me too," Steven agrees. "I wish I had Tina's brain. She's going to ace these exams without breaking a sweat."

"Steven, please," Tina shakes her head. "I... well, I know a bit about microbiology, but I'm still studying hard to pass this first exam. I'm really scared of the physics lectures. That's why I nearly failed my A-levels."

"Guys and girls, calm down a little," Sheena says. "These are just exams, not life or death. You're all overthinking this."

"You speak well... But what will my family think if I'm not even able to pass the entry tests?" Tina adds quietly.

Jenny looks at her, a little bewildered.

Joe's voice breaks in, clearly distressed. "Sorry mates, I… I really didn't want to bring the mood down. I just hoped to cheer you up a bit."

"Don't worry, Joe. This isn't your fault. It's just been a hard week," Sheena reassures him.

"Yeah, definitely. Sorry, Joe," Steven adds.

Jenny nods. "Yes, don't worry."

"Okay, let's eat," Tina says firmly, "we still have a lot to study for tomorrow."

"Definitely," Jenny agrees.

Joe looks still slightly anxious. "Okay, enjoy your meals, then!"

"Thanks," Sheena smiles.

"Fankf," Jenny replies mid-munch.

"Thank you," Tina and Steven say in unison.

Joe heads back to the counter while the group digs into their food. After they finish, they pay at the bar. Joe still looks a little worried.

"Goodbye, Joe, and don't blame yourself for what happened. It really wasn't your fault," Sheena smiles.

Joe winks anxiously but smiles back. "Alright, mates. Take care and good luck!"

"Thank you, Mr., and goodbye," Tina waves.

Jenny echoes, smiling, "Thank you and goodbye."

"Bye, Joe," Steven adds with a grin.

The group heads to the library and back to their study table.

"Didn't you want to go to the Boone Building?" Steven asks.

Sheena hesitates. "Well, I'm going to cram in a bit more learning material first, then I'll hit that building."

"Okay." Jenny smiles and then buries herself again in her laptop, similar to the rest of the group.

***

Later that afternoon, the group is still hunched over their laptops. The atmosphere is thick with tension.

"The more I study, the less I understand?" Steven grumbles, "It's like my brain's wrapped in sawdust. How's it going for you all?"

"Well, it works," Sheena shrugs. "I have looked at everything at least once, so I'm now focusing mostly on answering the old exam questions."

"I've gone through most of the topics except immune system and hygiene," Jenny exhales. "When I've reviewed those, I will focus on the exam questions."

"Well, I must confess, it's fortunately manageable," Tina says reluctantly. "I am really lucky that most of this overlaps with what I learned in high school, so I'm building on that while just taking in the rest."

Jenny nods. "Yes, that's a relief."

"Lucky you, Tina. For me, it's all a big black box," Steven mutters. "Feels like trying to memorize a dictionary. So many Greek words that don't mean a shit to me."

"When you're struggling with terms, try making acronyms from the first letters," Tina suggests. "For example, for the four innate immune system barriers, I only remember APPI - anatomical, physiological, phagocytic, and inflammatory barriers."

"This sounds really nice." Steven looks tired toward Tina. "And if I had more time, I'd surely give it a shot. But I have to dig in all that stuff by tonight, and I just can't try anything new."

"You should still try it. It might help more than you think," Tina urges.

"Huh… sorry, Tina, not today. But I think I'll try it for the next exam."

Tina shrugs anxiously. "Okay, okay. Good luck with your way, then."

***

The group studies on, hanging over their laptops by 6 p.m., with different levels of strain. Tina smiles faintly, Jenny frowns, and Steven scratches his head, visibly stuck. Only Sheena leans back, scrolling through her phone with interest, as a soft buzz vibrates across the table, cutting the quiet atmosphere.

Tina lifts her head, and a smile appears on her face as she looks at her smartphone. "I'm sorry, I must go for now," she says, closing her laptop gently. "I'm meeting my boyfriend Michael for dinner."

Sheena looks up. "That reminds me - we should go out and eat something as well. My stomach's been grumbling for ages." She glances around. "Anyone else coming?"

Steven shakes his head. "Oh, I already made something, so I'll just eat outside at the benches."

"Me too," Jenny chimes in, stretching her arms.

"Okay, I'll go grab some burritos at Joe's and meet you guys there," Sheena says, while sliding her phone with the other into her pocket.

"See you," Jenny and Steven say in unison.

"Bye!" Tina waves as she walks off. Sheena follows her as the others pack up to eat outside.

***

Sometime later, Jenny, Sheena, and Steven sit on the benches in front of the library. The square is mostly empty, the evening air filled with the distant chirping of birds. Occasionally, a student in uniform strolls past on their way to or from the library. Somewhere not too far away, faint music and rhythmic shouts can be heard - someone is clearly having a far less stressful day.

"This is exhausting. Learning all this stuff feels impossible," Jenny rubs her temples.

"You don't have to tell me," Steven groans, slouching forward. "I should have been here on Friday and Saturday evening. Now it feels like I know next to nothing."

Sheena hesitates. "Urm… guys and girls, you might not wanna hear it, but we really should try that nude library in the Boone Building. I ogled it up online - and it says nude learning is a fast track to munching in knowledge."

Steven and Jenny both stare at her. "You're making up shit," Steven says flatly.

"No," Sheena shoots back and holds up her phone. "See for yourself."

Jenny and Steven stare at Sheena's phone in disbelief at the official Boone Building website, which proudly advertises the supposed benefits of nude learning.

"That's gotta be propaganda-bullshit, nothing true about that," Steven scoffs.

Jenny nods. "Yeah, I can't believe they're actually promoting that. I've never heard of anything so ridiculous. There's no way that's real science."

Sheena huffs and flips her phone back to look at it for herself. "They say, there are studies, scientific studies."

"Really?" Steven shakes his head, "So I just strip naked in my room and suddenly study twice as fast? Why didn't I ever hear of this if it's that effective?"

Sheena asks. "Have you ever tried it?"

Steven scoffs. "No… that's just weird!"

"That's probably what most people think," Sheena emphasizes, "And the facts are mostly ignored by the media due to such taboos."

Steve ogles the Boone-Building on his phone. "It says here that this study is funded by corporate labs. Wouldn't surprise me if they're just trying to make money off of it somehow. Like maybe they're even filming the study hall and selling the images on one of those illegal websites, you know, the ones with those mailgirl videos... urm, I heard of."

"It's not a scam, Steven." Sheena's voice rises. "It's legit studies - peer-reviewed, they say. And we're sitting here stuck, while people inside are studying faster - because they're willing to shed a layer or two."

Jenny crosses her arms tightly. "Sorry, no, I'm not gonna study naked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone in front of strangers. That's just urm… wrong."

"You're letting shame hold you back from success?" Sheena snaps. "Isn't med your dream? Don't you want to use every advantage possible?"

"I want to earn it decently," Jenny fires back. "Not… bare everything like in some crazy cult ritual. Besides, how can we even know it's the nudity? Maybe it's all psychological. A placebo?"

Steven leans back against the bench. "Or just hype."

Jenny adds. "And even if it worked, I'm not taking off my clothes. I don't care how many grades it boosts. I have my dignity."

Sheena sighs, frustrated. "You're both being stubborn. This could be the edge we need. Those damn uniforms are part of the problem - stripping them down just frees our brain!"

Steven grabs his back-pack. "Or maybe it just frees you from common sense. I'm not walking into some petri dish naked with a bunch of strangers in the hope of something – only to be too embarrassed to learn anything."

Jenny stands as well. "Same here. I'll keep my clothes and my morals, thanks."

Sheena slumps back, arms crossed, muttering under her breath. "Fine. We'll do it the hard way then."

A silence settles as the three head back toward the library's front doors, the distant music fading behind them. They sit down at their tables once again and bury themselves in their laptops.

***

Some time passes, and the library remains quiet aside from the scratching of pens and the low rustle of pages turning. Suddenly, Jenny's smartphone buzzes. As she looks down, sees a message from Tina asking her to call back. She quietly walks out of the library and dials.

"Hi Tina, did you forget something?" Jenny asks softly.

"No," Tina replies. "I just wanted to ask if you're still looking for a job."

Jenny frowns. "Of course, why?"

"Well, my parents were at the l'Age d'Or for tea today," Tina explains warmly, "They talked to the owner, and he mentioned he's looking for a new servant. I thought of you immediately!"

"Sounds great!" Jenny says with a bright smile.

"Unfortunately…," Tina hesitates before continuing, "they can't pay much, only 25 Dollars an hour."

"T… Twenty-five Dollars?" Jenny stammers, her eyes widen. "An hour…? For waiting tables?"

Tina admits, "Yes… I know that is not much, but..."

"Not much?" Jenny cuts in sharply. "Tina, that's incredible! Where do I sign up?"

"Urm, great… The owner wants to have an interview with you," Tina goes on. "Is it possible that you could be there tomorrow at 4 p.m.?"

Jenny nods. "Yes, that's great. Do I need some special clothing for this?"

"Just wear something nice. Maybe a white blouse and a plain skirt or trousers…" Tina suggests. "As far as I know, they will provide you with a work uniform."

"Okay, then I have an appointment with the owner of the l'Age d'Or tomorrow." Jenny beams with joy

"Yes," Tina confirms, "just be at 4 p.m. at the reception and ask for Monsieur François de Clairmont."

"Great! Thank you so much, Tina." Jenny clasps her hands tightly and presses her eyes shut.

After a farewell, Jenny ends the call and walks back into the library, the smile still lingering on her face. She returns to the table where Sheena and Steven are still studying.

"You look like you just hit the jackpot. What's up?" Sheena asks curiously.

Jenny says excitedly, "I got an interview for a job tomorrow at the l'Age d'Or!"

"Cool! See, life's not as bad after all," Sheena replies with a grin.

"Don't mention it, I still have to survive this awful exam before the interview," Jenny sighs.

"Yeah, let's hope we all do," Steven adds, his voice low.

"Come on, you two. It's not the end of the world," Sheena presses her hands encouragingly.

"Hmm, we'll see," Jenny mumbles.

"If you say so…" Steven murmurs.

Sheena glances anxiously at both of them, then sits down again, refocusing on her laptop.

***

As evening drags on, the tension continues to linger over the study tables of the quiet library as Jenny, Steven, and Sheena sit bent over their laptops. At 11 p.m., their movements have slowed considerably compared to earlier in the evening. Weariness hangs thick in the air.

"I've been staring at the same page for an hour, and nothing's sinking in. My brain's totally fried," Steven groans, rubbing his forehead.

"Then it's time to go home. Relax and get some sleep," Sheena advises without hesitation.

"I hate to admit it, and I really don't want to keep you from studying," Jenny glances over at Steven, "but I think Sheena is absolutely right for once. You won't learn much tonight and will just burn out."

"I don't know. The library is still open for another hour," Steven mutters.

"I don't want to urge you to anything," Jenny replies gently, "But I think I'm also done with it. I studied the microorganisms quite thoroughly, read everything at least once, and studied all the old questions. It still feels as if I do know only a bit, but now I can't do anything more than just let it sink in. What happens tomorrow, happens tomorrow."

"Good move, darling," Sheena smiles. "You really should think about this, Steven."

"I… I don't know, maybe you're right, maybe not. Uh… fuck, I'll stay here till midnight. I have nothing to lose. If you want to go, go," Steven says, tired but stubborn.

Jenny turns to Sheena. "I won't leave you here alone, Steven."

"Okay, okay, me too. One hour won't kill us," Sheena sighs. "But we may spend it in the Boone Building for a learning boost."

"No." Steven and Jenny say in unison.

"Okay, okay." Sheena sighs again. "But you do know the naked library would double our learning speed."

Jenny throws her a look.

Sheena adds reluctantly. "Just saying. Urm… maybe we try it tomorrow."

The three of them stay, though the exhaustion is clearly written across all their faces. They study in silence. Only the faint sound of keys clicking and pages turning fills the otherwise quiet study hall.

***

At 11:55 p.m., a calm voice crackles over the library's speaker system, "Dear ladies and gentlemen, our library closes in 5 minutes. Please leave the library through the main exit. We thank you for your visit and hope to welcome you again soon."

Steven sighs deeply and closes his laptop with finality. He begins packing his things without a word. Jenny and Sheena follow suit.

"Are you ok, Steven?" Jenny asks softly.

"Will be fine," he replies, tired. "At least, I've done everything I could, urm… almost. Let's see what happens tomorrow."

"That's good. But still, don't be so hard on yourself," Sheena tells him, reaching for her backpack.

"She's right. You are really too hard on yourself," Jenny adds.

"Yeah," Steven mumbles. "Good night, everyone."

"Good night," Sheena echoes.

"Good night and sleep well," Jenny says.

Their footsteps echo through the empty hallways as they walk out of the library. Outside, the night air is cool and quiet. Without another word, the three of them go their separate ways.

***

Back at home, Jenny steps wearily into her room. The stillness there is almost deafening, making the thoughts hammering through her head all the louder. She drops her bag on the bed and heads straight to the bathroom. In the mirror, she looks at a face that is exhausted yet determined. For a fleeting second, she wonders: Would it really make a difference? The nudity? The Boone Building? Or is it all just hype? She brushes her teeth slowly, watching herself, lost in thought.

Later, in bed, Jenny pulls the blanket up to her chin. Her eyes scan the ceiling above her, unfocused. Her breathing slows as tiredness gradually overpowers the heavy stress of studying. It pulls her down gently 'til she finally slips into sleep.

Later, in bed, Jenny pulls the blanket up to her chin. Her eyes scan the ceiling above her, unfocused. Her breathing slows as tiredness gradually overpowers the heavy stress of studying. It pulls her down gently 'til she finally slips into sleep.

Will be continued in 'A nudist for the Cheer Squad - Day 1'