The Professor Who Shouldn't Want Me

Looking Like a Fool

POV: Isadora

I scrambled into my seat, with Ryan trailing right behind me, strolling nonchalantly to his spot next to mine. Being kicked out of Professor Anderson’s first class hadn't fazed him one bit. We had his class three times a week, and we were already into the second week of the semester. Ryan hadn't been late since that first time, but he also made a point of looking like he couldn't care less.

“Good afternoon.”, Professor Anderson said as he walked into the room.

“In today’s class, we’re going to answer a simple yet profound question: when exactly can we say that someone has committed a crime?”, he scanned the room. “Any guesses?”

Dammit. I hated it when he started cold-calling the class, mostly because I usually didn't have the answer.

“When they break the law?”, Ryan said, as if it were obvious.

“Are you asking me or telling me, Mr. Fletcher?”, the professor asked, staring him down.

“I’m telling you.”

“Hmm, interesting.”, he turned back to the class. “Does anyone have a more... sophisticated answer?”, from the look on Ryan’s face, you could tell he was cussing him out in his head.

“When the conduct meets the statutory elements and there is no defense for justification or excuse.”, Kyle said.

“Better!” He pointed at Kyle. “Anyone else?”

“We can say a crime has been committed when all the elements of the tripartite theory are present. An act that is typical, unlawful, and culpable.”, Raven added.

“Very well. And what exactly is a 'typical act,' Ms. Smith?”, he looked at Brenda. She was caught off guard, but unlike me, she always knew what to say.

“Well... a typical act would be checking if the conduct matches the legal description of the crime.”

“Correct. However, not every typical act is unlawful, right?”, she nodded, and he moved to the whiteboard. “What are the primary grounds for exclusion?”

“Self-defense.”, one student said, and he wrote it down.

“Necessity.”, another replied.

“Lawful exercise of a right.”, said another.

“Very good.”, he turned back to the class. “Now, even if the act is unlawful, is it fair to punish just anyone who committed it?”, his eyes landed on me. “You, what’s your name?”

“Uhm... Isadora. Isadora Bennett.”, I answered nervously.

“What do you think, Ms. Bennett?”, he stared at me with that usual serious gaze, waiting for an answer. And I had already forgotten what he’d even asked.

“Well... uh... What was the question again?”, I could hear a few snickers after I asked that. The professor just gave an impatient sigh and turned to another student.

I just sat there for a few minutes, unable to believe I’d been ignored like that. Would it have killed him to repeat it? He looked at me like I wasn't even worth the breath it would take to say it again. He just moved on to the next person and left me there looking like a fool.

I don't know why I always got so nervous around him. It didn't happen with other professors, just him, especially when he looked at me like that. His gaze was so intense; it was like he could read my mind just by looking at me. It took my breath away.

“Well, for your first assignment, you’ll have to analyze a hypothetical case. You’ll need to tell me if there’s a typical act, if any justifications exist, if the conduct is reprehensible, and so on.”, the professor said at the end of class. “At least five pages, due by next week. I’ve posted more details on the portal.”

“See you next class.”, he said and left, while I just stood there like an i***t, not only because I'd been blown off by him, but also because I didn't understand why he had such a hold on me.