Extra Credit - S01 E08

8 months ago

Extra Credit - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

Calista

The library doors slammed shut behind me as I dragged in a deep breath of autumn air. The cold seared my lungs and washed away some of the fog that had been drifting throughout my mind. Tutoring Lincoln Pierce was the most draining thing I had ever had to do.

It wasn't the prep work or the additional lecture I now attended, but Lincoln himself.

I could tell he wasn't listening. In one ear and out the other. His body was there with me, but his mind was somewhere else—it was like he was on autopilot. He would occasionally nod along. But his eyes were void of anything that resembled comprehension. No glimmer of understanding. No eureka moment. Nothing.

The exhaustion I was feeling seeped through my pores as I stomped back to the dorms. Any ounce of energy I was conserving for my first day of practicum fizzled out as soon as I reached the other side of campus. As I climbed the steps to my floor, my mind drifted to the little girl that showed up with Lincoln today for our tutoring sessions. I didn't know how they were related. But the question still stood. How could someone so sweet, so angelic, be related to something like Lincoln Pierce?

Were they siblings or something else? An odd sensation bubbled in my stomach as I thought of the possibility of Sadie being Lincoln's daughter. Warmth spread through my cheeks and I tucked my chin into my jacket in a poor attempt to hide the blush.

Banishing the thought I pulled my lanyard from my pocket and slipped the key into the lock.

"How did the tutoring go today?" Ella questioned from her desk. It was one of the rare occasions where I saw my roommate doing coursework.

"Fine... better than I expected, in all honesty."

At least he decided to show up today.

I hung my jacket on the back of the door.

"That's good," Ella said, studying my face for a moment. "So why do you look so frazzled?"

"Frazzled?"

Ella tilted her head, analyzing my face. "Your cheeks."

Sadie's doll-like face flashed into my head.

"Oh," I breathed, pressing the back of my fingers over my warm cheek. "It's from the wind. It's colder than I thought it would be. It'll probably be time to switch to a winter coat soon."

"Alright," Ella drawled before turning back around in her seat. I could tell she didn't believe me—not one bit—but I was glad she didn't push the subject.

A comfortable hush settled over the room. The sound of Ella's long nails clacked against her keyboard.

Ella was a part of circles that touched every athletic team at Fenton U—both literally and figuratively. Before being forced into the shabby dorms, she had been part of the most exclusive sorority at Fenton. If anyone could potentially know something about Lincoln Pierce having a daughter, it would be her.

Curiosity gripped me and wrestled with my better judgement. Before I could stop myself the question was loaded on my tongue.

"I know this might be a weird question," I started. "But does Lincoln Pierce have a kid?"

"A kid?" Ella blinked. Her fingers froze over her keyboard. "What makes you think Lincoln has a kid?"

"Maybe she's his sister then... I'm not too sure. But he showed up to tutoring today with a preschooler."

Ella's eyes glazed over in thought. "Honestly, I don't know anything about him having a kid. Not going to lie though," Ella said with a dreamy look in her eye. "The thought of Lincoln with an actual child does something to my lady bits."