Chapter 7 - Theo

Tyler knows that he shouldn’t have agreed to go out with Noah last night.  Noah has kept giving him drink after drink and for some reason, Tyler isn’t arguing with him.  However, this morning, Tyler’s head throbs as if the university’s whole marching band is inside his skull performing one for him.  Not to mention, the dull ringing in his ears.

Tyler stumbles out of bed.  If he couldn’t remember all the events from the previous night, he would swear that he has run a marathon instead of him clubbing. 

Somehow, he manages to stagger his way to the bathroom and find some medicine.  But his hands tremble as he drops a couple of pills in his hand that he almost drops them down the drain.  He isn’t going to mention the fact that the room seems to be spinning or that everything is slightly fuzzy. 

He has to go back to bed.

Noah is going to pay for this.

***

This morning has been a good morning.  For once, some of the department heads have begun to send the proposals to me, like I have asked.  Fai couldn’t believe it.  She was so excited that she had to call me while I was headed over to the university. 

However, my good morning quickly has turned bad, when I walk into my office and there isn’t a food box waiting for me.  I have gotten so used to having these mysterious containers of food showing up that I have completely forgotten to buy myself anything for my meals over the last few weeks.

With a frown on my face, I turn back towards Fai’s desk and call out, “Fai, I forgot to get something for breakfast.  Can you find me something to eat?”

Fai quickly pops her head into my office.  “What?  No food on your desk?”

I sigh and shake my head.  “No.”  As soon as the words escape my mouth, a tight pressure engulfs my heart.  What is happening to me?  It is just food containers every day and for every meal. 

I turn back towards my desk.  The bounce that I had when I came into my office is now gone.  It practically takes all my effort for me to walk across my office to my desk.  Instead of the smile that I had, it is now replaced with a frown. 

How could one thing change my whole entire mood so fast?

***

BAM!

“I told you guys to send your proposals before hand, but that doesn’t mean a minute before our meeting!  You are to give me the proposals at least a day before our weekly meeting! 

Man!  Do I have to spell it out for you all the time!  I thought all the professors and staff here are smart!” 

I don’t wait for anyone to say anything.  Plus, I’m not in the mood anyway.  If someone does try to say something, I’m sure that I’ll rip their head off.  UGH!!!! 

I stand up and grab my things off the conference room table.  With steam coming out my ears and me grumbling under my breath, I march out of the conference room. 

I don’t even wait, like I normally do, for Fai.  I immediately march down the hallway back towards my office. 

This whole day has gone down the drain.  Not only did I not get breakfast, but my mysterious lady didn’t bring lunch either.  I have had to break down and eat some food at the university cafeteria, which is no where close to the amazing food that my mystery lady sends me. 

I don’t even want to think about supper.  If she has missed breakfast and lunch, is she going to miss supper too?

Suddenly, a thought rushes into my mind.  I hope that something didn’t happen to her.  Is she sick?  Or maybe she was in an accident and is the hospital? 

No.  I can’t think like that. 

Fai runs and catches up to me.  She catches my arm as I continue to march down the hall, and she slaps an apple into my hand.  For the first time since I’ve met her, she hisses at me.  “EAT THIS!  You are starting to scare everyone!”

Well, I really don’t care about everyone.  It is actually better if I scare them.  They won’t try to flirt with me then. 

I yank the apple to mouth and chomp hard into it.  If only I could do something like this to make the staff and people understand that I’m not joking around and that I mean business.  If my little outburst back in the conference room has any good side to it, I’m hoping that it will put a fire under everyone’s butt and that they will start following my new rules. 

This isn’t the same university that it was under the previous Dean.  I want to take this university to the next level, and I need everyone to follow the new rules to do that.

Silence falls over Fai and I while we head back to the administrative building.  After several minutes, Fai tentatively asks, “Did you get any note for why your mysterious lunch lady stopped bringing you food?”

Just the thought of my mysterious lady stopping her daily meal boxes sends a wave of anger through my body.  However, I don’t know why I should be this impacted by it. 

I know that I love her food.  It is her food that gives me a sense of home and of love, like someone cares for me like May used to do. 

I growl and shake my head.  “No.  Nothing.”

She sighs.  “I’ll make sure that you will have some kind of supper tonight.”

Once again, I shake my head.  “Don’t bother.  I’ll do what I used to do and get food from one of the restaurants close to my apartment when I leave.  I used to do that every night before the food started appearing in front of me.” 

Yeah, but the restaurant food isn’t as good as the mysterious lady’s food.  However, I’ll just keep that little thought to myself. 

Fai hums, “Okay.  I won’t worry about your meal for tonight then.  I’ll let you handle it, but make sure that you don’t skip it.  I don’t want your health suffering because you aren’t getting your homecooked meals anymore.”

I slowly nod my head.   

I guess I’m back to eating like I was when I first started this job.  Ugh…

***

I don’t know why I picked this restaurant to order my food.  It has been a little while since I have actually ordered any food from any of these restaurants.  I had a system back then.  I would order from the next place on the list each night. 

However, this time, I have ordered from the same restaurant that actually screwed my order up, and I had to sit and wait for my order to be done.  Ugh..

I walk into the restaurant and head towards the cashier.  When the cashier looks up, I polite say, “I placed an order to go.  Theo Hanson.”

The middle-aged woman smiles.  “I’ll go back and check to see if it is done, sir.”

I nod and step back from the counter.  I turn and slowly glance around the restaurant.  Just like the last time that I was here, the two college students who I sat with are here again.  However, I can’t remember their names. 

I slowly make my way towards their table.  I can tell by the way they are slouched over in their chairs that they aren’t feeling well. 

I don’t know what comes over me as I walk up to the table and playfully tease, “Rough day?  Or rough night?”

The one boy instantly sits up in his chair and chimes, “Hi, Dean Hanson.  It was actually a rough night.  Tyler and I are still hungover from last night.  He was still laying in bed when I dragged him over here.  I told him that he has to eat something.”

Oh, they went out partying.  Now, I understand.

Tyler raises his finger at the other boy and softly hisses, “Noah, you were the one that kept making me drink more.  I wanted to stop, but nooooo….  You wouldn’t let me.  You know that I need to find a job.  I have been in bed all day today and haven’t been able to do anything, include looking for a job.”

Noah lightly chuckles and waves his hand.  “One day won’t kill you.  You have been so busy working on your doctorate and then looking for a job.  You needed to cut lose once in a while.  Don’t even get me started in on you cooking all the time and not giving me any.”

Our conversation is interrupted by the lady cashier.  “Sir, here is your order.”

I take it from her.  “Thank you.”

I turn back to the table and say, “I’m sure that you will start to feel better soon.  The food will help.”

Tyler doesn’t really move much, but he does nod his head.  It doesn’t take a genius to know that he isn’t feeling well at all.  I have a hunch that it isn’t all about the hangover.  By now, he should start to be feeling better, but if he can’t hardly move, I think that he is actually sick.  The hangover may just have helped to speed his illness along. 

Noah smiles and waves.  “Bye, Dean Hanson.  Maybe, we will see you around.”

I wave and chime, “Bye.”  I can’t help myself to glance back at Tyler one more time before I turn and walk out of the restaurant. 

I hope tomorrow will be better and that my mysterious food deliveries are back.  I know that I can get my own food, but I love the food lady’s food.

As I think about the delicious food, my wolf begins to slowly wag his tail.  I think he likes her food too. 

I need to figure out a way to be able to catch her in the act.  I still haven’t figured out how she has been able to get into my office without me knowing.