Finn

by Holly C. Webb

  With one last wave, he pulled his car away from the front of his brother’s home, down the driveway, out onto the street, before he headed for home.

  Chapter 3

  As Finn sat in his classroom the next day, his phone vibrated on his desk. He knew that he was breaking his own rule of no phones in the classroom, but he had sent Louise a text message, and he was waiting for a reply.

  He had originally thought about ringing her, but he thought a quick message, saying what it was he wanted to say, would be easier. Finn was never very confident when it came to asking women out.

  He glanced up at his class, who all had their heads down in their work, answering a mini quiz he had decided to give them, to try and gage where everyone was in his class, and what kind of work he could expect from them throughout the school year.

  Confident that none of them were watching him, he picked up his phone, opening the text message from Louise.

  Tonight would be great, Finn. I could meet you in Roberto’s Bar, down by the waterfront about eight? We can get some dinner. Lou.

  Hmm, Finn thought to himself. He wasn’t sure where she was talking about. It was somewhere he had never been to before, and he hated trying new places. But he quickly scolded himself and thought. Nothing ventured!

  He tapped in a response before he changed his mind

  Sounds great.

  He stared at his response for a moment, considering if he should add more. If it were Dylan, he would probably add an emoji, but Finn detested them. Liam would have used text typing, which Finn loathed too. He believed that text typing was destroying the English language.

  Callum and Landen would always end their texts with a capital C or L.

  Finn decided just to be himself, leaving it as it was. He hit the send button.

  Two minutes later his phone buzzed once more.

  See you then x.

  He glanced up from his phone and found Poison Ivy staring at him. She gave him a knowing grin before she returned her attention to the paper in front of her, as she bit down provocatively on the pen in her hand, knowing Finn was still looking at her.

  This girl needs to get a life; Finn sighed to himself as he rolled his eyes. slipping his phone into his pocket. Does she really believe that she has a chance?”

  His eyes scanned over the classroom, as they came to a stop on Emmy Warner. Finn couldn’t help but smile as he recalled her dramatic entrance when she had arrived into his classroom the day before.

  He had been surprised to find her already in her seat when he arrived at the class that day. Finn had always made it a point of arriving early. Partially because he was always early, but partially because he found it flustered his students a little, and he liked to keep them on their toes.

  So when Finn arrived and found Ms. Warner sitting there, it was his turn to be the one who was a little thrown. She glanced up at him for a moment, but quickly returned to her books without even saying hello.

  Finn thought that maybe she was still embarrassed over what had happened the day before. He knew that he had probably made things worse by keeping her back after class, but he had wanted to be sure she was okay.

  “Good morning, Ms. Warner,” Finn called out before he took his seat. He had no idea why he had done that, but the words were out before he knew it.

  “Good morning, Professor,” Emmy replied as she looked up from her books once more.

  “About yesterday,” Finn said, as he walked towards the front row of the desks, completely surprised by his own behaviour. He wondered why he hadn’t just left her in peace. She clearly didn’t want to talk to him, so why the hell was he talking to her. Still he was standing there, and now he had to say something and say something quickly. He glanced down at his feet, before he looked back up, giving her an apologetic look. “I just wanted to apologise again…”

  “There is no need, Professor,” Emmy replied, this time she gave him a smile. It was the first time he had noticed how pretty she was. “I was just upset with myself for, well, I guess you know what for; I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  “Well then,” Finn replied, as he took a step backwards towards his desk at the front of the class. “Let’s forget about it, shall we.”

  “Thank you,” she nodded before she returned her attention to the book that was in front of her. He watched her for a few moments longer, still somewhat puzzled by this girl,

  Finn opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could say a word, other students started to arrive, so instead, he just took his seat and began to prepare for the class.

  Now as he was sitting there, watching her, he had to admit he was curious about Emmy Warner.

  For starters, she was older than the rest of her classmates. Finn wondered why she hadn’t gone to college straight after high school like everyone else? Had she taken some time off and gone travelling perhaps? Had she studied something else, but changed her mind about what she wanted to do with her future?

  There was something in the pit of his stomach that told him there was more to her story than life choices, but he knew he would probably never find out what that was.

  Finn sighed as he returned his focus back to the paperwork that was in front of him, deciding he needed to push Emmy Warner from his thoughts.

  “Professor Murphy,” Miranda Seabrook said as Finn made his way into the admin office. “It’s not often we see you in here.”

  “Hi, Miranda,” Finn replied as he made his way up to the woman’s desk. “How was your summer?”

  “It was wonderful,” she replied with a bright smile. “Nathan and I went to Europe for a month. It was so amazing. You should really think about going there someday yourself. I’m sure you would love it.”

  “Wow!” Finn exclaimed, trying to seem more interested than he actually was. Also, he didn’t want to tell her that he had in fact been to Europe several times when he was growing up. That would have dragged him into another conversation he really didn’t want to have. “Maybe someday I will.”

  “So what can I do for you today, Professor,” Miranda asked as she gave Finn another warm smile.

  “I was wondering; how would I get my hands on a student’s personal file,” he asked hoping the woman wouldn’t push him too much for the information.

  “Well, the files are all kept here in the office,” she replied, giving him a curious look. “But the files are confidential unless you need it for one of your students; you know, as part of assisting them with their education.”

  “I see,” Finn replied. “So if I need it to help one of my students, then I can request access to it?”

  “Yes,” Miranda said with a nod, then she smiled once more as she leaned forward, continuing in a hushed voice. “Do you need a file, Finn? I mean, is there a problem with one of your students?”

  Is there a problem with one of my students? He thought to himself. I don’t know if there is, but that’s the real problem?

  “Not a problem as such,” he sighed, knowing that he was now probably just wasting his time. “I guess I’m just a little concerned about one of the girls in my class. I was hoping a little more background information would help me.”

  He knew that what he said wasn’t strictly true; he was more curious than worried.

  “Well, why don’t you give me her name,” Miranda whispered in an even quieter voice. “And I will get you a copy of the file. I know that if you’re worried, Finn, there is something to be worried about.”

  “Thank you, Miranda,” Finn replied, feeling almost guilty for taking advantage of the fact Miranda Seabrook liked him, probably a little more than her husband would have been happy with. “The student's name is Emmy Warner.”

  “Oh poor Emmy,” Miranda said as she started to tap on the keys of her computer. “I was so glad to hear that she was finally starting this semester. That poor girl has been through so much.”

  “You know Emmy?” Finn asked, his interest even more piqued than before.

  “I don’t know her
well, more like I know of her,” Miranda replied. “Her mother used to work here. She was a law professor. Her father was a professor at Berkeley. Such a tragedy.”

  “Her mother worked here?” Finn said, surprised by her response. “How long ago?”

  “Six years ago,” Miranda replied, and Finn could see the sadness in her eyes. “She was such a sweet lady.”

  “I don’t remember a Professor Warner working here,” Finn said, knowing it was a name that was not familiar to him.

  “That’s because she didn’t use her married name,” Miranda explained as the printer next to the desk jumped to life and started spitting out sheets of paper. “Emmy’s mother was Alison Hagan.”

  “Are you serious?” Finn replied, recognising the name instantly. “How did I not know this?”

  “Because Emmy requested that her files would be kept closed when she returned to us here in Stanford,” Miranda continued. “She didn’t want anyone to know who she was, or who her mother was for that matter.”

  Finn nodded as a sickening feeling settled in his stomach. This girl had wanted to keep her private life away from her college life, but he had just gone and taken that choice from her.

  “I think maybe taking her file is a bad idea,” Finn said, suddenly not wanting to know what secrets Emmy Warner was hiding.

  “I think you should take them,” Miranda insisted. “Alison was my friend. If something is bothering you about Emmy, then I need for you to help her. I would love you to look out for her. She needs to have someone in her corner.”

  “Okay,” Finn agreed, but in his heart, he knew taking the files was wrong. He decided that just because he was taking them, didn’t mean he had to read them.

  “Thank you, Professor Murphy,” Miranda said, as she slid the paperwork into a folder, passing it to Finn. “If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

  “I will,” Finn promised her, giving her one more smile before he turned and headed for the door.

  He made his way along the corridor to his small office at the far end of the long, narrow hallway. When he was in his office, he closed the door, heading straight to his desk

  Once he was seated, he pulled open the bottom drawer of his desk, placing the file under the pile of books that were in there, before he slammed it closed once more. He was determined that he was not going to read the file, no matter what he told Miranda Seabrook.

  Finn thought about Emmy’s mother, Alison Hagan. Alison was such a sweet person. She knew Finn’s mom, and she was also one of Landen’s professors when he was at Stanford. He hadn’t been working that long at the University when she died, but the couple of times he had met her, she seemed like a really good person.

  He remembered the night she died as if it were just yesterday. He was at dinner in his parent’s home, when his father got the call. There had been a chain of convenience store robberies, but this was the first time there was a fatality. It had been all over the news at the time.

  Alison had been at the cinema with her eighteen-year-old daughter. They had stopped on the way home to pick up some milk. They were in the store when three guys wearing masks, hurried into the store with guns, when one of them panicked and shot Alison. The news said she had been shot protecting her daughter; she died in the girl's arms before paramedics reached her.

  Finn remembered just how upset Nell had been when she heard about Alison. So was Landen. The whole family attended the funeral. Finn was surprised he hadn’t remembered Emmy, but it had been almost six years before.

  Still, he knew he couldn’t let any of this effect how he treated Emmy. She deserved to be treated just like any other student in his class.

  He needed to put all of this out of his mind. There was nothing he could do to change the past, no matter how much he wished he could. Getting emotionally invested in any of his students was the last thing he wanted.

  Pushing all thoughts of Emmy from his mind, Finn began to work through some of the paperwork on his desk. He had several thesis proposals on his desk he needed to read through and get back to his fourth-year students as soon as he could with his decision on each proposal.

  He also had a date to get ready for, even if now he was feeling less than thrilled about the idea of spending the evening making idle conversation with some girl he didn’t even know. He considered postponing, but he knew that would upset Amelia, so he resigned himself to the fact he had to do this now, like it or not.

  He returned his focus to the proposals, once more as he pushed Emmy Warner from his mind

  Finn arrived at the bar five minutes before he was supposed to meet Louise. Amelia had texted him a photo of her, so he would know who he was looking for.

  The rain had just started as he pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, so when he climbed from his car, he quickly ran towards the entrance, to get out of the rain.

  As he walked through the door, he slipped off his coat, looking around the bar. Louise wasn’t here yet. Finn felt a little relieved.

  “Table for one, Sir?” A young waiter asked as he walked towards Finn.

  “No,” Finn replied, giving him a nervous smile. “I’m meeting someone.”

  “No problem, Sir,” the young man said with a friendly smile. “Table for two it is. If you would just follow me.”

  As he led Finn across the softly lit restaurant, Finn wondered why he hadn’t stuck with the original plan of just meeting for drinks. If he didn’t like her, he could have politely left after a drink or two, but dinner meant he would have to spend more time with her.

  “Would you like to order a drink while you wait?” The waiter asked as Finn slipped into his seat.

  “Just some water, thanks,” Finn said as he slipped off his jacket, handing it to the waiter. “That would be great.”

  “Certainly, Sir,” the waiter replied. “I will have your waitress bring some straight over.”

  Without saying another word, he turned and hurried back across the restaurant, leaving Finn sitting there alone, feeling very conspicuous.

  He was just starting to feel agreeing to do this was a mistake when he looked towards the door, and he saw Louise walking in. Finn recognised her from the photo Amelia had sent him.

  The moment her eyes met his, a broad smile filled her face. Finn knew she recognised him too.

  He stood up as she made her way across the room, he held his breath as he waited for her to reach him. She was pretty; tall with long, auburn hair that fell perfectly around her shoulders.

  “Finn!” She exclaimed as she reached him. Finn held out his hand, which she quickly took, but instead of shaking his hand, she leaned in, kissing him softly on the cheek. “It’s lovely to meet you. Amelia has told me so much about you.”

  “Well don’t believe any of it,” Finn replied with a laugh, pulling out her seat for her to sit down.

  “A gentleman too,” she said as she sat down, and smiled up at Finn.

  He took a deep breath before returning to his seat.

  “The waiter said our waitress will be with us shortly,” Finn blurted out, not really knowing what else to say right at that moment. He had no idea why he was so nervous. Louise seemed like a perfectly lovely girl. He just needed to breathe and calm down a little.

  “Awesome,” she replied, giving him another shy smile. Finn realised she was probably as nervous as he was.

  “So, Amelia said you just moved down from Seattle,” Finn said, trying to keep the conversation flowing. “San Francisco must be very different for you.”

  “It’s a lot drier, that’s for sure,” she replied, then added with a laugh. “Though I guess not tonight.”

  “No,” Finn agreed, giving her a genuine smile. Maybe this wouldn’t be as awful as he had thought it would be.

  “Your water,” the waitress said, as she suddenly appeared next to the table, setting down a jug of ice water. “And here are some menus for you both. My name is Emmy, and I’ll be your waitress this…”

  “Ms. Warne
r!” Finn exclaimed as he looked up, stunned to see an equally surprised looking Emmy Warner standing in front of them.

  “Professor!” She said, looking at him like she wished she could be anywhere but there.

  Finn wasn’t sure why, but a sickening feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He instantly thought back to the conversation he had with Miranda Seabrook earlier, and the image of an eighteen-year-old Emmy, holding her mother’s dying body in her arms crashed into his head, and his heart broke.

  He wasn’t sure if he could do this right now; if he could sit there with this perfectly lovely woman and let Ms. Warner serve them like he didn’t know what she had been through in her life.

  Dear God, help me, he sighed to himself in his mind. Let me get through this evening as quickly as possible

  Chapter 4

  Emmy

  Emmy stood there for what felt like the longest time, still surprised to see her professor sitting there in front of her. The one night she had agreed to cover for Gabby, and he was there, on a date.

  He was dating someone. Emmy wasn’t sure why this surprised her, but it did. She hadn’t thought about him as being anything other than her professor. She certainly hadn’t imagined him being the dating kind; he was so stiff and awkward in the classroom. Even when he had tried to be nice to her, he was still clumsy in his manner, in the words he had said to her.

  She was still embarrassed over everything that had happened on her first day in his class. Even though he had tried to clear the air between them earlier that day, she was still mortified she had made herself look like a complete imbecile.

  Somebody kill me now! She cried in her mind as she tried to appear as unfazed as she possibly could.

  This year was supposed to be the year she finally got to be who she wanted to be. She didn’t want to be poor Emmy Warner, the girl whose life was nothing but an endless stream of tragedies. It was why she wanted her file kept confidential. She didn’t want her professors feeling sorry for her, treating her differently because of who she was. Emmy just wanted to be like every other student that was in her class. Even if she was a few years older than most of them.