04 | Experimental Psychology

College had started a week ago, and Nova was by herself again. The feeling was just normal to her now. She didn't really feel alone, but then again, she never did.

After her parents left, it was just how it used to be, but it sure took some time. They were over for one whole week this time, and it was the longest time period her parents spent with her in the new house.

Either that or maybe it had something to do with the person living across from her.

Just like before, he went MIA after that incident. She still didn't know what took over her that day. She wasn't an impulsive person she never functioned on impulse but that day, that day she just went on talking and approaching him without giving it a second thought.

Sure she hadn't yet seen the guy, but from what glimpses she'd had of him, one thing was perfectly clear – that he was a great looker, was well-built too, chances of him being an actor of some sort were high. His personality on the other hand... could not be judged at the moment.

Although she hadn't seen him from that day, which was exactly one week ago, it still gave her a weird but sort of satisfying feeling. Now she knew that this neighborhood wasn't void of any living creature. That now, there was someone living and breathing just across the street, and she admitted, it was kind of good.

But she wouldn't thank the blue-eyed stranger for that. She was a psychology student, she knew how minds worked and she'd certainly figured out how hers did.

Today she had three lectures. Two back-to-back with just ten minutes break in-between, and one in the evening. She'll have to come back again — that was if she didn't decide to just sit in the University library and read.

As she entered the lecture hall, almost all eyes turned to her. Attention, she thought, was one thing she could never get used to.

Not seconds later that she sat on her usual seat did Ashley come and sit beside her with her chirpy self and bubbly personality. She started talking about the assignments she had piled up which she had yet to complete. Nova talked when she asked her something, told her she completed hers only yesterday, too. Ashley said she didn't believe her and she told her she did the final touch yesterday.

“I knew it. You're just so smart. I honestly wish I had at least twenty percent of that brain of yours.” She said sighing. Not knowing what to say, Nova just kept her mouth shut but did pass her a smile.

It wasn't like she had many things to do. All these people, who knew her and talked to her every time she entered there, weren't her friends. Because she didn't really do 'friends'. And it wasn't just because her parents thought it was unnecessary, but it was also because these people didn't want to be her friends. Not really.

For example, Ashley here, she is bubbly by nature, she is sociable and she loves to talk. She sits beside Nova every time because they sat like this the first day of college. Which basically meant that she feels like it is expected of her to always sit there from then, and Nova wasn't complaining.

Now there’s this boy whose name’s Drew, he was funny, he was friends with Ashley and because Ashley always sat with Nova, he sat with them. So Nova was acquainted with him, too.

Just like these two, there was half of the student body in this college who knew her and talked to her. But it wasn't like she had to be friends with all of them.

The other half talked to her too, but they were the ones wanting to be her friends because of her popularity because they still weren't over highschool. Nova knew it all, and she didn't see the point to be more than civil with them when she was fine being acquaintances.

She was popular in college, she knew that much. She studied when she had to, when she got bored she watched some Television or read books. When she couldn't find anything interesting in them she had no other choice but to clear out some doubts that she had on any particular topic, which lead to studying all around.

She wasn't exactly a nerd, but she wouldn't mind if she got called one. She would just say that she had nothing else to do.

Music helped, though. While reading, relaxing, sometimes studying and it became her partner. And gaming was a lifesaver. Sometimes even shows and series saved her day which ended up for her to think and go to every nook of every character and plot twist and get weird explanations for her weird thoughts. At one point, it even led her to actually believe that supernatural beings existed. Yes, Nova once ended up watching Teen Wolf, and Vampire Diaries, and The Originals, and Shadowhunters, and swirled in the world of 'what-ifs'.

The Mortal Instruments had to be one of her favorite book series. Not to forget, Harry Potter. She was a fan.

She was aware that she didn't really sound like someone who majored in Psychology and might be a future Psychiatrist. Actually, it wouldn't be entirely true to say the future Psychiatrist; she had many other options that she had been considering. Like she'd thought she could apply as a school counselor, an adviser in any company or maybe, a detective of some kind in an intelligence bureau. She looked up to British intelligence and MI-6 a little too much, she had to admit.

Her thoughts came to halt as a word popped in her brain.

Career.

Which brought her back to what her father had been telling her to do. He asked her to join the internship of one of his friends' firm who trained people for such things; investigations and all. This was, by now, the third friend of her father's who wanted her to work in their company.

While Nova wanted to do something like that since as long as she could remember, it was still her last year and she just wanted to think things through. She needed time and her father wasn't having it. He was a solicitor and he was demanding. But she was his daughter, no matter how obedient and understanding she was; she still needed to think things through before taking any action. And that was exactly what she told him.

Her train of thoughts broke as Professor Henry entered the lecture hall and everybody fell silent. The lecture for Cognitive Psychology began and Nova blocked her mind off of anything else that had been happening around her except for the things he said.

*

Two lectures were done: Cognitive Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. The subjects she had this year were the ones she liked or could handle. Because if compared to her first year, she remembered she doubted her decision of choosing this subject. In her second year, the feeling lessened a bit and now it was all good.

A brunette named Abby with round face and shiny black eyes came up to her and sat next to her in the library, pulling Nova out of her thoughts.

“Hey, Nova! What're you doing here?” she asked in a very excited voice. Nova simply told her that her next lecture was later so she was just passing time.

“Whoa, Nova Newton? Killing time? That's news. Anyway, I just came here to tell you that I'm throwing a party this Friday, and you are, as always, very welcome, if you're up for it. And I really hope you do because, come on, this is our last year! and you've been missing my parties from the beginning. I think this time you should come,” Abby said nodding her head.

It was true. Whenever Abby threw parties, she always invited Nova over but she refused every time. It wasn't about it being Abby, almost everyone invited her to go to their parties, but she never went.

“I'll sure think about it, Abby. If I were free, I'd definitely drop by yours.” Nova told her passing on a smile. Abby nodded her head and stood up. As Nova expected Abby to go on to other people to spread the news about her party, she halted in her tracks and turned around to look at her.

“Oh, and you could bring someone as a date, too. I'm going partners for this one, just thought you should know. It isn't necessary by the way, but just thought to put it out there for you.” She said turning around and Nova thought she heard her mutter ‘not that I think you're gonna come, anyways’ but she didn't put much thought on it.

If it wasn't quite clear up until now, Nova was way more popular than she would ever like to admit. And she tried her best not to take it for granted or act badly to people who knew her and wanted to talk to her. So she made sure to remember everyone's names, not much but enough. It was a mouthful most of the time, because Cambridge University was very popular and students all around the globe dreamt of getting an admission in here, but she still managed.

Being the student body president was hard, it sure was and Nova had done everything she could to get her way out of it, but nothing did work. So here she was now, with her head filled with names of many faces. Expectations and hopes to stand up to, marks and unwanted fame to behold and of course, a reputation to keep.

It was plenty if she said so herself, but as of recently, she could say that she was getting used to it. And just like that, the spare time that she had, came to an end and soon she sat in her Experimental Psychology lecture.

It was her first class of the subject this semester and Nova didn't really know what to expect. So when the professor came in with his strides that said ‘I see you’ and an aura of ‘I know it all’, everybody in the hall fell silent immediately.

He wore a very professional suit, his grey hair combed backwards and a cane in his right hand, with some books in his other one.

Nova couldn't help but wish she had that effect on people sometimes.

"You all are studying Psychology" were his first words and Nova could hear someone whisper

‘You don't say?’ and some snickers following.

"And some people, even after choosing this subject, find me funny. I would say I wonder what you think is funny but because I've been teaching for so long and I'm a teacher of this particular subject, I know exactly what's funny," he speaks and everybody fell silent again.

"So in this particular branch of psychology, you don't really need the books, but you still get them to just get an idea of what you're supposed to do. Now, anyone who wants to tell what we're going to do in this subject?" he asked everybody.

A girl answered, "Uh, Experiment on Psychos?" she answered which sounded more like a guess and some students around her snickered. The professor looked at her grimly and told the class to raise hands if they wished to answer.

Many hands rose up in the air, but none of them was Nova's. She'd long stopped doing that because she knew teachers never really cared who wanted to answer. It was always selected in their heads who they were going to pick or who they wanted to answer their questions.

So when the professor – she noticed he still hadn't told his name – picked her to answer, she wasn't surprised.

"How about the young lady with her mind working fast over there?" he asked looking Nova's way. All eyes turned to her. Some expectantly, some knowingly, some used to, and some annoyed or even jealous. But nothing did affect her anymore. Two years, after all, wasn't a small period of time for learning some getting used to.

"Experimental Psychology is the branch of psychology where we come out of our theoretical world and start doing the practical work. For example, in this specific subject we'll have to analyse things with more detail. We are basically going to practice Psychoanalysis," she answered, the class eerily silent after that. Before self-doubt could seep into her consciousness the professor nodded his head in the slightest of nods possible.

Which meant that her answer was adequate. Nova released a breath that she didn't know she'd been holding.

"Very well, very well, then. As the young lady explained, that is exactly what we're going to do. Psychoanalysis, as many of you might have already known, is where we start being more practical

and outgoing in this field. What a person thinks, how he works, it's all that you're going to report me for this year," he informs the class and you could see everyone was hooked to his every word.

"There isn't much for me to teach you, all I have to do is tell you what you've got to do and check your reports and work; so, accordingly, our meet and greet would be very less compared to your other subjects. Hence, why this is the first class since your semester started. But if you have any doubt, ever – you're free to ask me, although I don't really think you're going to get any doubts because I'll make your work very clear to you," he says leaving a jitter of excitement out open in the class.

"The report, which you have to file me for this whole semester should be of whomever you think is around you the most. It may be your friend, your family member, anyone that you know, or even a neighbour. But remember, every student should have a report made of a different person. No repetition and certainly no copying. Don't think you can fool anybody now, this is your last year, you should know better. The lecture is dismissed," saying that he took his leave.

This was what felt like the shortest lecture Nova had ever attended, yet the time was almost up.

The man sure knew his work.

*

Going back home in her new car, she was still thinking of whose report to make.

Alesso was out of the options because she told her to remain at home most of the time and she only ever saw her on the weekends because on weekdays, she dusted the house, made food, did the laundry and went back home – before Nova even came. Although Nova wasn't very pleased with this setting Alesso had still somehow managed to convince her. Nova didn't want her children to miss their mother. Gilliam's case was the same, so she couldn't really analyse him, either. Tim was non-existing to her which left nobody to file a report on. The report had to be of a daily basis, so choosing any college-mate wouldn't do it either.

She'll have to talk to professor about this. She was stuck.

Her house came into view quite early, guess it was the car, and so she pulled over her garage and parked.

Taking her bag and belongings out she headed to the front door. As she did so, she noticed that the lights of the garage, across from hers were on. She also noticed that there was a Dodge parked just outside the garage.

What she hadn't noticed, was the man lying on the ground, his upper half under the car, and lower half in perfect view. And as she was staring, he came out from underneath his car and stood up, closed the lid and looked straight at her.

His torso, Nova was forced to notice, was void of any clothing.

Some

It was already dark so only some parts of his face were visible. The one which was illuminated by the light in his garage was his left side and she couldn't help the thought that came in her mind as she saw him in the clearest light she'd ever seen him in: he really was a great looker.

That's when it hit her.

‘It may be anyone; your friend, your family member, anyone that you know, or even a neighbour.’

‘Or even your neighbour.’

Her neighbour was going to be it, then.