Holly
OMG Alice—GUESS who walked into my Civil War Generals class?
Holly
I literally have my head ducked down below the seat in front of me.
Alice
Holly Miller, tell me. WHO is it?
Alice
The guy from the bar last night?
Alice
The one who gave us that tip about Swish Nightclub?
Alice
The one you SLEPT with??!!
Alice
This isn’t that bad, Hol.
Alice
I know you’re not a one-night-stand kind of girl, so it might be weird, but…
Alice
Maybe you guys can start something.
Alice
He was cute, wasn’t he?
Alice
I say you flag him down—ask him to sit next to you.
Holly
Can’t really do that.
Alice
Is he already sitting next to a girl?
Holly
He’s standing in front of the class.
Alice
This is a joke, right?
Holly
He’s the professor.
Alice
You gotta get out of there.
Alice
Just run out the back.
Alice
He might see you for a second…
Alice
But at least it’d be over and you’d be free of him.
Holly
I’m not leaving. This is Civil War Generals.
Holly
I’ve been trying to get into this class for years.
Alice
Quit being such a nerd and LEAVE.
Alice
Join my History of Modern Art class instead. It’s safe – no hot profs here.
Alice
Just this sexy bitch:
Holly
Alice, you know that’s not an option.
Holly
You can make fun of me for being a nerd all you want…
Holly
But it’s not going to change the fact that I care about school.
Holly
No time for that—now he’s taking attendance.
Alice
I’ll have the Ben & Jerry’s ready for you when you get back to our dorm.
Holly
Thanks roomie. I’m gonna need it.
Somewhere in the middle of the C last names, Lionel and Holly finally lock eyes,
But his face is completely blank.
And that’s when Holly realizes there’s something worse than sleeping with your professor.
It’s when your professor doesn’t recognize you EVEN THOUGH you’ve slept with him.
Her mouth goes dry, but Holly forces herself to raise her hand.
When Lionel doesn’t call on her, she speaks up.
Lionel
Please save all questions for the end.
Holly
But, sir, it’s personal.
Lionel
If that’s the case, then perhaps it would be better if we met after class.
There’s a beat of silence before Lionel speaks again.
Lionel
Now, can I continue with my introduction to the class?
Holly’s face burns for the next 45 minutes, and she can’t register a thing Lionel says.
When class is finally over, she approaches his desk, where a small group of students is gathered.
Lionel ignores Holly once again as he deals with their questions quickly and succinctly.
When everyone else has left, he turns to her.
Lionel
I think you and I should go to my office.
Holly
I think you’re probably right.
Once they’re inside the office and Lionel shuts the door,
It’s as if everything is on fire.
Holly is drawn to Lionel—perhaps because she can’t have him,
Or perhaps it’s because there’s something wonderful and magical between them.
She inches toward him, hungry for his lips.
Lionel
Holly, you’re killing me.
Lionel
We have to talk about our situation.
Holly
But there isn’t really a solution to it, is there?
Lionel
So, your plan is just to move ahead, full throttle?!
Holly
I don’t know—we could hide it, right?
Lionel
I don’t think I can.
Lionel
I’m too attracted to you, Holly.
Lionel
God, I don’t know how to teach with you sitting out there in my class.
Lionel
I couldn’t even say your name today.
Lionel
Did you notice how I stopped calling the attendance when I realized you were there?
Holly
No—it was hard for me to concentrate
Holly
So I didn’t really take in what you were saying.
Holly
But damn it! This is my education. I really want to take this class.
Holly
It’s my RIGHT to take this class.
Lionel
Yes, I know. And it’s important to me that you get that right.
Lionel
But you’re not really taking the class if you’re not concentrating, are you?
Lionel
Look, I’m not gonna stop you from enrolling.
Lionel
But here’s what I propose we do…
Lionel
We come clean to the board.
Lionel
Then I arrange for you to follow the syllabus as an independent study with another professor.
Lionel
Have you had Foser?
Holly
My roommate has her—for History of Modern Art.
Lionel
Yeah, so isn’t that a logical jump?
Lionel
Since this class is Postmodernism in America…?
Relief washes over Holly so suddenly that she bursts into laughter.
Lionel
Holly, this really isn’t funny.
Holly
Yes it is, Lionel--I went to the wrong class!
Holly
I’m not your student.
Holly
I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.
Lionel
What? I don’t understand.
Holly
I’m a History major.
Holly
When I saw you in class today, I thought you were teaching Civil War Generals.
Lionel
You’re not in my class?
Lionel
In that case, I’ve always wanted to do this…
In one fluid motion, Lionel wipes all the books and papers off his desk.
They burst into a fit of giggles--but when Lionel draws Holly in his arms…
The heat between them is undeniable.
He lays her down on the table and they look into each other’s eyes.
But before Lionel’s lips touch Holly’s, he whispers to her softly.
Lionel
Class or no class, this isn’t going to be an easy relationship.
Lionel
You’re still a student, and I’m still a professor.
Lionel
But what we had last night…
Lionel
I haven’t had that kind of connection in a very long time.
Lionel
And I hope that for you—
Holly
You don’t have to finish that sentence. I want you.
Lionel
Well, I want you to be my girlfriend, Holly.
Lionel
Can we make this real?
Lionel searches Holly’s eyes,
As she falls deeper into the suede blue depths of his irises.
Holly
Oh God, Lionel, Yes.
Holly
Now kiss me, because it feels like I’m on fire.
And he does—but their lust consumes them anyway.
