"Victoria Lane, I would like to see you in my office, after class."
"Sure, Professor Allan."
Vicky smiled. Caitleen who was sitting next to her in class, looked at her puzzled.
"Do you know why he wants to see you?"
"Maybe he's finally succumbed to my charm."
Professor Allan was a very handsome man. Vicky had tried to get closer to him numerous times during the semester but she never seemed to get anywhere with him. He was too professional, too ethical, he should've bored her, and instead her desire grew more.
Caitleen laughed. How she wished she could be more like Victoria. Fearless and determined. However, it seemed to imply she'd also have to be mean and heartless. She had read Vicky's paper. She wasn't sure what to make of it. The observations were good. The conclusion interesting but the subject matter was so wrong. She wanted to tell Vicky but the decided it was better she kept her mouth shut.
Only if the paper got published, it might be hell for a certain someone around campus; everyone knew Gary Sloane now. It was impossible not to. After being publicly rejected by Victoria, he started dating her less than a week later. For two months now he was the hero of pretty much every guy around. But it wouldn't last much longer and Victoria seemed ready and determined to make that clear.
"Victoria, have a seat."
"I've been wondering what you wanted to talk to me about."
Victoria flashed a big smile and crossed her legs. She normally wouldn't have done that with her mini skirt but this was Professor Allan.
"I want to talk about your paper. I cannot accept it."
“I’m sorry? What did you just say? My paper is great, it deserves an A and we both know it. I was able to built a close relationship with the subject. You can’t really question my observations, as they are very detailed. The conclusion, I believe, is nothing more than perfect.”
“It is great that you have such confidence in your work, Victoria…”
“Call me Vicky”
“I’ll stick to Victoria. Now to finish what I was trying to say; my concern is ethical. You can’t go around using people as test subjects for your experiments. I will be honest with you, everything you wrote was brilliant, and you are very intelligent. I want you to keep in mind that this paper might be published and it most likely will be because it’s the best I’ve received so far. But someone’s reputation is at sake. I can’t accept it. I’ll give you three more weeks to submit a new one. ”
Victoria stood up. This was not what she expected; if Professor Allan wanted war, he’d get it.
“Professor, I am willing to fight you on this. The subject was fully aware that he would be part of my paper. He even signed a release form. If you insist on refusing this paper; I will go to the dean.”
“Be my guest Victoria. Based on my moral principles, I cannot accept this paper and I stand by my decision.”
“Well, that’s more publicity for me. Everyone will know about this paper before the semester is over.”
By the time Victoria’s fight with Professor Allan was over; everyone in the school had heard about the paper and couldn’t wait to read it when I’d be published. The school paper would publish it before it would be available to the University’s library.
Vicky broke up with Gary not long after the dean forced Professor Allan to change his mind. Gary gave his full support without even reading the paper. He was so infatuated by Victoria. She broke up with him gently, promised they would remain friends. By now every girl wanted a piece of him so he got over the grief by dating a different girl every night.
During the summer he worked out and achieved a total body transformation. He was a different person, a man. He had muscled up, ditched the glasses and finally learned the meaning of style. When the next semester started, everyone had forgotten about the paper. That was until it was finally published by the University’s newspaper. A direct title for a controversial paper: “Human Test Subject: Ethically Wrong?”
Gary read Victoria’s paper and cancelled his classes. He couldn't stay; some people would obviously remember he dated Victoria. She had used him; he was nothing more than a test subject to her. She led him on to believe her paper was on relationships in general and that she would base herself on them when really, it was more about him. She depicted him as someone seen as pathetic by everyone including herself.
She wanted to decode the psyche of socially rejected individuals. She wanted to see how getting attention from someone who normally should ignore him would affect him. Gary didn’t bother to confront Victoria; he knew better, there probably was no use. He sworn to himself he would get revenge one day or another.
