Femlock - University Students

It was a brisk fall afternoon in October and the coffee shop was standing room only, crowded full of college students studying for examinations, working on essays, chatting with friends, and warming themselves up with steaming mugs of coffee and tea.  Even with three baristas working behind the counter, they could barely keep up with the orders.  

"Tall London Fog!"  One girl called out into the shop, holding up a mug.  

Joan's head jerked up and she dropped her anatomy flashcards on the table in front of the couch where she had been studying, hurrying over to retrieve her drink from the frazzled barista.

"Thank you," she said with a polite nod, but the girl had already turned away to handle the next order.  

Joan returned to her seat, holding the warm mug in both hands.  She slid her notes over on the couch and sat back down, tucking her knees up and pulling her oversized sweater over the top of them.  She had an anatomy midterm in two days and she had been studying all afternoon.  She was purposefully not studying in her dorm room.  Her roommate had chemistry lab today, but as soon as it was over, Joan was sure that her room would become an environment completely unfit for productive study.  

Joan's phone vibrated on the table, and she sighed, already certain who the text was from.  She opened it and saw she was correct.  

"At 221b.  Come now. –SH"

Joan shook her head as she replied quickly.  

"No.  Studying.  –JW"

She picked up her notes and began running through the throat muscles.  Moments later, her phone vibrated again.

"Fine.  See you shortly. –SH"

See you shortly?  But Joan hadn't said where she was.  Had she left some clue in 221b?  She didn't remember doing so, but that was no guarantee that Sheryl hadn't found one.  Joan resigned herself to the fact that she had ten more minutes of uninterrupted study time before her roommate arrived, and returned to her notes with renewed focus.  

Joan Watson was a third year biology pre-med student at Baker University.  She was balancing a full load of eighteen credit hours, as well as studying for the UK Clinical Aptitude Test, volunteering at a hospital, and working in the library.  

She had met her roommate Sheryl Holmes at the beginning of term.  Sheryl was a third year chemistry student.  She always earned the highest marks, but without the long hours of study that Joan put in.  She could have played the violin for the music college as well, with a comparable minimum of effort, but she had not chosen to do so.  In her extra time, she alternated between complaining of boredom and trying to alleviate it by solving logic puzzles, studying human behavior, and performing experiments in their dormitory, for which the resident assistant had fined them more than once.  

Suddenly, Sheryl was sitting on the couch next to her, still with her black coat buttoned and her blue scarf around her neck.  "Hello, Joan."

Joan didn't look up.  Three minutes earlier than she expected.  "You located me rather quickly."

"Hardly difficult.  You don't give me enough credit."

Normally, Joan would ask how Sheryl had figured out her location, but today she was not in the mood for distractions.

"How was chemistry lab?"

"Dull.  But the evening promises to be much more exciting."  She leaned forward on the couch, palms pressed together.  

Against her better judgment, Joan took the bait.  "Why?"

Sheryl's posture was tense, and her eyes bright with excitement.  She looked like she could jump up and spring out the door at any moment.  "Through keen observation and by obtaining a few key pieces of evidence, I have deduced that there is an underground drug dealing ring at the university."  Her voice was low and conspiratorial, as if she was worried that if she spoke too loudly, someone else would overhear her revelation and steal her prize.  "Tonight, you and I are going to tail one of the dealers," she concluded, clapping her hands together once and grinning.  

"Did you obtain the key evidences when you were purchasing your own drugs?" Joan asked, feigning fascination with the latissimus dorsi.

Sheryl crossed her arms and let out a short puff of breath.  "Oh, Joan, there's no need to discuss that again.  And don't make assumptions without proper evidence.  You really are an idiot."

Joan had learned a while ago to ignore Sheryl's insults to her intelligence.  She looked down on everyone the same way.  Instead, she kept her eyes on her work, even though her mind was already far away, trailing a drug dealer.  She sighed.  She had known her studying was over as soon as she'd seen Sheryl's text.  She looked up at her roommate, exasperation clear on her face.  

"You do know I have an exam in two days, right?"

Sheryl snorted.  "Of course.  Why do you ask such ridiculous questions?"

"I have to study."

"Dull.  You have plenty of time.  

Joan shook her head.  "You would have plenty of time.  I need all the time I can get."

"I'll help you study later, then.  Come with me now."

Joan began packing up her study materials.  "Okay, I'll come with you, but you have to help me study up til I think I'm ready.  Not until you think I'm ready.  And," she continued quickly, before Sheryl could interrupt, "you have to pick up milk."

With a wide grin, Sheryl grabbed Joan's arm and dragged her out of the coffee shop.