Romancing a Bodysnatcher

"Mr. Atkinson."

Leon's eyes darted away from the auburn hair that swayed gently as her green eyes met his. He instead focused his attention on his aging professor who stood at his computer, angrily pointing at the projection of microscopic molecules on the wall. Professor Kennedy had noticed Leon's attention span waning ever since Kat the TA stepped into the room.

"Mr. Atkinson, could you please provide me with the scientific definition of cell division that we have just discussed."

Rupert Kennedy's wrinkled face smirked as if he were pleased with his capture of an inattentive student. Leon smiled, refusing to be outdone in the presence of an auburn hottie.

"What other one is there?"

"Excuse me?" Professor Kennedy demanded as he lowered his arm questioningly.

"You asked for the scientific definition. Is there an unscientific one?" The class chuckled amongst themselves, glad for a moment of entertainment however poor the joke was. Kat's smile glittered across the room and reached Leon's admiring eyes. Rupert glanced back and forth at them and angrily forced their flattering stares to cease.

"It would be wise to learn basic biology before challenging a scientist, Mr. Atkinson." Leon soon realized any further obstruction would become costly. The rest of class was filled with icy glares and fetching hair flicks as if Professor Kennedy and Kat were battling for Leon's attention.

Leon continuously squinted his eyes, trying desperately to see the bare thigh that kept being unconsciously revealed by the TA's green miniskirt. Though her physical attraction was undeniable, after only a few discussions Leon soon learned that the young woman was just as much brains as she was bust. She was intellectual and charming and could fight Leon's Obama defense with just as much passion with her Romney.

Being attracted to a senior classmate wasn't such a crime, and it was hard for a woman to resist a young artist who was unashamedly taking basic biology for course credit. He already knew that she had fallen for his charming apathy, now he only needed to reel her in.

The bell resounded throughout the room, signifying all classrooms a few minutes of freedom. Many students rushed out to catch their next class, a few others lingered and gratefully distracted the professor before he could steal Kat's attention.

"Hey, Katrina!" The auburn beauty turned, watching Leon gracefully hop down the steps and jump from seat to seat until he stood just in front of her.

"It's Kat. Would you rather I call you Leo?" She giggled playfully. What struck Leon was that she was not being flirtatious, but was simply playing, as if she were too shy to indulge herself. What a gal.

"If you think it's appropriate. I do like to think of myself as 'king of my pride'." Her cheery laugh floated through the room, catching the professor's unwanted attention. As he began to speak, Leon grabbed her books from her hand and lead her towards the door.

"It'll be a while before the hermit's next class, you want go out for coffee again? Talk about all the crazy research he makes you do. More Frankenstein rats, trying to switch the bodies of cats and dogs?"

Although Leon was smiling playfully, Kat's face had suddenly dropped. The conversation was becoming serious. "Actually, Leon, I was hoping we could talk. Could we go to the library though? It's kind of private." Leon's eyes hesitated. Either the girl was scared or she was about to ask for commitment. Either way, he wasn't going to leave when the story was getting this good.

Finally managing to push past the herds of stampeding freshman, the couple traversed from the Jarvas building to the campus library in a few minutes. They found an empty table towards the back where no one could complain about the noise. As Leon pulled out a chair for Kat, he noticed her hands trembling.

"Are you alright, Kit-Kat? You're starting to freak me out. You're not pregnant are you? We've gone for coffee three times and I was pretty sure I understood the rules of 'birds and the bees'." Katrina giggled nervously. She sighed, as if she realized how much of an unnecessary fuss she was making.

"At least you've learned something in biology." Leon laughed heartily at the small woman's quip. A librarian across the room motioned for them both to quiet down. Leon frowned, but caressed Kat's shoulder comfortingly. Finally, the girl found the will to voice her concerns.

"It's just Professor Kennedy. He's always weirded me out a little. In the beginning it was nice to be his best student - to be chosen from a long list to study under him and work for him. He's very well respected in the scientific community, no matter how outlandish his studies are."

Leon nodded sarcastically, "As you said the first time you were trying to defend his honor. You already know what I think about the guy…" Kat nodded, but continued her explanation.

"But then he started telling me about his private experiments. How he was searching for a holy grail or a path to immortality. He started mentioning a figurative fountain of youth and how if I helped him we could change the world."

"That's when he started sending you for dogs and cats right? I've heard all of this, Kit-Kat. But you weren't this freaked out then. Did something happen?" Kat fidgeted in her seat a bit as if the conversation had reached an uncomfortable topic.

Leon sensed the change and removed his hand, trying to appear as accommodating as possible. However slowly, Kat revealed what had been troubling her.

"Now he's making things about 'us'. Everything is about 'us' - how it will change things for 'us'. He calls me 'just to talk', and puts his hand on my shoulder and brushes my hair behind my ear even though he's already too close." Leon's demeanor changed as an anger familiarly known as jealously burned within him. This prompted Kat to quiet the beast.

She gripped his shoulder lightly and continued, "He hasn't done anything 'over the line', which is why I haven't said anything earlier. It's just gotten to be uncomfortable, and I know he thinks our relationship is more than what it is. I do appreciate his mind. He is a genius after all. But my God, Leon - he's 63. What does he expect?"

Leon unintentionally smiled at the comment. Appreciating how serious the conversation was, however; he opted a solution. "Why don't you tell him we're dating? Maybe he'll get the message." Kat hesitated. Her expression became sorrow-filled. "We're not dating?"

Leon's throat grew dry. He had hoped, but never once expected…

"I always wanted to ask, but…" Leon searched for the words that would help him retain his pride, "But I thought you had a thing going with the old geezer." Kat laughed flirtatiously for the first time. As the conversation went on, it became apparent to the two that they were most certainly in a relationship and that they need only make this apparent to their professor.

The day after…

Leon strutted into his biology class proudly baring a hot TA on his arm. She smiled happily as he kissed her cheek and they parted ways for the duration of class. Leon took his seat towards the back as most not-serious art majors did. He had hoped for a small glimmer of surprise from Professor Kennedy - even a little expression of hate. Sadly, Leon was met with nothing. Perhaps Kat had already mentioned their abrupt relationship.

Class went normally. Rupert drug on about meaningless nonsense and Leon continuously threw playful glances in Kat's direction. For the first time, Leon thoroughly enjoyed his mandatory biology class - until Professor Kennedy introduced one of his famous pop quizzes.

Leon finally saw the professor's pitiful revenge. He had based the 3 question pop quiz on the discussion from the day before, cell division. Leon managed to bullshit his way through the test, but knew that he would be the only student held after class to discuss his incorrect answers. "Well played, geezer."

Despite the fact that Professor Kennedy had admittedly won, he did not respond to Leon's hate-filled glares. In fact, he ignored Leon's existence entirely, as if he had not intentionally given a pop quiz for Leon to fail. "Maybe the old geezer isn't as spiteful as I thought."

Towards the end of class, Rupert eventually announced that Leon Atkinson, the only student who failed, would need to stay one hour after class for study hall/detention. Leon stomped down the stairs begrudgingly, but was met with Kat's cheerful smile.

"You should pay more attention to the lesson than my legs, Leo." Leon could not help but release a crooked smile. Still, he had to ask. "Did you tell him?" Kat nodded confidently.

"Yeah, yesterday afternoon. I just mentioned it like it was nothing. He acted kind of surprised but then really decent. It's been great ever since, you really solved my problem 'king of the pride'." Leon hugged her hip to his as he began walking out the door. She blocked his way with her foot and pushed him back into the classroom.

"Nuh uh, mister. You have detention. Learn your lesson here, and I'll be back in an hour to take you out. I owe you a coffee, right?" Before Leon could respond, the attractive TA had already turned on her heel and was rushing towards an errand Professor Kennedy had given her last minute.

Leon turned heavily as Rupert began cleaning his desk for his nighttime class. "Have a seat, Mr. Atkinson. I'll be with you in a moment. For now, how about you study that chapter of cell division you were supposed to have read last week."

Leon smiled sarcastically. He slammed his bag atop the floor and noisily dug out his text book. As he flipped to the appropriate chapter, he could not help but notice Professor Kennedy digging through his own briefcase. Soon the older man was holding a syringe and was preparing to inject himself.

Leon questioned curiously, "Insulin?"

Rupert huffed under his beard, "It's gonna save my life." Leon accepted the older man's response and continued reading. The professor continued to inject himself with the produced substance and replace the empty syringe. Suddenly, Professor Kennedy was upon Leon - staring down kindly with his arms behind his back.

"So, Kat tells me you two are a couple. Is that why you can't focus in my class?" Rupert's warm gaze reassured Leon, so the art major answered honestly. "You could say that."

"Well, son - you're gonna treat her right." Leon nodded at the sentiment but was growing weary of Rupert's close proximity. Was this was Kat dealt with all the time?

"What kind of medical history do you have, Mr. Atkinson? Is it plagued by any disease?"

Leon jerked back in his chair. Finally, the viper was coming out. "I'm not gonna give her an STD if that's what you mean." Professor Kennedy chuckled to himself. "No, I'm sure you're a healthy boy. You wear contacts though, don't you?" Leon's eyes darted up. What was the old geezer playing at?

"It's a shame, I've always had great vision myself. Even in my old age. I suppose it'll be the price I pay for doing this now. I've always had trouble trusting emotions over reason."

Leon could feel Rupert drawing closer. He could sense the animosity in his movements and breath. Admittedly, Leon was terrified. Still, he managed to stammer a final question, "Doing what now?"

"This." As Rupert spoke, he jabbed another syringe into Leon's neck. It first felt as though he were falling, but then he realized he was being sucked in like a vacuum.

And then--nothing. He was just standing up like normal. But then again, nothing was the same. He couldn't think straight and nothing stayed in his head for long. Everything looked clearer; he didn't think there was anything wrong with his vision until now. But even these feelings weren't his! He was normally calm, but he felt so mad--and hurt--and confused. These emotions left him... ambivalent. Where did he even learn that word?!

Wait a moment...was that him? It was! Standing in front of him was a very frustrated-looking version of himself! This didn't make any sense...what was going on?

Leon watched himself take a step. His face began to stretch with a wretched smile that was both giddy and evil. Leon's body approached him and grabbed the tuft of his hair painfully. Leon cried out, but it was not his voice. It was a strained gargle that tasted like bad coffee and rotten toothpaste. Leon's body pulled him towards a classroom window where Leon could see a murky reflection.

He screamed.

Staring back at him was the bewildered face of Professor Rupert Kennedy. Leon's mouth began laughing manically as he threw the Professor's weak, old body to the floor. Although Leon's head was still swimming and his new body was wracked with pain he had never experienced he still managed to hear his own voice echo through the gloom.

"I had not planned to perform this experiment so prematurely, Mr. Atkinson, but your advances on Kat left me no choice. But no matter - it has worked out for the best. Not only have I gained Kat's affection but I have achieved immortality - and I am unwilling to share either."

Leon's vision wavered as he watched his own body pick up his open text book. He watched himself lift it over his head and smile as the book came crashing down. Through the darkness he could sense feet shifting around him and the screams of his beloved Kat.

She coddled his head and kept calling him Professor. She asked Leon what happened.

As the body of Professor Rupert Kennedy was wheeled to the hospital, the body of Leon Atkinson stood with Kat and held her tightly in his arms. He caressed her head and attempted to quiet her sobs. She dug her face deeper into his chest as he whispered in her ear…

"Don't worry, my dear. I'm sure Professor Kennedy will be just fine."