The familiar expanse of the wood-paneled lecture hall was already bustling with students as Kaitlyn arrived. This was one of the less modern ones, featuring a speaker system that buzzed slightly and an actual chalkboard at the very front. Still, the chairs were bizarrely some of the more comfortable ones she’d yet encountered.

Despite her familiarity with the room itself though, the contents of the hall were anything but. Glancing around revealed a completely different group than the gaggle of chemistry students she’d become used to. This group proved a bit more skewed toward the male populace, for one. In place of the stodgy old Chemistry professor she’d become used to, a thinner and younger looking man dressed in casual attire took up residence at the front of the room..

Kaitlyn stepped further into the hall, claiming an empty seat near the back. Not the very back row, but close to it. As she settled in, her nerves flared.

This is it. Time to see if this actually works.

Some paranoid part of her mind was convinced that another student - or, worse, the professor himself - would point her out at any moment as an outsider. The fear wasn’t helped at all by the sheer number of laptops whose screens glowed among the rows of seats. Laptops just like the one she was saving up for.

I haven’t felt this out of place since… Well, since I joined cross country maybe.

Still, she kept her seat and ignored the urge to walk right back out the door. If simply sitting in classes like this truly was an option, then she needed to know.

“Alright, let’s get started!” The man’s strangely accented voice boomed over the crackly speakers with an odd lilt. After a moment of waiting, the voices of socializing students quieted. “Welcome, everyone! I’m Professor Romer, and this is Intro to Computer Science. If that’s news to you, then, well, now’s the time to double check where you’re supposed to be.”

The comment elicited a scattering of laughter. “Well, we have a lot to get through, so let’s talk about the structure of the class…”

As it happened, Kaitlyn hadn’t actually missed the first day of this particular course. As Professor Romer began to talk through the syllabus - grading, assignments, exams, and all of the practical details a student needed to know - Kaitlyn finally began to relax. No one had called her out. Even with the lecture hall as full as it was, she hadn’t drawn any undue attention.

This is actually working. Wow.

Her amazement only grew as the professor launched into the first lecture. For the first time in what felt like ages, she pulled out a notebook to jot down the completely new information.

I could have been doing this the whole time. Learning anything I wanted. No, she shook her head, it’s even worse than that. I could have gone to lectures from other professors! I didn’t have to stick with the crummy Chemistry professor the game stuck me with - I could have just gone to a different lecture the whole time!

The mild frustration she felt was drowned out by excitement at the possibilities. Now that she knew about this exploit, the world really was her oyster. She could go to every single class for every single subject if she wanted to.

I mean, I obviously won’t. There some stuff that I really just don’t care about. But I could, and that’s the important part.

She listened to the lecture with rapt attention. Of all the professors teaching this course, this one had been the best reviewed for a reason. He managed to make the material interesting in a way that seemed to draw her along. Still, even now she could tell that truly learning it all would take a decent effort on her part.

But that’s ok. I’ve got time to focus and really learn it.

Eventually, after a rather dense lecture and lots of note-taking, the class came to a close. “...And if you’d like to practice these concepts, I’ve put together an intro assignment and writeup on the class website. Feel free to check them out. Get familiar with the place, because that’s where your assignments and a lot of other resources will be posted as well.”

The slight rumblings of activity crescendoed into a full-on exodus as the professor finished speaking. Desks squeaked and thudded as they were stowed away, the sound merging with a clamor of conversation and shifting bodies.

Kaitlyn stood to join the leaving stream of students, but hesitated. Shoot. I don’t have access to the class website, do I? Is that going to be an issue?

Her gut said “yes”. Especially since Philip had indicated as much. Programming was something one learned by doing more than anything - just like cooking and lab work, apparently. Not being able to access assignments and practice material might very well be a problem.

I can just go off of whatever problems Philip gives me, but, well… the more resources I have the better, right?

After a moment of indecision, she forced herself against the current of hurrying students and down to the lecture hall floor. It was worth asking about, at least.

Kaitlyn waited patiently as a loose knot of other students spoke with the professor, reassuring herself that this wasn’t a terrible idea. I’ll have to tell him I’m not enrolled. But even if he has a problem with that and kicks me out, I can always just go to one of the other classes. Or just hide among the hundreds of people anyway. He probably wouldn’t notice, right?

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Hello! How can I help you?”

Startled, she hurried forward toward the lanky professor. Now that he was closer, Kaitlyn could make out a few grey hairs among his otherwise youthful features. “Yes! I uh, I wanted to know if I could get access to the class website?”

“Oh, is it giving you issues? You should already have access to it otherwise.”

“Well, you see…” Here we go. “...I’m not actually enrolled in the class. I just… wanted to sit in and learn. If that’s all right.”

Kaitlyn felt the briefest flash of pride at making it through without stuttering. The professor’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Oh! You’d like to audit the class, then?”

“Uh, yes?” Is that what it’s called? There’s actually a term for it?

“Oh, no problem at all.” The man bobbed his head. “Just email me and I’ll add you. If you’d like to do the assignments as well, feel free. We won’t do any manual grading and give you feedback, but once we post the grading guidelines you’ll be free to review it yourself. And we can run your code through the autograder if you’d like.”

“Er, yes! That would be awesome! If you don’t mind!”

“Not at all. It’s no problem for us.” He smiled graciously. “Well, perfect. Just send me an email with your name to remind me!”

After thanking the man profusely, Kaitlyn headed out just as the hall had begun to fill with the next class’s attendees. Her steps practically skipped as she headed up the stairs.

That couldn’t have gone better. They’re even going to give me assignments? This is amazing!

Honestly, she couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Between the additional resources and the lecture, she felt completely set for the semester.

With all of this… Is Philip right? Do I even need tutoring? The thought struck her as she emerged into the late afternoon sunlight. But after a moment of deliberation, she came to a decision. I don’t need it. But I want it. Philip’s an awesome teacher, and I can’t see any reason to put his help aside.

Still smiling, Kaitlyn headed toward the dorms. This loop was already off to a roaring start.

***

A few days later, Kaitlyn lay in bed scrolling on her phone. Not idly, though. This time, she had a purpose: researching instruments.

There’s…. a lot of options here.

Evidently, she’d underestimated the sheer number of musical instruments that existed in the world. Even worse, some of them were just prohibitively expensive.

A bassoon costs HOW much?! Her face paled on reaching that entry. Are you serious? I could buy a car for that price!

Knocking the option off the list, she let her head fall back against the pillow with a soft impact. I feel like I’m going about this wrong. I mean, I can go with a cheap option, but do I really want to play a recorder or a harmonica? And where would I even practice something like a tuba or a trumpet? There’s just too many things that don’t feel like me.

While Kaitlyn had never taken an active interest in music before, that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy it. She liked pop and boy bands as much as the next girl. So why not go with an instrument featured more commonly in those genres?

Not a bass guitar, because that’s just Elliot’s thing. Probably not drums either, that just doesn’t sound “me” enough. That leaves guitar and… what? Keyboard?

Guitar was a contender. Sitting under a tree during a nice autumn day, strumming chords as the leaves fell - the image was pretty enticing.

…On second thought, I kind of doubt I’ll be playing where anyone can hear me anytime soon. So maybe I should cool my imagination.

Rolling over, she began looking up keyboard prices. To her surprise, there were some relatively affordable ones out there. Sure, they were bulky, but there was space under the bed to store something like that. Still, there were a lot of keys on that thing. The idea of learning piano felt intimidating, to say the least.

As she mulled over the options, the door swung open enthusiastically. Heather bounced into the room, her hoop earrings dangling wildly as she moved. “Omigosh, Kate! I was just gonna text you!”

“Hey, Heather.” Stashing her phone away for the moment, she turned toward the girl. “What’s up?”

“Soooo I’ve been talking to people about your meal prep thing, right?” She didn’t wait for an answer before continuing on. “And like, you know how you wanted me to see how many I could get? Well, I like, maaaaay have gone a little overboard?”

Kaitlyn blinked. “Overboard how? How many people are interested?”

“Oh, you know…” The girl wiggled and suppressed a smile. “Maybe… forty?”

“...Come again?”

“Forty. But that’s just like, the confirmed people, y’know? There’s more that sounded totally into it, but seemed a little flaky…”

Kaitlyn couldn’t help it. Her jaw dropped as she sat bolt upright, nearly banging her head against the top bunk. “Forty?! As in, four zero?!”

Heather couldn’t suppress her own grin. “Yup!”

“Heather, how?” Kaitlyn put a hand to her forehead. “How did you even… It’s week one!”

The blonde’s eyebrows waggled. “I’ve got connections, Kate. This kinda thing is like, totally up my alley.”

She stood from the bed and paced, mind whirling. Forty. FORTY PEOPLE. I’ve gotten that many by the end of the loop, maybe, but that many right out of the gate…?

“Sooooo is that ok?” Heather’s voice took on a note of uncertainty. “Like, I didn’t mean to stress you out! If that’s too many, I can like, turn people down!”

Kaitlyn stopped pacing and looked at her roommate. She stared back, crystal eyes bright with excitement and pride. The girl was already proving that she was worth the commission several times over.

Fiery determination filled Kaitlyn’s own gaze. “Not even close. I got this.”

Maybe I’ll get that money even faster than I expected.