Lily walked into the lab and unpacked her notebook and pencil. She went to put on her goggles when the teachers assistant leading today’s chemistry lab cleared his throat. Lily looked up, realizing that as the only other person in the room, he must be trying to get her attention. Tyler, the TA, couldn’t have been too much older than Lily herself. He looked mid 20s at the oldest to Lily’s 19. He led the chemistry discussion group Lily was assigned to as well, and he had always seemed very kind, if a bit of a nerd.
“Yes, sir? Did you need something?” Lily still wasn’t sure what to call all of the different teachers at the university yet. Some were professor, some doctor, some just wanted to be called by their first names. Lily stayed on the safe side and addressed most by ma’am or sir.
Tyler seemed to blush a bit as Lily waited for him to answer her. She knew that her direct stare was sometimes a lot for people, but she had been taught that it was a sign of respect to maintain eye contact. Tyler seemed to think though that this was a staring contest. “Sir? You wanted me?”