[ There is something about having his full attention that makes her stand a little straighter, that makes her want to be better not just for herself and to satisfy her own ambitions and dreams but to commend it always, so that he will never have a reason to look away. It isn't something that she should feel and she tries to push it down; it never quite works. Having his attention is a heady feeling. ]

Of course, Commander. [ She mirrors his posture, though her stance is a little looser than his. She admires his control, but she doesn't want the rigidity of his posture for herself. She isn't looking to becoming like him, after all, no matter how much she admires him. She doesn't want to become like him at all, but she does want him. ]

I have been thinking about it — [ She has: she's considered their dynamic, she's turned every single interaction between them over in her mind and sought to find some proof that she is imagining the possibilities between them, searching for something conclusive enough to allow her to put her own feelings aside for good. She hasn't found anything — though she's well aware that that doesn't mean that there is something between them but professionalism and a slowly growing companionship.

She straightens. It would be stupid to throw away this opportunity because she can't handle her own emotions, can't control herself. She's better than that. He's an instructor and she's a student and that means that even if her feelings were reciprocated, nothing could ever happen between them. If only she could convince her heart of that, too. ]

And I will be applying again before the deadline, sir. If the department will have me, I'd be pleased to take the position.