Page 60 of Scarred King
“But I am living the life,” she smiles and rubs her eyes. “I am in love, I am satisfied and most of the time, I'm happy.” She sits up and begins rummaging through her bag. “Anyway, there is nothing that the magic white powder can't fix.” She stands up and stretches. “Should we go get something to eat?” She looks confused.
“I have to go to a meeting with Professor Sawyer,” I apologize and hurry out.
I reach the heavy wooden door just as two female students are leaving. I press myself against the wall and lower my head. The last thing I need is to encourage more gossip. They don’t notice me.
“I’m in love,” says one of them, with a dreamy look on her face.
“He didn’t even look at you,” the other giggles. “Even your cleavage didn’t help this time.”
“No worries,” the first one answers calmly. “Men are men. Give me a few more advisory meetings with him and he won’t be able to ignore me anymore.”
They both laugh and walk off. I knock twice and when I am invited in, I open the door. Professor Sawyer stands up for me immediately and I smile with satisfaction.
“Shall we start?” He points at the sofa and after I sit down, he sits next to me. I open my laptop screen and I’m confused by his presence. My body is sending contradictory messages. I blush when I recall how I had to finish this paper sprawled on the kitchen table, with Liam’s burning body pressed against mine from behind. I can’t get rid of that image and I feel that it’s spoiling the positive energy in the room.
“Is everything all right?” I feel his breath close to me.
“Of course, Professor Sawyer.” I answer without looking at him.
“Brian,” he corrects me, and I nod and pray for the file to open already.
We go over the first couple of paragraphs and discuss each of them at length, when suddenly he places his hand on my thigh. “Shall I order something to eat?” he asks and crosses the room to the phone.
“Actually, I’d like that.” I smile and stroke my rumbling stomach. He orders some food from a nearby restaurant and returns to sit by my side. We move on to the third paragraph and when we finish, the food arrives.
“I think we’ve worked enough for one evening,” he says and places the containers on the table in front of us. “It’s important to enjoy the ride as well.” I take my shoes off and cross my legs casually on the sofa. Our conversation turns to the conference we attended, and he imitates one of the older professors. I burst out laughing and he joins in. I'm relaxed, calm and content, an old feeling that I have missed so much. As I sip my drink, I glance at the clock and panic.
“I have to go now,” I say sadly and put my shoes back on. “I had such a good time.” I stand up reluctantly and he stands up too, throws the containers in the trash, and looks at me.
“I don’t feel you’re my student and I find that odd.” He scratches his short goatee. “I feel like you’re a colleague.” He smiles his bashful smile and I grin.
“We both know that’s not exactly the case.” I leave the room and he follows me out. We cross the hallway quietly and go outside.
“You look troubled,” he says just before we reach the parking lot. “I hope you know that you can talk to me about things that aren’t about studies, as well.”
I fake a calm smile. My stomach is turning. There’s nothing I want more that to tell him everything. That I have fallen into a dark world, so different from ours. That I need a lifeline before I drown. Instead I just keep smiling and I shake my head no.
“Everything’s great,” I say, and walk towards the parking lot. “I’m looking forward to getting more assignments from you.”
I look around for the black motorcycle, but I can’t see it anywhere. The blue Volvo is parked in the second row and my stomach clenches in anxiety. Suddenly the silver Hummer glides through all the cars and stops in front of me.
“See you next week!” I call to the professor and climb inside quickly.
Ralph is sitting on the white leather seat, glaring at me angrily. “You're half an hour late.” He says and hits the front seat, signaling for the driver to start driving. “And who is the fucker who walked you out?” he asks accusingly.
“No one. Just one of my professors.” I’m not going to give him any information. I look through the darkened window and make sure that we are leaving my wonderful world as quickly as possible. I don’t want to taint it with the filth of my new dark world.
“So why does he look at you like he wants to fuck you?”
“Shut up!” I raise my voice. “In my world, not every man who talks to a woman is wondering how to get her in bed.”
Ralph laughs mockingly. “Well, my educated lady. In one thing your world and my world are completely the same. When a man looks at a woman the way he looked at you, he wants to fuck her.”
“Fine. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” I lean back on the seat and cross my arms defiantly. “Hold on,” I break my silence seconds later, “why did you come to get me? What happened to Liam?”
“He had some things to take care of. He is waiting for you at his house.”
Waiting for me at his house? He should be at the bar by now. Weird. What if he decides to stay in with me tonight? I’ve become used to just sharing a living space with him and not having to deal with his closeness. I open my mouth to try and get some more information, but I change my mind and I don’t say anything else. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone, especially not Ralph.