17

As I slowly wake up due to the sun shining right into my eyes through the curtains, I look over my shoulder.

Daniela was lying besides me, facing me. Like that previous day I slept here, the sun now also cast a golden highlight to her skin.

Pretty.

She rasps, "I can literally feel your stare."

My eyes widen a bit, getting oddly flustered. "Well, you're wrong. I wasn't staring."

"Don't argue with me." She mumbles, eyes opening slowly.

Her voice was still husky and low from waking up. But I'm positive she was awake for a while, but just kept her eyes closed to rest a bit longer.

"Yes, ma'am." I mumbled.

She grumbled as she pushed herself up, sitting against the soft headboard. Like my eyes had its mind of its own, I found myself staring at her as she stretched-- her shirt lifting up to her waist, revealing her toned stomach.

I sit up next to her.

She turned to me, "Is your head hurting?"

"No... why?"

"You aren't hungover?" She stared at my blankly, "That's strange. You had quite a lot to drink yesterday seeing what happened to you."

I close my eyes for a brief second and immediately remember everything, "Can we not.... not talk about that, please. Never again."

She got up from the bed. "Fine."

I followed her lead and also got off at my side.

I can't remember Daniela joining me on the bed yesterday night. I must've fallen asleep. I certainly did, because I'm still in my dress from the Valentine's dance. My heels are just kicked off and on her desk is my handbag and phone.

She was busy collecting her clothes from her closet as I grabbed my phone and sat back down on the bed.

I had a lot of missed calls and messages. Some from Iris, Elijah and my dad.

I took a deep breath in as my finger hovered above Elijah's contact.

Just seeing his name display in my contact list makes a shiver go down my spine.

If I never see him again, I have less a chance to running into his brother again.

No Elijah, no Felix.

I bring my phone closer to my lips.

"Hey 'Lijah, I'm sorry I didn't pick up any of your calls. I wasn't feeling too well and decided to call an uber home. But, also I've been thinking about us lately. Well, not that we're an 'us,' but, I just think we should stop seeing each other. It's not going to work out... ever. So, I'm sorry, but I can't be your Valentine... Sorry."

The voice messaged went through.

"Right before Valentine's? That's a bit harsh." Daniela scoffed behind me, "What's that all about?"

"I need a break," I sighed, falling back onto the bed and throwing my phone besides me, "from boys."

Professor stood at the foot of the bed and lift her eyebrow. Intrigued, her head tilts to the side as she folds her arms over her chest.

There was silence before I clicked what she meant by that small gestures.

I sit up again with a blush on my face. "O-oh, not like that!"

She probably thinks I'm done with boys and now moving onto girls.

Daniela grins, "I didn't say anything."

I was too embarrassed to speak, so I just watched as she walked away with that same smirk on her lips.

She entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her without saying another word.

As she was busy showering, I went back to my messages to come up with lies.

I told my dad I slept over at Iris' and I told Iris that I went home.

I went downstairs with my handbag, waiting for Daniela to get ready. While I patiently sit there on the couch, I got a reply from my dad, saying it's fine. But, suddenly my eyes widened and I let go if a loud groan as I checked the time.

We should be on campus right about now.

But I'm still in this dress... I still look like a slut.

Quickly rushing up the stairs again, I barge into professor's room.

In a hurry, my eyes glance around for her before my eyes lands on her tanned skin.

She stood there, shirtless, only in a bra, about to put her shirt on. We both kept staring at each other blankly before my eyes slowly widen.

My entire face explodes into flames the longer we stared at each other, and I tried my best not to let my eyes wonder down.

"I thought Americans knew how to knock." She said, sarcastically

I was absolutely stunned at how subtle she is. She just carried on pulling her shirt over her head, turning around so that her back is facing me.

A small tattoo of an arrow made itself known on the left side of her shoulder blade at the top.

I state a bit too loudly, "You have a tattoo."

"I do." She replied, turning back to me.

The tattoo matches her necklace of the arrow-- the one her friend gave to her before he died.

My eyes soften slightly. "I'm guessing you got it for your friend?"

She took a deep breath in, walking pass me to grab her car keys. "Yeah."

"Can you tell me about him?"

"Somebody, not now. You can borrow some of my clothes and I'll cover your bruises again, we don't have time to stop at your house. We have to get going to university. I'll drop you off at the students' parking area."

Professor's clothes sat loosely over me. She gave me a black tank top with a leather jacket over it and dark blue jeans. The only thing that fits perfectly was the white sneaker shoes she gave me.

I was now sitting at the cafeteria, while sipping on my coffee and running through some Law notes. Iris called out my name followed by a 'pookie,' which I mentally face-palm myself for since a few other students glanced at us weirdly.

Iris jumped into the blue seat next to me.

"I just got my test result back." She whined, "Spanish."

I slowly look up from my notes. "Oh yeah? How much?"

"64%," She said, "I mean, it's better than my last test."

I chuckle, shaking my head, accidentally falling my eyes upon Daniela. She's standing at the side of the entrance with a cup of coffee in her hands, talking to another professor.

Iris looked at the direction I'm looking at.

"Oh." She smirked, "Why are we staring at miss hot stuff?"

While Daniela's lips continued moving as she talks to the coding professor, Professor Clarke, her eyes snap to me.

She smirked before looking back at Mr. Clarke.

I really love him, he's such a good professor.

My mom loved him too-- everyone does.

For some reason, my cheeks turned warm and I looked back at Iris, confused to why I'm reacting like that.

"I saw you two dancing yesterday." She said, "Did anything happen?"

"We just danced." I shrug, taking a sip of my coffee.

I knew from her suspicious look that she didn't believe me, but decided not to push the idea any further.

"Speaking of Valentine's, are you going to come third-wheel me and Xavier later tomorrow? We're going to the beach. That is if you're not going with Elijah." A shiver went down my spine as she said his name. "Or maybe we can have like a cute double-date?"

I debated to tell her. "I...I actually canceled plans with him. I'm not his Valentine anymore."

Iris frowns before nodding, "I knew you didn't like him, but he's so attractive... How come?"

I wanted to form the correct words, not knowing what to tell her.

Flashbacks of the night filled my head, and I could still feel Felix's hands over my body. I could still hear his voice growl in my ear.

Though, his voice got clearer as if he's standing behind me.

But, I was too stuck in my thoughts, staring blankly down at my papers to turn around and check. Until the pitch of his voice turned different and louder, and a hand reached out for my shoulder, I realize I wasn't imagining it.

My head shoots around and I look up to Elijah.

I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry.

"Victoria, did I do something wrong?" He spoke fast.

Iris looked him up and down and rolled her eyes, and Elijah saw it. He turned to Iris and pointed a finger right in her face.

"I wasn't talking to you. Stay out of this." He grumbled.

Iris looked at him fiercely from the top of her eyes. "Stay out of my goddam face or else you'll leave without having one."

Elijah stepped back, lowering his hand but bit chewed at his bottom lip angrily.

"Listen, Elijah. I said yes to being your Valentine way too soon without getting to know you first. And, yes, you're cool and all, but it's just all too fast."

What if he's just like his brother?

He drops his jaw on the floor and shrugs with his arms wide spread out. "It's just Valentine's though!" He said with a high-pitch voice, "I'm walking around here with everyone asking where you are. It's embarrassing. You're making me look bad, Vic."

I scoff, "I'm making you look bad?"

We all went quiet as we heard heels and boots clicking against the floor. Professor Clarke and Professor Garcia stood next to me and Iris, facing Elijah. I could see as he gulped, the lump going down and the audio displayed.

Professor Clarke spoke up, "Everything okay here?"

As Elijah replied a quiet 'yes, sir,' Professor Garcia, standing tall and straight with her head still up, looked down at me. I looked back up to her as she side-eyed me before she looked back at Elijah.

Professor Clarke turns to me and Iris. "Girls?"

"Yes, professor. Every thing's fine." I said quietly.

Iris furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. "No, no it's not. He's bothering us."

Elijah's head snaps around to Iris. "The hell I am! I'm trying to talk to Victoria, but you're just chipping in!"

Professor Garcia groaned lowly, clearly annoyed, "Enough."

We all went quiet.

I could feel my cheeks filling with heat again as I stare up at her like she's my hero.

"Mr. Grundling, I want you in my office after your classes."

Elijah scoffed before shaking his head and walked away.

Professor Clarke shook his head and took a deep breath in. "Sorry, Victoria. I have no idea why the university still allows him here. He's not easy to tolerate."

Daniela kept staring down at me.

Professor Clarke and I are buddies. Well, more he and my mother were. When I was busy hiding away in my mom's office, he'd come visit us and bring us lunch, then we'd eat there. He'd always talk about this kid named, Elijah, taking his class, coding. I now understand what he always talked about.

Elijah is just like his brother.

Luckily, I doubt I'll ever see them again.

Elijah will probably ignore me after Daniela's done with him. And Felix doesn't even go to university. He has a job already, since that's what Elijah told me.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too." I said under my breath.

"Have a nice day further you two." Professor Clarke smiled at me and Iris before turning around to leave.

Daniela was about to go along with professor Clarke, but firstly walked closer to me.

"I can't see that he'll talk to you ever again after I speak to him, but if he does, you come tell me." She spoke coldly.

I gulp, nodding.

She nodded back before turning around and catching up to Professor Clarke.

Iris sighed loudly, "Such a dumbass, Elijah."