52

Sometimes I wonder if Cameron has any idea what he's doing to me. Impacting my love life with Daniela. If there is even that life left of us.

She finally showed up today, looking like a zombie.

I do have her mug, fully washed out and clean, in my bag for when she was back. Now this was my chance to talk to her.

I should tell her what's been happening, right? It's only fair for her to know. But risking her reputation, I can't.

My eyes were glued to her the entire time as she paced up and down from her desk. How she picked up stacks of papers and handed it out to us. But when she gave one to me, she didn't even look at me. Except each time she was close to my desk, her jaw would clench.

Cameron wasn't here today.

Iris was worried, and... so was I. I don't like him the way he thinks I do. But, he's a good friend. He's not like other rough guys that hit on girls wherever they went.

He's understanding, patient, gentle and loving.

He has a good heart and I appreciate that he isn't making things awkward between us after he tried kissing me.

Iris leaned to my side. "Where's Cameron?" She whispered.

I glanced up from my paper, making sure Garcia isn't focusing on us. She isn't. She's writing down stuff on the board, her back faced to us.

I took a deep breath in. "I don't know. Why not ask his new buddy over there." Sarcasm. Iris knew I only used it when something was wrong.

Iris sighed, looking over her shoulder to Elijah. "What was the odds they became friends?"

"Don't say that, please." I mumble. "We spoke to Cameron. He won't hangout with him anymore. I believe him."

There was silence, the class quiet. Everyone thinks since professor was gone for so long, she'd come back another person. A darker, colder person. Which I created. So, they're too scared too speak.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Iris taking her phone out. Subtly, my head turns to her. "What are you doing?" I frown, speaking quietly so nobody hears us-- so Daniela doesn't hear us.

She twisted her phone so that I can see.

She was messaging Cameron and trying to find out where he is.

But suddenly, there was a figure right on front of us. We both snap our heads up to be met with Daniela staring down at us.

Just then and there, I wanted to sink into this chair and have it swallow me whole.

She held her hand out to Iris. "Give it."

I shot her a glare, my eyes telling Iris to listen to her. But Iris furrowed her eyebrows.

"No." She said.

I closed my eyes.

Here we go.

Daniela scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?" Some other children made noises.

"I said no, professor." She muttered. "This is my phone. We're not in High school. You may not take it."

All attention was on us now. Some students trying to look pass my head towards Iris as I sat back. My head was low, embarrassed to look up. Daniela on the other hand was furious, but kept her composure. I was mentally begging Iris not to make it any worse. Daniela has been through a lot already.

"Out of my class, Woods." She growled.

Iris' eyes widen, and so did mine. A few sounds escaped from everybody around us again, knowing where this is going.

Iris frowned. "What?"

Daniela's voice dropped. "Talk back to me one more time and you'll never return here again."

And then the class went quiet.

That was until I spoke up. "That's not fair!" I snapped.

Daniela's eyes, for the first time since this lesson started, locked with mine. It took everything in me to hold my stance and not look away. But the way her emerald eyes were burning through mine sent a shiver down my spine.

And through those stern eyes, I could see the betrayal and hurt.

"You too." She said strictly. "Out. Now."

My breathing hitched, not expecting that. But I probably deserve it.

Iris was not happy. "This is such bullshit!" She practically yelled, causing some to gasp.

Daniela seemed stunned for a moment, just like me, before she clenched her jaw.

"Out." She growled.

Iris' nostrils flared up and I knew she was about to explode. Just then, she shot up from her chair, standing face to face with Daniela. Daniela not fazed one a bit. Iris took her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder and then took the stuff on her desk along with her phone.

"Fuck this." She scoffed under her breath before moving around the desk.

She left the class with everyone's eyes following her.

I kept seated, absolutely in shock.

Daniela slowly turned back to me, and her mask of the strict teacher almost slipped. She furrowed her eyebrows together, but softly this time. She was moving her jaw around, eyes on me.

I stood up, grabbed my backpack and the rest of my things, and left.

Iris was halfway down the quiet hallway. Only now and then a student passing by us.

I'm furious, but I know I shouldn't be when I'm the real reason why we got kicked out of class.

But what Iris did wasn't necessary.

I sped up until I was walking next to her. She didn't face me.

"What the hell, Iris?" I frowned.

"You need to get your fucking girlfriend under control." She growled, gritting her teeth.

I blinked upon hearing those words and my guilt came back. "I'm not her..." I shook my head. "That's not the point. What you said was not cool, Iris. She's been having a hard time already and don't need any more drama."

Iris stopped and turned to me. "And who's fault is that?

I was taken aback. Her words stung a bit. It stung because I knew the answer to it.

My own emotions almost slipped through, but Iris tried calming me down before I could cry.

Iris ran her hands through her hair before sighing, also trying to calm herself down at the same time.

"Listen, Vic." Her voice dropped to a softer, quieter one. "You have to fix whatever's happening between you. Obviously, it didn't work yesterday, did it?"

I shook my head. "No. It didn't." My voice trembled.

"If you can't fix what Adeline ruined. Then you ruin her." She said. "Fight fire with fire."

Ruin her. How?

If I start a fight with Adeline, she'll end up giving me a fucking war.

Turns out Cameron was slightly feeling under the weather, what Iris told me.

I gave her some space to cool off while I try to clear my thoughts. I've been strolling up and down, left and right, through the buildings. When arriving at the hall, it was shut. So, no piano. Plan B was to sit on the steps outside the building which worked. There I sat it silence, every now and then students walking pass me.

What can I do to end this? Adeline's literally also dating her boss, my dad. I'm not even sure if that's legal, but the other enforcers knows about their relationship. Why can't Daniela and I be so open like them? Why can't Adeline let me be happy.

I can spread rumors about her, but then she'll hit me back ten times harder. I can set Cameron up with another girl, but that doesn't fix my problems with Daniela.

I then found myself walking down the Hallway of Doom to her office. For the first time, my hopes are high that she's not in there. All I want to do is give the mug back then leave.

Luckily her door was unlocked, and I sneaked inside. Like suspected, she's not here. But there is a steaming cup of coffee on her desk, meaning she's been here not too long ago.

My eyes linger on the typewriter like I always do when stepping foot inside of this room.

Then I went to her desk, getting out the mug and placing it down next to her laptop.

"What are you doing?"

Immediately, my body spins around towards her voice. The sudden appearance made my heart jump. But it beats even faster while she held eye contact. She had a slight frown on her face, trying to look past me.

I gestured to the mug. "Uh, just... came to give this back." I mumbled awkwardly, leaning against her desk.

She lowered her guard slightly, but still moved slow towards me. "Thanks." She said, then moved to sit down in her seat.

Just like that, she opened her laptop and started working on it. She did her best to ignore me as I kept standing there. It was a bad time to admire her beauty. Because the real beauty was inside of her. The beauty that I broke.

She looked up at me. "Can I help you?" Her voice was plain.

I felt so bad. So, so bad.

"Uh, no." I mumbled, turning around to the door again.

The keys from the laptop echoed in the room as she typed away, expecting me to leave. I expected myself to leave too before changing my mind and going to the typewriter.

The typing stopped, now she was probably looking at me.

I tried to stay calm as I felt her eyes burning through my back.

My hands gripped the sides of the metal box, lowering my face to blow some dust away.

I pulled back with a slight smile, thinking back to when my mom would type little poems out on this machine for me.

"You know, you would've loved my mom." I said softly, trying to ease the mood.

Thankfully, she got the hint and played along. She pushed her hurt to the side. "Yeah?" She asked, her voice quiet, "Why?"

I shrugged, followed by a sigh. "My mom was young... when the accident happened. She had me when she was nineteen. She was thirty-eight when she passed." I frowned. "She had this lively energy all the time. She loved black coffee like you do, loved the beach too. Always wore the same black heels like you do. You wear the same perfume she always wore. You'd just... get along with her well. She would've loved you."

Daniela kept quiet, listening closely. My eyes were glued to the typewriter the entire time. She was sat in her chair the entire time, staring at me.

"She was in a car crash with my uncle." I whispered. "They both... didn't make it."

That's the first time I've ever told someone that. It's only me, my dad, and some other family members that know the cause of death. Of course, my uncle's side of the family knows too.

Anthony is hurting just as much as I am.

That makes our bond stronger right? Our parents dying together? Sharing the same grief?

I mean, not even Iris knows.

"Victoria." She whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, me too."

Turning around, I met her gaze. She hesitated, I saw her mentally fighting herself, before standing up and walking to me. My body tensed as she inched closer until she stopped next to me. But she made sure to keep her space, as if she's afraid to get close again.

She reached out and dusted the side of the typewriter off. "I'll fix it for you." She said.

I frowned, looking at her. "What?"

"I'll fix it for you." She repeated. "It's broken. I have a contact who can fix anything."

Can it fix us?

I smiled. "Thank you. That... that means the world to me."

All she did was nod, her eyes afraid to meet my gaze. And when I realized that, my heart sunk and I also looked away.

My smile faded. "Daniela..." I whisper. "I'm so sorry."

Looking up, our eyes met. "But I promise you, there's nothing happening between me and Cameron." I said.

Her jaw clenched. "Then why does his name come up everywhere? Why is he always with you, trying to be close to you and touch you. Do you like the attention you're getting from him or something?"

"No, of course not!" I interjected, but she didn't seem to believe me.

"I can't keep on doing this." She said, stepping back. "Be all in, or all out. There's no halfway."

I panicked as she started speaking that kind of way. Like she needed to lecture me about this kind of stuff. Ironic. "I--" but she didn't let me finish.

"I feel like you don't know." She kept taking steps back until she was at her desk again. "I feel like you don't know if you're all the way in."

"But I am!"

"It doesn't feel that way anymore." She said, her eyebrows furrowing. This was getting real. So, I turned to face her entirely, letting go of the typewriter. "I can't keep letting people play with my feelings. So when you're sure about what you want, come find me before it's too late. But right now, I need a break."

I was speechless. "A-a... a break? As in a break up?"

She looked down to her desk, sitting down on her chair. Quickly, she composed herself, not letting me see the hurt, as she went back to her laptop.

"It does sound like that." She replied, trying to act unbothered, her eyes glued to the computer. But I saw the way her muscles tensed.

Tears swelled in my eyes. "Daniela--"

"That's professor to you."

And just like that, we were strangers all over again.