Chapter Thirty Three

Tuesday;

I had just stepped out of my car, the door clicking shut behind me as I locked it, when someone appeared directly in front of me. I looked up, locking eyes with Lea, who stood with her arms crossed and a disappointed expression that screamed 'trouble.'

"Uh, hi?" I greeted, my brow furrowing in confusion as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Don't 'hi' me," she clicked her tongue, narrowing her eyes at me. "Where the hell were you yesterday?" Oh right. I'd completely forgotten to text her yesterday to let her know I wasn't coming to any of the lectures.

"I didn't feel so good," I shrugged, turning and heading towards the fountain, Lea trailing closely behind. I wasn't lying—I really hadn't felt great.

"You could've texted me," she said, a mock pout crossing her face, feigning hurt. I shot her an apologetic look before plopping down onto the stone bench by the fountain. Lea settled beside me, her eyes alight with her usual mischievous glint.

"Anyway!" she declared with a flourish, her whole demeanor shifting as a grin spread across her face. "I have come up with a few brilliant plans to ruin Montgomery's day."

I chuckled, shaking my head, amused but exasperated. "I don't even wanna hear it," I replied, leaning back against the bench. "And you don't have to do anything, we're friends now."

Lea's eyes widened slightly, her expression instantly shifting to disbelief. "Friends? You and Montgomery?" She made a face, one that somehow conveyed both confusion and mild disgust. "How did that happen?"

I shrugged again, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "It's a long story. But yeah, we decided to let bygones be bygones."

Lea's eyes widened, her head shaking slowly as if she was trying to process my words. "Val, I'm going to need you to spill," she demanded, leaning in, her curiosity palpable.

I let out a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair as I began to recount the events of the picnic on Saturday—how Elizabeth had invited me, how I saw Montgomery and Vargas, and the startling revelation that they had been dating for three years. I shared how Montgomery and I had decided to bury the tension and just be friends, each word I spoke feeling a little surreal, even now.

As I finished recounting everything, I glanced over at Lea. She was sitting rigidly, her lips pressed together, her brow furrowed as if she was trying to piece it all together. For a long moment, she said nothing, then finally, she let out a breath, her shoulders sagging.

"Well..." she began, then stopped, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the words. Finally, she shook her head, a look of pure bewilderment on her face. "Yeah, I got nothing."

I chuckled softly, glancing down at my watch. "I need to go," I said, standing up from the bench, the breeze rustling through the leaves overhead. "I'll catch you later." My chest tightened slightly at the thought of what lay ahead—time to spend the day with Montgomery.

Lea stared at me, her mouth agape, then called after me as I began to walk away. "How the hell am I supposed to focus on my lecture when you just dropped this bombshell on me?" Her voice was a mix of disbelief and exasperation.

I threw a smile over my shoulder, waving a hand in farewell. "You'll manage, Lea. You're tough," I called back, my footsteps echoing across the courtyard.

Montgomery's office door was open when I arrived, so I rapped my knuckles gently on the doorframe before stepping inside. She looked up from her desk, her eyes meeting mine, and a small smile curled her lips. "Morning," she greeted, her voice carrying that soft tone I was beginning to notice more often. "Where were you yesterday?"

I let myself fall into the chair across from her desk, the faux leather creaking slightly under my weight. "I didn't feel so good, so I decided to skip my classes," I said with a shrug. She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flickering briefly with what seemed like concern.

"You feeling better now?" she asked, twirling the pen between her fingers with practiced ease. The light from the window caught in her hair, giving it a subtle, almost golden glow. I nodded in response, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Yeah," I said, "I basically slept the whole day. Did wonders for me."

"That's good," she said, her smile widening a little, the pen pausing mid-twirl. There was a brief moment of quiet, the kind that seemed to stretch just enough to feel significant. Then she cleared her throat, setting the pen down on the desk with a soft click. "Anyway, what do you want to do today?" she asked, leaning back in her chair, her gaze fixed on me. "Lesson plan, quizzes, or... chill?"

The way she said "chill" made her sound a bit awkward, as if she wasn't used to offering that as an option. I couldn't help but smile at that, the way she tried to sound casual. It was strange seeing her like this—less the untouchable professor, more... approachable.

I was just about to make my choice when the office door suddenly burst open. Someone stormed in, practically throwing a stack of papers onto Montgomery's desk with a loud thud. I turned my head, my eyes widening as I saw Prof. Vargas standing there, her expression livid. Her eyes were like daggers aimed at Montgomery, and without a word, she spun on her heel and stormed back out, the door slamming shut behind her.

"Damn," I muttered, furrowing my brows. "What was that all about?"

Montgomery barely blinked, her face composed as she picked up the papers, glancing at them dismissively. "She's probably on her period or something," she said with a shrug.

I raised my eyebrows, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "Does that mean you were on yours this whole time?" I asked, my tone teasing.

For a moment, she looked at me in stunned silence, and I thought maybe I'd crossed a line. But then, to my surprise, she burst out laughing, her head falling back as she let out a genuine, hearty laugh. It was such a rare sound, it almost startled me.

"Yes," she finally managed, wiping at the corner of her eye, still chuckling. "I've got this rare case where my period lasts for months."

Her laughter was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile wider as I watched her amusement linger. She reached over, grabbed a stack of papers, and dropped them in front of me, still chuckling softly.

I eyed the pile skeptically. "I thought I got to choose what I do today," I said, raising an eyebrow. I definitely wasn't planning on choosing to mark quizzes.

"Well, yes," she said, an impish grin playing at her lips, "but I knew you'd pick the 'chill' option, and I just couldn't let that happen." She placed a red pen on top of the stack, her eyes glinting with mischief.

I let out a dramatic sigh, picking up the pen. "Then why even give me the option?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She gave a small shrug, her gaze shifting as if she were considering her answer. "I don't know," she admitted, "I guess I was trying to be... nice."

I scoffed playfully, shaking my head. "You gotta work on that, Professor," I teased, my lips curving into a smirk.

Montgomery rolled her eyes, though the smile that lingered softened her expression. "I'll add it to my long list of things to work on," she replied, her voice dry with a hint of humor.

I focused on marking the quizzes, glancing occasionally at Montgomery as she worked through her own stack. For once, the silence in the room wasn't awkward; it felt comfortable, almost companionable. The rhythmic scratch of our pens filled the space, and I found myself settling into the calmness of it.

A soft knock interrupted our peaceful bubble, and the door creaked open. Montgomery and I both looked up to see Lea's head poke through, a wide grin plastered across her face.

"Yo, what's up, Professor Montgrumpy," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Her grin widened as if she found her own joke particularly clever, then she quickly corrected herself with a mock-serious expression. "I mean, Professor Montgomery." She cleared her throat, her eyes now shifting to me as she added, "I just came to drop something off for the love of my life."

My eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. Love of her life? What games is she playing now?

Montgomery's expression hardened, her eyes flicking up at Lea before returning to her work. "Make it quick," she snapped, her tone clipped, clearly unimpressed by the intrusion. She refocused on the quizzes in front of her, her pen moving with deliberate strokes, making it clear she wanted this interruption over as soon as possible.

Lea strode fully into the room, her gaze locking with mine as she flashed me a sly, almost conspiratorial smile. She began rummaging through her bag, her fingers sifting through its contents. "Ah," she said with an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head, "I think I left it in your room." She paused for dramatic effect before adding, "Guess I need to come by your place again today."

My brows furrowed, confusion spreading through me. What on earth was she talking about? Lea hadn't been to my place at all this weekend. Before I could say a word, she threw me a playful wink, spun on her heel, and headed for the door. "Sorry for wasting your time," she called back, her voice dripping with false politeness. Then she was gone, slipping out of sight before I could question any of her nonsense.

I turned back to Montgomery, feeling a mix of awkwardness and bewilderment. Her gaze remained fixed on her quizzes, but I could see her lips twitching with barely restrained irritation. "Montgrumpy, huh?" she muttered, still focused on her work.

I winced at the nickname, my shoulders stiffening. "Yeah... Lea came up with that," I said, attempting a sheepish smile. Her only response was a low hum of acknowledgment, and I could sense her patience wearing thin.

"Just finish with the quizzes," she ordered, her tone cool and clipped, signaling that she had no interest in further discussion. The room's warmth seemed to drain out in an instant, replaced with a tense silence.

I looked down at my stack of papers, my fingers tightening around the red pen as I tried to regain focus. I had to remind myself that expecting Montgomery to fully change her attitude overnight was unrealistic—people didn't change that easily, and this would take time. It was clear she was still grappling with her own emotions, and I needed to be patient.

"How long have you had Tuna?" I asked, glancing up from the stack of quizzes, hoping to ease the tension that still lingered between us. Montgomery's expression softened, and a smile broke across her face as she leaned back in her chair.

"About two years," she replied, a hint of fondness in her voice. "It was a birthday gift from Carol."

Hearing her mention her girlfriend, a pang of disappointment settled in my chest, and I tried to ignore it. Of course, she was still with Carol—she had a life I wasn't a part of. I reminded myself that this was just a friendship. She wasn't interested in me like that.

"Did you name him?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. Montgomery nodded, her smile widening into a chuckle.

"Yes! The little rascal stole a tuna sandwich right out of my hand when I first brought him home. I thought the name fit him perfectly."

I offered her a smile before returning my focus to marking the quizzes. Despite my efforts to stay concentrated, I could feel her gaze lingering on me, a subtle tension filling the room.

"Do you have any pets?" she asked, her voice breaking the silence. I shook my head, still marking. "Nah, my dog passed away a few years ago."

A brief silence followed before she spoke again, her voice softening. "Well, if you want, we could..." She paused, clearing her throat in an awkward way that made me finally glance up. Her eyes met mine, and there was a hint of hesitance there. "We could meet up at the park sometime, and you could play with Tuna. He loves you."

My heart lifted at the idea, and I couldn't suppress the grin that spread across my face. It had been so long since I last saw Tuna, and I had genuinely missed the little guy.

"Sure!" I chuckled, leaning back in my seat. "I miss that little dude. I still remember the first time I saw him with the dog walker. He ran straight into the pond, splashing around with the ducks, and the moment he saw me, he bolted over and demanded pets!"

Montgomery let out a laugh, "That sounds like him," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. For a moment, the awkwardness between us faded, replaced by an image of Tuna's playful antics.

"He's always been a bit of a troublemaker," she continued, her voice light. "But I think that's what makes him so charming. He knows exactly how to get attention—especially yours, apparently."

I chuckled, nodding as I replayed the scene in my mind. "He knows where his priorities are," I joked, a hint of pride in my voice. "I deserve all the love and attention, after all."

Montgomery's laughter slowly faded, and as it did, her gaze softened, her head tilting just slightly as she watched me. "You do," she said quietly, her voice so gentle that I almost thought I imagined it.

A blush crept up my cheeks, warmth spreading under my skin. I ducked my head, focusing intently on the stack of quizzes to hide the flush coloring my face. There it was again—that strange, unexplainable effect she had on me. It was as if her words could reach right inside me, tugging on emotions I barely understood myself.

After a moment, she cleared her throat, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Do me a favor and grab that First-Year book from the shelf again, please," she said, her voice returning to its usual calm authority. "You know what it looks like now."

I nodded quickly, grateful for the task that gave me an excuse to move, to collect myself. As I made my way to the bookshelf, my heart was still pounding, her soft words replaying in my head, making it impossible to focus.

I scanned the rows of books, searching for the familiar cover. I came up empty-handed, about to admit defeat, when I spotted it—on the top shelf, slightly out of reach.

Sighing quietly, I stood on my tiptoes and stretched my arm as far as I could, my fingers just brushing against the spine of the book. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't quite get a hold of it. Frustration began to creep in, and I was about to turn and ask for help when I heard her chair scrape against the floor.

My breath caught as I felt her presence behind me, her voice low and direct, "Okay, move." Her hands lightly gripped my waist, guiding me aside. The touch sent a jolt through me, and I could feel my pulse quicken, the warmth flooding my cheeks.

I stepped back, and she reached up with ease, her fingers wrapping around the book and pulling it from the shelf. When she turned, her eyes locked with mine, and I could feel the heat rushing to my face, unable to hide the blush that had formed. She gave me a small, knowing smirk, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes before she moved back to her desk, as if the moment hadn't affected her at all.

Taking a deep breath, I watched as Montgomery gathered a few items from her desk, placing them neatly into her handbag. Her movements were precise, her focus unyielding, and I stood there, still by the bookshelf, quietly observing.

She finally turned to me, her gaze briefly meeting mine. "I have a lecture," she said, her voice steady as she checked her watch. "It'll probably be a quick one, but you can stay here and finish the quizzes or whatever." And with that, she walked out of the office, her heels clicking lightly against the floor until the sound disappeared down the hallway.

For a moment, I stayed still, unsure of what to do next. Then, a mischievous thought crept into my mind, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. I moved over to her side of the desk and sat down in her chair, sinking into the plush cushion. Damn, this was so much more comfortable than the hard, unforgiving seat I was supposed to sit at.

Why couldn't I have a chair like this? It would save my poor backside from so much discomfort. I leaned back, letting myself enjoy the luxury, until a voice cut through my thoughts.

"What are you doing?" Montgomery's voice startled me, making me jump in the seat. I turned towards the door, my eyes widening as I saw her standing there, one eyebrow raised.

"Testing out your chair," I replied with a shrug, unable to hide the small smile. "It's so comfortable."

She walked over, grabbing a book from her desk, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at me. I braced myself, fully expecting her to order me to get out. Instead, she gave a subtle shake of her head. "You're clumsy, Ms. Wilson," she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Try not to break my chair."

Relief mixed with surprise, and I grinned, trying not to show how much her words affected me. "I'll do my best, Professor," I said, settling in a little deeper.

Montgomery gave me one last lingering look before turning on her heel and walking out of the office. The door clicked shut behind her, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.

She hadn't told me to move, so I figured she must be fine with me sitting in her chair. A small, triumphant smile spread across my face as I grabbed the stack of quizzes that were on my side of the desk, bringing them closer.

Now this was much better—cushioned seat, enough space to spread out. No discomfort, no aching from sitting in a stiff chair. I could actually focus on getting these quizzes marked properly.

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and I glanced up to see Lea walk in. "Yo, what's up, my dude?" she called, a mischievous smile lighting up her face as she shut the door behind her and plopped down on the seat where I usually sat.

I raised an eyebrow at her, letting out a chuckle as I went back to marking. "What happened to 'love of your life'?" I teased, shaking my head.

Lea stretched out, making herself comfortable on the chair, and gave me a grin. "Honestly?" she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "I just wanted to see if Montgomery would get angry, and she did." She wiggled her eyebrows at me, clearly pleased with herself.

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. "She got mad because you basically barged in."

Lea shrugged, completely unfazed. "Agree to disagree" She leaned forward, her grin widening. "So, how's it going in here anyway? Any progress on the 'friendship' front?"

I glanced down at the quizzes, trying to focus on grading. "It's... fine," I replied, my tone casual. "We're getting along better, actually. She's... not as mean lately."

Lea let out a fake gasp, her eyes widening theatrically. "Oh my gosh, did Montgomery discover basic human kindness? Stop the presses." She laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh along with her, shaking my head at her antics.

Lea grabbed her phone from her bag, her thumb scrolling through it lazily. She glanced up at me, her brow arched in curiosity. "When does Montgomery come back?" she asked.

I pursed my lips, checking the time before giving a shrug. "No idea," I admitted. "She just said her lecture wouldn't last long."

Lea shook her head, her eyes widening with mock alarm as she got up from the chair. "Yeah, I'm out of here," she declared, slipping her phone back into her bag. "She might not have a reason to murder you anymore, but trust me, she'll find any tiny excuse to end me." She gave me a playful salute, her lips curling into a smirk. "Goodbye, love of my life," she added with a wink before turning on her heel and striding out of the office.

I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head as I watched her leave. That girl was always so over-the-top, but she never failed to make me laugh.

With a sigh, I focused back on my work, my eyes scanning over the final quiz. It took a few more minutes, but eventually, I marked the last question, setting down the red pen with a satisfied smile.

The door creaked open, and I looked up just in time to see Montgomery walk in, her presence filling the small office. In her hand, she carried a pizza box, a delicious aroma trailing behind her.

Montgomery took the seat where I usually sat, her eyes watching me as I moved to stand from her chair. She waved me off dismissively. "Sit," she ordered, her voice firm but not unkind. She placed the pizza box down on her desk, her small, almost hesitant smile making her seem softer. "Thought you might be hungry," she added.

I leaned forward and opened the box, revealing two oversized pizza slices from the cafeteria. My stomach gave an enthusiastic growl, perfectly timed, and I laughed in embarrassment. "You read my mind, Professor," I said, my eyes lighting up at the sight of the cheesy, golden-brown slices.

Montgomery smiled faintly as she took one of the slices, gesturing for me to take the other. I grabbed it eagerly, my fingers sinking slightly into the warm crust. The rich aroma of cheese and seasoning filled the room, making my mouth water as I took my first bite.

She leaned back in her chair, watching me with a curious gaze as she bit into her own slice. "Did you finish with the quizzes?" she asked, her tone casual.

I nodded, my mouth too full to speak. Montgomery raised her eyebrows, clearly amused at the sight of me trying—and failing—to answer properly. I chewed quickly and swallowed, wiping a stray bit of sauce from the corner of my mouth. "Yep, all done," I managed, a hint of pride in my voice.

Montgomery's eyes softened, and she gave me an approving nod. "Good," she said simply, taking another bite. The silence between us wasn't awkward this time, it felt comfortable.

Montgomery leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other, and I couldn't help but notice how her pencil skirt slid slightly up her leg, exposing a bit more of her thigh. She looked so effortlessly confident. "What's your favorite flower?" she asked, her eyes flickering towards me for a brief moment before she settled back.

"Sunflowers," I answered without hesitation. I had always loved them—they were bold and vibrant, almost impossible to ignore. They reminded me of endless summer days and wide-open fields.

She gave a small smile, "I should've guessed that," she said, her voice low, "You're just as bright and beautiful as the flower."

My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, warmth spreading across my face. Did she just call me beautiful? She definitely did. My brain struggled to catch up with the compliment.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "What's yours?" I stammered, looking up at her. Montgomery leaned back, her expression contemplative for a moment. "Peppermint Carnations," she finally replied.

I frowned slightly, trying to recall what peppermint carnations looked like. The name didn't sound familiar at all. She must have noticed the confusion written all over my face because she let out a small sigh and rolled her eyes, an amused smile playing on her lips. Reaching for her phone, she scrolled through a few images before holding it out for me to see.

As I took her phone, our fingers brushed against each other, a brief, unexpected touch that sent a jolt through me. I almost dropped her phone, my fingers fumbling clumsily. Montgomery's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Careful, Ms. Wilson," she said, her tone teasing.

My face grew warmer as I managed to hold onto her phone, glancing down at the screen. The image displayed a delicate carnation, with soft pink and white petals that were subtly striped, as if brushed with peppermint. It was beautiful in a classic, almost vintage way.

"Pretty," I managed, my voice softer than I intended. I looked back up at her, and for a moment, our eyes met. There was something in her gaze—something gentle, and almost vulnerable.

She nodded, taking her phone back. "Yeah, they are," she said, her voice quieter now, almost reflective.

Montgomery seemed to snap back to reality, the softness in her expression vanishing as she stood up from the chair. Her confident demeanor slipped back into place like armor, her shoulders straightening, her gaze once again poised. She brushed invisible crumbs off her skirt before glancing my way. "Now, Ms. Wilson, I'd like to have my chair back," she said, her voice carrying that familiar authority.

I slouched a little further in the seat, a small, exaggerated whine escaping me. "But it's so comfy," I protested, making no move to stand up. She rolled her eyes at me, a bemused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Don't be such a baby," she muttered, stepping closer until she was standing right in front of me. "I'll get you a better chair."

My eyes lit up, and I smiled sweetly at her, leaning forward slightly. "Really?"

She pursed her lips, pausing for dramatic effect before delivering her answer. "No." The single word was clipped, and it made my hopeful smile immediately drop. I sighed, already knowing I should've expected it. Of course she wouldn't go out of her way to do that.

With a reluctant groan, I finally pushed myself up from her chair. As I stepped past her, I felt her hand accidentally brush against my hip, her fingers grazing the fabric of my shirt. It was a brief, fleeting contact, yet it sent a wave of warmth rushing through me, making my heart skip a beat.

I caught her eyes as I moved away, and for just a second, I could see her smirk, as if she had done it on purpose. But then, as quickly as it happened, her gaze shifted back to her desk, and she moved to reclaim her seat, her expression unreadable.

I let out a soft exhale and moved back to my usual chair, my thoughts a tangled mess of emotions that refused to settle. The little interactions between us—every touch, every lingering look, every carefully chosen word—were becoming increasingly hard to ignore. I had to remind myself, over and over, that she was my professor, and I was just her student. She was in a relationship, had been for three years now, and we had agreed to be friends.

But the way she spoke to me today, the compliments, the way her eyes softened when she looked at me—was that really just friendliness? It felt like she was subtly flirting with me, and yet I couldn't be entirely sure. What if I was wrong, just imagining things that weren't there? And if I wasn't, if she really was flirting, then what did that mean? She was still involved with someone else, and I didn't want to encourage anything inappropriate, no matter how much my heart seemed to skip a beat when she was near.

I needed to focus on what we agreed upon—being friends. And honestly, I was glad we made that decision. It felt like she was already opening up to me, little by little. It was slow, almost imperceptible, but it was happening. There were moments when she let her guard down, moments when I could see the real her beneath the carefully controlled exterior. That was enough for now.

As I settled back in my chair, I watched her return to her work, her focus shifting back to the stack of papers on her desk. I could see the slight furrow of concentration in her brow, the gentle way she tapped her pen against her lips. She looked almost serene, and I allowed myself a small smile.

Friendship was enough—for now.