Chapter Forty Nine

[A/N] Just a reminder that Montgomery is a major bitch. :)

Wednesday;

I approached Montgomery's office door, giving it a quick knock before stepping inside. She was seated at her desk, marking a stack of papers, her eyes glued to each page as her pen moved with practiced precision. Today, her appearance was unusually understated; she wore a pair of faded jeans and a simple white shirt, no makeup in sight. Her hair was pulled back in a loose, slightly messy ponytail, with a few strands framing her face. Despite the casual look, there was something effortlessly beautiful about her.

As I settled into my chair across from her, Montgomery glanced at a pile of papers on my side of the desk and motioned to them with a brief flick of her fingers. "Mark them," she said, her tone brisk and her eyes still focused on her own work.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, nodding silently as I pulled the stack of quizzes closer. "How's your mother?" I asked softly, reaching for a red pen from her pen holder.

"She's fine," Montgomery replied curtly, still not sparing me a glance.

I sighed under my breath and began marking the papers, though my thoughts were far from focused. Memories from the day before played through my mind, filling me with quiet frustration. I had been there for her through everything: the waiting, the worry, the exhaustion. I'd sat still for hours, letting her rest her head on my shoulder, fighting through every ache just to make sure she stayed comfortable.

And yet, the moment she learned her mother was stable, Montgomery had practically shooed me away, as if my presence had suddenly become unnecessary. Even her own girlfriend hadn't stayed with her that long, and here I was, feeling dismissed. The unfairness of it stung more than I wanted to admit.

Her breaking down in front of me was still fresh in my mind, lingering there like a vivid, raw memory. I'd never seen her like that before—only the usual stern, composed Montgomery, with rare glimpses of a softer, almost kind side. But crying? Never. I had been shocked, not just by her vulnerability but by the helplessness she'd shown. I was pretty sure that was why she had pushed me away so quickly afterward, embarrassed for showing that side of herself in front of her student.

I tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on the quizzes in front of me. A small smile crept onto my face as I remembered something I'd been looking forward to, my birthday next Wednesday. I couldn't wait. A day to myself, maybe even a chance to escape the perpetual tension of Montgomery's office. Sure, I was supposed to be here next Wednesday, but surely she wouldn't mind giving me one day off for my birthday.

Glancing up, I decided to ask her. "Is it okay if I have next Wednesday off?" I tried to sound casual. "It's my birthday, and I thought maybe—"

"I really don't care," she snapped, cutting me off without even looking up.

Her words stung, the cold dismissal hitting harder than I expected. I opened my mouth to respond, to say something—anything—but the words caught in my throat. She didn't even pause her marking, her pen scratching across the paper with ruthless efficiency. For a moment, I just sat there, staring at her, a flicker of disbelief and hurt washing over me.

"Right," I murmured, lowering my gaze back to the quizzes, feeling the excitement for next week drain away.

A few minutes of silence passed, the tension thick between us. But the memory of her breaking down kept surfacing, nagging at me, pushing me to speak. "You know..." I started softly, hesitant, "it's okay to lean on people sometimes. You don't have to keep everything bottled up."

Montgomery's pen froze, her gaze still fixed on the paper in front of her, but her posture stiffened. "Is that so?" she muttered, her tone laced with sarcasm.

I took a steadying breath. "Yes. Last night... you didn't need to push me away. I was there for you because I wanted to be."

She finally looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a sharp, guarded expression. "And what makes you think I need you to be there for me right now?" she asked, her tone icy.

I clenched my jaw, feeling frustration bubble up. "Because I saw how much it hurt you, how scared you were. I don't know why it's so hard for you to accept help, but I stayed because I care about you. You don't have to push everyone away just to feel strong."

Her gaze flickered, a flash of something unreadable in her eyes, and then just as quickly, it was gone. She scoffed lightly, looking down at the papers on her desk. "You're making too much of this," she said quietly, almost to herself. "I don't need anyone's pity."

I leaned forward, searching her face, hoping she'd meet my eyes again. "It's not pity. I was just... there for you, like any friend would be."

At that, her eyes snapped back to mine, and she let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Friend?" She shook her head slightly, a faint, bitter smile playing on her lips. "Valentina, let's not pretend this is anything more than what it is. You're my teaching assistant; that's all."

Her words felt like a slap, but I forced myself not to look away. "If that's really what you believe, then... fine," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But just so you know, I'm still going to be here. Whether you like it or not."

She looked at me, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes, as if my determination had caught her off guard. For a moment, we simply stared at each other, the silence between us thick with unspoken emotions.

After a beat, she sighed, breaking eye contact and rubbing her temples. "Look, if you want next Wednesday off, then take it," she muttered, almost begrudgingly. "Just stop bothering me."

I blinked, a bit taken aback by her concession. "Thank you," I said quietly, a small smile creeping back onto my face.

Montgomery huffed, her gaze falling back to the stack of papers. "Just mark the quizzes, Valentina," she said, but her tone had softened ever so slightly.

✿

A few hours later, Lea and I found ourselves by the fountain, its soft gurgle the only sound as we settled into the bench. I watched Lea light up her cigarette, taking a slow, deliberate drag before meeting my gaze. We'd been talking for a while, recounting the events of yesterday, and my voice grew animated as I told her every detail.

"I mean, we got the call that Elizabeth's heart had failed, and we rushed to the hospital. Then... then I saw Montgomery fall apart." I paused, my eyes glazing over slightly at the memory of it. "She broke down right in front of me, like really broke down. I've never seen her like that. She was just... human, you know? Vulnerable. And then she fell asleep on my shoulder for hours."

Lea exhaled a cloud of smoke, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she listened. "Let me guess," she said with a smirk. "As soon as she found out her mother was okay, she pushed you away like nothing happened, right?"

I let out a frustrated sigh. "Exactly! The second she knew Elizabeth was fine, she just shoved me aside. It was like... like it didn't mean anything to her." I looked down at my hands, twisting them in my lap. "And then today, she acted like yesterday was just another day. She barely talked to me. She was back to her cold, detached self, like nothing ever happened."

Lea took another drag, a glint of amusement mixed with pity in her eyes. "She's definitely embarrassed that she cried in front of you. People like her—those who always have to seem strong and unbreakable—hate showing weakness, especially to someone they're... close to."

I snorted, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, she did a fantastic job at erasing any sign of vulnerability today." I leaned back, crossing my arms. "She even brushed me off when I asked if I could have my birthday off next week. Didn't care at all. Just snapped at me like usual."

Lea let out a short laugh. "Montgomery's a piece of work. But, come on—she still fell asleep on your shoulder. That's saying something." She tapped her cigarette, flicking ash into the breeze. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she's terrified of you seeing through her tough act."

I thought about that, a faint warmth spreading in my chest. "But why? I was there for her. I sat there, letting my entire arm go numb just so she could sleep a little longer. I didn't move an inch, even though my back was killing me."

Lea's smile softened as she looked at me. "Maybe that's the problem, Val. You're probably the only person who's gotten that close to her. She doesn't know how to handle it. Plus..." She trailed off, her gaze shifting toward the campus buildings. "I still can't believe she's still with Vargas. I mean, it's obvious she has feelings for you, so why cling to a relationship that's clearly not working?"

I let out a humorless chuckle. "Yeah, tell me about it. I can't wrap my head around it either. The way she and Vargas were together yesterday—it felt forced, almost like she's holding on for the sake of it."

Lea's eyes narrowed in thought. "Maybe she thinks it's easier to keep things the way they are, no matter how toxic it is, rather than risk something new. Especially if that something new is her student."

I winced at that word—student. It sounded so cold, so clinical, and yet that's exactly what I was to her. But there were moments, small and fleeting, when I felt we were more. Like last night. I sighed, letting the silence between us grow. "I just... don't get it. Why show that side to me if she's going to keep pretending it didn't happen?"

Lea shrugged, taking another drag and blowing out a thin stream of smoke. "People are complicated. Especially Montgomery. She's probably wrestling with a thousand thoughts and doesn't know how to let you in. Or maybe she's scared of what it would mean if she did."

I looked at her, absorbing her words, feeling a strange sense of understanding. "Do you think she'll ever open up?"

Lea let out a small, cynical laugh. "Honestly? I don't know. But one thing's clear—if she does, it won't be because she's decided to make it easy for either of you. People like Montgomery don't come around to their feelings; they have to be dragged kicking and screaming."

I cracked a smile at that, nodding. "That sounds like her. Stubborn, proud, and impossible to read."

Lea extinguished her cigarette and stood, stretching. "Well, if she keeps stringing you along, you could always make the first move. Put her on the spot."

My heart skipped at the thought, and I shook my head quickly. "No way. Not while she's still with Vargas. That wouldn't be right."

Lea raised an eyebrow. "Since when does she worry about what's right? Look, you don't have to do anything dramatic. Just let her know that you're there, whether she likes it or not. Make her realize she can't just push you out of her life whenever it suits her."

I chewed on that, letting the idea settle, a feeling of resolve building within me. "Maybe you're right," I murmured, more to myself than to her.

Lea smirked, giving me a quick nudge on the shoulder. "Of course I'm right. Now, come on. Let's grab a coffee. You've got enough on your plate without sitting here and overthinking everything."

I watched, a bit baffled, as Lea stood up from the bench and casually slung her bag over her shoulder, a cigarette dangling from her lip. She looked completely at ease, her eyes holding that familiar spark of rebellion, like she was just waiting for an excuse to break some rule.

"We have a lecture with Prof. Martin in like ten minutes," I said, still seated and furrowing my brows. "You do remember that, right?"

Lea shrugged, exhaling a small puff of smoke and smirking. "Yeah, but come on, like you actually want to be there." She gestured for me to get up, her grin widening. "Forget Martin. Let's go to Midnight Mocha and plan your birthday. You deserve a break."

I let out a sigh, but her enthusiasm was infectious, and, honestly, I wasn't thrilled about sitting through another one of Prof. Martin's lectures. So I stood up, brushing off my jeans, and walked beside her toward the parking lot.

Once there, we made our way to my car, since Lea hadn't brought an extra helmet for her motorcycle. I unlocked the doors, and we climbed in. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I could feel her watching me, her gaze curious and slightly teasing.

Lea tilted her head, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "So, if you rode with Montgomery to the hospital, and she basically told you to eff off afterward, how did you get back to campus?"

I sighed, keeping my eyes on the road. "Luckily, I had my phone and car keys with me. I called an Uber to get back. But..." I trailed off, feeling the annoyance bubbling up again at the memory. "My bag was still in her office, and, of course, it was locked. So I had to leave it there and head home."

Lea chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Figures she'd lock you out of your own stuff. Did she even give you a second thought after pushing you away?"

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my jaw clenching as I remembered the cold, distant look she'd given me earlier. "Nope."

We pulled into the Midnight Mocha parking lot, the cozy glow of the café inviting us in from the overcast day outside. We walked in, the rich aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air, and found a table by the window. The place was mostly empty, with just a few people scattered at tables, absorbed in their laptops or books.

After we ordered our drinks, Lea leaned back in her chair, watching me with a thoughtful expression. "Okay, real talk," she started, resting her elbows on the table. "Why are you so into her? I mean, she's rude, bossy, and emotionally unavailable. Not exactly a recipe for romance."

I bit my lip, struggling to put my feelings into words. "I know she's difficult. A part of me wants to stop. Stop taking her nonsense and rude attitude. But the other part of me doesn't want to stop. I catch these glimpses... moments where she's different. Like, underneath all that cold exterior, there's someone else. Someone who's kind and caring, and maybe even a little... scared." I looked down, tracing the rim of my cup with my finger. "And, I don't know. I feel like if I gave up on her, I'd be giving up on something that could be... real."

Lea nodded slowly, studying me with an understanding I hadn't expected. "You're a hopeless romantic, you know that?"

I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. "Yeah, maybe. But it doesn't make it any easier."

Lea took a slow sip of her coffee, her eyes glinting with an unmistakable spark of excitement as she peered at me from over the rim. "So, since your birthday's next week Wednesday, how about we go out and celebrate on Friday night?" She set her cup down, her lips curving in a mischievous smile as if she'd already mapped out the evening.

I sighed, shaking my head. "I can't. I promised Dr. Bryson I'd be at the hospital early on Saturday to help him out all day. I won't be in any shape to go out late Friday."

Lea leaned back, tilting her head thoughtfully as she tapped her fingers against her cup. "Alright, fair point. How about this Friday, then?" She raised her eyebrows, clearly already sold on her own idea. "We can celebrate a little early."

I chuckled softly, knowing I'd probably end up going along with whatever she suggested. "Okay, but where are we going?"

Her face lit up as she leaned forward, bracing her elbows on the table. "To a bar," she said with a smirk, anticipating my reluctance. "But before you protest, hear me out. This place doesn't have the loud music or those blinding strobe lights. It's chill, relaxed... We can play a few rounds of pool, grab some snacks, have a drink or two, and just hang out."

I chewed my lip, considering it. The idea of a calm night sounded more appealing than anything too wild. And, honestly, I could picture the two of us playing pool and talking without having to shout over music. "Alright," I said, nodding. "That actually sounds... nice."

Lea grinned, looking triumphant. "Perfect. It's a little hole-in-the-wall spot, super laid-back. I think you'll love it." She took another sip of her coffee, her eyes scanning my face. "And you don't have to drink if you don't want to. Just good company, a little pool, and some birthday vibes."

I laughed, warmth spreading through me at the thought of celebrating in such a low-key way. "You're making this sound really perfect."

Lea smirked, clearly pleased with herself. "Well, it's not every day my best friend turns another year older. Plus, it'll be a nice change from... you know, all the Montgomery drama."