Emily: Hello Kitten (The ‘Hello’ series)

5. Chapter 5

five

I cover my face with a pillow and scream into it as I know how fucked I am.

Beth sighs. “Just transfer out of the class.”

“I need it to graduate. I checked,” I mumble against the pillow. “If I want to follow my plan, I need a certain set of classes to graduate. With one of them, I can only enter if I finish ng Narrative 102 with Dr. Hayes.”

She watches me for a long moment, and I can see the gears turning in her head as her jaw ticks. “What?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Okay, then forget it ever happened.”

“Yeah, easier said than done when I have to see him three times a week. Maybe it will magically get less awkward. If he keeps being the cool professor, I’ll forget how he held me against his wall,” I grumble.

She rubs the back of her neck and sets her strawberry blonde hair free. “I mean, go out. Get laid. Clean your palate or something. Come on, it’s Friday.”

That’s not the worst idea. It’s been five days since I first saw Dr. Hayes, three awkward classes where I barely managed to slip away before he tried to keep me and talk to me. I can’t keep living like a fugitive for three hours a week.

“You want to go out again? After what happened last time?” I ask.

“Well… one, it’s a Friday, not a Sunday, so we’ll probably see some people our own age,” she hints.

I huff and sit up.

“Not your cup of tea, but it might clear him from your mind. You’re the one who says getting under someone else will change your mind on someone from your past. Put that idea to work,” Beth says as if it’s obvious.

It’s not the worst idea. “So, just get all dressed up, go out, drink, and fuck someone else?”

“Someone who doesn’t go to our school, ideally,” she jokes.

I roll my eyes, not even wanting to get into someone else’s bed. “Fine. Are you letting Danielle know?” I sigh and get up to search my closet for something to wear.

“I’ll text her,” Beth says as my fingers glide over the dresses and linger on a cute pink one.

Peeling it from the hanger, I change out of my jeans and simple top and slide into the dress as Beth brushes through her hair and wiggles into cut-off denim shorts and a tube top.

With that, we go to a local college bar. We start with drinking, since that’s clearly the first solution, then we move to dancing. I giggle as we show off our worst moves, then our best. I grind against my best friend, then Danielle joins us, rubbing against me and Beth until Beth is stolen away by a guy.

She giggles and happily grinds on him. I get another drink, wait for someone to approach, then go dance with the first guy who does, even though he’s not close to being my type. He’s got long hair, glasses, a good body, and confidence, but I just don’t feel it.

Then again, I wouldn’t be out here, trying every mixed drink I think I can tolerate, if I hadn’t slept with a professor.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I pull it out. The screen lights up and a text from Stallion fills my screen.

Shit. Why is he texting me?

Where are you? We need to talk.

Where am I? Why the fuck does he care? And I don’t want to talk to him. As I lock the screen, it buzzes again. Another text pops up, and my brows crease together.

Which dorm do you stay at?

What? No, he shouldn’t go searching for that.

Unlocking my screen, I quickly type a reply.

Leave me alone!

He shouldn’t be texting me, and I fear as the alcohol buzzes under my skin, I’ll do something I’ll regret. And it seems I already do as my thumbs work quicker than my mind.

You just had to be my professor. I’m so pissed at you!

Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I glance around, searching for my friends and perhaps another drink. Maybe I should give my phone to Beth, just to be safe.

“There you are!” Beth says, drinks in hand, and I can’t help but shake my head.

Taking one of them, I lean closer to her. “Thank you, I needed that.”

My phone buzzes again, and I try to ignore it, but my hands itch with this need to grab it. Or is that the alcohol speaking?

“What’s wrong?” Beth asks, taking my hand as I keep fidgeting.

I muster a smile. “It’s Adrian. He texted me, and I replied something I shouldn’t have.”

Her shoulders drop, and she tilts her head. “Em, just leave him alone. I’m sure he could get fired for being with a student, and what would people say about you?”

My fake smile doesn’t waver, even as Beth seems to blame me for Adrian texting me.

My phone vibrates and as Beth turns, I quickly grab it from my pocket.

Are you drunk?

I snort as I reply.

Why does that matter? I’m drunk. At a bar. Leave me the fuck alone!

His answer comes quickly.

What bar, Emily?

I roll my eyes and gulp the drink down, holding my phone up as I take a picture of myself with the empty glass and send it to him.

Having fun, now back off!

He’s quicker than me with two words.

What. Bar.

I ignore his message, keeping my phone clutched in my hand, and throw myself into dancing and having fun until my phone trills again.

Answer me, Emily. Be good.

I’m not yours! Leave me alone.

I don’t understand why he keeps trying. It should be obvious we aren’t good for each other.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Beth asks, taking my phone from me.

“Because I was on my phone,” I snap.

“So, you’re drunk texting instead? Stop texting,” she says.

I snatch it back. “Go back to the guy who caught your attention. I’m not in the mood for this.”

She rolls her eyes. “Put your phone away!”

As she walks away, my phone lights up and the message he sends makes my throat tight.

I know where you are. I’m on my way. Don’t drive.

No. No, what’s he doing? Is he insane!

He’s not allowed to come. He was a one-night stand, and he’s my professor, which means we’re not allowed to see each other outside the classroom. He’s not allowed to talk to me unless there are rows of other students between us.

Don’t come here. I don’t want to see you.

He doesn’t answer, so I start texting him back to back.

I’m serious.

I’ll scream if I see you.

You’re my professor. MY PROFESSOR!

He doesn’t answer at all and I grit my teeth. Perhaps there were some things that happened in our night together that I forgot, because I can’t remember agreeing with his being in charge and calling the shots.

Maybe he’s full of shit and doesn’t really know where I am. But I already know. I can sense it the pit of my stomach as it weaves into a knot.

He’s coming to get me.

Danielle catches my eyes, and I head over to her. My steps are sloppier than I would like. Perhaps I can convince her to go to another bar. I get halfway to her when a strong hand grabs mine and spins me around.

My stomach lurches and I brace myself on the person. “Too fast.”

“And you’re too drunk. Let’s go,” a hard, domineering voice replies.

Slowly, I peek up as cold horror grips me. I stare up at Dr. Hayes. He doesn’t really look like the professor I saw earlier today. He still has on jeans, but he’s wearing a T-shirt. Like the night we met.

Why didn’t I ask what he did for a living? Why didn’t I ask a million more questions before making out with him and telling him to take me somewhere private?

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I argue and try to break free from his hold.

“You want to,” he disagrees, holding up my hand as it laces with his. “Stop being difficult, Emily.”

“Or what?” I demand.

His eyes darken. “Don’t push me, Kitten. I’ll put you over my knee, even if you’re the best writer in my class.”

“I am not! Don’t flatter me just because you fucked me,” I hiss.

His jaw tightens as he glowers down at me. He takes a step back, my hand still in his, and I find myself following him. When we get to the door, he points at my phone. “Text your friends and tell them you’re spending the night with a stranger.”

“Ew. No. I don’t talk like that,” I hiss.

“You want them to worry about you?” he demands.

I pull out my phone and text a winky face. I shove it in his face. “Feel better now that you know you’re not special?”

He snorts and walks me to a motorcycle. I stare at it stupidly as he puts a helmet on my head and lifts me up to put me on behind him. “Hold on. If you’re going to be sick, I’ll pull over.”

That’s the last thing I remember before the drinks I had tighten their grip on me.