by H. P. Landry
“He retired, and I am the replacement. Have a seat Ms. Mier.”
I knew my voice sounded cold, but it was clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me. It was obvious it never would be as long as she was my student. She took a seat and said nothing, revealing nothing more than a frigid glare.
“Now, the semester will be pretty simple. I expect you to report every day at the same time. Your time with me is exactly two hours and forty-five minutes and nothing less. Are we clear?” She just nodded, but said nothing. “Your day will consist of typing my notes and preparing the day’s lesson. Occasionally you may have to oversee the class. Can you handle that?” Once again, she just nodded. “Good. Type these notes for the syllabus and let me review it before you print them out.”
I got up and left my laptop open for her to use. I needed to get away from her, and it was evident that this would be an awkward situation for the both of us. I walked into my classroom where I saw a guy sitting there already.
“What’s up Teach?” Xavier got up from the seat while I continued to walk down the stairs to the front of the room.
“Xavier.” I sat at the edge of my desk and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I just came to make something very clear. Just because you saved Mylie,” he emphasized with air quotes, “it doesn’t mean that she will be with you. She’s mine.”
“Now Xavier, this is very unlike you. You’re still not bitter about Jen are you?”
“You act like I even– right, Jen.”
He seemed to have caught himself saying something he didn’t want anyone to know. I looked at Xavier. He was never one to be bitter or vengeful, let alone insecure. These traits seem out of character even for him.
“Xavier, what are you doing here?”
I looked up to see Mylie walk into the room, and all sense of reason went out the window. She held a paper as she approached us, but she looked wary of Xavier and something in me stirred. Could it be that there isn’t anything going on between them? Is that why Xavier came here fluffing his feathers like a peacock?
“I came to surprise you.”
All hostility left his face, and he smiled broadly, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes. She was a conquest, that was all, and I knew I had to save her from him.
“I told you I needed time Xavier. Why are you here?”
She crossed her arms over her chest while holding the white sheet of paper off to the side clenched in her fist. Everything in me was telling me that something was very wrong here.
“It’s been two weeks Mylie. I think that is more than enough time, don’t you?”
Two weeks? She has been alone for two weeks? She locked gazes with me, and with a slight shake of her head, warned me to stay out of this.
“Xavier–,” she started to protest, but he shook his head. “I will call you later.”
He looked back at me. “Remember what I said.” He turned away and walked out of the room.
“I apologize, Professor. He doesn’t understand boundaries, apparently.” She looked flustered, but I couldn’t pin down what was the story behind her behavior towards Xavier.
“Is that the syllabus?” I asked, changing the subject. The tension visibly left her body, and she sighed in a welcome relief of the change of topic.
“Uh… yeah.” She sheepishly looked at the crumple piece of paper in her hand, and then blushed, which only made my heart skip a beat. She tried her best to straighten out the piece of paper, but to no avail. “I’ll just go to print another one.”
“NO! I mean, don’t worry about it.” I tried to give her a sincere smile, but I just didn’t want her to leave now knowing that there might be a chance for us.
“Uh… okay.”
She handed me the wrinkled paper, and I read over the syllabus. I could feel her stare. I looked up to see her gaze zeroed in on my mouth while biting her lip. I felt my dick tingle, and my gaze locked on her plump cherry lips currently being pierced by her teeth. We were in a trance. Neither one us stopped staring until we heard someone clearing his or her throat.
I looked up and saw Andrea coming down the stairs smiling broadly. I watched as Mylie’s eyes flickered from her back to me as if in some kind of confirmation of the questions playing in her head. As Andrea walked next to me and wrapped her slender arm around my waist, it was all the affirmation she needed, and I saw the hurt in her eyes.
“Hello darling…” Andrea cooed, and I felt my anger rise. I could only watch Mylie leaving the room, taking the stairs two at a time.
“What the hell was that?” I threw Andrea’s arm off of me and stared her at pointedly.
“I am saving your career you idiot. If you’d stop thinking with your dick, you’d realize that you were about to make a monumental mistake. As long as she is your student, you can’t be with her!” She walked away as she yelled back at me, up the same stairs Mylie had, and slammed the door.
“FUCK!” I yelled into the room and covered my face with my hands.
What the hell am I going to do?
Mylie
I couldn’t breathe!
I ran up the stairs, my legs burned but not as much as my heart. I needed to get away from that room as far as possible. I walked into the dark hallway, which lead to a utility closet. It finally hit me; I fell in love with him, and he was with someone else. How the hell did this happen? The wall held me up, and everything was spinning while my head throbbed. My heart, Jesus my heart had broken apart.
I slid down the wall next to the utility closet door and rested my face against my knees, taking deep breaths. I looked at the floor, trying to find the pieces of my shattered heart. I was a fool for thinking that he loved me, and he was with her. I slammed my head against the wall as the first tear slid down my face. The pain in my head was a welcome relief from the pain in my heart.
Why had I lied to myself? I couldn’t deny Damien being cold towards me had hurt, but I couldn’t blame him. I chose Xavier when Damien saw us kiss in the hospital. I thought Damien was going to tell me– but when he listened to my conversation with Xavier, I saw it: the relief and hope in his eyes. So, why was he feeling that when obviously he had moved on? I shut my eyes tight and rubbed my temples, trying to breathe in calming breaths.
“Mylie?” I looked up, and I saw a welcome face. “Are you okay? Is it your head? Do you need me to take you the doctor?”
I smiled inwardly at the innocence of the question. I remembered that voice, and I felt like a girl all over again. I opened my eyes, and I saw Kyan staring down at me. He had bent down and was looking in my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” He brought his hand to my cheek, and I couldn’t deny that it felt good to be comforted. “Did someone hurt you?” His voice turned cold as ice, and all I could do was cry.
He crushed me into his embrace. The scent of leather from his jacket, combined with the delicious array of jasmine, rosemary, cedar, was clearly all man. I cried in his arms and felt safe. He kissed my head and rubbed my hair. He held me tight and rocked me until the last of my tears faded, but never said anything. He just let me cry.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
He didn’t say anything and continued to hold me. I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. I listened and felt the movement of his shoulders, and I realized he was crying. Lord, here I was crying, and he had lost his sister whom I saw they’d bury a week ago. It was like we both found comfort and release within each other’s arms. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him tightly.
“It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay,” I whispered to him and felt his head in the crook of my neck as he nodded.
“So are you ready to tell me what happened, or do I have to cry more for you talk to me?” He smiled, but the hurt in his eyes reminded me of a time I didn’t like to dredge up.
“I– I realized something, and I wasn’t expecting it.” He nodded and just stared into my eyes.
“You want to get out of here?”
; His hazel depths seemed to bore into my soul, while his snakebites hypnotized me. All I wanted to do was run away from the pain of Damien. I nodded my head, and he helped me up. We walked towards the exit, and I realized I had to pass Damien’s office. I had left my stuff in there.
“I need to get my stuff. Come on.”
I walked with my head held high, straight down the hall going towards the asshole’s office. I opened the door and saw that it was empty.
“I’ll be right back.”
I walked into the room, taking in the scent of Damien. I couldn’t help but linger while I inhaled. I quickly grabbed my stuff and went to his desk and printed off the syllabus for two hundred students. I grabbed the steno pad on his desk, and left a note saying I wasn’t feeling well, and I needed to go.
“Leaving?”
His voice made my heart skip a beat and sent shivers upon my flesh in previous occasions, but now it had the complete opposite effect. It hurt my heart to acknowledge him, but I looked up into his crystalline eyes, and I simply nodded. I was fighting the tears, and it was hard to breathe.
“My’– oh excuse me,” he gave Damien a slight nod and looked pointedly at me, “You ready to go?” Kyan just smiled reassuringly.
“Yup. I’ll see you on Wednesday, Professor.”
I quickly grabbed my things and left without a backwards look. I knew I had left my heart in that office, but I needed to move on. There wouldn’t be a happily ever after for Damien and Mylie, and I just had to accept it.
Chapter Sixteen
Damien
There comes a time when you realize that every action of yours had never really affected you. Well, that is until the day you see the pain and suffering you brought to the woman you love. It was today that I finally saw the look I never wanted to see. I caused it, and now she was gone.
When she left my office, I had her heart in my hands, but it was ripped away before I could treasure the precious gift she gave to me. I’d made a monumental mistake, and I didn’t know what to do to fix it. No, I wouldn’t fix it, and that was the hardest part to accept. I knew there was a very real chance that I had finally pushed Mylie away. Now there was probably another guy pining for her while I would have to sit back and watch idly.
“Professor James?”
My musings were interrupted by a shy young woman with pixie cut raven hair and bright blue eyes hidden by thick frame lenses. Her sweet innocence was in direct contrast to her dark fitting apparel. The tight, dark denim skinny jeans were accessorized with a studded belt that matched her studded bracelets. She also had a labret piercing which was obscured by glossy pink full lips. Although everything about this petite curvaceous girl who wore a pair of dingy Chucks screamed depressed emo, her eyes shone brightly which was disconcerting. “Yes?”
“My name is Mercy, and I have a message for you.” Her seriousness threw me off, but I nodded.
“He isn’t who you all think he is.” With that the girl turned around and left.
What the fuck?
“Wait!” I ran from around my desk, my chair toppling over onto the wood floor, and chased after the girl. But when I reached the doorframe and peered into the hall, the hallway was empty.
What did that mean? Who wasn’t who I thought he was?
Immediately my mind raced, and then I remembered the tall guy with Mylie. He looked like someone the emo girl would’ve known. It had to be him. I closed my eyes as I pictured the girl. Why had her eyes penetrated my mind so immeasurably? After years of psychology classes I recognized that look, either I remembered it or was it a gut feeling, but I knew the look. Revenge.
Whom she wanted revenge on was the real question, and would Mylie get hurt because of it? I needed to do something, but what? There was only one person I knew who would speak to me and help, but I dreaded talking to her. I picked up the phone and dialed the number slowly. The phone had barely rung before an all too familiar drawl came over the line.
“Professor Damien James. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise, darling?” She cooed seductively
“I think Mylie might be in trouble,” I said as I heard her audible gasp.
“I’ll meet you at the diner in fifteen minutes.” Rhonda’s concern was evident in her voice. I knew I was doing the right thing.
*******
Rhonda approached the booth quietly and sat down. She sat there silently and watched me. Her look finally penetrated my thoughts, and I spoke.
“I--, I got a visit today.”
“And? What does that have to do with Mylie?” she asked with an arched brow.
“Her message was, ‘He isn’t who you all think he is.’”
“Who isn’t? What the fuck does that mean?”
“I don’t know Rhonda! That is why I called you. I think Mylie might be in trouble.”
“Merde!” She covered her face with one French manicured hand. She slowly pulled it down, placed it on the old diner table, and threaded her hands together. “Did you know her?”
“Never seen her before, but she said her name was Mercy.”
“Mercy? Blue eyes, long blond hair, all American girl, and pageant queen?”
“Not at all, other than the blue eyes, but far from that. She had black hair and dressed all dark and depressing. All emo-like.”
“Hmm… all right. I don’t know who she is then.”
“I think she might be tied to Mylie’s new guy?” I treaded carefully on the subject, but I had to know.
“What new guy?” Her bewildered expression told me that she had no clue. I simply shrugged. “I guess I have to pay a visit to Mylie then.”
“Just don’t tell her I told you. She isn’t exactly too happy with me now.”
She groaned loudly, “Seriously Damien? What did you do now?”
“I didn’t know she and Xavier were taking a break, and Andrea came and made a show of our relationship, but only to protect my job. She knows how I feel about Mylie.”
“Mon Dieu.” She shook her blond tresses. “I will call you once I know everything.” She got up and started to leave, but turned to look at me over her shoulder. “Hey Damien?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for looking out for her. You’re a good guy.”
She left the diner, and I sat there and thought of what she said. Was I a good guy, or was it my fault because I had pushed Mylie too far?
Why must people think they can stop my plans? This is not acceptable, and it just will not do! I refused to let the gothic Barbie interfere. I thought I had gotten rid of her, but I guess she didn’t get the memo.
It’s my time! I will get my revenge, and she’s the knight that must be sacrificed to claim checkmate.
Chapter Seventeen
Mylie
As I sat in my room, hidden behind blacked out curtains, I couldn’t stop the replay of today. The frame by frame was repeating at a snail’s pace, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around the heart -shattering despair I was feeling. There wasn’t a chance for us because I blew it when I chose Xavier. Even when my heart wanted Damien, my pride wouldn’t allow me to accept it. There was nothing more gut wrenching than knowing that I did this, that what I was feeling was from my own doing, and I had no one to blame but myself.
“My’, I don’t know what happened today, but I am here.”
I looked into Kyan’s eyes, and I felt hope that there were people who cared about me, but my heart only hurt for one right now.
“Kyan, I will be okay. I promise, but I really want to be alone right now. Call me tomorrow ‘k?” I tried smiling reassuringly, but it hurt too much to fake a smile. From the wince I saw on Kyan’s face, I was sure I didn’t deliver.
“It’s gonna be okay, but if a guy made you hurt this much, I’m gonna kill him.”
He bent down and kissed my cheek, peering into my eyes. I felt as his soul tried to connect with mine, but I knew it couldn’t. I just nodded somberly and placed my head on my down pillow as I heard the faint click of the door and drifted into
my oblivion.
*******
I woke up with a start when I heard banging at the door as I fought the inner battle of whether or not I would answer. The banging persisted, and I begrudgingly went to see who was causing the ruckus. Whoever it was obviously grew tired of waiting since I saw his or her form walking away from the glass panel door that had been recently replaced after Damien broke the last one. Just thinking of him made my heart ache, and I needed to break my thoughts of him. I quickly threw open the door, and I saw golden hair turning the corner. I screamed out his name.
“Xavier!”
What the hell are you doing?
He turned around slowly and had his megawatt panty-dropping smile. Yes, this is what I needed. It was what I have needed since meeting Damien James, a distraction.
“I thought you were avoiding me,” he said, looking genuinely hurt. I felt awful for how I was treating him.
Maybe I had been reading into things, and my subconscious was seeing things that weren’t there. Whatever it was, I was just going to go with the flow.
“I had a long day and took a nap. Sorry,” I shrugged sheepishly. I tucked my thumbs into the belt loops of my cut off shorts while my midriff was exposed in my white cut off tank.
He wore his aviators, but he slowly pulled them away from his godlike face. The way Xavier devoured the sight of me, I knew he enjoyed the view, and I relished the rush going straight through the apex of my body. His wavy hair glistened like golden threads and lay just above his broad shoulders. His strong muscular body was concealed beneath a form fitting polo shirt where his perfect tan played off the color of the shirt. That aside, I was lost as I peered into his most striking feature: his fathomless sea glass eyes with the faintest hint of green.
“Can we talk?”
His smoldering eyes pierced my heart, and I could barely nod. My bare feet, with peek-a-boo pink polish, padded against the hard concrete and then up the wood stairs toward the wrap-around porch. I looked at the glass panel door and knew without a doubt that if I went in all bets were off on my V-card. Especially since I felt completely deflated, and my ego was shot to hell. I walked to the side of the house towards the back where I had the best view of the river. I sat on the porch swing and waited for Xavier to sit down. I looked up to see him contemplating, and the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach told me whatever he had to say wasn’t good.
