Owning My Professor

Not My Problem

Chapter Nine: Not My Problem

Debbie’s Pov

I looked at Elaine.

Then at Jason.

Then back at Elaine.

And suddenly my brain became very calm.

Too calm.

That dangerous kind of calm.

Nobody spoke.

Jason opened his mouth.

“Debbie, I can explain.”

I looked at him.

Then smiled.

A small smile.

“Interesting.”

My eyes moved to Elaine.

She looked nervous.

Which was funny because suddenly I was not angry.

Not yet.

I walked into the room.

Nobody moved.

I ignored both of them.

Walked to my table.

Opened the drawer.

Pulled out my printed manuscript.

Picked up my laptop.

My charger.

My notebook.

Jason looked confused.

Elaine finally moved.

“Debbie.”

I did not answer.

She stepped closer.

“Wait.”

I finally looked at her.

Then looked at Jason.

Then back at her.

“You know what.”

I nodded.

“This is actually impressive.”

Her face fell.

I continued packing.

Jason tried again.

“It’s not what you think.”

I laughed.

That got quiet immediately.

I looked at him.

“Please don’t insult me.”

Silence.

I zipped my bag.

Then looked at Elaine.

“I really thought you missed me.”

Her expression changed.

Immediately.

That one landed.

She looked away.

I picked up my manuscript.

Walked toward the door.

Elaine followed.

“Debbie.”

I stopped.

Turned.

Looked at both of them.

And said quietly,

“Not my problem.”

Then I left.

Damian was still standing outside.

His expression immediately changed when he saw me.

He looked behind me.

Then at me.

Then quietly asked,

“Do you want to talk?”

I looked at him.

Then shook my head.

“No.”

He nodded.

Okay.

No questions.

That helped.

We walked downstairs quietly.

When we got into his car he looked over.

“You okay?”

I looked outside.

Then answered honestly.

“No.”

He nodded.

Then started driving.

No dramatic speech.

No trying to fix me.

Nothing.

After ten minutes he finally said,

“Do you still want to go to the pitch?”

I stared.

“What?”

He shrugged.

“Bad situations feel less bad with someone to share it with, even though I don't really know the entire contest.”

I looked at him.

Then laughed.

A tiny laugh.

But still.

Progress.

Elaine’s Pov:

The door closed.

And suddenly the room became too quiet.

Jason sighed.

“Well.”

I looked at him.

Then looked away.

I sat down slowly.

Jason frowned.

“What?”

I looked at him.

Then laughed once.

“You know what’s funny?”

He looked confused.

I shook my head.

“She thought I missed her.”

He frowned.

I looked down.

Because maybe I did.

Maybe that was the stupid part.

Jason sat beside me.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

I looked at him immediately.

Nothing wrong?

Right.

Except maybe the part where I knew.

Maybe the part where I knew exactly who he was.

Maybe the part where I still listened.

Maybe the part where I enjoyed the attention.

I looked away.

Jason continued.

“You’re not responsible for her feelings.”

I nodded.

But for some reason...

That did not make me feel better.

My phone buzzed.

Nothing.

No messages.

I stared at the empty screen.

And for the first time all day...

The room did not feel exciting anymore.

Debbie’s Pov:

We drove the rest of the journey in silence.

When we got to the pitch, Damian snuck round and stole the key to the the inner training gym as it was locked and we snuck in laughing.

I had never played baseball before and he was a really good teacher.

We played for a bit and I hit the ball a few times.

Every swing made my heart ache.

I was not aching because of Jason, I could not care less for that asshole

I ached because Elaine knew all I had gone through at his hands and she still allowed him have access to her, she let him come into our room and sleep with her in the same room he had slept with me.

Tears flowed down my face. I tried to stop it but the harder I tried, the more I cried and soon my eyes were bawling.

I dropped the bat and fell to my knees and Damian rushed to my side.

He lifted me up and we left to the car. I sat in the car crying for a while and then I just blurted out

"I don't want to go back to my room, at least not this night"

"That is totally fine" Damian said and starts driving until he eventually stopped at his apartment.

Then suddenly Damian looked awkward.

Which was new.

He cleared his throat.

“So…”

I looked at him.

He looked away.

“My roommate is probably awake.”

I blinked.

Then immediately understood.

Oh.

Right.

Problem.

I looked at my bag.

Then laughed tiredly.

“This day is ridiculous.”

He looked guilty.

Then said carefully,

“You can stay over.”

I looked at him.

His eyes widened.

Then he started talking too fast.

“Not weird stay over.”

I stared.

He continued.

“I mean my roommate exists and we have a couch and this sounds worse the more I explain.”

I laughed.

Actually laughed.

He looked relieved.

Eventually we got there.

His roommate looked up.

Looked at me.

Looked at Damian.

Then smiled suspiciously.

Damian ignored him.

He showed me to his room and said I can sleep there and he would sleep on the floor

Got me a change of clothes and showed me the bathroom.

Then stood awkwardly.

I looked around.

Then at him.

Then smiled.

“Thanks.”

He shrugged.

“No problem.”

When I got out of the bathroom showered and changed up. I saw him sitting on the edge of the bed reading my manuscript

He stood up.

Then paused.

Turned.

And said quietly,

“Your novel is probably better than you think.”

Then disappeared into bathroom.

I sat there.

Held my manuscript.

And suddenly realised.

Today started with me worrying about a professor.

And somehow ended with me sleeping at a stranger’s place because my ex and roommate ruined my evening.

University really is a beautiful experience.