Professor's Favorite Student

9

"It was an innocent little kiss, what are you this worried about?" Gus' far-away-from-serious-voice unnerved Daniel even more, making him wonder once again why the man was his best friend.

"Did you hear what I said or not? She sang and played guitar for him and he kissed her. It doesn't look that innocent to me," he complained before the scotch made the way down his throat, burning it and relaxing him just a bit, at least until the images of what happened replayed by themselves in his head and he was ready to punch someone again. A never ending circle of this afternoon.

"Okay and what if she has a crush to the boy? This doesn't stop you from getting her at all," he said, obviously enjoying the conversation much more than the scotch in his larger-than-usual glass.

"Are you f*****g kidding me right now?" Daniel shouted louder this time, his friend's laugh at his own joke annoying him even more. "Did I not say to you that he's a good looking twenty year old blonde boy with a frickin' British accent? Is there a single girl who doesn't love British accent?"

"Then just learn British accent mate," Gus added teasingly and if Daniel wouldn't be that used to him he'd get up and punch him more than once, for sure. "Okay, okay, I forgot you have no humor whatsoever," and he rolled his eyes while drinking another glass. "But really, didn't you say to me that you two were getting along well recently? I thought you were getting your chance to f**k her so you'd shut up whining like a little girl."

'f**k her?' Well this is what he had wanted it to sound like, not only to Gus but to himself mostly. 

But the thing was, he wanted to have a million more conversations with her like that night in the bar. He wanted to wrap his arms around her belly and make her giggle, kiss her forehead and caress her hair.

But he shook these ideas out of his head as soon as they entered it. He didn't even know her that well, this was just stupid. Besides, she was his damn student, he couldn't have these feelings about her. It was only his mind was playing tricks on him and he was only attracted physically to her. It didn't have any other explanation. It couldn't.

"Hey stop ignoring me! What did she do to my friend, is she some kind of witch maybe?" Gus said and he was indeed the only person that could make him smile right now.

"We talked for like two hours. I was almost convinced she was into me," he said in a low tone running his hand through his hair several times. It was a bad habit of him, he knew, but his already oily hair was not what he was concerned the most right now

"What do you mean with 'almost'? Are you blind? I have never seen the girl and I can tell she's whipped for you," Gus said more annoyed this time, his best friend's childish behavior getting in his nerves. It was weird because Daniel had never acted like this before, even with his ex-girlfriend. She used to be the one to go around Daniel more actually.

"Yes, and that's why she kisses other guys around, just for fun," he rolled his eyes again.

"That might be the case."

"Shut up Gus," he demanded by getting up and going away.

"Just f**k the girl already, it's not that hard," Gus shouted behind him while chuckling, having such a good time with his already-in-love with his student best friend.

"I said shut up," Daniel shouted back, not turning his head to see him.

"Love you too sweetheart," he shouted again and Daniel, even though extremely annoyed, couldn't help but laugh with his dumbass of a friend.

                                      ***  

Elizabeth wished with all her heart for things to go back as they were with Alex, when they were so comfortable around with each other, when she'd laugh at every stupid joke of him. But things — even though Mia tried her best to lift the tension between them —  were a lot more awkward than usual.

But at least she was happy he didn't go away from her, she had no idea how she'd go through it if that would happen.

For whatever reason she couldn't figure out, things were different with Mr. Ambrose now too. His green eyes didn't have that warmness when they looked at her, he'd never smile when she was around and she had reasons to believe he started his avoid-her tricks again.

One of these days she took the courage to go in his office and clarify all this. He couldn't just pretend he forgot her existence again when she did nothing wrong, it was confusing.

She knocked in the door and when he shouted 'come in' she came to her right senses, realizing this was the stupidest idea she could ever have.

His office was small, but nice. He was sitting down in his desk working in his laptop and his brows raised surprisingly when he saw her, but not in the flirty way he used to raise them.

"What is it Miss Brown?" He asked coldly, the last hopes of hers for this not being that bad of an idea flying away from the window. She almost wanted to say him she'd come here by mistake but that would be ridiculous.

"Why are you acting like this Mr. Ambrose?" She was able to ask but the unreadable expression intimidated her.

"I don't know what are you talking about Miss Brown. Define 'acting like this'," he responded with the same cold tone and she started to wonder if he was bipolar. In a day he'd talk with her like they knew each other for ages and in the other he'd act cold and arrogant.

"I thought we were in good terms now," she said while playing with her fingers nervously inside her grey coat's pockets.

"I've always been in good terms with all me students," he continued, looking so unbothered as she bit her lip, this time out of anger. All his students? So she was like all the other students for him?

"Oh," she added, disappointment obvious in her voice. "You're right actually, that's why almost everyone likes you." Yes, emphasis in almost.

His inner self almost smirked at her irony but his mixed emotions were stronger. He knew he was being childish and that this behavior wasn't leading him anywhere but what could he do? She had a boyfriend and on top of that he was her professor for crying out loud, he had to get her from his mind somehow. After what happened, what he saw, something inside him was hoping it was only a misunderstanding and they weren't actually together since he had to admit she didn't turn back the kiss, but when he saw them together the next day like nothing had happened, it was crystal clear in his eyes. He'd be stupid to still be waiting for something.

And on top if it, the most important thing was that they couldn't have something even if the boy wouldn't be in her life. It'd ruin his career and his reputations.

But why he was still blaming her like that he couldn't know for sure.

"Well, there's always something wrong if everyone likes you," he continued with his bitter words and she couldn't take it anymore, coming here was simply but a mistake from her part. It was obvious he was only kidding around and she wasn't in his interest anymore.

She wanted to slap herself for being that foolish. She had never been the type to beg for a boy's attention, she wouldn't be now.

"I'm sorry for taking your precious time Mr. Ambrose," she said, making her way out of the office, not waiting for a response.

It was enough, he couldn't play with her anymore.