Forbidden To Love You, My Dragon Professor

He Knows

Monday morning came, and not soon enough for Nina. She was exhausted from being the new friend of Hannah, plus doing all her homework for the week crunched into two days and nights. She just knew there was going to be dark circles under her eyes when she went into the bathroom that morning. Unfortunately, she was right.

"I could put some makeup on that," Hannah said, poking her head in the door making Nina jump for probably the twelfth time since Friday. "Sorry, I know you're not used to having someone else around yet. I can help you though."

"I don't really use foundation," Nina said and Hannah shrugged.

"Got any neutral colored makeup?"

"Yeah, I don't use it much."

"So just blend it under your eyes so the dark circles are gone. Also, cucumbers work great."

"Cucumbers, I'll remember that."

"Didn't you say your mom gives you money on Mondays?"

"Yes..."

"So pick some up tonight after class. Just one, actually. Eating them is good for you too."

"Yeah I know," Nina laughed. "I'll try it out then."

"You ever bake cookies?"

"Not really."

"We should do that too. Maybe Thursday night, and bring some for Professor Tyson on Friday." Nina froze at the name. Hannah noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Or not," she suggested. "I don't know what your problem is with him. Did he do something to you?"

"He just makes me feel weird," Nina said, trying to cover up her discomfort at the conversation. Hannah kept staring at her. "In a bad way, not sexually, that's ridiculous."

"Right, but you don't know why?" Hannah asked.

"Well, I've always been very awkward around men. I don't know if it's a no-show father thing or whatever, but it's just a personal issue."

"Okay. So we can make cookies and still give them to him. I'll give them to him, if you'd prefer not to be too close."

"You just want to give him something, don't you?" Nina teased, and for the second time, Hannah blushed. "I have to go to class in half an hour, but if you want to help with my eye problem, I'm interested to see what you can do."

"I'm in," Hannah said fast, moving into the bathroom.

Walking out of the building Nina felt like a super model, never having done makeup this good on her own. Especially a cover up that wasn't foundation based.

Nina stood in the hallway with some classmates waiting to be let in the room for class, not really talking to anyone when she heard Professor Landrick talking with their Professor - couldn't remember her name - and he was already looking at her by the time she turned to them. At that point, his expression seemed to darken as he stared at her. Yet it was a curious darkness. Like he was intrigued at something.

"Ah, Miss Reyes, you left your pen on my desk when you were collecting your papers on Friday. I'll keep it there until class, unless you need it right away, then don't hesitate to drop by after this class. I'll be around."

"Oh, yeah, had a problem with dropping pens last week," Nina half smiled at him and swallowed. She really didn't need the pen. It was just one she'd bought that day. He nodded and left our professor to let the class in. Upon sitting down, she realized it was actually one of her special pens that she'd left with him. She used it, and the black one she still had with her, while taking notes. She put her head on the desk and groaned quietly to herself. She did actually need that pen. That one she didn't have a spare of.

After class, Nina walked to the stairs she would need to take to get to his office, which was attached to that lecture hall space. Her stomach was in knots and she couldn't decide what to do. She needed the pen. Her mom had sent them with her as a surprise, and she couldn't get them on campus. She never left campus, either, unless it was with people she trusted going out with. She couldn't get over the fact that he was disguising himself as a human and she could only see the creature that he was. Made things extremely uncomfortable for her, at least.

She swallowed hard before making her descent. She has another five classes between now and Mythology on Friday, so she needed that pen back. She got down to the hallway where his room was and made her way slowly, still not sure what to expect from him. If he was a dragon in disguise, he obviously has great control. The question was why bother teaching?

Plus that nagging thought in her head, how come she sees him for what he truly is?

"Ah, I was beginning to wonder if you were coming," she heard Professor Landrick behind the door. As it opened he stood there and she felt her face tighten in response to seeing him, and again that look on his face of grand curiosity.

"Yes, for the pen," Nina nearly whispered. "I can't get another one of those right now."

"They're great for note taking," he said, almost as quiet as her. "They're expensive, that's why I mentioned it to you upstairs. I figured you'd have been looking for it."

"I didn't realize it was that one until I got into class."

"I figured as much, you didn't seem to mind when we spoke, so I assumed you didn't realize which one I was talking about. Come in," he gestured for her to go in but she stood still. "I won't bite you," he said suddenly and her breath stopped for a moment. He chuckled. "I just mean I didn't bring the pen up here with me, it's still on the table. If you'd prefer I'll just go get it."

"I would prefer that," Nina nodded to him. He frowned before walking back inside. Moments later he was back and extending the pen to her. "How's the homework coming?"

"Already done," Nina answered, taking the pen and trying her best to smile at him before she turned away.

"Already? Did you spend all weekend on it?" he asked. It was her turn to laugh. "Is that why you're wearing makeup today, to cover up how tired you are?"

"I'm studious, Professor," Nina called back, trying not to look back at him.

"I keep hearing that," he said in a normal tone, but she could still hear him. She decided to look back and he was still watching her.

"I think you do have something in your hair, by the way," she smiled. Time to get brave. "Looks like chocolate, or something."

His head tilted and he looked at her strangely. She gave a curt smile before jumping the stairs, two by two. Chocolate, she thought, mentally smacking her forehead. She had no idea what to say, and the conversation with Hannah on Friday about it was all she could think of. Semi-sweet chocolate. She sighed and slowly walked to the cafeteria, knowing her mom sent the money by noon each Monday, and it was almost one.

Walking out of the building that night, after her class on modern technology, she noticed Professor Landrick walking around the campus. She paused, wondering if she should go back inside and wait until he walked away.

That was until he saw her and waved her over. She took a deep breath and walked over to him. There wasn't many people around by now, and it would be dark soon, but the sun hadn't set yet. The light almost made his skin glow, and Nina couldn't help but look him all over before he moved backward into the shade to allow her to face him.

"I patrol the campus on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Safety protocol for the school, several teachers do it," he explained and Nina nodded. "Since it's getting darker earlier, I've been coming out earlier."

"Right," she nodded again. "Sorry about the-"

"Don't worry about it," he cut her off. "Do you mind if I ask you what makes you uncomfortable being around me?"

"Uhm, it's nothing, really. I just, well, I'm not used to being around men that much."

"I see," he said, continuing to stare at her eyes. "I'm wondering if there's a little more to it than that, something that happened in the past, perhaps?"

"You're not someone I would discuss that with, even if it were true," Nina said suddenly. "My father has been gone all my life, and my mom works two jobs so people really aren't my thing."

"Humans are interesting in that way," he said suddenly. She tried not to let anything show on her face that she understood what he meant a little more than what a normal person would. "Well, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, if it's anything of a comfort to say so."

"Well, thanks for keeping my pen safe, not sure what I'd do without it." She began to turn from him and as she went in the direction of her building, she whispered under her breath, "And I said people, not just humans."

~~~

"Hey mom!" Nina grinned over the phone to her mom in a video chat.

"Wow, honey, who did your makeup?" she asked and Nina laughed. "Did you make a friend?"

"I did, she's my new room mate, actually. We have two classes together later in the week," Nina said, still beaming.

"You look really happy, I'm so glad you're making friends," her mom said, resting her head in one hand. "It sounds like things are going very well for you now."

"Oh, I switched from Business to Mythology, just so you know. I really couldn't focus on it, Mom," Nina said, almost whining her complaint. "I know you want me to do business stuff so I can make my own company someday but it's just not something I can sit through. I'm okay working like you if that's what happens."

"Going to University is so you don't have to be like me, Nina," her mom scolded her. "I'm alright with you switching classes, but don't ever tell me you'd rather work two jobs to keep yourself afloat. It's not as easy as it sounds."

"Mom, I didn't mean it like that," Nina sighed. "I just mean that I'm probably going to end up working for someone, not having people work for me."

"There are jobs with your course load that don't require you working for someone full-time. You can do freelance work and have contracts with people instead."

"True," she agreed. Her mom was so smart, she didn't understand why she worked two almost minimum wage jobs. "I'll be okay. I'm all caught up with the class already anyway."

"Good. I'm so proud of you honey. So did you meet any boys yet?" her mom teased her, smiling and winking through the webcam.

"Mom! No!" Nina almost yelled. "No, I'm focusing on my studies. Maybe in my last term or something I'll start thinking about that, but only if I know what I'm doing after I'm done here."

"Good girl," her mom cooed at her. Nina smiled. "Now get some rest, Mommy loves you."

"I love you too, Mom," Nina sighed and the connection was cut. She couldn't ask for a better mother. As long as her grades were great, her mom had her back. That was the deal, focus on school and get a great job after. Flunk school, go get a job and pay your own way to mess around. It was a really good deal.

The next morning Nina slept in. Not that she needed to get up early for anything. Only one class that day, and it was in the afternoon. She groaned as she rolled out of bed and began deciding what to wear. She'd need to do laundry again soon. She looked out of her room and noticed that Hannah was already gone. They had different classes, which was nice, as well as some of the same. Thursday they had Psychology together, and Friday they had Mythology. Time to go do another class and maybe hit the gym after, since the pass to the gym came with the payment for residence on campus.