AFTER HOURS: MY DEAL WITH PROFESSOR BANCROFT

CHAPTER 6

JULIA

I couldn't stop thinking about the night at Professor Bancroft's home.

The line I discovered I couldn't cross. The way his eyes stared at me as if he could read through me. It made me ask myself a lot of questions.

And what lingered on my mind and made my fist clench repeatedly was the message he'd sent. That had been his way of telling me that he'd won and there was never a chance for me.

I stared at it for long hours after I returned to my silent dorm room. Nina had been waiting with a lot of questions but I managed to brush her off and buried myself under my warm covers.

It had been exactly six days since I left his home. And in less than 48 hours, I'd be sitting in the same class that he was going to lecture in. I didn't think I could look him in the eye but determination burned low in my stomach.

I may have bolted from his house but that didn't end the challenge. If I avoided his gaze, I'd only be a bigger loser. I was determined to stare him deep in the eye and prove that I didn't lose and I remained unaffected.

The dorm door opened with a loud bang and Nina walked through, dragging her luggage.

I turned sideways on my reading chair to face her.

"Christ Nina, what the hell happened on that mountain hike"

"Jared happened. And that f*****g Timothy. They made zero proper plans for camping. We had to do makeshift tents that couldn't even last for the night" she plopped on her bed in frustration.

"Why didn't you just leave"

"As if you don't know how Jared can be. Besides, we left our phones at the bottom of the mountain so I couldn't call a guide to come get me and there was absolutely no way I would go down the mountain all by myself" she huffed in frustration and I sighed.

"Do I look that terrible? School starts after tomorrow and there's no way I'm showing up looking like I was battered during the break"

"I mean, you could take a few days off until you feel like yourself again" I suggested and she nodded.

Then paused.

"We have Professor Bancroft at 8 in the morning" she said with a groan and I froze at the sound of his name.

"There's no way I'll miss his class without getting a penalty. I really need to pass. Getting in trouble with him won't do me any good" I said nothing, my fingers fiddling with my pen.

"And you? I'm certain he hasn't forgotten about what you said. What are you going to do? You never told me about what he said to you" Her eyes stayed focused on me and I shrugged, turning around to face my open book.

"Nothing. I told you he let me off with a warning"

"That doesn't sound like what Professor Bancroft would do"

"It is what he did" I said rigidly and just like that, the conversation fizzled out but the thought stayed in my head.

It was partly true. He'd let me off.

Sunday went by slowly and Monday came with a dreadful feeling. Nina and I got dressed and she drove us to the university.

Nina and I walked in silence as we headed to the auditorium. The room was packed with students. Whenever it came to Professor Bancroft, everyone knew to behave properly.

We found empty seats and settled in. I scrolled through my phone as we waited for his arrival.

The exact moment the clock struck 8, the main door opened. Silence settled in the large hall except for the sound of his shoes clicking against the polished floors.

My breath caught in my chest, my fingers gripping one edge of the table tightly. I kept my gaze ahead and his eyes travelled round and paused.

My pulse raced.

Was he looking at me?

My heart beat faster.

"The short break must have been enough for you to think about the reasons you failed" his voice echoed through the classroom, firm and loud.

My grip tightened.

"You have another chance to turn that around. I won't tolerate anyone showing up in my office with questions about their grades or cussing me out in hallways" My eyes widened and I fell forward. Nina looked at me.

"He's talking about you" she whispered.

"Is he going to make you come out and apologize in front of the entire class? Is he..." I zoned Nina out, her questions weren't relevant at this time.

"What if.."

"I don't know Nina" I snapped, my voice louder than intended. I looked up and I saw his gaze, right at me.

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class Miss Walker?" He asked, his gaze focused solely on me like I was the only one in the room.

"N-No" I stumbled over the word. His gaze hardened and he turned away.

"Obsession, Lust and Love.." his voice rang out loudly and I was able to breathe easily.

"Sorry," Nina mumbled beside me and I nodded.

Professor Bancroft spoke loudly, and everyone's attention stayed on him but mine couldn't. I kept zoning out so badly that I didn't notice he had walked up the aisle.

Not until his scent filled my nose did I look up.

"Miss Walker" he growled and I swallowed.

"P-Professor Bancroft"

"It seems your mind has other interesting places it'd rather be"

"No. I..."

"Then share with us your thoughts on obsession, love and lust"

I tried to find the words. They were just at the top of my tongue but my brain wouldn't cooperate. The entire class had their gaze on us. Professor Bancroft's look grew intense with each second that passed and I struggled to breathe out a sentence.

He walked back to the front of the class. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath for his next action.

"Class is dismissed" he said in a clipped voice. The class stayed still for a second and then everyone moved. They grabbed their bags and papers. Nina scrambled up beside me without a word. I grabbed my things and walked to the front of the class.

He lifted his gaze slowly and it landed on me.

"Not you Miss Walker"