Office Hours

Crossing The Line

I woke up surprised that she was the first thing on my mind.

I frowned at the ceiling.

Why am I even thinking about her?

I’d met plenty of lecturers before. They taught their classes, gave assignments, and that was that. But for some reason, Miss Elara kept slipping back into my thoughts.

It wasn’t a crush. At least… I didn’t think it was.

I couldn’t explain why she kept popping into my head.

There was just something about her that I couldn’t quite figure out.

The realization made me uneasy. Why did I care this much?

I found myself wondering what she was like outside the classroom.

Not as my lecturer.

Just… as a person.

I turned onto my side, I really didn’t want to cross a line or anything.

Then it hit me,

Private tutoring.

The idea came out of nowhere.

It was ridiculous.

It was also the only reason I could give that wouldn’t raise any questions.

I really was failing Literature, so asking for tutoring wouldn’t seem strange. Uhhh I’m so freaking weird.

Later that morning, I called my mom. I didn’t explain much, just enough. She agreed to pay for the tutoring without hesitation and asked me to get the teacher’s number, definitely because it had to do with my academics. I thanked her, my heart pounding, wondering why I’m so nervous, it’s so unlike me.

Back in my room, my phone buzzed nonstop on the bed beside me.

“Ethan,” Jamal texted. “Oh my gosh, have you seen Miss Elara’s i********:?everyone is talking about it.”

Before I could reply, Luca dropped a screenshot into the group chat. It was a beach post. Miss Elara in a bikini, a light scarf wrapped around her waist, the ocean behind her.

“Bro,” Jamal added, “she’s so hot and sexy as hell.”

I didn’t laugh. I shook my head, irritation crawling up my spine.

“You guys are so weird,” I typed. “That’s our teacher. Show some respect.”

Luca replied almost immediately, smirking through the chat.

“Bro, she’s actually just 25. That’s crazy. I’ve hooked up with women twice her age. Way too young for a lecturer.”

I paused, staring at the screen. 25?…that’s only four years older than me. My mind started to wander, imagining things I quickly shoved away. Still… she really was young.

I scowled quietly, tossing my phone onto the bed,then hesitated. My Curiosity won.

I picked it back up and opened her page myself.

The photos weren’t cheap. They weren’t desperate. She looked confident. Her figure graceful and natural. I found myself staring longer than I was meant to.

“Oh my gosh…” I whispered to myself.

“She’s stunning.”

I swallowed, heat rising to my face, and locked my phone quickly.

Back in the group chat, I typed, firmer this time:

“It’s still not funny. Stop stalking her.”

I was gathering my books from the locker when Serena, my girlfriend walked up behind me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed me softly on the lips.

“Hey, babe,” she said. “Can you do me a favor?”

“What’s up?”

“Let’s record a t****k later. That trend all the couples are doing?”

“Okay,” I said. “But after my class.”

“Fine,” she smiled, “we’re going to look so better than every one else babe”, she said giggling in excitement, pecking my cheek before walking away.

We were close and comfortable with each other and even though I knew other guys wanted her, it felt good that our relationship annoyed them a little. Sophie disappeared around the corner

Miss Elara crossed my mind again.

uhh what’s wrong with me?

When I reached the teachers’ lounge, I slowed down. Voices floated through the slightly open door.

She graduated here at Auburn University with a perfect GPA at twenty,” a lecturer said. “She’s brilliant, but it’s such a pity she ended up back here.”

Another scoffed. “I heard she wanted to be a writer. Guess that didn’t work out for her. Still, here she is, back at this school.Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect.”

A third voice giggled softly. “Can you believe it? So young and so accomplished… and yet back here. It’s almost laughable.”

My chest tightened. How could they talk about her like that? She is brilliant and they reduced her to gossip.

I stepped inside.

She was sitting at her desk, flipping through papers. When she looked up, her expression softened immediately.

“Yes?” she asked. “How can I help you?”

My throat went dry.

“I—um..I just wanted to—uh…”

She smiled, relaxed in a way that showed how young she really was.

“Hey,” she said gently. “Take your time. Just use your words.”

I forgot everything I’d rehearsed. The room felt quiet. I took a shaky breath and tried again, focusing on saying what I needed to say.