The shadows within us

A little smile

Crystal

The class goes quiet with everyone expecting me to answer him . I look at Hazel then at him, his coldness covering his whole face . He has a blank expression that is hard to read . I clear my throat my hand tightening around my pen

“Are you referring to me sir.” My voice comes out smoother than I had expected it too . His brow raises

“Is there another Hart in this class perhaps?”

I might actually begin to hate his arse.

“The public does, Professor.”

I manage to say what pops up in my mind. My voice comes out clear. Too clear. It echoes a little in the quiet room.

“When the law fails, people talk. Witnesses who were too scared to come forward suddenly remember things. Tips get called in. Parents who won’t shut up make noise until someone listens.”

I continue speaking, not even noticing he's watching me closely. Few students shift in their seats. Hazel’s eyes are wide next to me.

I pause. Hold his stare. One second. Two. Three, nothing but silence covering the room.

“So if the law can’t solve it... then someone who loved them has to.”

He doesn’t look fazed or even smile at my answer; he just drops his hands into his dress slacks, watching me for a long time , observing me , studying me . I don't look down, I observe him closely too . Within this mask he puts on might lay someone with secrets upon secrets . A broken soul .

He walks to the board and scribbles a few notes . Suddenly this class seems to be taking a lot of time .

“Girl that was hot” Hazel gossip screams at me

“Shut it.” I eye her

“You know all that intense eye staring you were doing. The answer ugh why won't he give me the same attention? I want it i actually yearn for it”

“Hazel if you are not crazy you are probably stupid. There wasn't any intense eye contact and the questions he asked because he is a professor its his job last I checked so no I didn't see anything intense there and stop watching these romantic films you watch all the time Hazel you are going to run crazy soon cause you yearn something that does not exist”

I tell her turning my focus to the board . Debating with Hazel is useless and time wasting . She will not listen to a thing I say so might as well give her the benefit of the doubt that maybe one day she will find her ‘dark obsessive love’ .

When class ends , everyone gets from their seats. Professor Voss places his marker down, taking a seat on his chair . He takes his suit jacket off his muscles bulging against the white shirt which is probably begging for mercy right now to just be released. As though he felt my eye's on him. His raise to meet mine again a little smile appears but soon whipped off like he doesn't deserve to smile .

I pack all my books making my way out with Hazel. She keeps blubbering about Voss which is starting to irritate me right now .I halt at the door turning to look at him. Maybe I should ask about my sister, he must know something regarding her disappearance.

“Go, I will meet you at the coffee shop. I have to ask a few questions on case 1.”

I don't wait for her response, my feet moving on auto towards his table. Before I arrive he looks at me closely, his facial expression still cold and unreadable..

“ What's the problem, Hart?”

“I have a sister, Evelyn Hart. She took this class a year ago before she disappeared without a trace. No one has answered my questions regarding her disappearance; others are even clueless . So I was wondering since you were her professor do you have any clue about what happened to her?”

Thud. Thud . Thud. My heart beats rhythmically, its sound becoming loud and the only sound filling the silent space. Everyone has left the class leaving me and him inside.

As expected his expression does not change but he gives me a weird look, one that tells you to stop digging in stuff that will break you.

I'm about to leave when his voice comes through. Making me stop dead in my tracks and look back at him .

“Sometimes it's better to not look into things that will hurt you Miss Hart though your determination looks cute. You might not love the end result of it.”

I gulp and leave the class, heading straight to the coffee shop. When I arrive Hazel is busy flirting with a blond boy who leaves when I arrive.We order some drinks and muffins.Thankfully, I only have three classes today and they are all spaced up, giving me an hour or two to relax and enjoy some me time with Hazel around me like a mosquito buzzing in someone's ear endlessly.

I suddenly feel eyes burning into my skin , I look around the shop not noticing anything. I glance at the shop windows but there isn't anyone there . I'm probably being paranoid because of last night's encounter.