My New Professor
1169 Words
CHAPTER ONE
Elara’s Pov
"Are you planning on standing there all day, or are you actually going to show up for your next class?"
I snapped my head toward the voice, my heart still racing from the adrenaline of finally being here. Standing opposite me was a girl with neat, pretty braids and a smile so bright it almost felt mocking compared to the chaos in my head.
"I'm going," I managed to say, clutching my bag. "I was just... taking it in."
"Well, take it in while walking. I’m Sarah, I stay right across from your dorm," she chirped, and just like that, we were walking into the classroom together like we’d been friends for years.
Two weeks. It had been two weeks since I finally stood inside the school I’d dreamed about, and I still can't contain the happiness even now. My mother was so proud she was practically glowing, and my stepfather wouldn't stop bragging to everyone about how smart I was. It felt good.
We walked into the class and I plunged my butt on to a seat, placing my bag aside. I pulled out my phone, checking for a message that I knew deep down wasn't coming anytime soon.
After that night, things had changed. He'd grown more distant and cold, and it was almost like I didn't exist anymore in his world.
'He’s just busy, Elara. Stop being pathetic,' I whispered to myself, but the sting was there.
He only sent small, dry texts asking how school was with no warmth. I wanted to tell him I missed him, that I was scared, but pride and fear held me back. I left him on read, and he didn't bother to text again.
He came back two weeks ago, on my birthday before I left the house for school. He was so successful now, running companies and handling my stepfather’s business like a pro.
I could still remember the cold look he gave me on my birthday, that short, icy wish—Happy birthday Elara—as if he was forced or something and the way he vanished right after, haunted me.
Was it because he was an ex-soldier? Or because he was older? Or maybe he just hated my existence.
Suddenly, the chatter in the room died down. A man walked in, his footsteps heavy and confident.
“Good morning, class. I am your professor for this semester,” he announced.
The moment I lifted my head, my heart literally stopped. My blood ran cold.
It was him. My own stepbrother…Caleb. The same man who terrified me was standing at the front of the room. I heard the girls around me giggling, whispering about how hot he was.
I looked at him, and for a split second, our eyes met. He looked perfectly professional in dark trousers and a soft-colored shirt that hid the tattoos I knew were underneath. He looked like the perfect professor, but I knew the devil behind the mask. Of all the schools, of all the courses, he had to be here.
He ignored me the entire time, treating me like a complete stranger, like I didn't exist at all.
The moment class ended, I bolted out of the class. I stood outside the hall, calling my mother until she finally picked up.
“Why didn’t you tell me?!” I yelled into the phone the second I heard her voice.
“Elara, I’m sorry! We only found out a week ago that he got the job and he decided to quit handling the company. We thought it would be safer for you to be close to family,” she pleaded.
“Safer? I’m not a child! I’m grown and I can take care of myself!” I snapped, my eyes stinging with hot tears of frustration.
Even though she didn't know I was falling for my supposed stepbrother, but she knew how much I couldn't stand his presence.
I didn't wait for her to explain; I ended the call and gripped my hair, wanting to scream.
“You okay?" Sarah asked, walking up to me, she'd a worried look on her face.
“Yea", I replied, letting out a deep sigh. “Just heading back to my dorm"
“Me too, I guess I can tag along then", she smiled and I gave a short nod.
I walked back to the dorm with Sarah, but I wasn't really there. My mind was back in that hallway, back on the day that was supposed to be mine. The memory from two weeks ago kept playing over and over again in my head.
It was my eighteenth birthday and I was just walking to my room peacefully trying to drown out the fact, it seemed no one could remember it was my birthday and that's when I heard low moaning sounds. The door was wide open, and the sounds hitting the walls made my skin crawl.
'Harder... oh god, yes,' a girl’s voice moaned, followed by the rhythmic creak of the bed.
My feet froze. I knew that room. It was coming from my supposed cold brother's room that just returned the day earlier. I stepped closer, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird as I peeked in.
Caleb had his back arched, his skin slick with sweat as f****d some girl I’d never seen before, mercilessly.
Suddenly, his head snapped toward the door and our eyes locked. I expected him to jump up, to look ashamed, to say 'Elara, wait!'
But he didn't…he didn't even slow down. His gaze was like ice, boring into mine with a terrifying calmness. He just tilted his head toward the door frame, his eyes commanding me silently: 'Shut the door.'
I felt like I’d been slapped. My hands shook so hard I could barely grip the handle. I pulled it shut, the click of the latch sounding like a gunshot.
I sank to the floor right there, the wood cold against my legs.
'Why today?' I’d whispered into the empty hall, hot tears finally spilling. What worst way was it to celebrate your birthday, than the one your heart crave, screwing another right in your face and he didn't seem to care!.
"Elara, look!" Sarah’s voice broke through the memory like a siren.
I looked up and my heart dropped into my stomach. Thick, black smoke was pouring out of our dorm building. Students were running, screaming, and gathered in a panicked crowd.
"There was a fire!" My roommate ran to me, her face covered in soot. "I grabbed some of your things, but we had to get out!"
Sirens filled the air, the loud wails echoing and I felt a scream stuck in my throat. I stared at the burning building, my eyes shaking.
My family had lied to me, my stepbrother was stalking my life, and now the only place I had to call my own was going up in flames.
Why was everything falling apart at once?
- Writer
