The Professor

Chapter 7

DALIA

Now, why on earth did it come to this?

I tapped my foot on the floor repeatedly, my eyes fixed on the office a little ways away as I tried to convince myself to just march up to the door, knock, and state my business to the office’s occupant. But I couldn’t because that was Noah’s office… or like he said in the cafe – Professor Anderson’s office.

“Dalia, we’ve been standing here for ten minutes,” Weston muttered and I hmmed as I began to chew on a cuticle.

We might be here for longer.

When Weston and I got to campus, I had been hopeful and determined to find a lecturer that needed a TA but that mood only lasted for about half an hour because all the lecturers on the list I created before the semester started had already filled the available spots they had. Then on Dr Hale’s advice, I checked the TA application section in the school’s website once more and found one lecturer that needed a TA. There was just one problem.

It was Noah.

It felt like I was being laughed at… And no, I wasn’t referring to the guy that was laughing with his friends at the end of the hallway.

“Just… Just give me a couple of minutes more. I–I’m building courage,” I said just as Weston pulled my hand away from my mouth and raised his brows at me. “I should just email him, right?”

“If you think he’ll respond, sure,” he said and I groaned because Noah most likely wouldn’t.

What would he even think if I showed up in his office, asking to be his TA? I mean, he probably wanted me to forget what happened between us so doing this might make it seem like I’m willing to do that… or I’m threatening him. I don’t know…

“What’s the verdict?” Weston asked and I groaned again before pausing.

Wait, why am I panicking so much over this? I just needed to go apply to be his TA and if he rejected me – which he most likely would but it better be for a proper reason that wasn’t related to Friday night – I would just have to figure something out. For now, I had to find out if I had a chance.

I blew out a harsh breath and rolled my shoulders. “Let me just get this over with. I can do this.” I began to march towards Noah’s office without waiting for Weston to say anything, and when I was halfway there, I stopped.

My heart started to pound.

…I can’t do this.

I instantly whirled around, about to start walking back to Weston, but I paused again when he fixed me with a look. He was probably going to ditch me if I kept this up and I wouldn’t blame him if he did.

I really needed to get this over with.

I can do this.

“I’m going. I’m going.” I turned around before resuming my march, making it to the office door this time, and when I came to a stop, I took a deep breath. I just needed to go in, apply to be his TA, and straight back out. Just like that – Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars.

Okay. I got this… I got this!

With a growing sense of doom, I raised my hand and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Oh God. He’s actually in the office.

I took another deep breath and before I could panic and change my mind again, I opened the door.

The moment Noah saw me, he got to his feet so fast that I almost jumped and he didn’t say it out loud, but the phrase ‘oh s**t’ streamed across his expression. You’d think I sprouted fangs, that I might bite him, and for one long moment, the idea was enjoyable.

The f**k?!

“Uh– Good afternoon,” I started, blinking rapidly as I tried to push that crazy idea to the back of my mind. Get your s**t together, Dalia. I cleared my throat and stood upright as I forced a smile onto my face. “Good afternoon, Professor Anderson. Do you need a TA?”

There! I did it!

My heart pounded wildly in my chest as I waited for a response while trying not to let my mind wander back to what happened in the cafe or even worse, Friday night. Several moments later, I frowned when he still didn’t say anything. Is he ignoring me? Is he going to say something like ‘I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that’ and–

“...What?”

Oh. Did he not hear me?

I then realized that I was still standing outside his office and I swallowed as I also realized that I should probably go in if I wanted us to have a conversation. I glanced at the threshold before returning my gaze to his, sort of expecting him to invite me in.

He had already said ‘come in’ when I knocked but the thought of actually going in made me feel like a demon about to walk over salt.

This is ridiculous. I’m being ridiculous.

I grabbed my wrist, using my thumb to trace the bracelet there, and glanced at Weston down the hall as I steeled myself. I then walked into the office, choosing to leave the door open, and finally came to a stop a couple of meters away from his desk, swallowing thickly.

“I came to ask if you needed a TA.”

Surprise was still written all over his face but now, there was also a little bit of confusion which had to be because that wasn’t why he expected me to be here. Over ten minutes ago, I hadn’t thought this would be the reason I came to his office either. I didn’t even want to have to face him this soon after that cafe encounter.

“Why?”

“Because I want to apply,” I replied, resisting the urge to give him a duh look.

Yes, I was still pissed at him.

Noah’s expression instantly closed up and he set his palms down flat on the desk as he pinned me with his intense gaze, making me shift from one foot to the other. He was probably thinking that I was out of my mind but the way he stared at me made me tingle all over. s**t.

Maybe I was out of my mind.

I raised my chin, keeping my breathing easy and my eyes on him despite the fact that I wanted to look anywhere but him while he stared at me like that, but it would be odd to have a conversation like that. And besides, if he could keep his eyes on me like that without wavering, I should do the same.

“Someone already did,” he said in a low voice, his expression still unreadable, before glancing past me just as someone knocked on the door. “There she is,” he added while I turned around to see Kristen walking into the office.

“Oh, hey Dalia,” she said, surprise evident on her face as she walked into the office, stopping next to me.

“Hey.”

“Why are you here?”

“To apply to be Professor Anderson’s TA.” I mean, he only said someone applied to be his TA. He didn’t say he already had a TA.

“Me too.”

Ah. So she hasn’t even applied yet. The corner of my mouth turned up as I returned my attention to Noah.

“…I only need one,” he stated, giving me a pointed look, and I slightly tipped my head to the side.

Does he expect me to leave? Kristen and I could both just apply and he could reject one person… with a proper reason that had nothing to do with their history of course.

I crossed my arms over my chest, standing firmly, and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head while he stared at me.

He then let out a harsh breath and looked away as he straightened. “I need you to go think about this again and if you still want to be my TA by Friday, fill out the department application on the school’s website. I’ll choose my TA based on your answers.”

****

NOAH

“You’re back earlier than I expected,” Javier said as I plopped down on the couch in my living room.

“Beginning of the semester. Don’t have much to do yet.”

“How was your first day?” he asked while Neil, who was sitting next to me, asked, “How was your date?”

I groaned, letting my head loll back. Kill me.

I had told them about Dalia when I got home on Friday night and I had also told them that she and I were going to hang out today.

“What? Did she stand you up?” Neil asked with a teasing smile and I heaved a sigh.

“... She’s a student at Hartman.”

A couple of seconds passed with no reaction from them and when what I said finally, Javier’s brows snapped together. “What?”

“Yeah. My student, to be exact.” What did I do to deserve this?

Javier’s eyes went round and a faraway look came into them as he stared at me. He then cleared his throat and adjusted on the couch before leaning forward. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get that. Dalia from the club? …My club? …Dalia that blew your mind and you couldn’t stop thinking -”

“Yes, Javier,” I cut him off and ran my hands over my face. “That Dalia.”

He went quiet again and made a steeple of his fingers while taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?” he asked and I shot him a look before Neil snorted next to me.

“Oh hell…” Neil muttered and I frowned at him, wanting to know what was funny. “And Caden said you were responsible.”

“What?”

“He told Caden and I that you’d probably shag a student and Caden said you wouldn’t,” Javier explained and I groaned again, leaning back on the couch.

“I didn’t know she was my student then, you prick.”

“What are you going to do now? Are you going to kick her out of your class?” Javier asked.

“I can’t kick her out. It’s not an elective,” I replied just as my phone began to ring in my pocket and I pulled it out to see it was a call from a number I didn’t recognize. “And she wants to apply to be my TA.”

“Whoa. That’s wild,” Neil said, surprise washing over their faces before I answered the call.

“Hello.”

“Noah,” the caller said and I immediately tensed up, recognizing the voice. What the f**k? “Hey–”

I hung up, gritting my teeth. How the hell did she get my number?

“Was that her?” Javier asked, drawing my attention to him, and I raised my brows. He gestured at my phone. “Was that Dalia?”

I shook my head sideways. “No, it was uh...Allison.”

The mirth instantly washed away from their faces and I tossed the phone on the couch, not wanting to think about Allison or why she was calling me.

“So…” Neil started after several moments had passed. “What are you going to do about Dalia?”

I sighed.

I hoped she wouldn’t apply to be my TA but if she did… If she did… What will having her as my TA be like?

As soon as the thought came to mind, I pushed it aside because it was a recipe for disaster. I couldn’t seem to control my thoughts and actions around her – even while thinking she was crazy when she said she wanted to apply to be my TA, I had wanted to put my hands on her, and Kristen might or might not have caught me eyeing her up when she walked into the office.

If Dalia did apply to be my TA, I was going to reject it.

I needed to stay away from her.