SEVEN: THE ODD PROFESSOR

“Take a seat anywhere, Avery” he said gesturing with his hands and I moved glad to be away from the spotlight and try to decide on the three empty seats. 

I spot one towards the window and hurry towards it. I recognised the face of the person sitting behind the seat, it was the guy with stormy eyes in the hallway and he eyed me warily.

I sat on my seat, trying to calm my racing heart when the seat behind me screeched.

“Raphael what is it?” The professor asked.

“I can't sit here, change my seat” he demanded and I swallowed.

“There's nothing wrong with your seat Rapheal, sit down” the professor commanded, clearly not appreciating his tone.

“If you don't change my seat, I'll leave. I cannot sit here” he repeated and I scrunched my eyebrows. Did he have a problem with me?

I turned to look back at him, his stormy eyes already glaring at me. He suddenly grabbed his bag and walked away, evading me totally. He walked to one of the empty seats and plops down.

I suddenly feel weird and the people around me are giving me a look. I bend my head to take a hidden whiff of my armpits and touch my face gently. 

There was nothing wrong with me, why did he want to move? I suddenly feel like someone is watching me again and I look around.

“Back to class” the professor said, drawing our attention back to him as he continued teaching.

…….

Soon the professor begins to round up.

“Lucian” he called.

“You'll tutor Cele…. Avery” The professor said and the class slowly began to grow empty.

“Avery, come” he called and I swallowed. The way he called my name and stressed it. 

I walked up to the front of the class, subconsciously watching Raphael as he left before turning my attention back to the professor.

“This is Lucian” he introduced and I turned to look at the boy with shoulder length black hair, deep brown eyes and a piercing on his lip,who gave me a bored look. I tried not to stare too long as a blush rose to my cheeks, what was with this school and having breathtaking men, they weren’t humans afterall.

“Nice to meet you" I murmured but Lucian just stared at me using his fingers to play with his lip ring. I turned to look at the professor helpless.

“So Lucian, you'll tutor her?” The professor asked again.

“No….. I won't” he replied, still staring at me, I tried to hold eye contact but I'm forced to look away, again.

“Lucian,” the professor called again.

“Mr Alister, we both know I'll be no good at teaching” He yawned and the silver chains on his neck jumbled against each other making a metallic sound.

“You're my best student Lucian” Mr Alister argued and though I did not look up I could still feel his eyes on me, watching me.

“What if you take extra classes with her instead, I don't have enough free time on my hands” he ruffled his hair as he spoke, I watched him from the side of my eyes and Mr Alister sighed.

“Avery, would you be open to that?” He turned to ask me in his baritone voice.

I think I might be ovulating.

“Y…yes, thank you” I muttered.

“Dhampir?” Lucian chuckled before walking away, I froze but quickly composed myself.

“We'll meet everyday in this class at 5:00pm, is that okay with you?” He asked and I swallowed thinking about coming to this floor in the evening.

“What about dinner,” I asked.

“We'll be done at dinner time,” he replied, his voice holding a little mirth.

Before I could decipher what was happening, his hand grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him and that's when I realised we were the only ones in the class.

My body tensed and I couldn't help but notice how warm his hands were. “I'll teach you all I can in two hours” he says in a lower tone and I swallow tensed.

Mr Alister let go of my chin, grabbing his jacket before leaving the class.

……

By 3:00pm I was done with classes and hurried back to my room, Phoebe was inside this time but Daphne wasn't.

I took in Phoebe's appearance,she was still in her school uniform and was reapplying make up. When I came in last night, she was stretching her hair.

“Hi,” I muttered.

“Oh hi, stranger” she puckered her lips as she finished applying her gloss. “How were your classes?” She asked.

“Odd,” I muttered, tossing my bag on my bed.

“It's just because it's your first day” she chuckled, dragging her eyelashes with the mascara brush.

“Where are you off too?” I asked not missing the hint of blush came on her cheeks.

She turned to me and her eyes narrowed. It seemed like my roommates didn't like to share.

“I didn't see you in my class today?” She asked like I hadn't asked my earlier question.

“Yeah that's true, I have this fine professor though” I started and heard something clattering to the floor and Phoebe turned to me wide eyed before moving towards my bed.

“He's very tall, with caramel skin, and a tattoo on his neck?” She described Mr Alister and I nodded, making her squeal.

“Oh my goodness, I've been trying to seduce him since my first year” She groaned.

“What?” I asked confused.

“Oh darling,” she chuckled. “If Mr Alister is your teacher, does that mean you're a senior?” She asked wide eyed.

“Yeah, what year did you think I was?” I asked in a curt tone and she smiled. If they were going to be secretive then I'll be curt.

“You're getting the hint” Phoebe smiled at me and rushed to my side.

“Don't play the nice girl, people here have nothing but evil in their heart” She shrugged, running her hand through my hair.

“Even you?” I asked and she leaned in closer, her eyes glowing orange. 

“Even me” she muttered and smiled before moving back.

“I'm going to the forbidden building” she tilted her head with a smile.

“Isn't that forbidden?” I asked, stating the obvious while she rolled her eyes.

“That's the point,” she chuckled.

“I have to meet with him this evening” I sighed, thinking of the work load ahead. I was behind a few weeks.

“Meet with who?” A voice came from the door, Daphne. She pulled off her shoes and gave me a skeptical look.

“My professor, he's going to be tutoring me for classes I've missed,” I explained and Phoebe squealed.

“You have a golden ticket!” Phoebe exclaimed.

“He has that much time on his hands?” Daphne scoffed, she was right though. Did he really have that much free time to tutor me?

“Who cares, I'm so going to pretty you up” Phoebe smiled brightly rushing over to grab her make up kit.

“It's just tutoring,” I reminded her.

“Yes, yes I know” she winked at me.

“Also Daphne, did you know Avery was a year above us?” Phoebe asked and I just stared at the both of them.

“So what?” Daphne asked, sighing before plopping her headphones on her head.

“I still have time before I have to meet him, I need to rest” I sighed, tossing back on my bed and Phoebe blew raspberry.