ONE

RED.

     It isn’t really a mind blowing moment or anything like that , I just finished with a class , tired and exhausted I trudged to my office but on my way there , loud noise coming from one of the empty class room drew me , it’s late in the evening not many people should be in school, maybe I am about to stumble upon some juicy information or stuff , I once heard a professor talk about how he stumbled upon some students having sex he couldn’t do anything about it cause most of the students in ARBORHEIGHT are rich spoilt brats whose parents could ruin your life

      I approached the classroom with caution , my heel clicked softly against the marble floor in the hall way , anxious and curious I raised my hand to open the door , I could hear my heartbeat in my ear excitement ran through me only for the door to be yanked Open from insider, I dropped my hand quickly my face a brighter shade of red than my hair , I looked around trying to feign the fact that I wasn’t about to open the door

       A girl stepped out of the door , blond, very pretty. She has this kind of bitchy energy to her like those mean girl in high school. She glared at me , her blue eyes piercing before storming off my gaze followed her as she stormed off , I am confused why is she glaring at me I didn’t upset her , I don’t even know her . With a purse of my lips I turned my gaze away from her , colliding with a hard surface

“Ouch”

“You should watch where you are going little Miss “

The delicious sultry sound in a British accent waft Into my ears like soothing balm on a sore muscle, I glanced up dark eyes stared down at me , sucking me in , drawing me in like a black hole an endless abyss

He is pretty. I couldn’t take my eyes off him , sharp dark eyes like they could see into the depth of my soul, long lashes curl over his eyes like shades keeping whatever is out in the world away from his beautiful eyes, pointed nose perfectly sculptured, thin lips , sharp jawline, dark hair that looks messy but in a neat way , I wanna run my hands through them and the ink peeking out of his neck , his appearance is mesmerizing. It felt like I am being hypnotized by beauty

“Little miss” he called out raising an eye brow at me

“Oh , uhm, sorry, excuse me “

I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, if I could run I would but I’d embarrassed my self enough, I willed my legs to walk and hurried out of there, the moment I turned a corner I placed my hand over my heart trying to calm my erratically beating heart

Who is that ?

•••••

“Miss Townsend, any horror students story to share ?”

“uhm?” I glanced at everyone

I didn’t get what they were talking about, I really haven’t been myself since yesterday, since my encounter with the pretty boy I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind , he even appeared in my dream its actually very annoying

“ I’m so sorry, I kind of feel a little under the weather today “

“Well you didn’t miss much , we were just talking about the horror students in our classes “

“I don’t really have one “ I responded with a strained smile

The students are terrors we know that but they don’t really terrorize me as much as the other professors

I heard someone scoff at my response , I already knew who it is without even looking, Darna Trevor.

We got the job at the same time , three years ago and she has been a thorn at my side since then

“Of course, no students wants to terrorize sweet and pretty professor Townsend “ Darna remarks

I ignored her , after Three years being a bitch just gets old

“I had Michael Dew in my class today “ someone says

It suddenly became quiet, I looked at the lecturers faces it had horror on it

“Oh no, are you ok?”

Another person asks the person who made the statement

“Yeah , I feel dumb and useless but except from that I’m alright “

“Oh sorry”

“that’s so sad”

‘you will get over it “

Words of comfort came from different part of the room but I have never been so confused In My Life

“Who is Michael Dew?”

The room becomes silent again, this time everyone is staring at me like I had grown three head or something like that

“You don’t know Michael Dew?”

“No, who is he ?”

“ An Insufferable little brat who makes you feel like you are in the wrong line of work “

I watched as they all trauma bonded over Michael Dew, I am surprised by how much terror just one guy could Induce in a couple of professors

 “Listen to me Townsend, anytime you come across him just stay away from him “

“…ok” It felt like I’m being given a grave warning before I go off to war

This is the reason I rarely come to the break room, my colleagues can be a bit dramatic , I packed up my books up and picked up my laptop, I had to get out of there before I hear something insane or absurd again

“Miss Townsend…”

I froze still in my steps , I turned around and smiled tightly at the person who called at me

“You are coming to the gala right?”

Ahh, the gala . I signed in relief I honestly thought I about to listen to the ‘ why are you leaving us so soon , stay longer ‘ talk

“sure, I’ll be there “

Before I get stopped again I hurried out of there, I didn’t stop walking fast until I got close to my office

      Immediately I felt relief, I heard the one of the voice I dreaded hearing I’m this school

“Red”

I turned slowly coming face to face with Julian Oxford, a disgusting little man that has been a menace to my life for about a year now

“Excuse me professor Oxford, I don’t recall us being on first name basis “

He grinned at me and swat his hand in a playful manner “ Don’t be silly , we are…..”

“We are not anything, there isn’t even a We professor “

I watch as his face contoured in anger, it’s always like this , he tried to test my bottom line , I reject him he gets angry

“You can’t keep playing hard to get with me “

Words failed me at his declaration, hard to get ?

I don’t even like him , his mere presence irritates me

I decide not to speak, as I turned to leave him he grabs my arm, disgusted by the skin to skin contact goosebumps appeared on my skin

“Un hand me professor “ I demanded my voice as firm as I could muster

I am upset, very upset but even though Julian is the same height as I am he’s fat and I can’t overpower him, I could taste the underlying fear bubbling in the depth of my tummy

“You have played enough games, I know you like me “

“Let me go right now “

God, I need help

“Come on don’t be shy “

Help

My eyes stings from the tears welling up in them

“This is interesting “

I looked up sharply at the source of the voice , relief washed through me , the pretty boy…. he’s here standing behind Julian , he’s tall frame made him stand out in the long empty hall , he looked bored at the situation like he could be any where but here

“Go away and mind your damn……..”

The moment Julian saw him , he froze

I quickly snag my hand away from his grip, I don’t know why but I find my self walking towards the pretty boy

He grabs me by my waist, pulling me closer to him

“Are you alright?”

I have never thought q British accent sexy until now

“Yeah, I’m fine”

The his hand in my waist burns , I could feel the heat through my clothes, it felt like I wasn’t even clothed like he is touching my bare skin, he lift my hand and stared at the red mark on my skin from Julian’s manhandling

“I’m alright, my skin just bruise fast “

He pulls me behind him blocking me from Julian completely, he smells good , like the forest

“Professor Julian…”

I pulled at his shirt, he looked back at me I shaked my head. I didn’t want him getting into anything with Julian what if Julian decides to bully him , I hear Julian is a relative of the owner of the School

I peeked from behind him , Julian has left . Thank God

I stepped out from behind the pretty boy, I looked at him

“thank you for coming when you did “

He didn’t respond, his stared at me

His gaze made me uncomfortable , aware, seen…

“ Well, I’ll leave now “

“Do you have another class today?”

I stopped in my tracks “class?”

He cocked his head , I swear he thinks I’m and idiot

“No, I don’t “

“I’ll drop you off at home “

“I can drive my self home “

He closed the space between us , his scent flood my senses. He held my gaze

“I want to drop you off at home “ he stated leaving no room for refusal

I swallowed, his eyes are so pretty .

“Ok” I managed to squeak the word out , He probably is just scared that Julian would come back that’s why he wants to drive me home

He stepped back, giving me space to breath

I took in a deep breath “I wanna go drop the books in my office and pick up my bag , are you gonna come with me or you are gonna wait for me in the parking lot?”

He leaned forward and collected the books and my laptop from me , he stood like a good puppy waiting for instructions, I giggled at the comparison I made in my head

He glanced at me ,confusion written all over his face

“I’m sorry, come with me”

I lead him to my office.

•••••

“Thank you for offering to drive me home “ I Thanked him as he opened the passenger seat for me

He stepped into the car , I watched as he rolled up his shirt sleeve he had a snake tattoo that disappears into his shirt, it made my head conjure images that shouldn’t be there

I looked up from his arm and saw him staring at me , embarrassed that he caught me staring my face heat up and I looked away

“you don’t like the ink professor?” he drawled

“I’m sorry, I did not mean to stare”

He smiled at me

Goodness gracious, he is gorgeous .

Smiling increased his charm by a thousand, I felt heat pool between my thigh I pressed them together and looked away

I felt extremely embarrassed at my reaction to him

It’s quiet obvious that he is a student and a sweet boy for that

I didn’t look at him again, I gave him my house address and the ride home was extremely silent

I didn’t say anything, he didn’t say anything

“we are here “ his voice Brought me out of my thoughts

“Oh , thank you for bringing me home “

“you are welcome” he got off the car and opened the door for me

“Oh my you are so sweet, your girlfriend is a lucky girl”

He paused for a while before leaning forward, our face barely away from each other

“I don’t have a girlfriend little Miss “

The thumping of my heart is so loud I am almost sure he could hear my heartbeat

“Excuse me”

I hurried out of the car, keeping a safe distance between both of us

He leaned against his car.

“You should get inside professor”

As I fiddled with my keys to open the door I heard him

“And lock the door, good night professor”

By the time I gathered enough courage to look behind me , he had driven off

I have this inkling that I shouldn’t Interact much with him , God I don’t even know his name.