Chapter Five

I feel completely dumb struck. I honestly didn't know what to make of him last night and really I tried not to dwell on it long because I expected not to see him again. But he is right here in front of me and his gaze is so intense it makes me squirm.

Clearing his throat and assessing the class I find myself relaxing a bit. Not much, but just enough to breathe again. Him looking at me like I was the only person in the room made me feel like I was under a microscope.

Walking over and placing his briefcase on his desk he turns and addresses everyone. "Hello class. I see we have a few new faces and since I am still new here I will introduce myself." Walking over to the blackboard he picks up some chalk and begins writing. I can't see until he turns around and notice to elaborate handwriting while he announces "I am your professor, Mr. Belikov." And that's when I notice the slight accent. Must be Russian or something. It's not strong, but its definitly there.

Walking towards his podium and sitting some papers down he proceeds walking around to stand in front of it and he begins explaining the rules of his class. " Now, I don't expect much for any of you, but some common courtesy. Try not to be late and yes I know sometimes it can't be prevented. I get that. Pay attention because noone wants to fall behind. That's no fun for you or for me. I will work with anyone who is actually putting effort into their work. Also do not be afraid to raise your hand if theres something you may not understand. Okay?" He then claps his hands together signifying the finality of his set rules. "Now. Today I am requesting at the end of this class the newer students come up and formally introduce themselves to me. And don't worry about me holding you up from your next class or from your make out sessions with your significant other." The class chuckles. "I am not requiring much of your time. And now since that has been said, lets gets on with class, shall we."

The rest of class he paced back and forth lecturing about God knows what because I totally wasn't paying attention. All my focus was on the power in his voice and where he was walking. With each pace he always ended up in front of me. No further. Then he turned and walked to the other side of the room. Then proceeded to walk back in front of me again. He radiated power and control and if that didn't suck you in his looks sure as hell did. He was quite possibly the most beautiful man I have ever layed eyes on in my life.

The end of class came too quick for comfort for me. I knew I was supposed to go up and introduce myself, but that was the last thing I wanted to do.

As the entire class, including myself and Aimee started collecting our things to put them in our bags. They all started heading out the door in a leisurely pace. I notice the stark contrast as to how people exited this room as opposed to leaving Mrs. Riggins.

Aimee finishes collecting her things before I do and stands in front of my desk. "Hey, you. I am gonna go stand outside and wait for you while you get a one on one with Mr. Gorgeous over there and you find me when your done. No rush, unless you are hungry because we get to have an early lunch."

"I am starving actually. I just may head out with you. My instincts are screaming at me to bolt out of this class and have nothing to do with introducing myself."

"Why in the world would your instincts tell you to run away from that.'' She says as she turns and points at the professor as he is speaking to one of the other students.

"Honestly. I have already met him last night at work and it was a little unnerving. So, he already knows my name and thats all he needs to know." Standing up and slinging my bag on my shoulder I say "Lets get out of dodge and eat before I get hangry.''

At that exact moment my stomach rumbles loud enough for us both to hear. Aimee laughs and says "Enough said. Lets feed that monster in there.'' 

Walking towards the back of the class towards my salvation of getting as far away as possible a voice from behind us yells in our direction making us both stop in our tracks. ''And where are you ladies going so quickly? One of you still has to formally introduce yourselves."

"Damn it." I say to myself.

Aimee looks over at me, sympathy in her eyes she mouths "Sorry, girl."

We both turn around and Aimee replies for me. "Sorry Sir, I think we both had forgot. Brennas stomach is rumbling from lack of substance and we were in a rush to grab something to eat."

''Well thats half the truth." He laughs. "But I believe Miss Brenna is also avoiding as well."

Double damn.

Aimee looks over at me like she knows we aren't getting away so easy now with being caught. She looks at me and says "Looks like your stomach has to hold out a little while longer, girl. But I'll be right outside when your done.'' She reache over, squeezes my hand and walks out. Leaving me standing there looking like lost puppy, I'm sure.

''Come on down and say hello, Brenna."

He's sitting at his desk as he gestures to the chair that was sitting next to it. Walking down I said to myself that I wasn't going to cower under his stare. I was going to be the adult that I am and not going to studder nor freeze from the discomfort and pressure that is attempting to get the best of me.

"Have a seat."

Placing my bag on the floor I sit and start wringing my hands in the lap. He gets up and walks around sitting at the end of the desk right in front of me. He leans down and lightly clasps my hands startling me and stopping the nervous movement. I look up at him and into those blue eyes that are almost too blue to be real. He chuckles and says ''What am I gonna do with you?''

I clear my throat. " Wh...what do you mean, Sir?"

"Oh, I'm Sir now?" He says raising one of his eyebrows with a smirk on his face.

''I'm sorry. What do you mean, Professor Belikov?''

He lets go of my hand and leans back gazing down at me. I suddenly find myself missing that warmth he poured into me from that single touch. I also remember how a single touch from him last night made me feel. He seems to have more of an affect on me that anyone ever has or should for that matter.

"I suppose thats a whole other discussion." Walking around his desk again he pulls his chair over to mine. Which if that doesn't make me squirm a little I don't know what would.

He places it in front of mine, sits and leans back. "So, how do you like it here?"

"Well, I just arrived today, but I think the campus is beautiful and honestly I'm just happy to be here.''

"That's good to know. But what I honestly meant was, how do you like it here in general? The town, your job, where you live? That sort of thing.''

"Oh, well...I like the town. I like the homey feel of it. I haven't been here that long, but I really do like it here. As for the job, its a paycheck. And where I am staying, well, thats a work in progress I suppose."

"I note that you grew up in foster care. Did that have any type of negative impact on your life?'' 

"If you don't mind me asking, Sir. Why all these personal questions? I don't know what that has to do with me in the class." Well go me and actually speaking up.

He studies me for a moment "Please Brenna. Don't call me Sir. And as for your question it doesn't have anything to do with you in the class. It has to do with me wanting to get to know you formally. I am sorry that you are so quickly taking offense, but I am genuinly interested in you and your well being."

And he did seem sincern. The question is am I going to actually answer the questions or am I doing to dodge them. Decisions, decisions. I decide to speak, but stay simple. Hopefully my  mouth doesn't fight against what my mind says and spew a bunch of word vomit that I can't take back. It does that sometimes and it's rather annoying.

"Well, since I seen you have been privy to my personal record...yes, I spent the last several years in foster care. I would rather not talk about my time bouncing home from home because it's depressing. So yeah, I guess it did have a negative impact in my life. Are you happy??"

All of a sudden I feel like I am on offense and I feel my lip quiver and I swear if I start to cry I will never forgive myself.

"No, Brenna, that does not make me happy." He reaches across his desk and grabs a handkerchief and hands it to me. Thats when I really notice my eyes betrayal, curse myself and wipe away my tears.

''Thank you and I apologize.'' I sniffle. ''I don't know what came over me, but I really don't like talking about any of this with anyone. It's my past, and if I could leave what I can back there I do so. Trudging it up gets me nowhere. Well, except embarresment from crying in front of someone who I don't even know."

''Do you realize you apologize for things that are out of your control. Things that are no fault of your own? And as for the embarresment, you have no need to be embarresed with me. Ever.''

"Force of habit and all that, I guess.'' Sniffling some more and still feeling like an idiot I begin to notice that it was a handkerchief he had handed me and not a simple tissue. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I ruined your handkerchief. I swear I'll wash it and get it back to you. I am so sorry."

He laughed and said "You do realize that I am the one who handed it to you. I knew what it was being used for. And that was to help a beautiful woman shed a tear or more and release some of that pent up hurt she is carrying around with her. Again there is no need to apologize. As for returning it, there is no need. I want you to keep it.''

I looked at the hankie and I looked back up at him. I start to see him in another light and maybe he is starting to make me feel more at ease being around him. Especially since it seems the proximity keeps getting smaller between us. 

"I can't keep this. It looks like it costs a bit. You even have it mongrammed." I note the VB signa on the bottom right hand side.

"What does the 'V' stand for if you don't mind me asking?"

Smiling he say "You can ask me anything you like. As for the 'V' it stands for Viktor.''

Nodding my head while still looking down and rubbing the initials. "Viktor Belikov. So are you Russian?"

"Dah, I am originally from there, but that was many, many years ago. I have practically traveled all over the world in my lifetime. Haven't been to mother Russia in many decades."

"Don't you have any family?" I ask.

He looked kinda sad at first and then he sat up and said "Not any longer and besides I have all that I need now and thats all that matters.''

"I am sorry to hear about your family. I know what its like and don't ask because I refuse to talk about it. You already got me to cry once. I don't need another reason to.''

He leaned forward and once again he placed one of his hands on mine with a knowing look on his face and says "No worries, my sweet girl. Seeing your tears is the last thing I bear to ever witness."

He cleared his throat and leaned back while I looked at him with interest. Deciding I just jumped right in throwing caution to the wind. "Why do I feel that I know you from somewhere? And don't say it's because I met you last night because I know thats not it."

He went to speak and I interupted him ''And why do you seem to care so much about me? I am just getting all kinds of confused to be honest. I feel like something is up and another foot is about to stomp down on my life and rein more havoc."

He was about to answer when we hear a small creak coming from the classroom door and Aimees head pops in.