Chapter 10

As she stepped out into the cool night air, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

“I’d love to do this again.” he said, hopeful in a way that made her stomach twist from guilt.

Ariel hesitated. “Ethan... I appreciate tonight. Really. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I’m not looking for anything romantic. I see you as a friend. Just a friend.” The gentleness of her voice did nothing to soften the rejection.

His smile faltered but he nodded slowly, disappointment flickering across his features before he masked it with understanding. “Okay. I can do that. Just friends.”

She hated the way his eyes dimmed, the slight slump of his shoulders. But she had to make things clear from the start. Leading him on would only cause more pain later. She thanked him again for dinner and watched as he drove away. Before she turned and entered the building.

_________

The next day, Ariel sat with Stacy in the cafeteria. Her tray was untouched.

“Still thinking about last night?” Stacy teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. “You’ve barely touched your food.”

“Not really. I’m just tired.” Ariel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Ethan appeared behind them, his presence drawing admiring glances from nearby tables. He smiled, seemingly recovering from last night's rejection. “Mind if I join you two ladies?”

Ariel gave a polite nod. “Sure.”

He slid into the seat beside her, a little too close, his arm brushing against hers as he set down his tray. As he launched into a story about his latest basketball game, Ariel nodded along absentmindedly.

Then the cafeteria doors opened and Professor Grayson walked in.

Ariel went completely still. Her entire body tensed. Luther’s eyes scanned the room... and landed on her. His eyes showed something she couldn’t understand, something that made her nervous and cautious of how close Ethan was to her.

“We should go.” she said out of the blue, rising from her seat.

Ethan looked surprised, his story cut off mid sentence. “Why? I just got here.”

“I need to prepare for my next class.” The excuse sounded weak even to her own ears.

Before Ariel could step away from the table, he gently pulled her back down, his warm hand on her wrist. Then he leaned forward and gently wiped a bit of sauce from the side of her mouth. “You had something there.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet.” Stacy gushed, clasping r hands together dramatically. “But you guys, please remember I'm still very much single. So have mercy on my fragile heart.” She pretended to swoon.

Ariel stiffened, discomfort crawling up her spine. Her eyes flicked toward Luther involuntarily. He was still staring… his expression darkened.

“I’ll see you later.” she murmured, grabbing her things.

Outside, Ariel wrapped her arms around herself as her heart pounded. “Why does it feel like I just got caught cheating?” She placed her hand on her chest, trying to lm her racing heart.

“You’re really in a hurry, huh?” Ethan asked, suddenly standing beside her. She hadn’t heard him follow.

“Class.” She repeated out meeting his eyes.

“The way you rushed out just now, it felt like you were leaving the country, not the cafeteria.” he joked.

She managed a chuckle. “You know I have things going on in my life as well, Ethan. I can’t just put everything on hold so we can hang out.” The words came out harsher than she intended.

His smile dimmed slightly, but he nodded. “I just enjoy your company. That’s all.” The simple honesty in his voice made her guilt return with full force.

Later, during Luther’s lecture, his eyes kept drifting to Ariel. Even as he scribbled notes on the whiteboard.

Ariel kept her eyes down, focused intently on her notebook. She couldn’t bear the heat of his gaze. It was too much.

When class ended, she waited for the inevitable: “Ms. Anthony, could you stay a moment?” But it never came.

Instead, he left without a word.

_________

That evening, at the bar, Ariel had just finished serving drinks to a rowdy table of businessmen when the door creaked open. Luther stepped inside.

She braced herself, grateful for the solid presence of the bar between them.

“Professor Grayson.” She greeted him, professionally.

“Ms. Anthony.” His tone was equally formal, but his eyes held hers for a moment.

Ariel tried so hard not to roll her eyes at him. “What can I get you?” She reached for a glass needing something to occupy her hands.

He rattled off his order… bourbon, neat… and she moved swiftly to prepare it.

“Is he your boyfriend?” he asked casually as she poured, the question so unexpected that she nearly spilled the expensive liquor.

She froze, then set the bottle down. “This is my workplace, sir. And I’m busy.” The chill in her voice would have iced his drink.

Luther’s eyes narrowed. “Of course.”

Ariel slid his drink across the bar and moved to help another customer. She was tired and dizzy. The exhaustion of school, work, and emotional whiplash was taking a visible toll on her. But she kept moving, kept working, ignoring the way her vision occasionally blurred.

Hours passed. Her limbs felt heavy, movement growing sluggish.

Finally, her shift ended. She collected her bag from beneath the counter, waved goodbye to her boss, and stepped outside.

The cold hit her like a wall. And her knees buckled.

But she never hit the ground.

Strong arms caught her before she could fall, cradling her against a solid chest. Luther.

“Ariel.” he said, her name on his lips for the first time today, voice filled with concern. “You’re burning up.”

Her eyelids fluttered. “I’m fine… just tired.”

“You have a fever,” he muttered, lifting her into his arms like she weighed nothing, one arm supporting back while the other hooked beneath her knees. “You’re coming with me.”

Ariel heard the car door open and felt herself being gently placed on warm leather seats. The soft click of a seatbelt followed.

Luther got into the driver’s seat and drove off. She turned her head to look at him.

“You push yourself too hard.” He said, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

She mumbled something incoherent.

He glanced at her, his expression softening briefly. His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel as he accelerated slightly.

“Just hold on. I’ll take care of you.” He whispered as Ariel felt her eyes close, darkness enveloping her like a blanket.