CHAPTER TWO

Isla’s POV

“Should I just skip school today..?”

It's Friday. I sigh as I look at my class schedule again and the words, PROFESSOR WINSTON: ART HISTORY, stare back at me, I groan.

After the embarrassing incident with my history arts teacher, who I have the hots for, the universe must definitely be against me, I just had to have history arts the very next day.

“Girl come on, it’s not like he’s going to hate you. It was a mistake and he made that little comment too. Again, so hot!” I roll my eyes at the last statement.

“You didn’t see him. He was staring at me like he could see my soul..”

I go back to that night- the look he gave me seemed so much like… I can’t even think of a way to describe it and then the look of amusement when he saw that I noticed. I shiver involuntarily as I clear my thoughts.

“Come on, I’ll drop you off, I don’t have classes today.” I sigh as I let Evan drag me out to his car.

-----

He didn’t acknowledge me.

He has been teaching for a little over an hour now and he hasn’t once glanced at me. I don’t know why, I don’t know how but I was pissed. And hurt.

It doesn’t even make any sense. I should have known better than to read too much into a stupid store accident discussion. I shake my head and try to keep up with the rest of the lecture.

“…Freeman? Something important on your mind?”

I almost get whiplash looking up. “Sir..?”

He looks intensely at me for what felt like a lifetime but was probably just a few seconds.

“You pay good money for my class. If you would rather day dream then I suggest you drop it.”

My face burned as all eyes turned to me and the murmurs began because I think I’m the first person to ever actually get scolded in his class. I feel sick.

I shook my head,” I’m sorry sir. Won’t happen again.”

He seems to look like he doesn’t believe that and wants to say more but decides not to. “Class is dismissed. You have till the end of the semester to submit your assignments— No more no less.” The class groans and I look around confused, what assignment? But I dare not ask him so I just quietly pack my things in my bags with my hair down covering my face. I’ll just go ask him in his office later, I have other classes to get to.

“And miss Freeman?” I look up again. It’s a wonder my neck hasn’t just fallen off with how much quick looking up I have to do. “See me at the end of the day.” And then he just walks out.

See him?? Why? What for? I mean, I’m the one with the need to see him because I don’t know what assignment he gave. But HE wants to see me? ME? In his office?! Well, he said it the other way round but potato potatoe.

I text Evan to see if he could ease my mind up a bit because I have no idea what to think.

Me:- I told you I should have just skipped.!

Roomie🤗💕:- pleasant afternoon to you too, pretty thing.

I roll my eyes.

Roomie🤗💕:- what’s wrong?

Me:- what’s wrong is that I kind of got distracted in “you know who’s” class and I got called out and then he said to see him after class.

Me:- I am freaking out!

Roomie:- student teacher sex in the professor’s office 😭🔥

I gasp.

Me:- Evan! This is serious.

Roomie🤗💕:- sorry sorry but I mean what else could it be.

Roomie🤗💕:- think about it. Last night you looked so hot, he probably saw you and the sight made him want to break the rules.

Roomie🤗💕:- God this is so fucking hot 🥵

Me:- Evan stop saying trash. That can’t possibly be what he thinks.

Roomie🤗💕:- Girl trust me, that’s 90% for sure what he thinks. If I swung that way, I would so do you. Rules be damned😉😂

I sigh and I just leave the chat. What was I thinking expecting him to make light of what this could possibly be about.

-----

Carter’s POV

She’s lost in thought. Again.

“If you want to pursue a career in art, then you should know better than to not take this class seriously.” I hear myself say because I can’t help myself. I feel irrationally angry when she still doesn’t even look up.

“Over there at the back, Miss Freeman? Something important on your mind?” I ask with a little more bite then I should have.

She looks completely mortified and I almost feel bad. Almost.

“Sir..?” I mentally groaned.

When she called me sir at the store last night, it was all I could do to stop myself from hauling her to my car and into my bed. I did not need the boner I was getting right now. I shake out of it.

“You pay good money for my class. If you’d rather daydream then I suggest you drop it.” I almost hit myself at how distraught she looks.

“I’m sorry sir, won’t happen again.” She barely squeaks out.

I almost want to hold her and apologize. But I fight it and turn to address the class. I talk about their assignment and the class groans but I just roll my eyes and I catch sight of the easily distracted beauty and she looks confused. I realize she probably has no idea what the assignment is. And with that realization, I think of doing something so ridiculous and before I can think better of it, I hear myself.

“And miss Freeman?” She looks up at me with those big doe eyes again looking slightly startled and with her mouth parted. I mentally groan as I picture her looking at me like that on her knees. What the fuck!

“See me at the end of the day.” Then I make my less than graceful exit.

----

My first day as substitute professor and she had caught my eye. She kept looking at me so intently and I think she might have sketched a painting of me because she kept glancing and scribbling.

I had thought it was cute. I chalked it up as attraction. Lots of students have approached me with less then appropriate intentions. Except the one student that I wouldn’t mind being inappropriate with.

I look at the digital clock on my table.

18:16.

She should be here by now. My phone pings just as I reach for it. It’s a text from Dom. I’m late for the opening of the club tonight but I’ll be damned if I leave without seeing her.

Isla’s POV

“If I move cities now, I still have enough time to apply for uni somewhere else, right?”

Evan’s very annoying laugh is what invades my ears through the phone.

“Girl, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this genuinely scared. You’re so scared it’s making you stupid.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. I’ve been in the hallway of HIS office for the past hour and a quick glance at my watch shows that it’s just a few minutes to 8.

“You’re no help. I’m hanging up.”

“Just go in girlie. He’s not going to bite… or will he?” giggle.

I hang up.

“You should trust your friend.”

I die. I watch my body leave my soul at the voice I just hear behind me. I turn around and I can’t breathe. I try to talk but I just find myself gasping.

Oh dear, I’m having a panic attack. I haven’t had ome of these in ages. Oh now I’m falling.

Except I don’t end up falling. I’m being held by my very good looking, and now that I’m in his arms, very fit professor.

He’s looking so worried and I keep trying to breathe because he shouldn’t be worried. He’s saying things to me. I can’t hear him. I slowly pass out.

-----

“I’ll be there by the hour. Take care of things till I get there.”

What…?

I’m in what looks to be a room. And was that Mr Winston?

Memories start coming to me. Oh my God!

I fainted in front of HIM?!

I sit up on the very uncomfortable couch and it squeaks. I look up to find a pair of intense looking eyes looking at me.

The owner of those eyes start walking towards me, looking devastatingly handsome. I don’t know what I was thinking or if I was thinking at all but I maintain eye contact until he reaches me and squats down to my height on the couch.

If he would just scooch in a little bit closer, our lips would touch….

I jump to my feet startled at my thoughts and he falls on his ass.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” I extend a hand to him and he just looks up at me. I blink. And blink.

He ignores my hand and picks himself up. “You are one very intriguing student, Freeman.” He looks down at me and I swallow.

“Sir, I really apologize — “

“I should apologize to you. I didn’t mean to scare you earlier.”

“Oh, that’s fine sir. You didn’t know and I haven’t had an attack in so long, I’m quite surprised myself. And I should have been in your office anyway.” I can’t stop talking. “But then my best friend called, and I had to talk to him and I know that’s not an excuse but he gets really cranky if he doesn’t hear from me and we weren’t talking about you, sir, earlier —“

“Freeman, breathe.”

I take in a deep breath.

“Art needs depth so I understand that you sometimes get lost in your thoughts. But you need to focus in class or you’ll never pick up a brush and produce something worth discussing in classrooms in the future.”

I blink. “Do you understand me?”

I nod. “Words, Freeman.”

“Yes sir. I understand.”

He groans and I don’t believe my ears.

He walks around his desk and starts picking his stuff and I think I just imagined it. He hands me a piece of paper.

I look at him confused.

“Your assignment.” Oh

“An art work that depicts different emotions from different view points. Any. Due at the end of the semester. That’ll be all.”

I watch him walk out feeling super confused. I go through the paper in my hand. It’s references to different art works.

I’m deep into it when I hear someone clear their throat. I look towards the door and he’s still there.

“I need to lock my office, Freeman.” I feel my face burn.

“I’m—“ “You’re sorry, I’m aware.”

“Good night Mr Winston. Thank you.” I genuinely smile at him before walking away.