CHAPTER TWENTY - EIGHT

NICK WALKER ©

I couldn’t help staring at him as he walked into the hall.

He wore the same cold look as always. A stack of papers rested in his hands as he walked to the front. He took off his coat, placed it aside, and rolled up his sleeves.

I frowned a little and glanced at the papers on the table.

What was all that for?

“Attendance first,” he said in a calm voice before starting the roll call.

“Nick Walker.” I heard my name a few minutes later. I raised my hand a little.

“Present,” I answered but he didn’t even look up.

I stared at him for a moment. I stared at the same man who had insulted me and looked down on me.

I hated to admit it, but a part of me thought…

A part of me thought we were starting to get closer but after hearing his words last evening, all I felt was disappointment.

“Nick… are you sure you’re okay?” Avery asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Your lip keeps bleeding,” Avery said as she handed me a wipe.

I felt a sharp sting the moment I touched my lip and let out a quiet wince.

“I forgot to inform everyone,” Enzo said, glancing around the room. “We’ll be having a short test in class today.”

The whole class broke into loud murmurs.

“Hey, nerd,” someone suddenly called out, making everyone turn. “Did he tell you about it?”

“What does this have to do with him?” Avery shot back. “Did you not just hear him say he didn't get to tell anyone?“

I gently nudged her, hoping she would let it go.

“Well, the nerd is close to him,” someone else said.

“Quiet, please,” Enzo cut in before anyone could say more.

“Did he tell you about the test before now?” Avery whispered and I shook my head.

There was no way I could tell her what had happened between Enzo and me. How was I even supposed to know about a test?

Thinking about what he said to me hurts and telling Avery about it would hurt even more.

“How can he suddenly give us a test out of nowhere?” Avery whispered and I shrugged.

Enzo tapped the microphone and let out a soft sigh.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to whisper among yourselves just because I gave an impromptu test,” he said.

“There was always going to be a test in this course,” he said. “And what does the nerd have to do with any of this?”

The room went silent and a sharp ache hit my chest when I heard him call me nerd.

“He didn’t even call you by your name.” Avery whispered.

He handed the papers to the people in the front row and told them to pass them back.

A timer appeared on the interactive whiteboard, counting down numbers.

“Start once you get your paper,” he said.

I looked down at the booklet the moment it reached me. It was all theory questions.

Smart move. No multiple-choice questions this time.

Thirty minutes later, the timer beeped.

“Please pass your papers carefully to the front,” he said. “I’ll be leaving in ten minutes.”

The papers moved from the back rows to the front as students handed them over one by one.

Soft whispers filled the room while everyone submitted their work.

“That was intense,” Avery whispered as she dropped her head onto the desk in front of her and I let out a small laugh.

“Thank you. That’s the end of today’s class,” he said.

“Come on, let’s go to the cafeteria,” Avery said quickly. “That test already drained me.

We grabbed our bags and started to leave the class.

I glanced at Enzo. He was still sorting through the papers. Then, all of a sudden, he looked up.

Our eyes met.

“Great timing,” he said. “Come help me carry these.”

I frowned at him.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Of course, professor. We can help,” Avery quickly said, stepping in before the tension between us could grow.

“Aren’t we going to the cafeteria anymore?” I asked Avery, still keeping my eyes on him.

“What…” she asked, then paused as she noticed the tension between us.

“Huh? I thought… I thought we could help,” Avery said slowly.

“Sure, you can help me with this,” he replied, already going back to the papers.

I frowned.

This motherfvcker still couldn’t even apologize for what he said to me yesterday. He acted like nothing had happened.

He picked up the rest of the papers and walked past me, his shoulder brushing mine lightly.

Then he moved ahead, walking side by side with Avery.

His words from last night kept playing in my head as I followed behind him.

Maybe I should just wait for Avery. I had a strong feeling I might actually hit this man if I stayed too close.

We walked toward his office. I stayed a few steps behind them, staying quiet the whole way.

“Thank you, Miss Campbell,” he said once they reached his office.

I stood by the open door, waiting for Avery.

“Always happy to help, Gray…” she said, then quickly froze and covered her mouth. “I mean… happy to help, Professor Grayson.”

She dropped the papers on his desk and I didn’t wait for anything else. I turned and started walking away before Avery even stepped out of the office.

A few seconds later, she hurried after me.

“What’s going on with you and Grayson?” she asked and I shook my head.

“Nothing. He has always been stupid from the start,” I said and Avery turned to look at me right away.

“What?” she asked.

I went quiet.

“What happened?” she pressed.

I stopped walking and clenched my fist.

Before I could think twice, I turned back toward his office and ignored Avery calling after me.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

He looked up at me calmly.

“Aren’t you going to apologize?” I asked.

“What?” he said, like he didn’t understand what I was saying.

I let out a short scoff.

“Now you’re acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about?” I said and he let out a quiet scoff.

“Get out of my office. I’m saying this nicely,” he said, voice calm but firm.

“Not until you fucking apologize,” I shot back.

“Language, Nick Walker,” he said, his eyes sharp now as he took off his glasses.

“What? You’re mad I cursed at you?” I asked and he stood up and walked toward me.

“Is this about the money to shut you up?” he asked and grabbed his wallet from the desk.

I blinked. “What?” I said, my anger rising even more.

“How much was it?” he asked and I clenched my fist.

“Huh? How mu…”

Before he could finish, I hit him across the face.

He groaned and went quiet for a second.

He turned me on his desk, my face against the surface. I couldn't resist as his strong hands held me down.

“Try that again,” he said slowly, “and I’ll make you regret it.”

I let out a scoff, even with my breath stuck in my chest.

“Fvck you.” I growled as I stayed pinned in place. He leaned in toward my ears and then whispered.

“I can't fvck you, Nick Walker. Mind your words.“ He stated and pulled me by my collar before tossing me out of his office.

Then I realized Professor Douglas had been standing by the door watching.