Chapter 4: Whispers in the Hallway.

Juliet walked out of the Literature building with her bag slung over one shoulder. Her mind still spun from the messages and the way Adrian had looked at her in his office and she kept her head down and moved through the crowded hallway toward her next class.

Mia caught up to her fats, linking their arms together. "There you are. I've been looking for you since morning. You disappeared after office hours. Spill it, what really happened with Professor Knight?"

Juliet forced a smile. "There's nothing big. He just gave me feedback on my paper and said it was good but could be deeper."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Deeper? The way you said that sounds like more than paper talk. You look exhausted, Jules. Your eyes have bags. Did you even sleep last night?"

"I slept," Juliet said. She pulled her arm free gently and adjusted her bag. "The club ran late, that's all."

Mia stopped walking and turned to face her. Students moved around them like a river. "Club? You mean that waitressing job won't let me visit? Come on. You've been acting strange for days. Skipping lunch, staring for days. Skipping lunch, staring at your phone like it's going to bite you. I'm your best friend. Talk to me."

Juliet's throat tightened. She wanted to tell Mia everything, the pole, the threats, the way Adrian made her body react with just one look but the words stuck.

"It's just stress," she said. "Tuition stuff again and Mom's bills keep piling up. I'm handling it."

Mia crossed her arms. "Handling it how? By running yourself into the ground? You aced every test last semester, but you look like you're about to fall over. If that new professor is making things harder, say something. I heard he's strict."

"He's not the problem," Juliet replied. Her voice came out sharper than she meant. She softened it. "Really, Mia. He actually liked my paper. Said I have real talent."

Mia studied her face for a long moment. "Talent. Okay. But if talent comes with late nights and secret meetings, I worry. You know the new memo is everywhere, right? No professor-student stuff. They're serious this year."

Juliet nodded. "I saw it. Everyone saw it."

A group of girls walked past them, whispering. One of them glanced back at Juliet and laughed quietly and Juliet's shoulders tensed.

Mia noticed. "See? People are already talking. Not about you yet, but about him. The hot new professor. Girls in my dorm keep saying he's trouble."

Juliet's stomach dropped. "What are they saying exactly?"

Mia lowered her voice and leaned in. "That he left his last job because of some drama with a student. Nothing proven, but you know how rumors start. Be careful, okay? Don't let him pull you into anything weird during those office hours."

"I won't," Juliet said. But her mind flashed back to his office, the brush of fingers, the way he said her name like it belonged to him. She pushed the memory down.

They started walking again. The hallway got busier as more students headed to class. Juliet kept her eyes forward, but she felt watched. Every laugh, every whisper made her wonder if someone knew.

Mia kept talking. "Promise me you'll eat something today. And if the club job gets too much, quit. We can figure out the money another way. I can ask my parents for a loan or something."

Juliet shook her head. "No. I don't want to drag you into my mess. I've got it under control."

"You don't look like you have it under control," Mia said. She stopped again and grabbed Juliet's hand. "You're my best friend. I hate seeing you like this. Pale and too quiet like you're carrying the world alone. Just let me help."

Juliet squeezed Mia's hand once and let go. "I know you want to help but there are some things I have to handle myself, okay?"

Mia sighed but nodded. "Fine. But I'm not dropping this. Tonight after the class, we're getting coffee and you're telling me more. No excuses."

Before Juliet could answer, the crowd shifted and her eyes lifted across the hallway and locked with Adrian's.

He stood near the stairwell, talking to another professor, but his gaze cut straight through everyone else and found her. The same dark, intense look from the lecture hall. The same look from the office.

Juliet's breath caught. Heat rushed through her body again. Her skin tingled and she couldn't look away. For a few long seconds, the noisy hallway faded and it felt like only the two of them existed.

Adrian's jaw tightened. His hand paused mid-gesture as he listened to the other professor. His eyes dropped to her lips for a split second, then back up and the connection burned.

Juliet's heart hammered. She felt that ache low in her belly again, the same one from his office. Her fingers curled around her bag strap and she wanted to walk over to him. She wanted to run the other way.

Mia nudged her. "Earth to Jules. Are you zoning out? What's really happening to my best friend?"

Juliet blinked and broke eye contact. Adrian turned back to his conversation, but she saw the small shift in his shoulders and he felt it too.

"Nothing," Juliet said quickly. "Just thinking about the next assignment."

Mia followed her gaze toward Adrian and frowned. "He's looking this way a lot. Are you sure nothing happened in that office? It's getting obvious, Jules."

"Nothing happened, trust me Mia," Juliet lied. Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears.

They kept walking and the crowd pushed them forward. Juliet's mind raced. That one look from across the hallway left her breathless and aching. She pressed her thighs together as she walked, trying to ignore the warmth still spreading through her.

More students passed and two guys in hoodies talked loudly.

One said, "Did you hear about the new Literature professor? Knight, right?"

The other laughed. "Yeah, people are saying he ruined his last university over a woman. Some student things. Got too close and everything blew up."

The first guy shook his head. "Stupid move. Hot professor or not, messing with students is career suicide."

Their voices carried clearly as they walked past Juliet.

"He ruined his last university over a woman," the second sneered.

Juliet's heart cracked wide open. She stopped walking and the words hit like a punch. That woman could be her soon. One wrong move, one leaked message, one slip, and she would be the reason Adrian lost everything again and she would lose her degree, her future, and her mother's care.

Mia turned back. "Jules? You okay? You look like you're about to cry. Tell me what's really bothering you... you've been acting weird and lost."

Juliet swallowed hard and forced her feet to move. "I'm fine. Just tired and exhausted. Let's get to class first, Mia."

But inside, the crack in her heart spread and she knew surely she wanted Adrian, she felt it in every look, every brush of fingers. But wanting him meant risking everything.

And someone out there already knew her secrets and it was someone who could light the match and watch it all burn.