chapter 2

Eliana's POV

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” A curious Annabelle asked.

"No,” I answered, shoving the phone into the pocket of my jeans. "Sorry, but I have to go now. See you tomorrow?”

"Sure,” she said and I headed towards the side of the road to hail a cab. By the time I got to my new apartment twenty minutes later, Patrick had called me six consecutive times.

When I got into the living room, I tossed my bag onto the couch and started pulling my clothes. My phone rang again and I pulled it out and ended the call immediately. Two seconds later, the phone was ringing again. Having had enough, I navigated to the contact info, hit the three dots by the upper right corner and clicked the block button.

After everything that had happened during the breakup with Patrick, I never expect to hear from him again. I’d shed enough tears for him and all I wanted was peace. And to focus on my studies. Emerald University seemed like the perfect place to do that and I wasn't going to allow anyone to disrupt that.

After having lunch, I settled onto my bed and started reading the story the handsome professor had tasked us with. The next morning, I made sure I got to school early.

I was among the first five people to get to class and as I was settling into my chair, I looked up to see the boy from yesterday approaching again.

“Hi. I didn't get your name yesterday," he said with a boyish smile.

There was an air around him that I disliked and I hoped he saw that in the way I looked at him.

“That's because I didn't tell you," I answered curtly.

But he still didn't take the hint.

“What do you think of the story Professor Matthews asked us to read?” He came to sit beside me and for the first time, I paid him full attention.

He had a well shaped face and full lips. His hair was styled the same way it was yesterday and I had a feeling that that was how he always carried it. He was a pretty boy, no doubt, but nothing about him was appealing to me.

“The story was fine," I responded dryly, pretending to look for something in my bag.

“Eliana!" An excited voice called from afar. It belonged to Annabelle and she looked very gorgeous in her pink crop top and tennis skirt.

"Hi, Annabelle,” I said, watching as she made her way towards me.

"Eliana. Beautiful name,” Oliver said beside me. For a few seconds, I'd totally forgotten he was there.

“You two know each other?" Annabelle asked, wagging her finger from me to Oliver.

“We just met," Oliver answered while I shook my head vigorously.

The auditorium was already filling up then and Professor Matthews entered a few minutes later. Annabelle did me a huge favor by occupying the seat between me and Oliver. The Professor glanced around the auditorium before his gaze finally settled on me. Wearing a navy blue sweatshirt and brown office pants, he looked even better than he did yesterday.

“Good morning, class. How many of you have read the book I recommended yesterday?"

Almost everyone’s hand went up immediately and he gave a satisfied nod. He looked around the auditorium again, as if he was looking for something, then he suddenly pointed his finger.

“Let’s start with the pretty new girl. What’s your opinion of the story?” He folded his arms to his chest and rested against the podium.

All eyes turned in my direction and I felt a wave of shyness wash over me.

“Go on," Annabelle whispered encouragingly and I took a deep breath before rising to my feet.

“I think the boy was a coward. He should have pursued whatever he felt for his friend’s sister, rather than give up the way he did.”

Something flashed in the professor’s eyes and his lips curved into a smile that disappeared almost as soon as it appeared. Looking around the auditorium, he said, “anyone else willing to share their thoughts?"

A couple of hands went up and he considered them for a few seconds before pointing at Oliver. “Mr. Newton."

Oliver rose with a smile, his eyes trained on me. “I don't agree with what Eliana said."

The professor glanced briefly in my direction when my name was mentioned. “Tell us why that is," he said to Oliver.

Oliver was still glancing at me when he answered. “With everything that happened in the story, it was clear that the boy would have been wasting his time if he kept on hoping that something would happen between him and the girl. She didn't even show any form of interest in him during their brief encounter.”

The professor allowed several other people to give their opinions on the book and then he went on to recommend another book to be read. Our eyes kept meeting all through the class and at one point, he held my gaze for so long that I felt something warm inside me.

When the class ended, he remained where he stood as everyone made their way out.

“Eliana,” he called softly as I made my way to the door. Annabelle was beside me and she looked equally surprised when he called my name.

“Can I see you briefly?” He asked.

"Uhm, sure. I guess.”

"I'll be at the Jefferson lounge,” Annabelle said and winked at me before heading towards the door.

"That was a very good argument," he remarked. “I have a feeling you would have said more about it if I had allowed you to. Correct me if I'm wrong."

“You're not wrong, sir. The girl talking to him out of the blue could be interpreted as a form of interest. Who knows what would have happened if he had actually gotten her the things he promised to get her?”

“I must say I agree with you. I like the way you think.” He looked genuinely pleased and it made me feel good that I was already making an impression on him.

“See you in my next class, Eliana,” he said with a smile that made me weak in the knees. After he left, I headed to Jefferson’s lounge but Annabelle was nowhere in sight. And since I had no way of contacting her, I decided heading home would be better than waiting.

Throughout the cab ride back home and even after I got home, all I could think of was the professor’s blue eyes and his pretty smile.