6

JEREMY

I had no idea what real heartbreak felt like. Not till I met Lucia, and I wouldn’t lie. It hurt like hell.

I had the first taste of heartbreak after she disappeared at the wedding when I first met her.

I had low expectations when I attended that wedding. The plan was to perform and leave. The last thing I expected was to get swept off my feet by the most gorgeous woman I had ever laid eyes on in my life in the crowd.

I never thought I would get to talk to her, but I did, and every minute I spent was magical. I could not resist her, and we ended up spending the night together.

Imagine how devastated I was when I woke up the next morning, and she was gone. I only knew her first name and nothing else. There was no way I could find her again.

I had no idea that no woman could make me feel as strongly as Lucia did. Without her, I was shit.

But then, I got to school, and standing in front of me was the woman of my dreams, as my professor!

I honestly didn’t care that she was my professor. I was just glad that I got to see her again and I was so sure that she would feel the same, but unfortunately, she broke my heart again when she told me to forget about that night and act like nothing happened.

How in the world could I possibly do that when it was all I could think of? When she was all I could think of?

“Uhm. Earth to Jeremy?” Someone said loudly, instantly jolting me out of my reverie.

I blinked twice in surprise. I was so deep in thought that I had lost track of everything that was happening around me.

“Huh?” I asked, blinking once again in confusion.

“Have you been listening to a word of what I said?” One of my friends, Tyler asked, his brows furrowed with annoyance, and I gulped, as my four friends stared at me with identical annoyed expressions.

“You’ve been spacing out so much lately, man. What in the world is wrong with you?” Jack even looked more annoyed, his blue eyes surveying me intensely as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Maybe he has girl problems?” Ryan chipped in, and he was the only one among my friends who managed to look slightly concerned.

Dean, the most rebellious in the group, rolled his eyes, running his fingers through his dark hair, which had streaks of blue. “Don’t be ridiculous. Jeremy never has girl problems. As much as the girls love him, they’ll never try to approach him because of his icy personality.”

“Look who's talking. The ice king himself!” Ryan deadpanned, instantly making Dean scoff as he crossed his tattooed arms over his chest.

“This isn’t about me. This is about Jeremy, you buffon!”

“Hey. Hey. That’s enough,” I instantly interrupted, trying to mediate before the two got into it.

The five of us were thick as thieves, and it had been that way ever since we were kids, but as close as we were, we also fought like cats and rats. Like brothers.

“I don’t have girl problems. I just have a lot on my mind. That’s all.”

“Well, what’s on your mind?”

I cleared my throat loudly, feeling the tips of my ears going red and hoping that they did not notice it. “It’s nothing, really. Just classes and all that stuff.”

Tyler placed his arm over my shoulder, letting out a loud laugh. “Look at him. He’s as red as a tomato.”

“Definitely girl problems.” Jack patted me on the back, a look of mock sympathy on his face.

I rolled my eyes, raising an annoyed brow. “Ugh, just shut the fuck up, both of you.”

“Speaking of ladies. Have you all seen our new professor? Hot as fuck if you ask me.” Ryan commented and I froze in my tracks as I could instantly tell who he was referring to.

Lucia. It had to be her.

“What? A hot professor?” Jack asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and I couldn’t help the wave of annoyance which flooded my insides.

Ryan, Dean and I were the only ones in the group who took ethics and we were the only ones who probably had met Lucia.

“A hot professor? Tell me more.” Tyler chipped in with complete interest.

“She’s our new Ethics professor. A total bombshell. Black hair. Beautiful brown eyes. The whole package if you ask me.” Dean spoke this time and I honestly got annoyed by the way they continued fawning over her that I couldn’t help but speak.

“Isn’t it a little lame to be gossiping about your professor?”

“Oh, that’s right! I remember she called you back after the last class. What did you two talk about?” Ryan asked, his green eyes glinting with intense curiosity.

“Do you two know each other?” Dean asked and I could feel all their gazes boring into me which instantly made me uncomfortable.

Slight panic instantly seized my insides. Lucia incessantly warned me to keep what had happened between us under wraps and the last thing I wanted was to get on her bad side.

“Look, it's nothing, alright? And we gotta hurry. We’re going to be late for class!” I exclaimed, hurrying ahead of my friends to avoid answering their uncomfortable questions.

“Wait! Jeremy!” I heard Dean call but I simply ignored him as I walked into the hallway.

The hallway was filled with students who were on their way to class and I was unsurprised to see that most of them froze as their eyes stayed glued to me and my friends took that chance to catch up with me.

Side by side, the five of us walked through the hallway amidst whispers and intense gazes which we had gotten so used to.

I was aware of my reputation at Crawford. I was cold, unapproachable and for some reason, I was tagged the hottest guy on campus and because of that people tried to get close to me, but because of my cold exterior they couldn’t.

They could only gawk and marvel from far away.

I wasn’t cold and approached because I wanted to be. I was that way because that was all I was taught to be.

My father had always told me since I was a kid that friendships were not a necessity. I didn’t need friends. I didn’t need anyone. I only needed to make money.

My father had tried to separate me from the only four friends I had so many times, but I refused. I just couldn’t stay away from them.

They were like brothers to me. They were all I had.

We finally made it to the class and I nearly stumbled on my feet at the sight of Lucia in front of the class, already teaching.

“Professor Darwin!” I blurted out without thinking, my eyes wide with surprise and once her beautiful eyes landed on me, they instantly turned cold and icy.

“Mr. Hale. I would appreciate it if you and my friends didn’t come late to my class next time. Get to your seats.” She said in such an unfriendly tone that my spirits were instantly dampened.

I didn’t understand how she could be so harsh. Where was the carefree and flirty woman from that night at the wedding? Where had she gone?

I couldn’t recognize this woman in front of me.

“Right.” I whispered, my face falling as I made my way through the rows of seats with Ryan and Dean following right behind me.

Jack and Tyler had gone to the lecture hall right after ours.

The three of us quickly located seats right next to each other and sat down just as Lucia continued with the class.

I could barely hear a word of what she said as I was too distracted by how beautiful she looked.

She was dressed in a dark blue pantsuit which hugged her frame perfectly and as she taught, she walked around the front, her heels making a clicking sound on the tiles while she did.

I could tell how long her legs were from the pants and I knew it was wrong of me to gaze at my professor in such a lustful manner, I couldn’t help it.

This was Lucia for fuck’s sake.

Her black hair was pulled neatly in a low bun and I instantly wished to run my hands through those soft curls. Trust me. I knew first hand how soft her hair was.

She had on a pair of glasses which framed her face perfectly, but what I couldn’t bear to take my eyes off were her lips.

Soft and full lips which currently had a beautiful shade of red lipstick. Those lips were to die for and I couldn’t help the silent groan which escaped my lips as my Adam's apple bobbed.

Lucia was going to be the death of me. I just knew.

“Mr. Hale? I just asked you a question.” I suddenly heard her say.

I blinked in surprise and confusion as I saw the entire class staring at me with expectant looks on their faces.