âLaurentâ
AN: In this chapter, I added plenty of French words and phrases because I really want that part of Laurent's Background to stand out. Don't worry though, I've got all the translations waiting for you at the end.
FYI: Laurent curses a lot, so heads up!
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"The loud, annoying noises of my alarm pulled me out of a beautiful slumber."
I was dreaming about the most beautiful woman in the universe, but it was all gone now.
I was still thinking about my talk with George, who hadn't yet gone back to LA.
'What was she thinking about?' It bothered me more than I'd like to admit. I continued my daily routine, skipping breakfast...partly because I can't cook, partly because I'm too lazy to learn, and partly because I have nothing in my apartment that could even be called food.
Sitting in the university café, sipping my coffee, my phone buzzed with a notification.
'You have an upcoming meeting with Professor McAllister.'
My heart skipped.
Putain, I cursed, realizing I'd just poured half my coffee on myself. The irony didn't escape me, especially considering our awkward conversation yesterday.
This was my chance to clear the air with her...or so I hoped.
I stood up awkwardly, trying to hide the coffee stain spreading across my clothes...all because I'd been distracted by a notification from my professor, who, incidentally, I'd had a rather heated dream about last night.
Merde, it was seriously embarrassing. I had no clue how to clean this mess, and going home to fix it wasn't an option since my first class was starting in just a few minutes.
"Comment je vais faire ça? Putain, c'est vraiment embarrassant," I muttered, feeling the frustration building as I looked down at the spreading stain.
Hey, Laurent hi, how, you doing...Elijah squinted, looking me up and down. "Man, I've never seen you like this. Did something blow up on you?"
I forced a laugh, but it sounded tense. "More like I blew up on myself," I muttered, glancing down at the coffee stain darkening my Shirt.
Sigh... "Hey, Elijah, what are you doing here?" I asked, feeling a bit foolish for even asking.
"Well...I happen to be a student here, so..." he replied with a smirk.
Where did he come from? And why did he always seem to find me in the most awkward and uncomfortable moments? Actually, he was more useful to me at this moment than anyone else could be. Being part of the campus hockey team meant he might have a clean change of clothes with him, and I desperately needed that right now.
"Huff...can I ask you a favor?" I said as I looked at him hopefully.
"Yeah, sure what is it?"
"Do you have some spare clothes"
Elijah chuckled, reaching into his backpack. "Lucky for you, I brought a spare jersey.
Taking the shirt, I sighed. "I owe you one, man."
Elijah smirked, shaking his head. "You? Ow me? This is a first!" He clapped me on the back, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Tell you what, you can repay me by actually coming to a hockey game for once."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile. "Fine, fine. Just don't make me wear your jersey."
"Hey, it's better than wearing half a cup of coffee!" Elijah laughed, giving me a once-over.
I managed a sheepish grin as I took the extra clothes from Elijah, who looked far too amused by the situation. "Guess I owe you for this," I said, pulling the clean shirt over my head.
"Oh, big time," Elijah teased, crossing his arms. "And don't think you're getting off easy. You're coming to the next game...and I better see you cheering in the stands."
I rolled My eyes but nodded. "Fine, consider it payback," I said, laughing off the embarrassment and silently grateful for a distraction.
I left the café quickly, rushing to the men's room to change. I took a moment to look at myself in the mirror, really look. It felt strange wearing anything but my usual linen shirts...I looked different, almost careless but somehow more relaxed. For once, I felt apart from my usual self. Even after moving here to isolate myself, I never truly felt different from who I really am. But maybe a little change in my style won't hurt. It actually feels kind of... freeing.
Leaving the bathroom I practically ran to the lecture hall...I was already late, and today Just wasn't Going well for me.
After my first lecture of the day, which dragged on for two hours, I went straight to Professor Kayla's office for our meeting. But when I arrived, her office was locked. I knocked for what felt like fifteen minutes straight, waiting, but...nothing
The confusion left me feeling strange and unfocused all day. Maybe I'd been getting ahead of myself, assuming too much about my feelings for her or our connection outside campus. Feeling embarrassed, I left the professor's building and went to work in the library before my next class.
At the end of the day, I was mentally exhausted. My mind had been racing, distracting me and making even the simplest tasks feel impossible. I was frustrated with her absence, mostly because she was shutting me down on an emotional level.
I had to meet George one last time before he left to go back to LA. I wasn't really in the mood to socialize, but it was better than being alone in my apartment. Plus, I needed a distraction from the one person who consumed my mind day and night...someone who had now turned my thoughts bittersweet.
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"What the hell are you wearing?" Nathan blurted out as soon as I sat down at the table with him and George. We'd agreed to meet at the same café where Professor Kayla and I had met.
He scanned me from head to toe. "What happened to you? You look so...not you," he said with his usual dismissive tone. It didn't faze me; Nathan's always been cold and dismissive, even with us, his friends.
George chimed in, "He's right, man. What are you wearing? Unless..." He trailed off, then glanced at my jersey. "Oh, is there a name on it? Maybe it's our mystery person's?"
I sighed. "George, I've told you, it's not a man. You know that, so stop persisting with the idea."
"Whoa, calm down! What's got you so Irritated?"
"This whole situation is... just so frustrating."
Nathan raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed to be out of the loop. "What are you two even talking about?"
Nathan's frustration was almost palpable as he leaned forward. "What the hell are you two hiding?"
George shot me a look, his eyebrows raised in encouragement. "Come on, man. Spill."
I took a deep breath, debating how much to say. "It's... complicated. I don't even know if there's anything to explain yet."
"Complicated?" Nathan's gaze was sharp. "Since when are you about complicated?"
I glanced between them, suddenly feeling the weight of my own confusion. "Since I can't stop thinking about her. Since I have no idea where we stand."
George gave a low whistle, nodding with newfound understanding. "Alright, then. Guess it's time to find out."
Nathan's stare could've cut glass. "Okay, seriously...what's going on with you?"
I hesitated, then exhaled. "Alright. It's about my business Professor."
George's eyes widened in understanding, but Nathan just looked confused. "Wait, your professor? Laurent, what are you trying to say?"
"I... I have feelings for her," I admitted, the words finally slipping out. The table went silent.
George let out a low whistle. "Well, that explains... a lot."
Nathan's expression softened, though he still looked stunned. "Man, you've got a wild road ahead."
He scoffed, rolling his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. "Feelings? You're really caught up on feelings? Man, that stuff's only gonna get you tangled. I mean, she's your professor. Even if she looked your way, it's not worth it."
George shot Nathan a look, then turned back to me with a slight smile. "Laurent, forget him. Love's not logical, trust me. Sometimes it happens with the people you least expect...even the ones you shouldn't."
I nodded, absorbing George's words. It felt like someone finally understood. But still, this thing with Professor Kayla went beyond any normal crush. I'd always been in control of my life and my emotions, yet here I was, getting caught up over someone untouchable. It seemed reckless, maybe even wrong, but...
I couldn't shake the idea.
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AN: Hey, lovely readers!
New chapter is up!
What did you think? And yes, another chapter in Laurent's POV back to back.
I've added more of George and Nathan to give you a glimpse into who Laurent is outside his boring campus life.
Don't forget to vote and comment, your support means the world to me.
Check out my Instagram for more updates!
Here's the English translation:
Putain: Damn
Merde: Shit
Comment je vais faire ça? Putain c'est vraiment embarrassant: How am I going to do this? Damn, it's really embarrassing
Until next timeð
Until next time!