âCOME OVER.â
I sat up on the bed as I looked around, heart thumping against my chest. Before I could reach for my phone, I heard the door creak open.
"Oh, good. You're awake," Archer yawned, rubbing his palm over his chest as he entered the room. "You should get ready before we're both late." He chuckled like a student waking up in his bed wasn't odd.
He sat down on the mattress and it sinks lightly with his weight. I curl my legs towards me, avoiding his touch.
"What happened?" I rubbed my eyes, trying to get myself more alert before looking back at him.
"You fell asleep, so I carried you to the bed." His head tilting to the right as his lips stretched into a warm smile.
"I'm so sorryâ"
"It's okay, forget about it." He laughed, waving his hand before him as though to swat away my apology. "Just go get ready." He began shooing me out of the room, all the way to my apartment.
I was practically shoved back into my apartment, almost walking into Lina as Archer made his way back to his apartment. Lina stares at me as Archer closes his door behind him, dumbfounded.
"It's not what it looks like," I said quickly before she could jump to a conclusion.
"Same here." She let out just as fast, her cheeks burning red as Jace walked out of her room hastily. He barely passes me a glance, muttering something under his breath as he walked out of the apartment.
It took me aback slightly, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt since I was in a similar position.
"No questions?" I peeped, raising my brows.
"No questions." She shook her head, letting out a deep breath as she walked into her room.
Both Lina and I had an agreement where if we suspect that something could cause a conflict between the both of us, we'd come to a conclusion of not questioning each other.
I ran to my washroom where I got ready and met with Archer outside in the hallway. His hair was damp, crashing over his forehead lightly and his face cleanly shaven.
"Let's go." He chimed. He gestured for me to walk ahead of him and so I did.
The car ride was mostly silent but not an awkward one. It was weird how I was getting closer to my professor. After passing an intersection a few miles before the campus, he speaks.
"You should come over tonight." He said and my head snapped to his direction.
"I'm sorry?" I said, hoping he'd repeat himself.
"No-no, not like that." He choked on his words as he laughed bashfully, the corner of his eye crinkling with the wide smile. "Come over so that we can pick up from where we left off," Archer said with a nod then pauses because it sounded worse and winces. His head tics to the side as he tried to find the right words.
"Where we left off with the book." He finally finished, clearing his throat and tugging at the collar of his shirt. "And I've yet to brief you on the event."
"Alright," I responded softly, looking out the window, feeling the heat crawl up my neck.
After a few minutes, I hear him say "and we're here," as he pulled over in front of the campus.
I stepped out and paused before closing the door. Archer looks at me from the passenger seat and before I could prolong the awkward silence, I spoke out. "Thank you."
"For what?" His brows knitted together, a look of genuine confusion painting his face.
"For this." I motion towards the car. "The rides and for helping me with class." I looked at him and he shook his head.
"Don't mention it." He grinned, looking satisfied.
I walked into my lecture theatre. I got out my books and laid them on the table before me. As usual, Chadwick's sitting in front of his empty table, looking like he doesn't belong here.
Minutes later, Archer walked in and began his class.
I managed to stay awake this time, however, there was still that sharp sting in my head as I still couldn't grasp anything he was saying.
With a glance to the clock, Archer begins to pack his table, indicating that two hours had passed and the class dispersed.
As I walked out the door, I linger a little, hoping Archer would call me out amongst the students like he has so often but he doesn't.
I felt my heart sink slightly but I brushed it off and walked out of the lecture theatre with a deep breath. I didn't want to think much of it. I shouldn't be thinking about it in the first place.
He's your professor, Elreda. Get that. In. Your. Head.
I met up with Lina at the cafeteria on campus and we sat down at our usual bench.
"Hi." She smirked at me and I laughed.
"I know we said no questions asked soâ" I sighed and she nodded.
"So you and Mr Kane, huh." She teased, the smirk lengthening on her face.
"Firstly, nothing there. Secondly, you and Mr Parker, not bad." I replied with the same sarcasm dripping from my tone and she smacked the side of my arm playfully.
My phone chimes, grabbing both of our attention. I looked at the message and the moment I catch the unknown number, my smile falters.
"Who is it?" Lina asked after seeing the drastic change in my expression.
"Luca," I groaned, "he even came to the campus to see me yesterday," I said and she gasped.
"You're kidding." She stared at me wide-eyed.
"I'm serious, thank God Mr Kane was there." I sighed as I played with the food on my plate. I remember how he had gotten angry at Luca but his touch against my arm was the complete opposite, it was concern and care in that soft caress.
"Mr Kane? He came to your rescue?" The teasing tone came back in her voice as she snaps me back to reality. Her lips curled into a devious smirk. "All knight-in-shining-armour style?"
"Enough." I pointed at her as I narrowed my eyes.
⢠⢠â¢
"Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't call you yesterday. I had... stuff to deal with. Anyway, I can't seem to reach you so call me back when youâ" and the beep cuts my message off. Riley would have to manage with that voicemail because I had other things to deal with right now.
I was standing before Archer's door, excited for some reason. We haven't spoken much today and I wasn't used to it. Before I could knock, a twinge of uneasiness settles deep inside me.
He was my professor, but it didn't feel like it. The familiarity that came with his voice and his presence was far from student teacher and I wondered if he caught that feeling too.
And if he did, was that why he was calling me over instead of studying at school?
As if on cue, the door swings open and Archer greets me with a quizzical smile. "How long were you planning on standing there?"
I stood still, a little surprised by his sudden appearance and I think he reads the shock off of my face. "You okay?" He arches an eyebrow.
"Yeah," I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts organised. "It's just, isn't this weird?" I asked as he moved out of the way, inviting me in.
He frowned with my question. "Isn't what weird?" He tilted his head to the side, eyes following my form as I entered his apartment.
"For me to be here. You're my professor andâ"
"And you're also my neighbour." He laughed. "Plus I'm just briefing you for the event coming up. The school expects me to meet you outside class for this too." He said as he closed the door behind us.
"Oh, so this is what the school wants?" I asked and hate the sound of dejection in my voice. He nods, walking ahead of me.
"Don't worry, this is completely professional." He pauses, turning around to look at me. "I don't date students if that's what you're worried about." A frown plasters itself on his face and for some reason, the warmth in my chest dissipates. All that's left behind now is a stinging chill.
I don't know why hearing him say that had hurt. All he did was voice out what I had been telling myself the past couple month of knowing him. But now there was sort of a finality with his words. I always had that little spark that maybe weâ
"Archer, a little inappropriate!" Jace yelled from his room, interrupting my train of thought.
"Shit, sorry." Archer shrugged, a sheepish smile taking over the frown. "I just wanted to make sure you don't misunderstand and think that Iâ"
"Archer!" Jace shouted.
"I'm done, I'm done!" Archer yelled back, throwing his hands up slightly even though Jace wouldn't be able to see it.
As soon as silence accompanies his last statement, Archer takes a seat. He tapped onto a little space next to him, gesturing for me to sit. "I try to be a cool professor and he does that." He clicked his tongue as he motioned his head towards Jace's room. "But I guess a cool professor wouldn't refer to himself as cool, huh?" He jokes but I feel my throat tighten up.
I simply smiled but it was short-lived. I didn't know why him establishing that our relationship was nothing more than student-teacher affected me.
I wasn't falling for him, was I?
...