Professor Bryant

Chapter Four:

            Before I knew it, the weekend was here. The first week of class was always the easiest, but I had to get some studying in this weekend due to the project due in Professor Bryant’s class on Monday.

            After school yesterday, Nora and I went to the mall to do a little shopping. I always enjoyed spending the day with her not only because she was my best friend, but whenever I was with Nora, everything in my life seemed mysterious and intriguing. My life alone was boring. Nothing ever exciting happened to me.

            I worked in babysitting growing up and put the money back anytime that I would make some, so it was easy for me to spend it when Nora and I went out. Money didn’t come easy to me. Yes, my parents had always done okay for us, but by no means were they wealthy. I learned to appreciate money at a young age, and it’s made me understand the value of things better now than ever. Everything is so simple when you are a kid, and sometimes you take things for granted. Only when you grow up, do you see how hard life really is.

            When we got back to our dorm, we lounged around and watched some tv together. Now it was Saturday and time for the party. I was a nervous wreck, but Nora was all giddy. She had told me how much she enjoyed Mikey’s company and that he seemed like a nice guy. It was nice to see her take an interest in someone that seemed a little more reserved than what she usually goes after.

            “Riley, are you almost done in there? I don’t want to be late.”

            I rolled my eyes as I took one last look at myself in the mirror. My hair was down today and reached to about the middle of my back, which reminded me that it was almost time for a trim. Having my hair too long was too much of an annoyance, so I would get it trimmed every now again. The bathing suit that I picked out was a little sexy for my taste, but I managed to talk Nora into letting me get a cover-up that only covered the lower part of my body. The bathing suit was white, and the only reason I went with white for a two-piece was that Nora swore that the white made my skin pop. I don’t know. I’m not good at telling those kinds of things, but she was.

            “Yeah, I’m done. Happy?” I asked when I stepped out of the bathroom. I headed over to the sofa to grab my bag, and I could hear Nora whistling from behind me.

            “Justin is going to love seeing you in a two-piece. Damn, you look hot. You really should start showing off your assets more, Riley. Any girl would kill for that hourglass figure thing you got going on.”

            Without responding, I headed out the door. Luckily, the frat house wasn’t a far walk from our dorm. By the time we got there, hundreds of college students were already there. Most of them seemed to be out on the front lawn, passing around a football which didn’t make much sense to me, seeing as the pool was in the back.

            Nora looked so in her element. On the other hand, I already felt out of place, and we just stepped through the front door. I could see that Nora was already looking for Mikey. Since I didn’t know anyone other than Nora and Justin, I immediately started looking for him, but I guess that he saw me first.

            Justin came running over to me with two red solo cups in his hand. “Hey, Riley. I knew that you said you were coming, but I had this feeling that you would back out or something. Here.” He handed the cup to me, and I decided to peek inside it like an i***t. “It’s just beer.”

            Nora elbowed me in the side, smiling as she started walking away. “You two have fun and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.”

            There wasn’t a whole lot that Nora wouldn’t do, come to think of it. She lived the attitude of you only live once, so make the most of it. She would try just about anything once. I envied her for that.

            “So, do you go to parties a lot?”

            He just looked so awkward standing there like he didn’t know what to do with his arms. I could tell that he wanted to put his arm around me, or maybe I just imagined it. He did seem like a nice guy. I just didn’t know if I was ready for any sort of relationship with anyone after Chad.

            I shrugged a little. “Not really. Nora is the party girl. I’m more of the stay at home in your pj’s and watch tv sort of girl.”

            “Well, I’m definitely a party guy. How about you loosen up a little and have fun today? If you want me to keep an eye on you, I will.”

            “Smooth,” I said, not being able to keep away my smile. “I’m sure that you have all the girls flocking to you, so why hang out with me? You would probably have a lot more fun with a girl that is willing to do a lot more things than I am.”

            Justin turned to me and lifted my chin. The hairs on my arms stood at attention only from that slight contact. I don’t know what it was about him, but I could feel the spark between us. Maybe there could be something there if I let it happen.

            “There is no one else that I would rather be hanging out with at this party, Riley. Only you. Besides, you are the prettiest girl here today. Prove me wrong.”

            I started pointing at girls all over the room that was way better looking than I was, and Justin would comment on something that he thought was wrong with her. It was like our own little game that seemed to be loosening me up.

            We walked outside to the backyard and watched a few games of beer pong. Honestly, the game looked fun. Nora was teamed up with Mikey, and they had already won two matches. I wanted to join in, but I didn’t want to get drunk today. I wanted today to be a casual thing for me, not get drunk and pass out only to wake up in a stranger’s bed.

            “Wanna play?”

            I shrugged and bit my lip as I continued to watch the game play out. “It looks like fun, but I doubt that I would be a good partner.”

            “That doesn’t matter because I happen to be damn good at beer pong. Loosen up a little. I got you.”

            Hearing those words instantly calmed me. I should let loose. How many times have I been to a party with a guy that I liked and who seemed to be interested in me? Never! I needed to start taking chances on some things, or I knew that I would regret it.

            “You know what? Yeah, I think that I do want to play.”

            Justin shot me the cutest smile that showed off his dimples. We let Nora and Mikey finish out their game, which they won again. Justin grabbed my hand and led me over to the opposite side of the table, staring down Mikey.

            “Take it easy on my girl right here, okay? This is her first time playing.”

            “No can do. I guess you will have to break out those beer pong skills of yours if you want to win this game. We are the undefeated champs,” Mikey said.

            I was staring at Nora, and she was giving me two thumbs up. There was nothing that sounded better to me than beating Nora at something. As long as we have been friends, she always beat me at everything. It would be nice to have something under my belt.

            We started the game, and just like a gentleman, Justin let me shoot first. The ball bounced off the top of the cup, barely missing. “Damn.”

            “It’s okay. We got this.”

            Nora went next and missed her shot, too, but I could tell that was because she was already getting a little tipsy. On Justin’s turn, he made the shot in perfectly, making Mikey drink. By the time the end of the game came, it was down to one cup on each side. Nora made her shot in, which I had to drink.

            “You lose some, you win some,” Justin smirked as he put his arm around my shoulder and walked us back inside the house. “Want to see my room?”

            “Sure.”

            We walked hand in hand up to his room, the first room on the right at the top of the stairs.

            “Do I have to worry about us walking in on someone screwing on your bed?”

            He laughed a little at that. “No. My room is off-limits to everyone but me.”

            “Oh, that must be nice.”

            Justin opened his door. The minute I stepped inside, I felt like I had been transported in time. He had posters of different rock bands everywhere, from ACDC to Led Zeppelin. His bed matched an 80s décor, too, making me giggle. Justin didn’t seem like the rock-hard guy of guy.

            “Wow.”

            “I know. I get s**t for it all the time, but I was raised listening to these guys. My dad got me into all this. Let’s just say that I took it very much to heart.”

            “No, I think it's cool. Not many people our age really appreciate classic rock bands like this.”

            “So, you are into classic rock too?”

            I shrugged. “My dad loves ACDC. I grew up listening to them a lot, though it wouldn’t be my first choice of music. You would laugh if I told you who my favorite band is, and before you ask, no, they aren’t a rock band.”

            “Um. I think that I know. I have a sense about these kinds of things. Is it the Backstreet Boys or NSYNC?”

            My mouth flew open. “How did you guess that?”

            He laughed uncontrollably. “I told you that I have a knack for stuff like this. You just look like the kind of girl. Don’t worry. I think they are both great boy bands in their time. They were very popular with the ladies.”

            Our conversation was so easy and flowing. Justin made me feel as if I could talk to him about anything. We also had a lot more in common than I thought. Both our parents were these laid-back types of parents who were raised in a similar way. It was crazy to think that out of all the people interested in me, it would be someone that I shared so much with.

            “You look great, by the way. That bathing suit looks amazing on you.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “I’m going to kiss you now, Riley.”

            I grabbed the back of his neck and pushed his lips into mine. I’ve never been a forceful type of woman before, but I desperately wanted his lips on mine. With the alcohol mixed into my system, I felt braver but never more scared in my life.

            Justin picked me up, placing my legs around his waist. He brought us over to his bed and laid me down gently with him on top, all without breaking our kiss. The kiss was heated, passionate, and everything I wanted it to be.

            Everything was going so well until Justin started grinding himself against me. I knew that he was drunk and tried to move away, but he pushed me into the bed the more I tried to move.

            “Justin, no. Get off me, please.”

            “Riley, everything is okay. I’m going to make this night so much more for the both of us, and you don’t even have to do anything but stay still. I’ll handle everything else.” He placed his lips against the skin of my neck while unzipping his pants.

            “No!” I shouted and smacked him across the face.

            Justin jumped back, giving me room to hop off the bed and make a run toward the door. “What the hell, Riley?”

            I didn’t turn back. I just ran as fast as I could. By the time I made it outside, the sun had started to set, and clouds were looming over my head. Tears began to fall down my cheeks as I continued to run. When I was a safe distance away from the house, I let my tears flow uncontrollably. What was I thinking? Didn’t I know what I signed up for when Justin invited me to his room? That was pretty much me telling him that I wanted to have s*x with him without saying it. I’m so stupid.

            The rain started to fall as I was getting closer to campus. I would be drenched by the time I got there, but at least it would hide the fact that I had been crying.

            “Ms. Bell?”

            I turned to my left and saw Professor Bryant sitting in a black Lexus with the passenger side window rolled down. Could this day get any worse?

            “Are you okay?”

            “I’m fine,” I muttered just loud enough for him to hear me and continued walking.

            “You aren’t fine. Please get in the car, and I will drop you off at your dorm.”

            “But I’m soaking wet, and my dorm isn’t that much further. Thank you for the offer, but I’m okay, really.”

            He parked his car, leaned over, and opened the door. “I’m not asking to give you a ride. I am insisting.”

            I was grateful for his kindness, more than he knew. I jumped inside quickly. My arms, legs, and hands started shaking as I wore nothing more than a bikini with a thin lower cover-up. My eyes drifted over to Professor Bryant, but he wasn’t looking at me. Oddly, I was disappointed. Okay, I wasn’t stupid enough to think that my professor would actually be into me or anything, but it would have been nice to be at least checked out by him or something.

            When we got to my dorm, I started to open the door, but he locked it before I could. “Let me help you.”

            He got out of the car and walked over to my door, opening it for me and helping me out. “Thank you for the ride.”

            “What were you doing out in the rain, looking like you have been crying? Is everything okay?”

            Hearing his concern only made me want to cry more, but I held back the tears. One thing my dad permanently engraved in my brain was to never cry in front of a man. He said that men preyed on the weak. I learned that he was right when I was with Chad. I wouldn’t make that mistake again, regardless of who the man might be.

            “Everything is fine.”

            He stared at me, c*****g his head to the side. He clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth, and for some reason, I found that incredibly sexy. “Have you been drinking, Ms. Bell?”

            “Would you stop calling me that? Call me Riley. I’m not some older woman that will get offended if you call me by my first name."

            That seemed to entertain him a little because he smiled at me. “Fine. Riley, it is. Riley, have you been drinking?”

            “Yes. That is typically what you do at parties.”

            “Here. Let me help you up to your dorm.”

            I didn’t argue. Instead, I let him walk me up to my dorm because I was afraid that Justin would be there ready to apologize to me or something. I was a little disappointed when I didn’t see him at my door, but I was happy that I was on the arm of my hot psychology teacher, the one that I had been crushing on all week.

            He got me inside and helped me onto the sofa. “You really shouldn’t get this drunk, especially when you have to come home alone.”

            “Who says that I am alone, Professor Bryant,” I chuckled. Wow, this alcohol was making me much braver than I wanted to be right now. If it weren’t for the alcohol, I would be blushing right about now.

            I heard a slight groan come from the back of his throat. He leaned into me, so close that our lips were almost touching. I felt a spark with Justin, but nothing compared to what I felt with Professor Bryant. It was like my entire body came alive, begging him to kiss me just once. Please, just let my fantasy come to life even for just a second.

            “My name is Dylan, but please, continue to call me Professor Bryant. I like how it sounds coming off your lips, Riley.”

            Dylan leaned closer and let out lips connect. My heart thumped so loud that I thought he would hear it. My entire body was tingling from the kiss, but when he slipped his tongue past my lips, I thought I was going to die. How could I have been so against wanting to have s*x with Justin but be so willing to want it with Dylan?

            Before I could read too much into it, he pulled away from me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. You are my student, and that was crossing a line that I shouldn’t have crossed.”

            “No. I wanted you to do it. It has been all I’ve thought about since I first saw you in class as my professor.”

            He dropped his head. “That isn’t the point, Riley. Just pretend like that didn’t happen. Make sure to take something so that you don’t have a hangover in the morning. Goodnight, Riley.” Then he was gone and out the door before I could say another word.