Professor Bryant

Chapter Five:

            When I woke up in the morning, I expected not to remember a thing from the party, but I remembered everything. I remembered that Justin tried to push himself onto me and that by the end of the night, Professor Bryant, excuse me, Dylan, kissed me. No, that wasn’t a dream. This had really happened to me, and I was over the moon ecstatic about it.

            Of course, I didn’t expect anything much to come of it. Dylan felt bad for me, which was why he kissed me. There was no way I expected him to be into me or anything. That much was evident when he refused to check me out in his car when I was in nothing but a bikini. The more that I thought about it, the worse I felt. 

            “Sofa night, huh?” Nora asked as she stepped out in the living room, heading into the kitchen to start a fresh pot of coffee. 

            Sofa night was when one of us had an awful night. We knew that it was a term for that we had been crying that night and snuggled up to the sofa for comfort because we had no one else to comfort us. That only happened when one of us wasn’t around to help the other. 

            “Justin didn’t tell you?”

            She spun around, placing her lips together in a more aggravated way than anything else. “No. I asked him where you took off, but he said he didn’t know. When I asked him what he did, he couldn’t even look me in the eye. I assumed that he did something shitty, so I came home and saw that you had sofa night. I’m sorry, Riley.”

            “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

            “But I did. I’m the one that practically shoved you into going to that party with me. I was the one that was hoping you get out and let loose with a guy that was into you. Whatever he did, I know that it must have been pretty bad for you to walk home.”

            I wanted to tell her about Professor Bryant and the kiss we shared because she was my best friend. Nora and I told each other everything with no secrets. I felt terrible that I had to keep it from her, but I wouldn’t ruin his career over one kiss. Nora always had my back, and I knew that I could count on her through everything, but if she found out that a professor kissed me, I knew she would go to the dean. 

            There was a knock at the door that startled us both. We looked at each other and shrugged at the same time, meaning that we weren’t expecting company. Nora was the one to make it to the door since she was closer. When she spun back around, there was a package in her hand.

            “It’s for you!”

            “What?” 

            I jumped off the couch and immediately took the box from her hands. It could only be one of three people that would send me something—my parents, which was a high possibility because they sent me stuff all the time. The second option would be Justin, sending me something to apologize for last night. Lastly, it could be from Dylan, which was the least doubtful of them all.

            “Open it already.”

            After searching the box for a name and coming back empty, I opened the box and peeked inside carefully. Right on top of the item inside was a note.

            Riley, I feel like I owe you an explanation after last night. I would also like to hear why you were crying since you never told me. After we discuss those two items of business, we will go back to the student-professor relationship. I would have normally emailed you this, but a letter will have to do for now since I don't have your email. Please keep this between us. Meet me after class on Monday to discuss further and try to enjoy the rest of your weekend.

                   -Professor Bryant

            Holy cow! This wasn’t happening. Dylan was the one that sent this package, the last person on planet earth that I thought it would be. Why does he feel like he owes me an explanation? Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for Monday.

            “So, who is the package from?”

            s**t. I couldn’t tell Nora about this, not right now at least. I didn’t even know what this was to try and explain it to her, even if I wanted to. “Um. It’s from my parents.”

            “That’s weird. They usually have their name addressed at the top.”

            “Yeah, I know. I will have to get with the people who deliver our mail on Monday to figure out what is happening. I’m going to head into my room to get dressed.”

            “Dressed for what?”

            “Lunch with you,” I smiled. It was the only way that I could think to get her off my back about this package. She instantly perked up, and I knew that I had slid by with it for now.

            Once I was in my room, I plopped down on my bed and opened the box again. Inside was a book, but not just any book. It was To Kill a Mockingbird. How did he know that this was my favorite book? I opened the book and on the first page was another note by him.

            This book is only entitled to those on the highest list of book nerds.

            I instantly laughed. He was referring to my first day in class, where I blurted out that I was a book nerd for one fact about myself. It was true, but probably something not worth sharing with the entire class. Still, I loved this gift from him and would hold onto it forever.

            For the rest of the day, Nora and I went out for lunch and just relaxed. When the night fell, I decided to do a little bit of studying before bed. Unfortunately, I fell asleep before I was able to get any actual studying in.

            When my alarm went off, I jumped out of bed for a quick shower. If I was going to meet Professor Bryant after class, I was going to look my best. I left my hair down but straightened it to give myself an edger look and applied light makeup to my face. I picked out a skirt that came up slightly above my knees with a soft pink button-up blouse and some white sandals. Perfect.

            “Where are you off to in such a rush, looking like that?”

            I looked down over my outfit. “What is wrong with this?”

            “Nothing is wrong with it for someone else, but you don’t really wear this kind of stuff, Riley. Are you trying to impress some guy?”

            Nora was good, too good. I had to come up with a lie as quickly as I could, which was something I was terrible at. “Justin. We have some things to talk about, but I sort of like him. I don’t know if it will go anywhere after Saturday night, but I at least need to talk to him.”

            “Are you ever going to tell me what he did to upset you so much?” She asked while chewing on a granola bar.

            “Not anytime soon. Not at least until I clear the air with him myself. I might have misunderstood the entire thing. I should probably hear him out before telling anyone else about it for now.”

            She squinted her eyes at me like she was about to call me out for it. “Okay. Well, make sure after classes, you come to find me immediately. I want all the juicy details.”

            I walked out of our dorm and started toward class. Now I would have to add talking to Justin today, which was inevitable anyway, considering that our project was due today. I don’t know how I feel about talking to him about everything, though. The way he behaved was inexcusable. 

            When I got to class, I was surprised to see that I wasn’t the first one inside. Justin was sitting by my desk, looking like he was about to cry or something. As I approached my desk, his back stiffened a little.

            “Good morning, Justin.”

            “Riley, I’m sorry about Saturday. I promise you that I’m not that guy. I had a little bit too much to drink, which isn’t an excuse, but it’s true. Please forgive me.”

            It was hard not to want to forgive him with the puppy dog eyes he was giving me, which I was sure he used on many other women before me. However, I could tell that he was upset by what he did. It was clear on his face how embarrassed he was about it.

            “Fine. I forgive you. It was sort of my fault too. I went into your room with you and kissed you. You had every right to think that I was game for taking it further.”

            Justin smiled, which made me smile too. It was hard not to when you were around him. “Does that mean that you are a virgin or something?”

            That made me laugh hard, way too hard. “No, I’m not. I just got out of a relationship a few months ago. It wasn’t the greatest relationship, and it left me more reserved than I used to be. I decided to put up this wall because of how he treated me.”

            “So, what you are saying is that you just need the right guy to come into your life and show you the right way to be treated?”

            “Exactly,” I laughed again.

            Everyone else started piling into class. Whenever someone was getting ready to walk through, I stared at the door, prepared to see Professor Bryant. When he did walk through the door, he stared directly at me. My face heated immediately, and I caught a little smirk before he turned around to set his things down on his chair.

            “Alright. Is everyone ready for your presentation?” Everyone in the class groaned. “This is supposed to be an easy thing. Don’t read too much into it, and keep it nice and short. All I want to know is the way you see psychology. Let’s begin.”

            When it was mine and Justin’s turn to go, we both walked to the front of the class. I had never been a nervous person before, but now that I was standing in front of the class with everyone’s eyes on me, I could feel it build inside me.

            Justin must have noticed it, too, so he started first. “Psychology is all about the mind and body. It is about understanding people through different body languages.”

            “And,” I chimed in. “It is about reading their thoughts by that body language. It is about understanding them without communication.”

            We silently walked back to our seats while Professor Bryant clapped behind us. “Well said.”

            He continued to call the different groups, but I was too busy watching him. The way that he moved was so graceful and effortless. I could even see his muscles tightening under his clothing when he moved in just the right way. At one point, our eyes met, and we stared at each other for what seemed like a long time before he broke contact to call the next group.

            When the bell rang and the class was dismissed, I started feeling nervous and a little scared about what he needed to talk to me about. If he told me that he didn’t want anything to do with me, I would be crushed. I can still remember what it felt like to have his lips pressed against mine.

            Everyone eventually cleared out except for Justin. He stared at me while I slowly packed my things. “Can we start over? Maybe do like a lunch together or something? I promise that it will be strictly as friends, more like an apology lunch.”

            “Sure. That sounds great.”

            Justin excitedly skipped out of class. 

            I approached Professor Bryant’s desk, smoothing out my skirt to give myself something to do instead of standing there looking all weird. He didn’t say anything as he stood up and shut his door. When he sat back down in his chair, he was giving me this stare that shot right through me. I could feel myself becoming weak in the knees just from that stare.

            “First, I want to start by saying how sorry I am for my unprofessional attitude on Saturday. I am your teacher, and I should learn those boundaries. It was just when I saw you walking out in the rain all by yourself, I felt protected of you at that moment. No one should be out walking alone in the rain crying, which brings me to my next point. Why were you walking out in the rain and crying, Riley?”

            The way he said my name took my breath away every time. I don’t know if I would never get used to that. 

            “As you know, I went to a party. There was this guy there….”

            “Justin Summers?”

            I nodded. “Yes. Things happened that shouldn't have happened.”

            “Like what?”

            “I probably shouldn’t be talking about this with you.”

            He licked his lips as he leaned forward on his desk, automatically pulling me toward him. “You can talk to me about anything. It might do you some good to get it off your chest and tell someone too. Please, Riley. Give me a chance here.”

            “You can’t say anything to anyone. Please.” He gave me one quick nod. “We had too much drink after playing beer pong, and he invited me up to his room at the frat house. I accepted because I can’t read between the lines like a normal person can, apparently. When we got into his room, he kissed me, and I kissed him back then things escalated very quickly. I tried to tell him to stop, but he wouldn’t, so I slapped him and ran.” I didn’t even realize that I was on the verge of crying all over again.

            Dylan seemed mad, like really mad. His eyes were squinted slightly, and I could see him clenching his jaw. “You should have kneed him in his balls.”

            I laughed at that and became a little more comfortable being around Dylan. I liked him, probably more than I should because he was my teacher. Nothing would ever come of it, but I still really wanted it to. 

            He stood up, walking around his desk and standing right in front of me. Dylan placed his hands on my hips and pulled me into his chest. “What is it about you, Riley? I can’t seem to stop thinking about you ever since Saturday. That bikini was impossible to not stare at.”

            “But you didn’t.”

            “I did. I’m just good at hiding it. It was inappropriate that I look at you like that, Riley. Nothing about being attracted to one of my students is appropriate.” He stared into my eyes, running his thumb along my lower lip. “You shouldn't allow yourself to be trapped by any guy. If you aren’t interested and he won’t listen, you make him listen, like you should probably be doing to me right now.”

            Oh my. This was really happening. “I don’t want to tell you to stop, Professor Bryant.”

            He grabbed me hard and pressed his lips to mine again, sliding his tongue through the small part of my lips. When he groaned into my mouth, I could feel myself yearning for more. That was the sexiest sound I have ever heard, and it was me doing it to him.

            Dylan pulled away, breaking our kiss, moving my hair behind my ears. “This is wrong, Riley. I shouldn’t want you as bad as I do, and you shouldn’t want me either.”

            “I do want you,” I moaned against his lips.

            He pushed his hand under my skirt, grabbing a handful of my ass and squeezing it hard. This was so hot that I never wanted it to stop. There was a knock at his door that made him practically run over to his desk and grab a paper. The door opened, and he started talking like he was giving me some sort of help.

            “Keep doing what you are doing, Ms. Bell, but be a little more passionate in the way you speak. If you can learn to master that, then you will do fine in my class.”

            I thanked him and walked out, getting jealous of the blonde that walked into his classroom. When I turned around, though, Dylan was staring at me and not the young hot blonde that just walked in and ruined our hot make-out session.