Unthinkable Love

Chapter 3

Lola

A few hours later, my bedroom door bumps into my back and Jordan and Ivy enter the room. Ivy gasps when she sees me laying on the floor. She lays down on the floor behind me and slides her arm around my waist to pull me into a tight hug. Jordan sits next to me and brushes his fingers through my hair. They both know when I get like this that I am not in a good place and I need to let my magic escape from my body before I will be all right again. Ivy is one of the only people who has ever been able to calm me down. She always seems to know exactly what I need. Maybe it is an effect of her calming Earth magic that seems to ground me again. We lay there for a long while in silence.

“Lola? Are you all right?” Ivy whispers in my ear.

“I am now that you are both here.” I whisper. “Can we go down to the beach? I need to get out of here.”

They each grab one my hands to pull me up. Ivy squeezes me in a tight hug and places a kiss on my forehead. Jordan squeezes my shoulder. I smile softly at them both and while holding their hands, they lead me out of the house.

We walk down to our favourite spot on the beach. It is a small hidden ledge carved into the rocks. No one knows it is there and it is a safe place for us to unwind and talk in private. On the way, they interrogate me.

“So what do you think of Professor Altobello?” Ivy questions me.

“What do you mean by what do I think of him?” I shriek sarcastically. “I hardly know anything about him!”

“You know exactly what I mean, girl! He is into you, it is soooo obvious.” She says wiggling her eyebrows at me as she usually does. I roll my eyes at her ridiculousness.

“Yeah Lola, the yummy Professor can’t stop staring when you enter the room!” Jordan teases.

“What are you two talking about? I cannot think of him that way anyway. He is our professor and not to mention what Levi would do to me!” I scold them both.

“Forget about Levi, he’s a jerk. I am sure he was just being overprotective of us when he told us that Professor Altobello was dangerous …” She trails off into her own thoughts.

“I am sure Ivy is right. Your father would not hire someone like that.” Jordan says. He is always full of positivity.

When we are nearly at the rocky ledge, we realise someone is already occupying it, professor Altobello.

How did he find our spot and what was he doing there? Before I can say anything, Ivy pipes up.

“Excuse me Professor? You are in our spot.” She says smiling her bedazzling grin. Theo flinches at the sound of her voice. He must have been deep in thought.

“My apologies! I best get going anyway.” Theo says, preparing to get up.

“No you stay, Jordan and I were about to go get some coffee at Déjà Brew. We will see you later Lola!” She says, kisses me on the cheek and winks at me as they leave. Ugh, she is such a nightmare.

Theo gestures for me to join him on the rock ledge. He occupies so much of the small space that when I take a seat beside him, our thighs are touching. A jolt of electricity shoots through me and I see my touch has the same effect on him. I try to ignore my thoughts about what happened earlier on my way home from the academy.

“Hi.” I say in a small voice.

"Hi.” He replies. “Are you okay Lola? You look like you have been crying." He sweeps his gaze over my face.

“I am fine; it is nothing to worry about." I attempt to change the subject. "This is one of my favourite places to come when I need to clear my head. The view of the ocean is stunning from this angle especially at sunset.” A small breeze whips my long dark hair around my face. I close my eyes and lean back a little, taking in the scent of the ocean.

“Yes, it is.” Professor Altobello says. I open my eyes at the sound of his deep husky voice but he is looking at me, not the view. I feel my cheeks growing hot and I look away.

“What about you? Is everything all right Professor? You seem very sad.” I ask hesitantly.

Theo’s eyelids flutter closed and he nods slightly. He is breathing in the fresh air deeply as if he is nearly suffocating. I take this opportunity to memorise all his features. His perfect nose, the curved shape of his eyebrows, the long length of his eyelashes, the caramel colour of his hair and the way it kinks in waves, the impressive bulge of his muscly arms, his long strong legs and his slender fingers. He is wearing a tight black t-shirt with a deep V-neck. I can see the outline of a black tattoo over his pectoral muscle and I fight the urge to move his shirt to see it.

What I would do to have his hands on me!

OH MY GOD LOLA! STOP IT! It is totally unthinkable.

I bet Ivy would love to hear my thoughts right now.

“Would you mind sitting with me for a while? Your presence is rather calming and it’s helping me clear my mind.” Theo says.

“Sure thing Professor.” I agree, embarrassed by where my thoughts were going. We sit in a comfortable silence enjoying each other’s company.

"Tell me about your family Lola."

"Well, you have already met my father Ezra. He has been Headmaster of the academy for ten years now. My mother Charlotte is the governor of Colombo Village and my super protective older brother Levi is essentially her right hand man. I also have a baby sister Nova who is two years old. She is the BEST!” I gush about my family. “Then there is Jordan and Ivy who are my best friends but might as well be my family. Ivy and Levi have been dating for a while now but she ... well you have met her so you know what she is like. Sorry I am rambling a bit ..." I say, blushing at my non-stop blabbing.

He chuckles. "No it is fine, I am enjoying the distraction." Theo says, smiling at my embarrassment.

"Would you tell me about your family Professor?" I ask innocently.

"There is not much to tell you Lola. My mother, younger brother and I moved here so I could take the job at the academy. It is such an amazing place. I wish I had moved here sooner. I could have met you sooner ..." He trails off again into his own thoughts in silence. His words make me blush again and I look away to hide my reaction. It is starting to get dark by the time Theo speaks again.

“We should go. It is getting late and I will walk you home.” Theo says.

“I don’t think that is necessary.” I say, getting to my feet. My foot slips on the rock beneath me and I begin to fall. Theo catches me in one swift movement and his arms are around my body, cradling me.

Impressive.

He looks at me smiling and says, “It is the least I can do.”

He walks by my side the whole way home. He seems like he takes such an interest in every word I say as if it the most incredible story he has ever heard. We reach my front gate and we face each other. It is a chilly night and his nose is red from the cold wind. I grab his unusually warm hand and place it over his nose.

“Thank you for walking me home. Good night Theo” I say. It is the first time I have said his name to him.

“Good night Lola.” He says, his dashing smile creeping out from behind his hand. He must have noticed my choice of name.

I walk through the gate up the path to the front door and I steal a gaze behind me. Theo is waiting for me to go inside before he leaves. He must want to make sure I am definitely safe. My face betrays me and makes the biggest grin it has ever had plastered on my face. My cheeks instantly grow hot with a blush. Theo waves and turns on his heel to go home. I close the door behind me, still blushing.

Ugh, what is this man doing to me!?