Unexpected

Chapter Three~ 'A Lecture'

AN: Hi guys! Glad to say that this chapter's a bit longer, and a bit more eventful (Thanks to the introduction of a new character!) ;) Thank you so much for reading and please don't forget to vote and comment to let me know what you thought! I'd really appreciate it :) Enjoy and have a lovely day/ night! :>

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The two girls hurriedly made their way to the creative writing seminar. They came to a long corridor and walked to a dark wooden door. Aelia looked down at her watch. "Oh no. It's 8:47!", She hissed to her friend. Liliana rolled her eyes, "Relax. We're barely two minutes late. Professor Gibbs never cared." "Well this new professor might!", Aelia whisper shouted. "Besides, the others aren't all here yet.", she reassured her friend. They opened the door and walked in as casually as they thought possible in the moment. The room was full of no more than twenty other students all sitting patiently in the rows of raised desks and chairs.  Aelia shot Liliana an accusatory look, everyone else HAD in fact arrived. They tried to be as discreet as possible while quickly scurrying past the front to get to their seats. Unfortunately it wasn't enough.

  "And where do you two think you're going?", a gruff voice spoke from the front. Both girls froze and swung round instantly to see and young-ish looking man stood at the front of the room behind a desk, one eyebrow raised. Aelia gulped almost comically, but took initiative and spoke up, "Oh right. We're very sorry we're late Professor. We were on our way here and-" "Excuses, excuses. Let me tell you something ladies; the real world won't accept your excuses!", the man interrupted her. She bowed her head shamefully. "Now sit down and don't let this incident recur." His tone was seen and authoritative. Liliana frowned so hard the wrinkles between her eyebrows couldn't look anymore apparent. "We were barely two minutes late.", she muttered under her breath. She didn't think he'd heard her and wasn't expecting a reply.

"Excuse me?", the man's voice echoed in her ears. She froze once more. "I will not accept that sort of disrespect in here, young lady!" "Two minutes or not, everyone else has managed to get here on time. You should be able to also." Liliana's rage grew, "If you had let Aelia explain, then maybe you wouldn't-" "Enough! You're lucky I'm letting you off with a warning. Now sit down before I change my mind." The girls finally took their seats after passing by the many sympathetic faces of their fellow classmates, Aelia still with her head hung. "Your cheek is unbelievable, Miss- let me see... Yes,... Miss Harris.", he sighed sighed, running a hand through his swarthy brown curls.

Once everyone had settled down Liliana nudged her friend, silently asking if she was okay. Aelia looked up and gave a small timid smile, "Bet you wish you hadn't been so hard on Professor Gibbs now, huh?" The small smile now had changed into a more sly and knowing smirk. Liliana sighed in defeat, "I can't believe I'm saying this but... I do, I really do. That man was a bore, but he seems great compared to this monster. He wouldn't even let us explain why we were late." Aelia laughed quietly, "sorry that was my fault, but it was urgent." She stopped when she noticed Liliana's face tense up. "Lili what's wrong?", she asked. Liliana said nothing and Aelia knew why when she followed her gaze. Looking up at them, not as furiously as expected, but instead rather curiously was their professor. "I think he may have heard us.", The brown haired girl squeaked nervously. Liliana stayed quiet, still staring back at him as if to show him that she wasn't intimidated by him in the slightest. A few seconds later he looked away and began pacing the floor before them.

"Quiet.", he spoke in an imposing tone. "Right. Good morning everyone. My name is Professor Miller, and I shall be teaching you Creative Writing this year." "You are all aware of your previous professor's retirement and while I am sure you have all become quite accustomed to his 'method' of teaching, I can assure you that I will not stand for any nonsense.", the man informed them, breathing heavily. He was nothing over average height and the very thought of standing alone down on the floor staring up at all those faces, so much higher up than him would be enough to put anyone off. Not him however. No, he seemed to gain motivation from the twenty... -slightly fearful expressions gazing down at him.

  "You are all probably thinking -yes thinking, but not daring to speak up.", he continued. "That I was far harsher than needs be with Miss Harris and Miss Amani just those few minutes ago." He turned on his heel and continued to the other side of the floor. "I however think I was only being fair." Liliana spluttered in surprise and indignation. "-Because I am not only here to teacher you about the creative mind and the wonderful creations you have the power to create, but also the very valuable lessons of life." "You can't be serious. Please tell me this man's joking.", the emerald eyed girl whispered to her friend once more, eyes now ablaze with fury. "I'm afraid to tell you, I don't think he is." Aelia  replied, equally as astounded by the man. "In life -we can't always be sure of second chances! In life, excuses aren't always enough to override our mistakes."

  The echo of his deep voice filled the room. "So yes I do think I was fairly generous, letting you both off with warnings.", he added, turning curtly to look up at the two girls he had lectured at the beginning of his class, and quickly looking away. "Now, on with the introduction for this years course." Liliana felt his gaze linger on her and looked up once more to meet his eyes. For the first time since they'd met (which granted wasn't very long.) he had been put off by something. He had turned away obviously uncomfortable from her returned eye contact.