My Professor's Secret

19|

The envelope was addressed to both of us with a large W  standing for our schools emblem stamped perfectly in the corner. I perched myself in my chair, already suspecting it was the letter her and I were desperately waiting for.

We applied for a rally contest campus held every December as some kind of Christmas gift for students. The contest was a chance to win free textbooks for an entire year. Only four people on the entire campus could win and her and I needed it bad. Quite naive to think the both of us had a chance to win. Nevertheless, I stared at the envelope eagerly hoping at least one of our names had been chosen.

"I still can't believe you walked all the way here just to open this letter with me. It's freezing outside. We could've done it tonight."

She shakes her head and reaches for the envelope but instead of opening it, she hands it over to me. "It's free books for an entire year," Taylor exclaims. "I don't know about you but I definitely can not let that slip from my fingers. The cold meant nothing to me," she laughs. "Anyways, right after I'm done here, Trevor's gonna drive me to his place so I can babysit Emma for him tonight. Technically I'm killing two birds with one stone," she shrugged.

I can't even imagine the look of shock that spreads was under the impression that he'd be another no show today. "Professor Thornton's not in," I say, and before Taylor could finish, Josh brings our lunch to the lounge, still steaming and fresh from the grill.

"I'm leaving early" Josh interrupts. "Sawyer and I have to apartment hunt so P.T. agreed to cover my shift for me. He kinda owes me anyways for covering his ass for an entire week," he shrugs before quickly leaving the lounge.

All that confirmed was the fact that I'd been right. He was avoiding me. Even though I'd been doing exactly the same thing, my reasons were warranted by embarrassment and unprofessionalism where as he wasn't at fault. His reasons to avoid me were strictly because he didn't want anything to do with me. My gut sank a little. Then Taylor's voice snaps me back towards the letter clasped between my fingers.

"Hello? The letter," she drags out in song. "Free books hang in the midst."

"Right," I pause, swallowing away the lump in my throat and ripping open the envelope to retrieve the letter. "A stupid necklace?" The letter begins. Before I could even continue, Taylor has already scurried from her chair, her chin hovering over the back of my shoulder trying to get a glimpse of what's written. "I can do much better than a stupid necklace. Thanks to you two, I'm no longer Head of my sorority. Not only that, but the Dean is threatening expulsion. You've just started something that I will finish. One way or another."

I stop reading, turning to look at Taylor. Our cheeks nearly brush against each other on account of our closeness. I reckon both of our faces are laced with nothing but confusion. Clearly she'd been in just as much shock as I had been.

"Um... What the hell?" She says. Taylor's eyebrows remained furrowed then she snatches the letter from me in surprise. Thankfully, I thought. The lump I'd attempted to rid myself free of earlier was finding its own way back up. She clears her throat before pacing back to her seat to plop down. Our food suddenly appearing slightly less appetizing than it did moment earlier. "To insure that this little letter stays just between us girls, weigh the balance of what each of you are hiding then you can decide if it's worth the gamble. Until I'm fully reinstated into my sorority and on clean terms with the Dean, you better watch your backs. By the way, if you're still wondering how I got my hands on that pretty little necklace of yours, ask Taylor. Maybe her irresponsibly in the dining hall provided me with full access to either of your things. That's all. XO, Rachel."

Silence lingers between the both of us for a while. We both were practically shaking and this time, the snow wasn't to blame. The only thing she could have on me was that kiss in Professor's class. Something of which would implode not only his reputation, but mines as well because it was me that imitated it and him who stopped me away. I pushed the tray of food from my view—aware that the scent was seconds away from sending me hacking all over Taylor's mint green jacket dangling off the side of the table.