Enid is moving across the world to attend university. Away from all that she knows, she soon finds herself at the center of three men's unyielding attention. Three men who are her professors. Inexperienced and innocent, she is the exact opposite...
"Hiding?" Enid glanced up at her as she set her bag beside her desk.
"Yeah, apparently there's some video they're refusing to release because it'll paint the fraternity in a bad light." She explained, pulling notebooks out of her bag.
"Well, how does that help us?" She asked, running a hand through her curls as she took off her scarf.
"It helps us, dear Enid, because I got a copy of the tape." The other girl grinned victoriously, holding it up triumphantly.
"Oh my gosh! How did you get it?" Enid leaned forward to look at the seemingly innocent flash drive.
"I slept with him and in exchange he gave me a copy. Got our lead and my monthly cardio in. Two birds, one stone if you will." Emilia waggled her eyebrows.
Enid blushed at her response, leaning down to find a pen to cover up her embarrassment.
"I always forget what an innocent little baby you are. It does feel like it's my duty to corrupt you, though." Emilia laughed.
"I'm not innocent nor am I a baby." Enid stuck her tongue out at the other girl.
"Have you ever even been kissed?" The older girl teased her.
Firm, commanding lips floated into her mind.
Hot hands with cool metal rings running along her bare skin.
Three bodies surrounding her.
Touching, claiming.
"Not that it's a bad thing if you haven't. I was just curious." Emilia continued; worried Enid's silence meant she was upset.
"I don't mind you asking. Yes, I've been kissed. By three different people, thank you very much." Enid answered factually.
"I didn't mean to offend. You just come across as really sweet and pure, I guess." Emilia placed her hand on top of her friend's.
"No worries, I know what you mean. I still feel quite... little sometimes." Enid waved away the concern.
"Well, anyways, when should we meet up to watch this tape?" The question brought them back to the mystery at hand.
"I'm free Thursday after my cello lesson. I usually get out at around two." She twirled a rosy strand of hair between her fingers absentmindedly.
"That works for me. Café?" Emilia asked and Enid nodded.
It was nearly time for class and their other classmates began trickling in.
Just as the clock struck the hour, Dante appeared in the doorway.
His dark trench coat whipping behind him as he took his seat around the circle.
"My dear disciples. How are you on this malignant Monday?" His forest eyes met hers for a moment and he grinned.
After a few minutes of introduction, they started on the assignment they had been given.
"I feel it is impossible to write well without first reading good writing. So, today you will be going through the packets of poetry I have made for each of you and picking out the one that speaks to you. The one that grabs your soul and refuses to relinquish it. Then write a brief analysis on why you feel it does that. We'll discuss at the end of the period." Dante commanded and the students immediately got to work.
He was a natural teacher and leader.
No one dared to question his instructions.
Leafing through the pages before her, Enid skimmed through the range of poems.
She had gone through nearly ten of them when she found a poem by Langston Hughes.
From the first line, she was consumed.
It felt almost like music.
The way it swelled in her lungs as she inhaled and danced along her fingertips.
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
"Dreams" had the soul-grabbing quality that Dante had described.
Enid had nearly finished her analysis when a knock came from the door.
Glancing up from her paper, she recognized the figure in the doorway.
Chief Samuels leaned against the frame; his hands tucked into his uniform pockets.
"I need to speak with Enid." He said, his eyes finding her.
Her heart froze.
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