EMERALD LOVE, Elizabeth Olsen

Apologies

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have-" she tried to apologize but she didn't need to. She did nothing wrong.

"It's alright... I got out of it! But can we please talk about something else?" I asked with a shy smile.

"Yeah of course! I was wondering... about that question I asked the other day during the class. The one about inappropriate love, you sounded really involved. May I ask why?" she definitely had a lot of questions but I didn't mind. It was quite amusing to talk to someone who didn't know anything about me yet.

"I had an affair with one of my teachers last year. I mean not an affair, a one-night stand... At Scarlett's birthday party. Florence didn't really like it and the only explanation she gave me was "that's inappropriate". I was 20 and consenting so... there's nothing inappropriate. And all those idiots talking about age gap... that's stupid" I explained, worried that she might agree with Florence.

"I think your sister is just worried about you. And for the age stuff I fully agree with you. My fiancé is 6 years older than me which is not a lot but it was apparently enough to annoy my sisters and parents" she said. Her fiancé. Ouch. Why does that even hurt?

I don't even know her. She's just my teacher. We finished our drinks which turned cold as we'd been talking for about 2 hours. She took me back to my place; the ride was quiet but I could feel her eyes leaving the road to look at me. I wondered what was going on in that pretty head of hers.

𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:

I couldn't help but look at her sometimes. Quick looks, but I'm pretty sure she noticed. A question was burning my lips, I didn't know why, that was none of my business... Yet, I needed to know.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked hopping she wouldn't mind.

"Smulders. It was Cobie Smulders" she answered before I even asked the full question. How did she know I was about to ask that? Maybe I shouldn't have. She started to look deeply uncomfortable and guilt slipped down my throat tightening my stomach.

"Don't feel guilty for asking, you had every right to" she shrugged, turning to look through the window.

"How did you do that? Did you read my mind or something?" I joked thinking it was the most logical explanation.

"My mother's issues gave me the ability to analyse people's behaviour, almost like those superheroes who can read minds. My dad used to say I'd always been that way, sneaking around and analysing everyone and everything. He said maybe one day that might be useful and it is, everyday" she explained.

I pulled up in front of her building. After what happened when I picked her up earlier, I insisted on walking her to her door, even though the man wasn't there anymore. I wanted to make sure she would get home safe. Why did I care so much about her safety? I saw a shy smile forming on her sweet red lips. Did she know what I was thinking about? Come on Lizzie she doesn't actually read minds, I thought to myself.

𝐘/𝐍'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:

She walked me to my door even though I told her it was unnecessary. I could feel in the way she looked at me that she was kind of scared something would happen to me. I liked it. I liked it way too much. We reached the door sooner that I thought we would, which, I must admit, kind of disappointed me.

"Thanks for walking me to the door... Would you like to come in just a few minutes?" I hesitantly asked, afraid I might be crossing a line.

"That would probably be inappropriate, but I appreciate the offer. I'll see you tomorrow in class, right?" she gently declined.