The Art of Forbidden Romance (Student x Teacher)

Chapter 16

When I stepped up the three steps at the front of my complex to get onto the sidewalk I saw Chuck waiting just a little up the hill in his car. My heart pounded in my ears and I could only imagine how flustered I looked. I sped up my walk to his car. When he noticed me he got out and opened his the passenger door for me.

"Thank you," I said. His car was nice, the black leather interior was cold on my flushed skin. Chuck got in, and I noticed he had also changed from what he was wearing earlier at the cafe. He was now wearing a white T-shirt and a black bomber jacket with his jeans. We kind of matched and it made me smile.

"Thank you for picking me up," I said. Chuck smiled at me.

"I promise I won't murder you," he said with a wink. I blushed and turned my head away to hide it. Chuck instantly found my chin and turned me back to him. "What did I say about hiding your beautiful face from me?"

He leaned across the center console of his car and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was warm and passionate but short lived. He pulled away and started his car back up.

"Do you like pizza?" He asked me as he drove away from my apartment.

"Doesn't everyone?" I laughed.

"I was thinking I'd take you to one of my favorite pizza places," he said. "It's in Carlsbad though so it'll be a bit of a drive." I glanced at the clock. It was just after seven.

"I'm sure my professor will understand if I'm a little tired tomorrow," I teased. Chuck laughed and got onto the freeway for the hour long drive down south.

At first it was quiet on the drive. Chuck had some instrumental jazz playing low in the background. I fidgeted with the raw hem of my dress, trying to resist the urge to pull at the purposeful frayed appearance. Chuck suddenly turned down the music more until it was silent in the car.

"Winona," Chuck said breaking the silence between us. He glanced over at me momentarily before turning back to the road.

"You can call me Win or Winnie," I said. "All my friends do."

"I like Winona if that's okay with you," he said with a quick smile at me. I smiled.

"Sure," I said.

"Are you okay with this?" He asked. I was planning on having this conversation as well today, so I was not caught off guard by his question.

"Yes," I said. "Are you?"

"I am, but at the end of the day I need to make sure you're okay with everything more. To other people this could look really bad - like I'm taking advantage of you."

"I know. But you're not.... Right?"

"Of course not," he said, shaking his head. "I don't want you to ever think I am for a minute."

"So, why me then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why me and not any other student in your class? It's not like you knew me better than the rest of them or anything like that." I could see Chuck thinking over his answer. He came to slow as he approached traffic and eventually a full stop on the freeway.

"Hopefully this won't last long," he mumbled, referring to the traffic. He turned to me, glancing at the road every few seconds to see if it was going to start moving again.

"I felt drawn to you that first day, Winona," he said. "Just something about you took me off guard. You have this energy about you that had me intrigued by you and I just wanted to know more. And you're incredibly beautiful and talented and funny."