The Art of Forbidden Romance (Student x Teacher)

Chapter 37

Walking into the lecture hall, it felt like it had been decades since I had been in class. The classroom was only half full, many students napping before class started. The few students that weren't asleep looked up as I entered, quickly adverting their eyes once they made eye contact with me. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the pit in my stomach and went to the front row where Mel and I sat in our usual spots.

Chuck arrived to class shortly after us and did a double take when he saw me. He quickly came over to us, concern washed over his face.

"Winona, you don't need to be here," he said. "You should be home resting." I shook my head.

"I wanted to come to class," I said. Chuck looked over at Mel, who nodded knowingly. He turned back to me, and paused. He looked as if he wanted to say something. Instead, he pressed his lips together tightly and nodded at me before turning away and heading to his podium.

I looked over at Mel who was staring at me.

"I'm okay," I said. She gave me a soft smile and rubbed my shoulder. "I can't go to Andy's class though." My voice cracked.

"No, of course not," Mel said. I blinked back tears, looking down at my hands in my lap.

"I just... I can't," I said. Mel squeezed my left hand.

"No one would ever make you," she said. "I can talk to Andy for you or get him from the room so you guys can talk."

My phone buzzed and I looked at it. It was a text from Chuck.

Stay after class for a minute.

I looked up from my phone to find Chuck's eyes on me. I nodded and he smiled half heartedly before starting lecture.

———

Once all the students cleared out of the lecture hall, I approached the podium. Chuck packed his things away and came out from behind the podium, immediately pulling me into his arms. After the momentary shock of him hugging me while we were at school I melted into him, struggling to keep back tears.

"I'm so sorry," he said. I took a deep shaky breath.

"You saved me," I said, my voice thick with the tears I was holding back.

"I should've come by sooner, I knew you were working late," he said. He rubbed my back gently before slowly letting me go from his arms. I reluctantly pulled myself away, wanting to stay in his arms forever. His hand held my left hand softly, his thumb tracing circles on the back of it.

"I'm just so thankful you were there," I said. "I-I don't want to think about what could've happened if you weren't there." Chuck nodded, his eyes filled with pain.

"I wanted to talk to you about something, but I don't want you to be stressed," he said. I swallowed hard.

"What is it?"

"I'm considering leaving the college."

"Why?" I asked. "You shouldn't do that."

"If I leave we can be together normally."

"I graduate in a semester," I said. "We only have 7 more months."

"I know," he said. He pressed his lips together in contemplation. Chuck slowly let go of my hand. He grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulder.

"Can we please talk about this more later?" I asked him, a wave of fatigue starting to wash over me. "I don't want you to go to teach at a different college. I like having you here."

"We'll talk more," he said. Chuck stepped forward and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. I smiled softly at his touch.

"If you'd like, I can take you to my place after your class with Andy," he said. I shook my head.

"I'm not going to class," I said. "I just need to talk to him. I.... I don't want to go into that room yet." Chuck nodded in agreement.

"Do you want me to take you home? Or you can come stay with me," he said. I nodded.

"Can we go to your place?" I asked. He nodded. We made our way out of the lecture hall and back outside. Mel got up from the bench she was waiting for me at and came over.

"Let me know when you're done with Andy," he said. I turned to Mel and gave her a soft smile.

"Chuck's going to take care of me today," I whispered, careful to check that no one else was around. "That way you don't have to miss your classes tonight." She gave me a soft smile and pulled me into her arms for a hug.

"You better take care of her," she teased Chuck. He nodded.

"Absolutely."

As walked to Andy's classroom my chest tightened with every step. I couldn't tell if the tremors in my hand was my rising anxiety or just my injury. Jackson stopped me on my way to our class and he offered to grab Andy for me.

I stood outside the classroom in the hallway, waiting for Andy, chewing my lip nervously. The classroom door opened and I turned, expecting Andy, but Joan burst out of the room. She ran to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Winona," she cried. "I'm so sorry." Instantly tears spilled from my eyes, and I wrapped my arms around her, my casted arm awkwardly heavy against her small frame.

"It's okay," I said between sobs.

"It's all my fault," she said once her breathing returned to normal. She pulled back from our hug slightly, wiping her eyes.

"No it's not," I insisted. "It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry I ever believed anything he said. I can never forgive myself," she said. She gently wiped tears from my cheeks.

"Please don't beat yourself up about this," I told her. The classroom door opened again and Andy stepped out, closing the door behind him. He came over to Joan and I.

"Are you both alright?" Andy asked. We both shrugged in response. He gently placed a hand on each of our shoulders and squeezed them.

"You both need to understand what happened is neither of your faults," he said. We both nodded. Andy dropped his hands from our shoulders.

"I'll go," Joan said. She gave me another tight hug. "I'll text you."

I nodded and squeezed her tightly before letting her go back to class.

———

"Fantastic as always," he said, handing my phone back to me.

"I'm worried," I said. "My hand shakes." I held my right arm out to Andy and he held it gently, turning it over. The tremors in my hand and arm were obvious. Andy pursed his lips, letting go of my hand and I dropped it back to my side.

"I'm guessing it's the weight of the cast and the healing," he said. "Let's see what happens when it's off."

"I don't know if I can do my last painting in time for the end of the semester. It was hard enough finishing the last one," I said. Andy nodded.

"I'll give you as long as you need. We'll schedule your exhibition for the end of next semester to help." I nodded.

"I get the cast off in about 3 weeks. I'll try to start working now though," I explained. Andy shook his head.

"Let it heal properly," he said. "I'd rather have you take extra time to complete the portfolio than have permanent damage." I nodded, although I knew I was still going to try to paint as much as I could, cast or no cast. We walked for a little in silence. As we approached the doors to the building where Andy's class was we stopped.

"I don't want to come to class anymore," I said, breaking the silence between us.

"I don't want you too either, it's too traumatic," he said. Andy patted my shoulder. "Now, go home and get some rest."