Don't Stand So Close (completed)

Chapter 3

1 year later

Starla and I are drinking our third coffee at the campus café and studying. Midterms are this week and we both have a couple of doozies for classes coming up. I love what I'm studying for today, though. Art History. From the 14th century in Europe through Mannerism. It's interesting. I love history, art, literature... These are what I tend to focus on for my studies. Starla has a history test as well. Some kind of geographical urban history or something. I bore her with my education interests and she bores me with hers but everything else we have in common.

"So, my dad's doing the lecture next week for your Lit class, huh? He's been prepping for it for a while. Like, every time I see him he's practicing and writing notes. What's he going to be presenting to you guys anyway?" Starla puts her elbows up over the textbook and drops her chin into her hands as she watches me.

My heart skips a beat anytime she brings her dad up. I haven't seen him in a couple months. Not that that is out of the ordinary. It's just that every time I do see him now there is a tension. He'll make a flirty comment, out of earshot of Starla and I respond in kind. It never goes further. I'd like it to but I can tell that Harry isn't going to give in, and that's okay. It's probably for the best.

"Um, it's a lecture on the theory of literature. I'm looking forward to it. Never been to one of your dad's lectures and now that I'm a junior I can sit in. Kind of excited." I bite the cap of the pen that's in my hand. I already have my clothing selected for the week that Harry will be lecturing. The lecture will be all week, every afternoon. I get extra credit for attending and participating. It's not mandatory but I really want to go. Not only because I'm practically in love with Harry, but because I love literature and I'd be going even if it weren't Harry doing the speaking. It's just a bonus to have him being the one doing it. He does these lectures each year, he also does a literary classics review lecture, but that's senior level.

I watch Starla roll her eyes and smile at me, "Sure you're not going just cause you think my dad is hot? Sounds boring as fuck to me!" Starla snickers quietly and I shove her arm and shake my head, "Of course not! I'd be going regardless of if it was your dad or not, Starla. You know I love literature."

Yes, Starla figured out that I have a crush on her dad, but she always assumed it was innocent. It is innocent. Well, mostly. I mean, other than the fact that I can't get off unless I'm thinking of him, no matter what guy I'm sleeping with, it's totally innocent. I sigh. Starla is used to her friends thinking Harry is hot. Starla is used to women fawning over him in general. He's extremely sexy. He has this confident charm and swagger, and yet he's totally humble without ego at the same time. He's gorgeous, and tall, and smart, and he's fucking nice. Like, way too nice. It's no wonder no guy will ever stack up to him in my eyes.

I look back down to my notes and I feel a large palm squeeze my shoulder. I look at Starla and she is looking above my head to the person behind me. I turn my head to see Victor looking down at me and I smile.

He ducks down and kisses the top of my head sweetly, "Hey doll. How's studying going?" He moves from behind me and comes around to sit in one of the empty chairs sat at the table Starla and I are occupying. I roll my eyes. I hate it when he calls me doll. But he doesn't know I hate it because I haven't told him (and I haven't told him because I only hate that he calls me doll) so I can't blame him for continuing to say it.

"It's fine. Nearly done here. What's up?" Victor likes to hang around me more than I like him to. He's nice, and he's a lit major like me, but he's not Harry and I hate that I compare every fucking guy to Harry but to me it just means that I don't like him that much. One day I'll find a guy that I like more than Harry and then I'll know...