Heartless Love (GXG) (StudentxProfessor)

Chapter 13

Alix walks down the hall and clenches her jaw, 'how could you be this stupid Alix? How could you let her do this to you all over again?!'
With a sigh she crumples up the pastry paper and tosses it in the trash, turning around when she hears a whistle.
"Remind me again how you can do that?"
Alix playfully rolls her eyes and chuckles. Shay walks toward her and extends a cup, Alix raises her eyebrows.
"What's this?"
"A lavender and honey latte. I figured you might need it"
With a slight nod, Alix takes the cup and thanks her friend. Peeking around Shay, she sees El hanging back a couple feet.
"El?"
She looks down at her feet then up at Alix.
Letting about a soft chuckle, "What are you doing?" Alix asks.
"I wasn't sure if we were good...so I'm just-"
Before El can finish her statement, let alone thought, Alix walks over and hugs her. Shocked El looks at Shay, hugging Alix back.
"I love you, El. Yes, you were a bitch last night", Alix pulls back and looks at her friend.
"Ah-"
"But, not entirely wrong. I just didn't want to hear it, but" Alix takes a breath, "I needed to hear it. So thank you."

El stands there with her mouth slightly open, with a shocked expression on her face. Shay chuckles and sips her coffee.
"She prepared an apology speech this morning. I guess she's surprised she doesn't have to use it."
Alix chuckles softly and sips her latte.
"I'm full of surprises"
"I'd say" El quips.
Shay chuckles and holds the door open to the lecture hall, Alix hums and walks in followed by El then Shay.
"Can we stand in the back?" Alix asks.
"Looking for a quick exit?" El asks as she sips her coffee.
"Eh. More of a power move"
Shay hums and sits in the seat next to the standing desk.
"You looney tunes go right ahead. I went for a run this morning, and my legs are jello"
El snorts and looks at Shay.
"You actually got up and went for a run? Did you lose a bet?"

Shay rolls her eyes and ignores her friend, grabbing her iPad and getting it set up so she can take notes. El looks back when she hears the door open, Alix keeping her eyes focused on her latte refusing to look up. Shay hums and ignores whomever is walking in. El notices her two friends acting strange, looking between them.
"Why does it feel like I missed something?"
"You didn't" Shay deadpans.
El hums and sips her coffee. She looks back over at Alix, who is now standing straight up, lightly drumming her fingers on the desk. She nudges her friend lightly and whispers, "You okay?" With a soft hum and nod, Alix looks at El.

The speaker lightly taps on the mic, signaling that they are about to begin.
"Remind me again why we signed up for this lecture?" Alix whispers to El. With a soft shrug of her shoulders, El whispers back, "Because she's using some of your research in the lecture".
"Fantastic", Alix grumbles and takes a sip of her latte. Noticing a woman come stand beside her, out of the corner of her eye. Alix turns and sees none other than Mrs. Blake, offering her a soft smile.
"Hi. I hope you don't mind"
"Not at all, Mrs. Blake"
Sipping her latte, she sees Shay look at her with a confused look. Alix lays her phone done on the desk and texts Shay.
'I met her this morning in her office'
'Oh?'
'Yup'
'I'm guessing it didn't go well?'
'She introduced me as a former student. And apparently told her mom all those coffees and cookies I brought were from someone else'
'Ah. Well, she seems friendly'
'Mhm'

Alix locks her phone and raises the latte to her lips and takes a sip. Becca looks up and looks eyes with her. Alix quirks an eyebrow then looks up at the presentation. Clearing her throat softly, Becca continues on with her presentation. Mrs. Blake leans over and whispers, "I have no idea what any of this means". Alix looks at the older woman and lets out a soft chuckle, leaning over and whispering back, "The brain gut connection, basically it boils down to how your mental health can affect your gut and in turn how your gut micro biome can impact your mental health". She hums and nods, "So if one isn't working, then the other wont", Alix hums and nods, "Basically it just becomes a vicious cycle until both gets fixed?" Letting out a soft hum as she sips her latte, Alix nods, "you got it".

As the presentation continues, Becca pulls up a research article that Shay and Alix worked on. Shay lets out a groan loud enough for El and Alix to hear. El tries not to laugh, or choke, as she takes a drink of coffee. Becca motions up to the top of the lecture hall.
"And we can thank these two incredible women for their research"
Mrs. Blake claps, along with the others in the hall, lightly patting Alix's hand. Shay nods and offers a soft smile, while Alix nods.
"I didn't know you did research. When Rebecca said you were a former student, I assumed you were practicing"
Alix hums softly, "I'm a professor at a university back home. And they are nice enough to let me conduct research"
El looks over and interjects, "Don't let her be humble. The university is ecstatic that Alix does research for them. She working with lead researchers-"
Alix glares at El and nudges her ribs, shaking her head subtly. El looks at Alix, then Mrs. Blake, "The university is lucky to have her".
Mrs. Blake hums and smiles, "I look forward to reading more of your research".
Watching her phone light up, Alix opens it.
'You and Mama Blake seem to be getting on great'
'I hate you'
"You love me. But I'd stop being so chummy. She's watching you interact with her mom'
'I'm being nice. We aren't being chummy'
'Alix....she patted your hand when her daughter mentioned our research'
'She would've done the same to you , if you were standing next to her.'
'Mothers have a way of knowing things. Be careful'

Alix sighs and finishes her latte, as Becca is finishing up her lecture.
"Any questions?" She asks from the podium.
After not having any questions, she ends the lecture. Alix rolls her eyes and toss her empty cup int he trash. El hums and looks at Alix.
"I don't like that look"
"Have you told Shay yet?"
Shay looks up confused, "Did she tell me what?"
Alix rolls her eyes and walks back over, re assuming her earlier position.
"El is referring to the fact that I have had a couple job offers recently"
"Um excuse me. Not just job offers. You have job offers from Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UCLA, and Oxford"
Shay looks at Alix shocked with her mouth hanging slightly open, "shut up, seriously?!"
Alix hums and nods.
"Why didn't you tell me?! Alix that's amazing!"
Becca walks up and stands next to her mom, trying to hear the conversation. Mrs. Blake pats Becca's hands lightly.
"You did great darling"
"Thanks mom. I assume the golden trio didn't give you any trouble?"
"The golden trio?"
Alix and Shay roll their eyes at the old nickname. Mrs. Blake looks over at the three women with an amused look on her face.
"That's what the professors used to call them"
"And why's that?"
"They were the only friend group that sat together in lectures and weren't disruptive"
Mrs. Blake smiles at the three ladies, "I guess I didn't help the reputation any today".
Alix chuckles softly and looks at Mrs. Blake, "I'm feeling a little rebellious today, so it was nice".
Mrs. Blake chuckles with Alix, while Becca looks at Alix confused.

Alix's phone starts to vibrate as a call comes through. She picks it up and hums.
"Excuse me. I need to take this"
"Of course dear" Mrs. Blake replies.
Alix quietly answers the phone and walks out the doors. Becca subtly watching as she leaves, humming and looking at her mother.
"So, how was it?"
"It was great. Alix explained things to me, so I didn't feel so lost"
Becca hums, "Getting chummy with Alix are we?"
Shay scoffs softly hearing the concern in Becca's voice, El quietly coughs attempting to hide the noises coming from Shay. Mrs Blake looks over, "Are you okay sweetheart? Here."
She hands El a cough drop and smiles. El takes it and smiles back, "Thanks, sorry. I just have a tickle in the back of my throat".
Mrs. Blake looks at her daughter and hums, "Chummy? Darling, she was being sweet and explaining things to me".
The group looks up when the doors open and Alix walks back in. She looks up and slows her steps, humming.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
"We were just discussing the lecture" El hums, sucking on the cough drop.
Alix nods and hums, "Okay then", she grabs her jacket and bag.
"Wait where are you going?" Shay asks.
"I need to go...take care of somethings"
She kisses El's and Shay's cheeks, "I'll be back later. Take notes for me"
El snorts, shaking her head. Shay blows a kiss and waves as Alix heads out the doors. Becca watches her confused then looks over at Shay. She shrugs and hums, "Your guess is as good as ours Dr. Blake".

When her mom is busy talking to El and Shay, Becca takes her phone out and texts Alix:
'Hey. Is everything okay?'
'Nothing you need to worry about'
'Alix, that's not fair'

When Becca doesn't get a response, she sighs and puts her phone away. Watching as her mom laughs along to whatever El and Shay are talking about. Maybe she should just tell her mom about Alix and Chris. Alix seems to get along with her mom, well, at least she has been getting along with her mom. There is no way to tell how her mom will react when she explains that Alix is who is she is really in love with, and that Chris is gay.