Hard To Love (Professor / Student)

Shower

Summer is just about over which means essays and training. What's even worse is not being able to see Mark on campus. This summer had its downsides at the beginning but today, Mark and I are in the best place. Everyone seems to be happier than when we got to the house. I wake up, in my childhood bed in my parents' house. Luke is also back to living at home. To be fair, his new place is currently being fumigated, so not entirely his fault. It was weird seeing Luke at the bars this summer. I never had to see his flirting, manwhore side. Yeah, he would bring girls home when he was younger but he was always super good about not exposing me to any of that.

He obviously knows Mark is older than me and was at one point in time my Professor, so I guess he doesn't think he needs to shield me from his ways anymore? I don't know, but it's f*cking weird.

I change into a pair of shorts and t-shirt before sliding on my running shoes. Hopefully this makes training season a bit easier. I decide to run around the neighborhood. My earbuds are blasting my running playlist as I make a turn around a few hedges. I literally run into the person on the other side, catching us both very much so off guard. I steady myself and take out an earbud. "Oh my gosh, I am so so....." I say before cutting my sentence short.

"Vanessa?"

"Whitney, uh hi.." I say back and the two of us just stare at each other. Whitney is the older sister of Logan. Yes, that Logan. I start to back up a bit to start coming back from the way I came but her hand gently grabs onto my shoulder.

"How are you?" She asks

"Whit, I can't do this." I say and she nods.

"Of course. Right. It was really good to see you." She says and I turn and run the other way. What the f*ck? Of all the people in this world, I run into her? She was like a big sister to me back when Logan and I were dating. She would give me her hand-me-downs and give me advice on boys. I don't think she ever knew what Logan became. At least that's what I tell myself. I get back to my house and my mom is in the kitchen, making breakfast as my dad is sitting at the table, drinking his coffee.

"Hi sweetie, good run?" My mom asks as I grab water from the fridge.

"Uh yeah...guess who I ran into a few blocks over." I say

"Who, honey?"

"Whitney." I say and my parents look at each other, not saying a word. Before they can say anything in response, I add in... "I'm fine. I just bumped into her while running and pretty much just turned around and ran back here."

They both nod and my mom says, "Well, as long as you are okay, then we are okay." My dad just nods and we sit down for breakfast. Luke eventually finds his way downstairs. He happily eats the remaining plate of bacon.

Luke and I spend these last few days together doing dumb sh!t that we won't get to do when school starts back up. "Don't be a chicken." Luke says and he encourages me to jump off the roof of the shed into the pool.

I look down at him from the roof and flip him off. "I'm not afraid of sh!t." I say. As soon as my feet leave the roof I hear "VANESSA". I don't even have to look to know who's voice that is. My body hits the water and I take a second before I pop my head above the water and hear Luke cheering. I spin around and point at him.

"You owe me 50 bucks!" The two of us just laugh. Mark starts clapping as he walks over to the pool. Luke and I just look at him, confused.

"Perfect. What a way to make sure you injure yourself right before the season begins." He says and keeps clapping.

"Oh come on, Mark. That wasn't that dangerous."

"Yeah, come on dude. Lighten up." Luke says.

"How do you think the Board would feel if my star player breaks her neck before our first game?" Mark asks, crossing his arms over his chest.