PSPA

11

"Tell me there's a bit of me inside your dreams" -Galeffi

BENEDETTA'S POV:

"Sorry," I mutter to a girl I accidentally bump into.

I don't look behind me and move straight ahead quickly, I hope I don't catch the professor outside.

Last night was a torture. I spent hours thinking about what happened and realized that this thing has to stop right now. Too bad I then dreamed of him kissing me.

I woke up in the middle of the night screaming and scared Alice, poor girl. She was an angel and ran to make me some chamomile tea to calm me down.

She asked me to spill the beans and I told her everything, I desperately needed to confront someone.

Ali, surprisingly, she suggested me to let go and live in the moment. At first I was convinced of this too, but then I thought about the consequences of this gesture.

Upon expulsion, I would lose a year and not to mention how my parents would take it. Feeling anything other than hatred for Professor Cortada is out of the question.

"Goods!" I hear a shout that makes me jump when I'm about to cross the threshold of the gate.

I turn around and see Aldo from afar waving his hand still on the bike, he doesn't seem to be happy to see me... I wave it too and wait for him to park.

"You left last night without telling me anything, why?" he scolds me, reaching me.

"I was feeling unwell, so I preferred to withdraw. I'm sorry for not letting you know. I didn't want to ruin your evening," I mumble as he opens his arms and pulls me close.

"Never again, kiddo, you weren't even answering your phone. Thank goodness Alice is always available."

I sigh in his embrace and then, pulling away, I mutter, "It was dead, I'm sorry again."

He hooks an arm around my shoulders, leading me to the entrance as he asks, "Why were you feeling unwell?"

"It must have been the drink, I'm not used to it."

Aldo pinches my cheeks with his hand, causing me pain, and I mutter, "Stop it!"

"Are you sure there's nothing else? Since when does a sex on the beach make someone feel unwell?" he asks.

"I'm not used to clubbing like you. I couldn't handle it."

"Alright, let's say I'll let it slide this time, but next time, I'll get angry for real," he tries to unsettle me.

I chuckle and ask, "Oh, really?"

"Wanna see?" he asks, pinching my side hard.

I quicken my pace to keep away from him, but he doesn't leave me alone for a second, and I find myself running into the agora.

I turn right, running, and laugh, shouting, "We're at school, cut it out!"

"You cut it out and... watch out!" Aldo yells, pointing ahead of me.

I turn around perplexed, but it's too late because I crash hard into someone, and we both cling to each other to avoid falling to the ground.

I raise my gaze, still panting, and freeze, realizing who I've crashed into.

It's not possible, I feel haunted.

"Professor," I murmur, immediately detaching myself from his reassuring embrace.

Trying not to lose my composure, I inhale the scent of his captivating cologne and stammer embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming. Are you alright?"