My Not So One-Night Stand

Part 6

The only difference between Aurora and Katie was their new official status as girlfriend and girlfriend. Following a sleepless night of intimacy and shared emotions, Aurora skillfully made her way into her shared apartment and silently entered her bedroom without being noticed. She concealed the love marks on her neck over the weekend by wearing her APUG hoodie and applying generous amounts of concealer, fully aware that it would take a couple of days for them to disappear. She didn't mind, though. The marks served as a memory of her time spent with Katie. The intimacy they shared.

Neither of her roommates suspected a thing. At least for now.

When Monday rolled around, Aurora took her time getting ready, something she did for the first time in weeks. She had become accustomed to style her hair with half-closed eyes while attempting to conceal the under-eye bags caused by sleep deprivation. She was still very much sleep deprived, just like every other night. However, this time, it wasn't because of lengthy assignments and long shifts. It was because of Katie.

Her girlfriend and very current college professor.

Aurora wasn't one to live a double life. Her life was always very cut and dry, with no space for secrets or scandals. Average if you will. She grew up in a middle-class household, complete with a white picket fence and neighbors who had children the same age as her. They had taco Tuesdays and game night Fridays. She had an older sister who pestered her, but loved her regardless. That was the life Aurora had. So the idea of sneaking around with her professor made her heart race, both with caution and excitement.

They were on the phone for a solid three hours the night before until Katie fell asleep mid-conversation. Her words became slurred and her sentences became incoherent until the only thing Aurora could hear was Katie's steady breathing distantly through the phone. Aurora wished Katie sweet dreams before hanging up, fully aware Katie was already sound asleep. Aurora tossed and turned for hours with new relationship jitters and the anticipation of seeing Katie in the morning.

As she got ready, she chose simple black leggings that were thin and stretchy and molded to her body like a second skin. She paired them with a fitted red sweater with a low cut, v-shaped neckline and white shoes. The sweater accentuated her curves and drew attention to her cleavage, sure to catch the eye of more than just Ms. McGrath. Aurora was fine with that potential outcome. She found pleasure in the thought of making Katie jealous. Is she confident and carefree about the way others look at and talk about her partner, or does she fill with jealousy and indignation?

(The latter. Oh, definitely the latter.)

Aurora strolled into the psychology building over a half hour later than scheduled. The room was silent as Katie graded case studies from last week. Aurora held a tray with two pumpkin spice lattes in one hand and pulled her sweater down with the other, the outline of her black lace bra peeking out from the top of her sweater. She strutted through the classroom and towards Katie's desk with such tunnel vision she failed to notice anything else. Including the student in the back of the room doing a make-up test.

"Morning, beautiful-" As the words left Aurora's lips, Katie's eyes flew up from her desk, full of worry. Her breath got caught in the back of her throat, knowing very well they were not alone. A heatwave coursed through her veins as she perspired at the thought of their relationship being outed less than forty-eight hours after it began.

Aurora came to a halt a few feet away from her professor's desk, noticing the worry on her face. Her eyes followed to where the tip of Katie's pen pointed, sudden realization over her.

A continuous, nervous laugh left her lips until she saved herself. "B-b-beautiful weather we're having today, right Ms. McGrath? Perfect sweater weather."