Between the desks

Chapter 9

Elizabeth's POV

As soon as I step into the classroom, the noise of chatter fills the air. I take a deep breath, gathering myself before walking toward the front of the room. "Good morning, class! Silence, please!" My voice cuts through the commotion, and the room gradually quiets.

Everyone's eyes turn to me, including hers. Sitting right in the front row, she's watching me closely. There's a flicker of hesitation—fear, maybe—in her gaze. Good. Looks like she learned from last time. Still, I should probably talk to her after class. I was harsher than I meant to be. It had just been one of those days.

The sun streams through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room, but I'm feeling the heat in more ways than one. The white blouse I wore this morning is clinging to me, and my black jeans aren't helping either. Great choice, Liz.

Today's lecture is on Shakespeare. I dive into the material, walking around as I speak, trying to keep the room engaged. Halfway through, I catch some murmuring from the front row. A quick snap of my fingers quiets it down, but my patience is thinning. "What's your name?" I ask the girl whose whispering I caught.

"Sarah, professor," she replies, her voice laced with arrogance, rolling her eyes for effect.

I smirk. Oh, this is going to be fun. "Well, Sarah," I say, folding my arms, "why don't you enlighten us with your thoughts on the topic?"

She gives me a strained smile. "Of course, professor." Her sigh says everything.

Sarah begins, but barely gets through two sentences before cutting herself off. "That's it," she says flatly.

I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Thank you, Sarah." I don't push it—this time.

Moving back into the lesson, I continue pacing the room, elaborating on my theories about Shakespeare. As I circle back to the front row, my eyes land on her again—the girl who seemed nervous earlier. I offer her a small, reassuring smile. To my surprise, she smiles back. Beautiful.

After a long hour and a half, I dismiss the class. Just as everyone's packing up, I pause in front of her desk. "Could you stay for a moment?" I ask gently. She nods, telling her friend, "I'll see you at Free, Lil."

I wait until the room is empty before speaking. "What's your name?" I ask.

"Amren, professor," she replies, her posture tense, arms crossed protectively.

"I wanted to apologize about last time," I begin, my voice softening. "I overstepped, and I shouldn't have gotten upset with you. It won't happen again."

She smiles, and for a second, the tension between us eases. "Don't worry about it, professor," she says, her voice light. "It happens to everyone."

I nod, relieved. "I'll see you next week, then?"

Amren's body language softens a bit. "Of course, professor. See you!" She flashes another smile before turning to leave.

"Bye!" I call after her, "And don't forget to close the door behind you!"

As she leaves, I take a deep breath. You handled that well, Liz.

I pull out my phone and dial Scarlett. She answers almost immediately, her voice full of cheer. "Hey, Liz!"

"Hey, Scar! Want to grab a coffee at Free?" I ask, hoping she's free.

"Absolutely! See you in five!" she chirps back.

I smile, relieved. "See you soon."

I hang up, grab my bag, lock the classroom door behind me, and head out toward Free. After that class, I definitely need my coffee.

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