Wild Hearts

Chapter Four

⚠️Content Warning: This chapter contains a scene that includes explicit sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.⚠️

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I wake up surprised, beating the rooster to the punch. I open one eye, and like every morning, she is there, staring at me indefinitely. "Morning, Barbie." I stay in bed a little longer, waiting for it. But before the rooster can crow, impatience drives me out of bed. If I get to class early, I can use the Wi-Fi.

I quickly slip on my boots, head outside, and feed the animals. By the time I am ready for class, my dad is still making breakfast.

"Good morning," I say as I walk into the kitchen.

"Morning, Jules, I see you're up extra early today." His tone impressed.

"Yeah, I just woke up on my own." The words feel foreign on my tongue.

"Well, that's a good start, Julia." A small smile creeps onto his lips.

I take the orange juice out and set two cups on the table as he places a plate with two fried eggs in front of me.

"My legs are killing me," I state, digging into the eggs.

"You'll get used to it," he chuckles.

I wash my plate while he sits to eat his breakfast and read the newspaper. "Well, I'm heading out, Dad. I'll see you at dinner." With that, I go out the door and start walking to campus.

I finally make it to the library and, pull out my phone and start replying to messages and comments. I take a quick Boomerang of myself in the bathroom mirror. 'Morning loves' appears and disappears on the screen. Just as I am about to post the story, Kelsey calls.

"Oh my gosh, Julia, you won't believe this! They suspended Professor Bernardi for supposedly having an affair with a student." Kelsey's voice full of excitement.

My heart sinks. No... This cannot be happening. I told the college director it was all me, and that he never reciprocated. This will end his career.

"I don't think he had any affair, Kels. Stop listening to people!" No, it was not just an affair; it was real.

"Well... some people are relating that with your sudden disappearance... You would've told me, right?" Her voice sharpens, probing.

I roll my eyes, even though she cannot see me. "Don't you think he'd have been suspended that same day?" I can feel myself slipping into familiar territory-I have always been a good liar.

"Really, Julia? You expect me to believe you had nothing to do with him? I mean... it's all too suspicious." A pang of hurt stabs. My best friend does not believe me.

"Kels, don't you think if there was something going on, the school would have acted way sooner? Come on, you know me better than that!" My fingers tremble as I grip the phone tighter. It feels like the walls of the library were closing in around me.

"I have to go to class, Kels. Please don't listen to the gossip, it's not true!"

I hang up, guilt churns in my gut. I did everything I to protect him, and yet, it was not enough. The gossip will devour him, and there is not a damn thing I can do to stop it.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the weight of Kelsey's call. It is a losing battle. The rumors will spread, and soon enough, it will catch up to me, too. No matter how far I run, my past is always there-like a shadow.