Between the desks

Chapter 17

The next Friday...

Amren's POV

"Lil! Are you ready yet?" I yelled through the bathroom door, growing impatient. Lily was still in the shower, taking her time as usual. The sound of the water stopped, and a moment later, the door swung open. Lily stood there, wrapped in a towel, glaring at me with mock annoyance.

"Seriously? Can't a girl shower in peace?" she grumbled, rolling her eyes.

I laughed, leaning against the doorframe. "Not in my apartment, you can't," I teased back. "If you're looking for peace and quiet, Lil, you're definitely in the wrong place."

She gave me a playful shove, but I could see her smile breaking through. The first two weeks of school were behind us, and we both decided it was time for a well-deserved night out. Just us, the city, and no responsibilities.

I slipped into a silky black dress, its thin straps resting lightly on my shoulders. The dress clung to my curves, and I felt a little thrill of excitement seeing how good it looked. Lily, not to be outdone, emerged in a fiery red dress that hugged her figure perfectly. We were definitely turning heads tonight.

"Look at us, all fancy and hot," Lily said, smirking at our reflection in the mirror.

"We are hot," I agreed, striking a pose. The glow of the evening already starting to buzz in my chest.

"If we don't score tonight, I'm legit gonna cry," Lily added with a dramatic pout, making me laugh.

"You're already drunk, aren't you?" I asked, knowing we'd both finished off a bottle of wine before we'd even left the apartment.

"No, I'm just really in need of sex," she blurted out without hesitation, making me burst out laughing. One thing I loved about Lily—she had absolutely no filter.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You're wild tonight, Lil. But hey, who knows, maybe tonight's your lucky night."

"Don't give me that look," she shot back with a smirk. "Like you don't need it too." She gave me a pointed stare, and I just flipped her off playfully. She wasn't wrong, but I wasn't about to admit it.

Thirty minutes later, we were finally ready to go. Lily called a cab, and soon we were on our way, the city lights flickering by as the excitement of the night built. When we arrived, the pulse of the nightlife hit us immediately. The air was thick with music, laughter, and the haze of cigarette smoke. Neon lights flashed, and the crowd around the entrance of the club seemed endless.

I pulled out my own pack of cigarettes and lit one, taking a deep drag as Lily did the same. There was something about the ritual of that first cigarette outside a club—it felt like the night was officially starting.

After we finished, we made our way into our favorite spot, a club called Safe, bathed in pink lights and thumping bass. The music pulsed through the floor, vibrating up through my legs. The crowd was alive with energy, and Lily grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the quieter side of the bar where we could order drinks.

"I'll take a beer," I told the bartender, while Lily opted for her usual wine. We clinked our glasses together, laughing about nothing and everything as the alcohol started to loosen us up.

After a couple of drinks, we switched to shots. Two rounds of tequila later, and I hit that perfect buzz—where everything felt lighter, and the world was just a little bit more fun.

"Let's dance!" Lily shouted into my ear, barely audible over the music. I nodded enthusiastically, and we moved toward the crowded dance floor.

The heat was intense, bodies pressed together in a wave of movement. Sweat trickled down my back as we danced, spinning and laughing, the music coursing through us. Lily twirled me around, and I held her tight for a moment before she pulled away.

"I'm gonna grab another beer!" Lily yelled into my ear after a while. "You want one?"

"Yeah! I'll wait here!" I shouted back, and she nodded, disappearing into the crowd.

I kept dancing on my own, moving to the beat, feeling the music run through my veins. I was completely caught up in the moment, lost in the crowd, when something—or rather someone—caught my eye.

 There, dancing wildly, was Professor Olsen. My heart skipped a beat.

I froze, blinking in surprise. Was I imagining things? But no, it was definitely her. She was dancing, her body moving to the rhythm in a way that felt effortless and completely unguarded. I felt like I was seeing a different side of her—she didn't look like the composed, authoritative professor I saw in class. No, this version of her was wild, free, and... stunning.

She was completely absorbed in the music, her body moving effortlessly with the rhythm. The pink lights cast a glow around her, and for a moment, it felt like time slowed down. Her hands were tangled in her hair, and she looked... different.

She wore a sleek green dress that shimmered under the lights, her hair half up in a messy knot. I swallowed hard, trying to shake the strange feeling building in my chest. Why was my heart racing like this? I looked around, suddenly desperate to find Lily.

What is happening to me? I thought, feeling the flutter of nerves in my chest.

I turned back to the crowd, trying to shake the feeling, but it was impossible. My gaze kept flicking back to her, and every time I looked, the knot in my stomach grew tighter. What was it about her that was pulling me in like this?

Just as I was about to look away again, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I spun around quickly, my heart leaping in my chest, but it was only Lily, grinning at me, holding two beers.

"Here you go!" she yelled over the music, handing me a beer. I took it gratefully, trying to push the strange feelings swirling inside me away as we clinked our bottles together and started dancing again.

But even as we danced, my mind kept drifting back to Professor Olsen. My pulse raced every time I thought about her, every time I caught another glimpse of her moving through the crowd.