Between the desks

Chapter 18

Amren's POV

Lily was back on the dance floor with me, her energy higher than ever after a few more drinks. She was dancing in that carefree, wild way of hers, her red dress twirling around her legs as she moved to the beat. I could barely keep up, my mind still spinning from catching sight of Professor Olsen earlier. But the alcohol was starting to do its job, dulling the edge of my nerves, and the music had a way of swallowing everything else, making it easy to lose myself in the rhythm.

Then, out of nowhere, Lily grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with excitement. "Look at him!" she shouted over the music, jerking her head toward a guy standing by the bar. He was tall, with dark hair, a sharp jawline, and broad shoulders. He had that effortlessly cool vibe, casually sipping his drink and scanning the dance floor. The moment Lily caught his eye, his face lit up with a grin.

"You should go talk to him," I teased, nudging her.

"Don't have to," she said with a smirk, tossing her hair back as he started making his way over to us.

Within seconds, he was next to her, leaning in to say something in her ear. She laughed, loud and flirtatious, and I could see the spark of interest in her eyes. They exchanged a few more words, but it didn't take long before they were dancing close—really close. The air between them practically sizzled with attraction, their bodies already moving in sync, as if they'd been doing this forever.

I grinned, stepping back to give them space. This was Lily in her element—flirtatious, confident, magnetic. She always had this way of pulling people toward her, like they couldn't resist her energy. Within minutes, they were kissing, her arms wrapped around his neck, his hands gripping her waist as they moved together to the beat.

I watched them for a moment, feeling a flicker of amusement but also a strange sense of loneliness creeping in. Lily was gone now, absorbed into the bubble of her moment, completely unaware of anything else. It wasn't like I could blame her—I'd do the same if I were in her shoes—but suddenly, the dance floor felt too big, too chaotic. I was alone in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by strangers, none of whom knew or cared who I was.

For a second, I scanned the room, wondering if I should head back to the bar, maybe grab another drink. But the music was still calling to me, my body swaying on its own. So, I stayed, letting the beat pull me back in. I danced, losing myself in the lights, the movement, the noise. The alcohol buzzed in my veins, loosening the tension in my shoulders. I didn't need anyone around me. It was just me, the music, and the neon glow of the club.

But every once in a while, I'd glance over to where Lily and the guy were still wrapped up in each other. They looked like they might as well be the only two people in the room. After a while, she leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and they both headed toward the back of the club, toward the toilets. I didn't have to guess what was on her mind.

I was on my own now. I sighed, taking another sip of my drink. The night was still young, but without Lily, it felt a little emptier. I glanced back over at the bar, wondering if I should order something stronger to keep the buzz going. The tequila shots from earlier were wearing off, and the warmth in my chest was fading.

I turned, and that's when I saw her again—Professor Olsen. This time, she wasn't dancing alone. She was sitting at the bar with someone, a woman, maybe a little older than me. They were laughing, deep in conversation, their drinks in hand. The sight of her threw me off balance again, that knot tightening in my stomach. What was she doing here, drinking and laughing like anyone else? Seeing her outside of school, out of her usual authoritative role, made everything feel weird and surreal.

She caught my gaze for a brief moment, her eyes flicking up from her drink. My breath caught in my throat, but before I could even process the thought, she looked away, back to her conversation, completely unbothered. Of course, she didn't recognize me from across the room—it was dark, crowded, and I was just another face in the sea of bodies. Still, it stung a little. I couldn't shake the strange, electric pull I felt whenever she was around.