Between the desks

Chapter 28

Amren's POV

I left Professor Olsen's class feeling tense and drained, like all the air had been sucked out of the room. Lily and I had been exchanging looks the entire time, silently communicating our mutual frustration. Professor Olsen was being an icy bitch again, just like she had been the day before. What the hell was her problem? She seemed determined to make everyone as uncomfortable as possible, her sharp tone and cold demeanor filling the room with an oppressive chill.

Lily followed me outside, her expression mirroring my own irritation. As soon as we stepped out into the open air, she pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of her lighter. I quickly followed suit, the familiar burn of nicotine offering a small comfort after the hellish class we'd just endured. We stood in silence for a moment, the smoke curling around us in lazy spirals.

"This bitch seriously needs to get laid," Lily muttered, exhaling a cloud of smoke with frustration.

I nodded, taking a long drag from my cigarette. "I actually think she did get laid this weekend," I said, the words slipping out before I really thought about them. Lily gave me a look, one eyebrow arched high in skepticism.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt as she glanced at me sideways.

I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "When we were at the club on Friday... she was there." The memory flashed in my mind—Professor Olsen, so out of place yet undeniably captivating, dancing in the dim light of the club. The image had stuck with me, no matter how much I tried to push it away.

Lily nearly choked on her cigarette, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait, hold up. SHE was at Safe? Like, Professor Olsen? The same Professor Olsen who just verbally murdered us in class?"

"Yeah," I nodded, watching her reaction. "And not just that—she was dancing with Coach Johansson."

Lily's mouth dropped open, her cigarette hanging loosely between her fingers. "You're telling me that Ice Queen Olsen was out there, at Safe, dancing with Coach Johansson... like, dancing dancing?"

I rubbed my temples, feeling the headache of the whole situation weighing on me. "Very sensual," I added, the memory of them swaying together still vivid in my mind. The way their bodies moved, the unspoken tension between them—it was hard to forget.

Lily practically screamed, her hands flying up in the air. "Girl, how are you telling me this now?!" she yelled, loud enough that a few people passing by glanced our way.

"Shhh!" I hissed, glancing around, trying to keep things discreet. "I'm not trying to start a rumor mill here."

But Lily wasn't about to let it go. She leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "This is TEA, Amren. Like, top-tier, piping hot tea."

I rolled my eyes. "It's not tea, Lily. She's been acting ice cold ever since, so I'm pretty sure the sex was bad." The words came out with more confidence than I felt, though there was a part of me that actually believed it. Professor Olsen had been so on edge—there had to be a reason for it.

Lily cackled, practically doubling over with laughter. "Nah, girl. Coach Johansson? She gives major kink vibes. No way that was bad. If anything, it was probably too good, and that's why Olsen's all wound up."

I smirked, unable to hide my amusement, but my mind kept wandering back to the club, to the way Professor Olsen had looked so different, so unguarded. And that look in her eyes when she saw me—there was something there, something I couldn't quite shake. My thoughts were interrupted by Lily's voice, suddenly sharper, cutting through the haze of my mind.

"Girl, are you jealous of Coach Johansson?" Lily's tone was teasing, but there was a knowing edge to it, like she had just solved a puzzle I hadn't even known existed.

"No!" I shot back, way too quickly, and way too defensively. "I mean, it was hot to see, yeah, but I'm not jealous. I just—" I trailed off, stumbling over my words as I realized how ridiculous I sounded. My heart raced as I tried to explain myself, the words tumbling out of me in a rush. "I'm not jealous, but... I don't know, it's been messing with my head. I can't stop thinking about her."

Lily raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile as she watched me flail. "Amren, slow down," she said, her voice low and amused. "You're not making any sense."

She knew. Of course she knew. Lily had always been able to read me like an open book, even when I didn't fully understand my own feelings. She gave me a look, that same mischievous glint in her eyes. "I don't blame you. Professor Olsen's hot. She's a total ice queen, but... yeah, I get it."

I chuckled, despite myself, shaking my head at her metaphor. "It's not that, Lily," I mumbled, though even I didn't sound convinced. "I don't know what it is. I just... I can't stop thinking about her. It's driving me insane."

My voice wavered a little, the vulnerability creeping in despite my best efforts to keep it hidden. Lily didn't push, though. She just looked at me, her expression softening as she took in my anxiety. Without a word, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Hey," she said quietly, her voice full of understanding. "It's okay. You're human, Amren. You can catch feelings for anyone—it doesn't make you any less of who you are."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I hugged her back, grateful for her support. "You're the best, Lil," I said, my voice softening. "Thank you."

I kissed her cheek, feeling a little lighter, a little less confused, even if my thoughts about Professor Olsen were still swirling around in my head. I knew it wouldn't be easy to just let it go, but for now, I was glad to have someone like Lily by my side, someone who could help me navigate the mess inside my mind.

"Wanna ride with Jess and me after Latin?" I asked, eager to shift the conversation to something less complicated.

Lily grinned, shaking her head at me. "Yeah, sure. I could use a ride."

We started walking toward our Latin class, talking about anything and everything—music, plans for the weekend, Jess's car troubles. But no matter how much we talked, the thought of Professor Olsen still lingered at the back of my mind, like an itch I couldn't scratch. The way she avoided my eyes during class, the tension that seemed to hang in the air whenever she was near... Was this all because of me?