Between the desks

Chapter 47

Amren's POV 

With a strange mix of emotions swirling in my chest, I left Professor Olsen's office, trying to shake off the feeling that lingered from our brief but unexpected encounter. She touched my arm. Oh my god. I felt my heart race again just thinking about it. Stop it, Amren. You're overreacting. It was just a simple touch, professional even—but why did it feel like so much more?

I shoved the thought aside as I walked outside, heading to the spot where Lily usually waited for me. The cool air hit my face, a sharp contrast to the warmth that had settled under my skin from our interaction. I leaned against the brick wall, the rough surface grounding me, and lit a cigarette, letting the smoke swirl up into the crisp winter sky. The familiar burn of nicotine did little to calm the unease that simmered in me.

I could still feel the ghost of her hand on my arm, like a tingling sensation that refused to fade. Her touch had been firm, steady, yet unexpectedly soft and warm. The memory of it was enough to make my skin tingle. Jesus, Amren, I mentally scolded myself. Get a grip. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, the thought lingered.

I was halfway through my cigarette when I saw Lily in the distance, her usual energetic stride catching my attention. I waved at her, exhaling a cloud of smoke, and she came running over, as lively as ever.

"Hello there!" I greeted her, pulling her into a tight hug. The warmth of our embrace felt comforting, a distraction from the storm of thoughts in my head.

"You're here early," Lily noted, eyeing me curiously. She knew my habits too well—usually, I'd be scrambling in late. "What's going on?"

"Yeah, I had to apologize to Professor Olsen," I replied casually, trying to brush it off like it was nothing. I didn't want to go into too much detail. Not with everything I was feeling.

Lily pulled back and stared at me like I'd just told her I was moving to Mars. "Wait, what?!" Her brow shot up in disbelief. "You apologized? To her? Why?"

"Shh!" I hissed, looking around to make sure no one was within earshot. The last thing I needed was someone overhearing us gossip about our professor. I took a long drag from my cigarette before answering. "I was kind of harsh on her Saturday. You know, when we ran into her in the bathroom at the wedding."

Lily's eyes widened even more, if that was possible. "How are you just now telling me this?" She crossed her arms, clearly confused and a little miffed. "You ran into her in the bathroom and you didn't say a word?"

"I forgot," I lied, taking another drag to avoid meeting her gaze.

Lily wasn't buying it. She raised a brow, giving me that look that said she knew exactly when I was lying. She could read me like an open book. "Why are you apologizing to her anyway? She's the one who's always so cold and distant. She doesn't apologize to us for acting like an icy bitch."

I sighed, feeling a pang of defensiveness rise in me. "Lil, she's just human. Just like us." My voice was softer, and my mind drifted back to the moment in Olsen's office—the way her eyes softened when I apologized, the way she forgave me so easily. It made me wonder what was really going on beneath her cold exterior.

Lily rolled her eyes dramatically and took a long drag from her own cigarette. "Yes, a very cold human." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "She's been a robot since, like, the third week of class. And now you're defending her?"

I could sense Lily's frustration, but I wasn't in the mood to argue. My thoughts were elsewhere—on Professor Olsen. On her touch, her expression, the way she'd looked at me.

Suddenly, Lily's voice broke through my haze, loud and a little too sharp. "Oh my god," she gasped, staring at me as if she'd just uncovered the world's greatest secret. "You're falling for her!"

"I am not!" I shot back, trying to sound calm, but my voice was tinged with annoyance. Was I that obvious?

"Oh, but you are!" Lily teased, her eyes glinting with mischief, clearly enjoying herself now. She practically bounced with excitement, feeding off the idea that she'd figured me out.

I flipped her off, throwing my cigarette to the ground and grinding it under my shoe. "I have a girlfriend, Lil," I reminded her, trying to sound serious.

She softened, her playful expression fading into one of genuine concern. "I know, babe. I'm just messing with you. But seriously, I'm here for you, no matter what." Her voice was gentle now, the sparkle in her eyes replaced by a look of understanding.

I gave her a grateful smile and a wink. "Thanks." We started walking back inside, the weight of the conversation lingering between us, but it felt lighter now, like a shared secret we both understood without needing to say more.

As we headed toward the main building, I couldn't help but think about what Lily had said. You're falling for her. I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. But deep down, I knew that something was shifting inside me. Something I wasn't sure how to handle.