ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

Delicate

The morning sun was high, streaming through the narrow windows of the lecture hall and casting long streaks of light across the room. It was the usual scene: students filing in, chatting amongst themselves, finding seats with the same predictable routines. For Ann and Thomas, however, something felt distinctly off. Blair was missing.

Ann sat, fidgeting with her phone, glancing over at Thomas. He hadn't stopped drumming his fingers on the desk since they'd taken their seats. Usually, Blair sat between them, offering her quipped comments and rolling her eyes at whatever joke they were laughing at that day.

"You still haven't heard from her?" Ann asked, her voice laced with concern. "I knew I shouldn't have stayed at Jason's."

Thomas shook his head, "No, I thought she'd be here by now. She's never this late, even when she's had a few drinks."

Ann crossed her arms over her chest, a frown deepening on her face. She furrowed her brow, her mind racing through possibilities, "I mean, I knew she was drinking a lot last night... but she wouldn't miss a lecture just for that." She glanced up at Thomas, hesitating before asking, "What time did her brother pick her up?"

"He didn't." Thomas hesitated and shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable under her gaze.

Ann froze. "What do you mean? She said she was going to call Caleb, and you waited outside with her."

"She did, or at least... she thought she did," Thomas spoke with a lowering voice as he rubbed the back of his neck, knowing he had to admit what really happened, "Professor Kingsley showed up."

Ann's eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open. "Wait, what?" She leaned forward in her seat, her mind racing.

Thomas nodded, his lips tight, as if regretting the revelation.

Ann blinked and gave his arm a light swat, "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

"I didn't think it was a big deal at the time," Thomas replied, his face flushing slightly, "Blair was wasted, and I was going to take her back to my place since I didn't want her going home alone. But then Kingsley showed up and insisted Blair had to go back to her own apartment."

Ann leaned back in her chair, her mind still racing, "Okay...but it is a big deal! You just let our professor take her? While Blair was that drunk? Why would she even be there?"

Thomas shrugged helplessly. "She basically threatened me. Said if I didn't help put Blair in her car, I'd be failing her class."

Ann sat back, her face a mix of shock and incredulity. "You have to be kidding me."

"Nope. That's exactly what happened."

Ann's thoughts spun with the implications. Catherine Kingsley, their professor, showing up out of nowhere and taking Blair home while she was drunk? That was more than just strange...it was suspicious. Her mind leaped to conclusions, forming a narrative that made too much sense in her anxious brain. Catherine and Blair, something more than just professor and student? Could they be... involved?

Ann let out a soft, incredulous laugh, "This feels like something more. Don't you think?"

He frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I mean, it kind of makes sense," Ann said, voice barely above a whisper as she leaned closer. "Think about it. Kingsley's always staring at her. And Blair... she's been acting weird lately."

Thomas snorted in disbelief, shaking his head, "You think they're having an affair? Blair isn't... you know, gay."

Ann rolled her eyes. "Please. Sexuality's not that simple, and you know it. Just because she's never talked about it doesn't mean anything."