Bound by law

Chapter 7: A Brewing Storm

Monday's lecture had left Estelle rattled. The cool dismissal from Professor Celeste Thorne had echoed in her head for hours after she left the lecture hall. The way Celeste had looked at her—the way she had spoken to her—it was all too much. Too layered. Too confusing. She had spent the entire evening trying to figure out what that flicker in Celeste's eyes had been, and why it had felt like a quiet storm waiting to explode.

Now, sitting in the café with Mia, she was once again trying to push thoughts of Celeste out of her head. Unfortunately, Mia seemed to be doing everything she could to drag those thoughts right back.

"So," Mia began, biting into her sandwich with a mischievous grin, "tell me, how was your little chat with Professor Thorne after class?"

Estelle groaned, sinking lower into her chair. "It was fine."

Mia leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. "Fine? You got up, all dramatic, after class and practically ran over to talk to her. I saw the look on your face when you came back out. That wasn't 'fine.' That was 'I'm spiraling, help me, Mia.'"

Estelle rolled her eyes, pushing her coffee cup around the table. "I just apologized for talking during class. She gave me the usual 'be more focused' lecture."

"Uh-huh." Mia raised an eyebrow. "And was she still looking at you like you're her personal project? Or, you know, something more fun?"

"Mia!" Estelle hissed, glancing around the café to make sure no one overheard them. "She's not—she doesn't see me like that. She's my professor. I'm her student."

Mia took a sip of her drink, unfazed. "Sure, sure. But I'm telling you, the way she looks at you? That's not just professor vibes. That's something else."

Estelle frowned, fiddling with the sleeve of her coffee cup. "Even if it were—which it's not—it wouldn't matter. It's completely inappropriate."

Mia snorted. "Inappropriate is only a problem if you let it be. Besides, what's wrong with a little tension between you and the Ice Queen? I'd say it's good for the soul. Gets the blood pumping."

Estelle shot Mia a glare, but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're ridiculous."

"Am I?" Mia leaned back, stretching her arms over her head. "Maybe. But I'm also right. I'm telling you, Estelle, something's brewing with Thorne. It's just a matter of time before things boil over."

Estelle didn't respond, mostly because she was afraid Mia might be right. She had spent so much time convincing herself that whatever strange tension was happening between her and Celeste was just in her head, that it wasn't real. But the longer it went on, the harder it was to ignore the way Celeste's gaze lingered a second too long or the subtle undercurrent in her words.

Before Estelle could drown further in her thoughts, the door to the café swung open, and the last person she wanted to see stepped inside.

It was Victoria.

The same Victoria who had been with Celeste at the bar. The same woman who had taken a sudden interest in Estelle during their awkward encounter. Estelle's stomach clenched as she watched Victoria scan the room, her sharp eyes landing on her almost immediately.

"Oh, for the love of—" Estelle muttered, sinking lower into her seat.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "What's with you?"

"Victoria," Estelle hissed, jerking her head toward the entrance.

Mia turned, and when she saw Victoria making her way toward their table, her eyes widened in amusement. "Well, well, well. Look who's back. Guess someone couldn't stay away."