Between the desks

Chapter 64

Amren's POV

I left Professor Olsen with my heart pounding in my chest, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. My palms were sweaty, and I could still feel the flush in my cheeks. We had only spoken for a moment, but it wasn't the usual formal exchange between professor and student—it felt different. For once, we talked as equals, and that shift in dynamic thrilled me. There was something so liberating about it, almost intoxicating. Or maybe that was the alcohol still buzzing through my veins, but honestly, it made everything easier. The nerves I usually felt around her were dulled, and I could actually carry a conversation.

She was stunning. In the dim, ambient light of the club, Professor Olsen's face looked almost ethereal, the way the soft glow caught the angles of her jaw and illuminated her emerald eyes. Her beauty was undeniable, and I found myself captivated by her presence, wanting nothing more than to keep talking. About everything. About anything. But there were other realities pulling me back to the present. Lily was waiting for me upstairs. I hadn't forgotten. She was probably wondering where I had disappeared to by now. Or, knowing Lily, she could just as easily be making out with some guy by the bar. That wouldn't be surprising either.

With a deep breath, I tore myself away from the lingering memory of my conversation with Professor Olsen and headed back upstairs. The bar came into view as I pushed my way through the crowd, and there was Lily, just as I thought, but instead of flirting with some random guy, she was talking to a woman. The woman looked older, maybe in her mid-forties, with dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders. I couldn't see her face clearly, but there was something intriguing about the way she carried herself, poised and confident.

I approached Lily, the bass from the music making my chest vibrate, and I had to practically shout over the noise. "Hey! Sorry it took so long!" I called out, catching her attention. Both Lily and the woman turned toward me. Lily gave me a wide smile, seemingly unfazed by my absence.

"No worries! I met Kathryn," she said, nodding toward the woman beside her. "She's a writer for the Daily Times."

I glanced at the woman—Kathryn, apparently—and gave her a polite smile, my voice raised to compete with the pounding music. "Hi, I'm Amren. Nice to meet you!"

Kathryn smiled back, leaning in slightly to make sure I could hear her over the music. "Hello! I'm Kathryn!"

There was something casual and easygoing about the exchange, but in the back of my mind, my thoughts were still drifting to what had happened downstairs. That conversation with Professor Olsen had left me feeling lighter, more confident, like something had shifted inside me. I wanted to tell Lily about it, but I knew now wasn't the time. It could wait until tomorrow when the chaos of the night had settled and my thoughts were clearer.

The lights in the club continued to pulse, casting a vivid blue glow over everything. When I'd left earlier, the room had been bathed in neon pink, but now the atmosphere had shifted, and the deep blue tones gave the space a dreamlike quality. The music throbbed through the crowd, the bassline so heavy I could feel it reverberating through my entire body. There was something electrifying about it all, the energy of the place making me feel alive in a way I hadn't in a long time. After everything that had happened this week, the stress, the uncertainty—I'd made it. I was still standing, and I felt more awake than ever.

I glanced back at Lily and Kathryn, feeling a bit awkward just standing there, unsure if I should stay or give them space. The conversation seemed animated, and I didn't want to intrude. My eyes wandered across the room, scanning the crowd, taking in the chaotic beauty of it all. Eventually, I spotted the dimly lit sitting booths tucked away in the corners of the room and decided to slip away for a moment of quiet. I ordered another drink, something stronger this time, and slid into one of the booths, letting myself sink into the plush seat.

Alone in the booth, I watched the people around me. The club was a tapestry of different lives intersecting for just one night. There were older couples, likely trying to recapture the thrill of their younger days. Then, of course, there were the usual groups of drunk guys making clumsy attempts to hit on every woman who passed by. I could spot the loners, people like me, content to watch the night unfold from the sidelines. And then there were the couples who seemed to spend the entire night in each other's arms, lips locked together, oblivious to the world around them.

It was a fascinating mix of humanity—people dancing, drinking, laughing, kissing. I felt oddly at peace, watching them all, the alcohol taking the edge off my lingering nervousness. The buzz I'd felt earlier was returning, warm and comforting, wrapping around me like a blanket. I realized, in that moment, that I wasn't in any rush. I was perfectly fine right where I was, soaking in the atmosphere, feeling the pulse of life all around me. I took another sip of my drink, letting the warmth spread through me. Maybe I should drink a little more. After all, nights like this didn't come around often.