Between the desks

Chapter 66

Amren's POV

Last night was a blur of laughter, drinks, and unexpected moments. It had been one of those nights where time seemed to slip through our fingers. Lily had disappeared with Kathryn at one point, vanishing into the crowded club without a word. She came back within thirty minutes, her cheeks flushed and her hair a little messier than before. She tried to play it cool, casually mentioning they had just been kissing in the bathroom, but I wasn't born yesterday. There was no way it had just been kissing. The glint in her eye and the smug grin told me all I needed to know. She'd done more than a quick make-out session in a dingy club stall. I wasn't about to call her out, but I could read between the lines.

We stayed at the club a while longer, drinking until the early morning hours. By the time 5 a.m. rolled around, we were beyond tipsy—borderline drunk and completely wiped out. The air outside was cool, a welcome contrast to the heat and sweat of the packed dance floor. Neither of us had the energy to do anything but stumble home. We didn't even bother with showers. The second our heads hit the pillow, we were out cold, the world spinning softly around us as we drifted off to sleep in a haze of exhaustion and alcohol.

Six hours later, the consequences of the night hit us hard. I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck—my head pounding, my mouth dry, and my body aching in that familiar post-party way. I groaned and rolled over to find Lily still lying next to me, looking equally rough.

"Morning," she croaked, her voice raspy and hoarse from a combination of the alcohol and the shouting we'd done over the blaring music last night.

"Morning," I replied, my voice just as scratchy. The hangover was brutal, and I immediately regretted not drinking water or eating something before crashing. Normally, I'm good about those things—water, a banana, maybe even some ibuprofen—but last night, I had forgotten all of it in my drunken stupor.

"I'm hopping in the shower first," I muttered, struggling to sit up. My head felt heavy, and the room still tilted slightly. I managed to stumble my way to the bathroom, the floor cool under my bare feet. The hot water was a welcome relief as it cascaded over me, washing away the sweat, alcohol, and grime from the night before. I scrubbed hard, determined to rid myself of every trace of last night's chaos, as if the water could somehow wash away the lingering headache, too.

When I finally stepped out, my skin tingling and clean, Lily was waiting for me, handing me a couple of aspirin with a knowing look.

"Thanks," I nodded, gratefully accepting the painkillers.

While she jumped in the shower, I shuffled to the kitchen, still in a bit of a fog. I needed coffee, badly. I brewed a pot and threw together some sandwiches, craving something simple and greasy to soak up the remnants of the alcohol in my system. With my cup of coffee in hand, I stepped outside for a cigarette, trying to wake myself up properly. I had work to do, an essay to write for Professor Olsen. I couldn't afford to waste the whole day nursing this hangover.

Professor Olsen. My thoughts drifted to her as I smoked. We had talked last night, and it wasn't just a quick exchange—it felt like a real connection. A part of me couldn't stop thinking about her. And then there was that moment of awkwardness, where she saw me kissing someone else. I couldn't shake the embarrassment I felt in that moment, but she had been so chill about it. Too chill, in fact, which only made me more self-conscious. Did she care? Did she notice at all?

Lily emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and looking a little more awake. She sat down across from me and grabbed one of the sandwiches, smiling as she bit into it.

"Thanks for these, they're amazing," she mumbled between bites. I watched her for a moment before my curiosity got the best of me.

"So... did you sleep with Kathryn last night?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual but failing to hide the teasing smirk on my face.

Lily paused, meeting my gaze with a look that told me everything. I burst out laughing, and Lily blushed, though she didn't try to deny it.

"She was way older than you!" I exclaimed, still laughing at the thought. Kathryn had to be at least in her mid-forties, and Lily was barely in her twenties. It was an amusing contrast.

Lily smirked, her cheeks still slightly red. "Believe me, it's pretty hot when they're older," she said with a mischievous grin.

Her words sparked something in me, and my thoughts immediately shifted to Professor Olsen. I couldn't help it. There was something about her—her confidence, her calm demeanor—that drew me in, even though I knew it was completely off-limits.

Lily must have noticed the change in my expression because she gave me a knowing look. "Did you just think about someone?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.

I shook my head, trying to play it off, but I couldn't hide the truth from her. "You know who," I muttered, avoiding her gaze as I reached for my laptop. Lily chuckled knowingly, fully aware of exactly who I had been thinking about. Professor Olsen.

I opened my laptop, and before I knew it, I was typing furiously. The words flowed from me, pouring onto the page as I wrote about forbidden love, about the impossible yearning that comes from wanting someone you can't have. Hours passed, but I didn't notice. I was too absorbed in my writing, too lost in the complexity of my own emotions.

When I finally finished, I sat back and took a deep breath. I felt proud of what I had written, even though I hadn't reread a single word. Without hesitation, I sent the essay off to Professor Olsen, hoping she'd like it—or at the very least, understand it. 

_____

The next chapter is the essay.