Beyond the Lines

Chapter 11: Sulking....?

Rebecca's POV (1st Person):

The rest of lunch was quiet, but the tension from the little showdown between Lane and Professor Whitlock lingered. 

As we finished eating, I kept stealing glances at Lane, wondering why he had to make things so complicated. 

Sure, Whitlock was... strange, but he wasn't exactly a threat.

Was he?

Once we were done, Lane and I wandered through campus, heading toward the student lounge. His hand brushed against mine occasionally, but I didn't take it.

 Something about his possessiveness earlier still gnawed at me.

"So, where to now?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I shrugged, stuffing my hands into my jacket pockets. "I have a study group later, but we've got some time to kill."

Lane looked at me, eyebrow raised. "Study group? Since when?"

"I told you about it yesterday," I replied, a little sharper than I intended.

He didn't seem fazed. "Right. So, is this professor going to be there?"

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "Lane, come on. What is your deal? Why are you so hung up on Whitlock?"

Lane's jaw tightened, his hands clenching at his sides. "I don't like the way he looks at you."

"He doesn't look at me like anything," I argued. "You're just being paranoid."

"Am I?" Lane stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "He's got a thing for you, Rebecca. I can see it."

I shook my head, exasperated. 

"No, he doesn't. You're reading too much into it. He's just my professor. Nothing more."

Lane let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You don't see the way he watches you. I've been in enough situations like this to know when a guy's interested."

I frowned, confused. "Situations like what?"

"Guys trying to make moves on someone they shouldn't," he muttered, his gaze flicking away from mine. "I just... I don't want him to think he's got a shot."

I blinked, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in his voice. 

Lane wasn't usually the jealous type, but something about Whitlock seemed to bring it out in him.

"You don't have to worry," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "There's nothing going on. You know that, right?"

Lane met my eyes, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah... I know. I just don't trust him."

I nodded, leaning my head against his chest. "I'll be careful, okay? But you've got to stop getting worked up over him. It's not worth it."

He sighed, wrapping his arms around me. 

"Fine. But if he steps out of line, I won't hold back."

I smiled against his shirt. "Noted."

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, before Lane's phone buzzed in his pocket. He groaned, pulling away to check it.

"It's Matt," he said, glancing at me apologetically. "I've got to take this."

I nodded. "Go ahead."

Lane kissed my forehead before stepping away to answer the call, leaving me standing alone in the courtyard. I watched him walk off, feeling the knot in my stomach slowly unwind.