Forbidden Pages

Chapter 1: A Study in Wit

Emma perched at her usual spot in the library, surrounded by stacks of books and her worn laptop, typing away in a fervor. The semester was nearly over, and every paper felt like a hurdle she had to clear before she could finally relax. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes focused as she flipped through a thick, dusty volume of literary criticism.

And then, a shadow fell over her table.

"Brushing up on Hawthorne, are we?"

Emma looked up, her heart giving a small jolt of surprise. Standing in front of her was none other than Professor Ryland Monroe, the literature professor who, despite being well-known for his intelligence, was just as recognized around campus for his looks. With his tousled dark hair, well-tailored jackets, and a perpetual hint of a five o'clock shadow, he looked more like he belonged in a magazine than behind a desk. But Emma wasn't about to let herself get swept up in that, no matter how charming his smile was.

"More like drowning in it," she replied, trying to keep her tone light, despite the flutter in her stomach. "I think Hawthorne might be haunting me at this point."

Ryland chuckled, the sound low and warm. "It has that effect on people. What line of Hawthorne's did you dig up that's got you so buried?"

Emma smirked, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "I'd have to say, 'She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.' Fitting, don't you think?"

Ryland's eyebrow arched in apparent surprise, and for a second, she thought she saw a spark of admiration in his eyes. "A good line. Very good, actually. So, does that mean you're planning to finally escape the library at some point?"

Emma laughed. "Maybe if my grades survive."

He tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, well. Some of us have to keep up appearances and actually study, I suppose."

"Are you saying you never studied?" she challenged, finding herself enjoying this banter more than she'd expected.

"Let's just say I found ways to get creative with my time," he replied, his voice laced with an amused undertone.

He let the silence linger just a bit longer than necessary, his gaze not leaving hers, and Emma felt an unexpected thrill. She wasn't sure if it was his words or the way he said them, but there was something undeniably captivating about him. But he was her professor, she reminded herself. She was just being silly, letting her mind wander.

"Well," he said, breaking the silence as he straightened, "don't let Hawthorne keep you up all night. A little sleep might make your essays a lot sharper." He nodded toward her stack of books with a teasing grin. "And if you're ever looking for an academic recommendation—"

"Thank you, Professor," she interjected, giving him a mock-serious look. "But I think I can manage to get through without too many breakdowns."

"Good," he replied smoothly, though his smirk hinted he enjoyed the banter as much as she did. "I'll be expecting a top-grade paper then, Miss Thompson."

Emma watched him go, her heart still racing from their exchange. She knew she should shake it off—he was her professor, after all, and they'd both been professional. But that slight spark she'd felt was hard to ignore, and as she picked up her book again, she couldn't help but let herself wonder, just for a moment, what it would be like if things were different.

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Emma's life is about to change. What surprises will her journey hold? Keep reading to find out!