Behind The Mask

Chapter 48

Michael's POV

I no longer have finger nails. I've bitten them all waiting for Wayne to get out of the police station with Anouk. I couldn't walk in there myself. I had to wait in the car, building scenario after scenario, one more catastrophic than the other. My Nooki got booked and fingerprinted. She'll be indicted, thrown out of the university; she will rebel and do something even more reckless than what she's done already. My brains are ready to burst so I hold my head between my hands and sigh.

Just then the car door opens and Nooki slides inside. She sits well away from me and looks contrite. Her hands are demurely folded in her lap and she's looking at the floor. She says nothing and for some moments I don't know what to say to her either. I mustn't lose my temper. No matter what, this must not turn into screaming back and forth. I don't want to make things worse. No...first of all, I want an explanation.

"What happened, Nooki?"

She gives me a sideway look and shrugs her shoulders.

"No matter what I say, your mind's made up. Bad Nooki must be punished."

I widen my eyes and shake my head no vigorously.

"No, Nooki! That's out of the question! I am upset....pissed off, really. But I couldn't hurt you, no matter what. I still love you, Nooki. Remember that. I love you. It's just that sometimes...you drive me up the walls."

"I'm sorry...for making you upset. I'm not sorry for what I did."

"Okay....Then please tell me what happened. The simple truth. I deserve that, don't I?"

"Yes, you do."

I reach for her arm and make her slide closer to me. She still looks down at the floor.

"That man is a beast...the professor. This was just the final drop that made the glass spill over. Augustus Somerville! Pretentious, windbag asshole! He's nothing but a misogynistic brute! He never skips an occasion to say something insulting to girls. He called me....never mind...I took no notice of that. But today...he just went overboard. We have a pregnant colleague, Miranda. The classroom was too warm and stuffy and she got sick. She asked permission to step outside and get some fresh air. And he said that anyway he wasn't gonna accept her to take the finals....she should just go home and finish her reproductive cycle, his exact words...and then maybe she makes up her mind between using her upper or lower parts of her body!"

I gasp. That was beyond rude!

"Are you sure that's what he said?"

"He shouted for the whole class to hear, Michael! He wanted to humiliate Miranda. And humiliation is best conducted in public, isn't it? This bastard has received I don't know how many complaints from female students. But he never budged from his position and he always retaliated against the person who filed the complaint. I don't know who's keeping his ass in the job, but this can't go on like that. I did what I know how to do best – I gave Miranda and all the other girls a voice."

"Not like this, Nooki. Not like this! When will you learn to be open with me...totally open with me? You should have told me...I know people...powerful people...more powerful than whoever is defending this bastard. I can help in many, many ways."

"So, whenever I have a problem, I run to you like a child?"

"Not like a child. Like my equal, my partner. We're a team, Nooki. When I have a problem, I talk to you. When you have a problem, you talk to me."

She is still looking down, and it irks me. I put my palm under her chin and make her face me.

"Why do you always feel like you need to prove something to me, Nooki? I know you are strong and independent, baby, but you are not alone. You got me...and not only for the fun and the good times. Why didn't you tell me about this?"