Finding Beauty (Believe)

Chapter 3

Dedication given to awesome dedicated reader! 

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ON THE SIDE; TO LISTEN TO THE SONG----> My friend Daniel Gonzales has a great amount of talent! If you enjoy the video, please let me know! <3

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“The Tales of Fate,” Professor Astor’s voice booms throughout the class, making a dramatic silence from confused students. “If you want to pass my incredibly hard class,” Professor scoffs with heavy sarcasm, “this project is due at the end of the semester and will bump up your grade by a whole letter!”

The class goes in a quiet uproar at his statement, talking amongst each other about how great the deal sounds. My gaze holds towards Professor Astor, remembering this past Friday night with Carling. Carling doesn’t dare sit near me in class, but I can’t say I don’t mind it.

“Hold on, class,” Professor cuts the chatter and continues, “This doesn’t give any of you an escape from lectures and exams coming up.” Everyone behind me groans loudly, receiving Professor Astor’s daunting gaze. “I’ve given out all the information in the papers in front of you as well as an email. You will see on both sides of the wall, there is a sheet of paper with you and your partner’s name as well as which legend you have.”

Everyone’s eyes scatter to find the location of the papers, hoping that the Professor will signal us to get up and take a look, but he continues with class. Listening to Professor Astor, I couldn’t figure him out. What was his relationship with Carling? What was he doing in the greenhouse with her? What was going on?

At that moment, I knew sitting in the front was a bad idea when I could feel many eyes on me. After midnight yell, I part from Kyler to Damon, but it’s not as if the blackout could disguise my cheating act. Throughout walking around campus with Damon, I’ve been given double takes from a few people that I recognized.

I turn my head slightly to catch a glance at Kyler. His jaw line is defined by him clenching his teeth as he stares at the professor. The two of us haven’t spoken since the kiss, but as I stare at my faintly glowing ring… I had thoughts of doing it again.

“Don’t forget to check out the sheet before you head out,” the professor says to dismiss the class. I stay seated, watching everyone crowd around the two sheets and find their partner. Watching everyone, my eyes stop at Professor Astor’s who’s staring straight at me with one eyebrow raised.

Feeling the eeriness, I stand up quickly and go to the wall adjacent to the one Kyler and Carling is at. Three girls stand before me, but I still manage to make out a few names and legends on the sheets. Spotting mine, my heart drops to the floor when I figure out that I’m paired with Kyler.

I don’t even care what our legend is; I’m marching up to Professor Astor and demanding a new partner. “I need a new partner,” I say in unison with Kyler who stands at the opposite end of the professor’s desk.

Professor Astor gives both of us a grim smirk as he sits back in his black leather seat with his arms folded. Ignoring Kyler, I stare into the professor’s dark eyes that seem to laugh at our request. “I can’t help you. In the real world, you can’t pick and chose. Think of it as a life lesson.”

Flames burn brightly in my eyes and mind as I stare at him with disbelief; there was no way that I could be partners with Kyler. The guilt I spent the whole weekend suppressing… I don’t want it to surface again. Looking up, I hear a sting of profane language mutter under Kyler’s breath.

“You two, out of all my classes, have the best legend. I don’t see a reason to complain,” the professor states as he stands and walks over to one of the two papers on the wall. “You have the original, ‘Legend of Fate’ in your possession.” My eyes follow his gesture on the paper.