In Too Deep (Niall Horan AU)

Chapter 7

Wylla sat at her small desk in the dorm room; she was trying to get ready for classes. It was just barely seven in the morning on a Monday and she was trying to apply her make up flawlessly. She knew that Niall had been cold to her on Friday, leading to her little fling with Jack in the bar office, but she still wanted to be as attractive as possible for him. Wylla swept as much of her hair back as she could to be able to get her eyeliner just right. Everything had to be just right, she wanted Niall to stare at her with wonder like he had been every class before Friday.
Wylla's mind drifted back to Friday. Niall was odd the whole time she was in his class. He stood at the opposite end of the room at all times. Niall never called on her. Niall barely even looked in her direction. It was like he was trying to avoid her at all costs. Wylla sighed as she placed her eyeliner back in its home. She scratched her head gently, wondering what she had done to Niall to make him act so cold. On Monday at their Society meeting, he seemed so happy to see her, so eager to listen to every word she had to say. Wylla grunted softly. Why did she care so much? She had to keep in mind that he was her professor. A professor that she couldn't have. But could he want her too? She asked herself the question as she gazed at her own hazel eyes in the mirror. He couldn't possibly. He was a professor. Was he so excited to see her every other day because he wanted her? Was he suddenly giving her the cold shoulder because he knew that it couldn't happen? Wylla shook the thought from her head quickly.
One other moment from Friday lingered in her mind: Jack. Jack who had been so sweet and kind to her. Jack whom she had completely used for her own benefit. She treated him like a toy. She treated him as though his feelings were expendable. Wylla shook her head at her own actions. What was she thinking? Sleep with a stranger. That was by far one of the worst ideas that she'd ever had. While Niall was all that she wanted, she knew she could go to Jack and be happy with his company. Jack was a good man. But not good enough of a man for Wylla to risk not at least tempting Niall to be with her. Even if it was just for a little while. But how dare she just use Jack? That was not how she was raised in the slightest. She felt guilty for thinking of Niall while being with Jack. He was cool with it but it made Wylla's skin crawl.
"Wys, are you ever going to tell me what's bugging you?" Maddie inquired, turning to Wylla only half dressed.
Wylla shook her head, "There's nothing really bugging me. I'm just worried about this assignment. I'd like to get a perfect score on it if I could." Maddie stared at her skeptically before moving onto applying her own make up.

Wylla entered Niall's lecture room. Creative Writing. She had the assignment due that had been killing her. She had spent the majority of Saturday and Sunday on it. Her encounter with Jack had knocked an idea loose for her. She knew that it was completely inappropriate but she couldn't think of a better, more subtle way of telling Niall that she was intensely attracted to him. But he was also a man so she knew that he wouldn't get it anyway. He would only see the words on the page, create an image of the scene in his mind then grade it. He was going to be just like any other professor she had.
"Assignments on the table people! You know how this works!" Niall shouted at the students as they walked into the room. "Good Afternoon, Wylla." Niall smiled at her. She lifted her eyebrow and said a wary hello. He was less grumpy than he was Friday morning. "Assignment on the table please." He requested with a sweet smile. Wylla nodded; she knew the drill. Wylla shoved her assignment in the middle of the stack. The other students were always nosy about her work, never hesitating to peek if they could see it. She didn't need any of them knowing what was in her current one. That would be too embarrassing. Wylla quickly scooted off to the desk she usually chose. After just a moment, Fiona sank into the seat beside her.
"What did you write about? I struggled the whole week to even find an inkling of an idea." Fiona murmured to Wylla.
Wylla giggled and fibbed slightly, "I just started writing. It only took me a day or so." Fiona gawked at her. Before Fiona could sound off about how jealous she was, Niall slammed the class door.
"Shut the fuck up. It's time for me to teach." Niall stated with a sarcastic smile. Wylla couldn't help but smile a bit. She didn't laugh like normal because she was suffering from the whiplash his mood. The last time he saw her, he was inattentive and almost rude. He wouldn't even look at her. Now he was so sweet in his greeting and going back to being his usual goofy self. Wylla sank into her seat and folded her arms over her chest. "Today is quiz day! Yay!" Niall announced to the class. Everyone groaned. "Oh shut up. I have to get a head start on grading your assignments. You'll take the quiz and like it." Niall snapped with a teasing voice. Wylla pursed her lips trying not to giggle. She noticed that Niall was watching her out of the corner of his eye. She wasn't giving him the satisfaction that came with her laughter. Niall grabbed a stack of papers off the table then handed them to Fiona. "Take one. Pass it back. But don't start until I say so." Niall instructed. Fiona handed a quiz to Wylla with a smile.
"What are we being quizzed on anyway?" Wylla asked with a slight attitude.
"You'll just have to take it and find out now won't you?" Niall asked with just as much sass. Wylla tried not to smile at him. She grabbed her pen and uncapped it, keeping her eyes locked on his. Niall lifted his eyes quickly, not wanting to draw suspicion of his feelings for the sassy blonde in front of him. Niall looked around the room to see that everyone had his test. He turned and grabbed the stack of assignments on the table then made his way to his desk. Niall flopped into the chair then put his feet up on the desk. He grabbed his tea cup from the desk and sipped it as he looked for Wylla's assignment. Once he found it he smiled and took another sip of his tea. He could feel the students staring at him with anticipation. Niall flipped open Wylla's paper and smirked, sipping his tea again. "You guys can start now." He snickered. Niall felt a sense of pride when he finally got a laugh out of Wylla. He flicked his eyes to her beautiful face and smiled genuinely. He dropped his eyes back to her paper and began to read.
"I think it's pretty cool that he went right to yours." Fiona whispered to Wylla. Wylla shook her head. "What it is?" Fiona muttered.
"Fiona, quiz time is my quiet time." Niall's voice boomed through the room. Fiona's face turned pink and she dropped her eyes to her test. Niall chuckled and put his eyes back on Wylla's assignment. He looked up for a moment to see that Wylla was completely concentrated on her test. He glanced around the room to check on the students. When he was satisfied, he got right into reading.

The silence in the room was disrupted by a very loud crashing sound. Everyone's heads shot up quickly.
"Professor Horan!" Wylla squealed with worry as she jumped up from her chair. Fiona followed her quickly. Niall had flipped his chair over and was now lying on the floor on his stomach. Wylla knelt beside him, her hand on his back. "Are you alright, Professor Horan?" Wylla inquired softly. Niall groaned and tried to turn over. He quickly pulled his legs up to hide the fact that Wylla's writing had a profound effect on him, another reason he was on the ground. "Are you hurt?" Wylla asked, wanting to touch him, but knowing she shouldn't.
"Just my pride." Niall responded, knowing every student was watching and probably laughing under their breath. Wylla began to giggle but quickly choked it down. "I'm fine, Wylla. Go back to taking your tests. I'm just going to lie here and die of fucking embarrassment." Niall waved her away. Wylla shook her head and tried to help him sit up. He hung an arm over his knees, then rubbed the back of his head. Wylla peeked at his head.
"You're not bleeding." She informed him.
"Thanks. Go back to testing. Now." Niall commanded of the few students coming to his aide. Fiona and the other girls did as they were told. Wylla still sat beside him. "Wylla, finish your test." Niall was slightly annoyed with her. He didn't want her to see that her writing had an effect on him.
"I'm done already." She giggled, looking into his embarrassed eyes.
Niall nodded and rubbed his head again, "You can go then. That's all I had planned for the day." Wylla gazed at his bright red face and flustered eyes for a moment longer. "Wylla, why are you looking at me like that?" Niall grunted.
"Making sure you're not concussed. I heard your head hit the floor." She replied with a bit of worry.
"I swear I'm fine. You can go." Niall shooed her once again. Wylla nodded and stood. She went to her desk and collected her things. She said a quiet goodbye to Fiona then picked up her test. She rounded Niall's desk again and held up the test for him to see. "Just put it on the table, Wylla." Niall motioned to it. Wylla did as asked.
"Are you sure you're okay? I can get the nice campus nurse to come look at you?" Wylla offered.
Niall laughed and shook his head, "I'm fine, Wylla. Get out." Wylla nodded still feeling worried about the tumble he'd taken. She took one last look at Niall before leaving the room.
Once Wylla was gone, Niall stood. He picked up his chair and set it back where it belonged. He sank into it quietly as he eyed the students. Everyone was silent again, filling out their tests. Niall sighed heavily and grabbed the papers off the floor. He stacked them on the desk once again then reached for Wylla's. He opened it up on his desk top and moved closer to the desk. He made sure his lower half was completely tucked into the opening. No one could know that he was so overcome with emotion over Wylla's paper. He sighed and adjusted in his chair as he tried to concentrate on the words on the page. After five minutes of knowing his face was bright red and that it was obvious he couldn't sit still, he closed Wylla's paper and reached for another. He couldn't read those words with other people in the room. He had to wait until he was at home.
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Kind of a filler but I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. Few more chapters left then I might do a Harry or Liam story depends on how I'm feeling.