Xavier

86

(Xavier's pov)

When Luna left my office Monday morning I didn't  know what to expect or how long we were going to have to keep our distance from each other. But each day that I wasn't able to speak to her like I usually would or sleep beside her felt like torture.

Her professional emails weren't enough. I contemplated going to her apartment to see her more times than I could count. But for both of our sakes I held it together. "Dude you've been moping around all afternoon what's wrong with you?" Jordan asked.

He and I were volunteering at a high school to inform the students about the university. "Nothing dude. I think I'm catching a cold." I mumbled.

"A cold? You got a Rona test?"

"I don't have fucking COVID Jordan." I huffed. "Damn yo, you feeling that bad? You were supposed to laugh."

I didn't respond and continued setting out the sheets for the next group of students. "Where Lilliana at. The next group is about to be here." I grumbled. 

"She went to the bathroom."

I nodded and pulled out my phone to check my emails. I had one new one from the Dean of the college. The dreaded message that I'd been waiting for. The president of the university was also copied onto the email.

I sighed heavily as I opened the message.

Dear Xavier,

I hope all is well and you are making it through the semester with ease. At your earliest convenience it is imperative that we speak in regards to one of your past students. Please let me know what times next week you have available and I will plan accordingly for us to meet.

Thank you,
Dean Jonathan Stavros, Phd.

I quickly emailed him back my availability and tried to rid my mind of all the scenarios I was making. I couldn't help myself though. This meeting could go extremely bad in a lot of ways.

I know that I said I knew what was at stake and I do, but this is so real it's stressing me out. I am willing to lay everything I've built here down on the line for Luna. It's honestly crazy that I even feel this way and I haven't been with her that long. This started off as a fling and it probably should've stayed that way.

But I don't regret being with her. I can deal with losing the job, but what I can't handle is her having to deal with any of the repercussions of this. Her reputation would be ruined and it would be all because of me. The thought of that put me in more of a bad mood than the situation overall.

I know I should've thought of this before but I was so caught up in...her. I was foolish to be so arrogant and think that we could get through this semester unscathed. Now my actions were about to get her into trouble.

No way she would be expelled or anything like that, but the things people would say about her...and the way people would look at her would be awful. She didn't deserve that.

Part of me felt like this break we were taking should be expanded until I really am done here. But the other part of me, the selfish part that got me here in the first place made me want to hold onto this. I don't want to take a break. I don't want to be away from her for longer then I need to. I just need to convince the Dean that there's nothing going on between us.

Convince them and we are in the clear.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick." I told Jordan. He nodded and took the rest of the handouts I had.

I made my way out of the classroom rather quickly and I almost walked right into Lilliana when I got to the hallway.

"Damn Speedy. Where you going?" She asked as she held her hands out to stop me from walking into her.

"Bathroom."

"The other way."

"Right, sorry." I replied as I turned on my heel to walk away.

"Hey Xavier wait." I sighed heavily and turned back to face her. "What is it?"

"I'm really sorry that you're going through this. I know that she must mean a lot to you if you even got yourself into this mess in the first place." She said quietly.

"For what it's worth, I think that whatever the person said isn't very substantial. If it was they would've been knocking on your door days ago."

I nodded as I took in her words. Maybe she was right. "I'd still like to know who said it."

"Well when it was brought to my attention, it was a little note with a picture of you two talking outside a building. I know I said it was anonymous but I remember it being signed at the end with just the letter E."

E?

Who the fuck could that be? I don't know anyone with the Letter E in there first or last name. Maybe Luna does. "You've got an easy case if you can explain that away. I can help you out so long as you tell me this."

"What's that?"

"This relationship, is it an actual relationship or is it sex?"

"I love her, Lilly." I sighed. "Wow. I wasn't expecting all of that. Okay. I'll try and do whatever I can to keep you in the clear. But you know this won't go well if you keep this up while teaching here."

"I know that. This is my last semester regardless of how this all plays out." I informed her. "If we can swing this in our favor. You can't really be with her while the semester is still going. You two have to put a pause on what you have going on to avoid any more suspicion." She advised.

I looked at her warily. "I know that it's not what you want to hear. But it would help your case best. If you put some distance between you and her just for the next two months you can leave here in the clear. When you think about it even if you do get out of whatever meeting you end up having to do with the Dean unscathed, they'll be watching you two. You're clearly not good enough at being sneaky."

I offered her a sarcastic smile at that and mocked her words. "I'm just saying." She shrugged.

Deep down I knew she was right. But I just didn't want to hear it. "Thank you." I mumbled.

"What was that?" She asked as she held her hand up to her ear. "I'm not saying it again. So if you didn't hear me too bad." I grumbled and turned to go to the bathroom.