Addictive Poison

3. SWEET AND SOUR: part two

     My eyes stung from the blinding light peering through the window. My first reaction was to cover my head with the nearest pillow, as I violently rolled over. A muffled inhuman noise grunted beneath me. Annoyed, I rolled back to my original position. You wouldn't get squished if you actually used the cat bed I bought you! I thought. Finally, my body began to relax again. As I drifted back to sleep, my mind involuntarily submerged itself in a dream-like scenario. His lips on my neck. My fingers in his hair. Alaric's hands were-

     My body sprung into a sudden state of consciousness, as I sat up in my bed, tossing the pillow to the side. I slept with Professor Reed! The light stung my eyes again. Fucking hangovers.

     "This is bad. This is so bad." I spoke to myself as I sat on the edge of my bed, still wearing Gwen's dress... And Alaric's jacket.

     The rest of the night flooded my memory as I tore my clothes off in a rush to get to school. Except, I couldn't remember anything after putting my dress back on. A million questions raced through my mind. Questions that needed answers.

     My leg nervously bounced repeatedly under the desk.

     "Why are you so fidgety today?" Gwen eyed my leg, from her seat next to me.

     "I am? I hadn't noticed..." I lied. Sitting in my desk, waiting for class to end so I could privately speak with Alaric was eating away at me. Sitting there, while he paced in front of the class lecturing, all while avoiding eye-contact with me was killing me. Thinking about last night was killing me, and not being able to tell Gwen about it while her eyes bored into mine, was making it worse. I forced my leg to stop shaking.

     As students filed out of class, I tried to calm my nerves while stalling at my desk.

     "You coming?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.

     "Uh..." I scrambled to make up an excuse.

     "You okay?" Gwen eyed me cautiously.

     "Yeah, I'll just uh... Catch up with you later. I have something to take care of first." I mumbled as I gazed at Alaric.

     Gwen glanced warily in his direction. "If you say so." She shrugged and stalked off, the last student to exit the class.

     I took my opportunity to approach Alaric at his desk. He didn't seem to notice me, which I could tell was an act. I cleared my throat.

     "Yes, Ms. Hale?" He peered up at me from above the frame of his glasses. Well, that stung.

     "Don't do that."

     "Do what?" He played oblivious.

     "Pretend like last night didn't happen."

     He stood up suddenly, towering over me. Taking off his glasses, his eyes poured into mine. They were no longer a warm amber. They were burning. His mouth opened but nothing came out. Alaric shut his mouth and rubbed his temple, as he collected his thoughts before he spoke. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were liquid and warm again. His expression pained. "We shouldn't be talking right now. We shouldn't be talking at all..."

     "So that's it?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'm just supposed to pretend like nothing happened?" I hissed.

     "Precisely."

     "Well that might work for you, but that's not enough for me." I was suddenly furious.

     "How can that not be enough for you? What more do you need?" His voice was thick with venom.

     "I have questions."

     Alaric sighed. "About what?"

     "How did I get home?"

     "I drove you home." He said simply.

     "Drunk?"

     "Of course not!" His eyes were burning again. "I was quite sober by the end of our... encounter. You think I would put you in danger?"

     I read his face, disbelief and pain written all over it. "How should I know? There seems to be a lot I don't know about you."

     "You know enough." He looked away.

     "Not nearly, I have more questions." I argued.

     "My job is on the line now." Alaric spoke low.

     "Well maybe you should've thought of that before you-"

     "I suggest you withdrawal from my class." He cut me off.

     "What?" My voice cracked.

     "We have to take precautions now." He said tiredly.

     I shook my head in disbelief. How could he be so cold now? Not wanting to hear any more of his rubbish, I made my way toward the door.

     I stopped in the doorway. "I suggest you come by and pick up your jacket, before I throw it out."

     I left as tears stung my eyes.