The Professor's Daughter [Part 1 of 2]

3 | Wine Connoisseur

Leah's POV

Spring break is here and I'm ecstatic about it. No school for two weeks? Hell yes. I mean, I don't have any special plans with my friends, but it's a break from some of my responsibilities.

I'm sitting here with my computer open in front of me, checking my email and grades. (Total nerd move, I know..)

Twitter: 1 new follower

I click the notification bar on my screen and I'm taken to my twitter. I see who followed me and my heart jumps.

"jennifer has followed you back!"

Even though I've already done it once, I scroll through her profile like some stalker.

As I scroll, I get a message. I see that it's her and my heart beats faster.

"I don't know if you're into this sort of thing, but I figured you could use a break. There's a bar downtown and some friends and I are going. You're more than welcome to join, but it's totally up to you."

What?! I want to go. I want to go and talk to Jennifer. She makes me feel some sort of way. The only major obstacle is that I'm not old enough to get in a bar. Looks like it's time to improvise.

After reading Jennifer's message I call a friend, one of my wild ones. She quickly tells me how to get around the whole "not being 21" dilemma and it's as simple as using a tapeover. Who would have thought that getting an old receipt and taping a single number over your ID would be enough to get past a bouncer at a bar? Apparently it works...

I cull through my wallet and find a receipt and quickly replace one of the numbers on my birth date. Just like that... I'm twenty one.

I message Jennifer back and she offers to come pick me up, but I'm not so sure that'll be a good idea. My parents are home now and I can't risk getting caught. I'm already in the lie... getting caught would be embarrassing as hell.

"I can come to you! Send me your address and I'll come over in about an hour."

She sends her address and my palms begin to sweat as I start trying to think of what to wear.

I decide on a pair of low-rise jeans, a white crop top, no bra, and a pair of wedges. I leave my hair down with soft curls and make sure my make up is dark and precise, trying to look older than I am. Of course, my parents aren't going to let their seventeen year old daughter out of the house dressed like this, so I shove my wedges into a bag and grab my high-top converse and casually go downstairs.

"Where do you think you're headed? It's nearly nine." My mom says from behind her glasses while sitting on the couch, reading. "Amy's. She's having a small party, nothing serious." I lie. It comes out so smooth...nice one, Leah. My mom cuts her eyes and stares for a couple of seconds. She looks my outfit over and then nods her head, "Go, have fun and be safe. Text me when you get there." She smiles. I nod quickly and run out to my car, my chucks slapping the pavement as I run. I need to get out of here before she changes her mind.

I drive to the address Jennifer gave me and realize it's for a gated apartment complex. I pull up to the security guard and he looks at me funny, "You aren't permitted access without a tag, miss." He says. I lick my lips and sigh, "I'm here to see a friend." I say, as if it will make a difference. "No pass, no entry." He says. I pull my phone out and call Jennifer.

"Hey, I'm outside but I can't get in." I say. "Let me talk to the guard." She says. I hand my phone over and he talks for a moment, then pushes the button that operates the gate. "You owe me, Jen." The guy says before handing my phone back through the window.

I drive in and to Jennifer's building. I slide my seat back as far as I can and pull my chucks off, throwing them in the passenger seat. I slide my feet into my wedges and pull the jacket off that was covering my top. I push my hair around with my fingers and sigh, "Be normal." I whisper. I hop out of my car and walk to the door and Jennifer meets me there.

"Hey, I was coming down." She says and holds the door open for me. I smile at her and walk in, "Thanks." "This way." She says and takes me up the stairs and to her apartment. We go inside and I'm hit with the smell of peppermint mixed with marijuana.

"Sorry about the smell, I had some friends over earlier and they smoked, clearly." She says. "I tried to mask it with this peppermint stuff, but it isn't working so well." She grins. I nod my head and smile softly. I'm nervous. What do I say to her?

"I like your apartment." I tell her. "Psh, it really isn't impressive. You have an entire house." She giggles. I force a smile and she gives me one right back. "Can I get you anything? Water? Beer? Wine?" She asks. "Um, I'll take wine." I say, not really sure what I like. I don't drink a lot. "What kind?" She asks, walking past me to her kitchen. I freeze.

What kind? What kind of what? I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination.

"What are my options?" I ask, trying to think fast. I know nothing about wine and I may have just set myself up for disaster. "I have merlot, Pinot Noir, and umm---" she pauses and shuffles some bottles around. I'm panicking. What are all these words?! "-Moscato, and Pinot Grigio." She looks over her shoulder at me and I pick the one with the easier name to pronounce, "Moscato." I say. She smiles and giggles a little, "Gotcha." She says. I take a sigh of relief and she pours me a small glass.

"My friends will be here in a few minutes, we'll all leave together." She tells me. "Who is driving?" I ask, taking the wine glass from her. "You and I can ride separate from the others." She grins. I nod my head and listen to her talk while sipping my wine. I've had wine a few times, but it's usually the cheap shit that my friends steal from drug stores.

Not long after, there is a knock on the door. Jennifer opens it and in walk four girls, one of which I recognize. My stomach drops and I shift my eyes towards the floor. The last girl... she used to nanny for little brother while I was working and my parents were out of town. It was several years ago, but what if she recognizes me? She could blow this whole thing up.

I look up and smile because I can't be rude. Jennifer introduces me to everyone and then we reach Margot. She looks at me funny and furrows her brows, "I know you... don't I?"