Across the Hall (G.N.D. Sequel)

3

Lexi's POV:

The following morning

As I hand Mia a hot cup of coffee she grins, "someone is up early today."

"I need to make sure I have time to get set up this morning. Today has to go better than yesterday did." I groan, joining my half-naked girlfriend in bed with her coffee.

"I'm sure it wan't that bad, Lexi. You're just being dramatic." Her eyes roll and she sips the steaming drink carefully. "What do you have to set up, anyway?"

"I'm having the students start a project today, so I have to get some documents uploaded on the website and make copies." I explain, going through my game-plan in my head.

"I'm sure that lady across the hall would help. She seemed sort of nice." Mia says.

Without thinking, I let out a sarcastic laugh and shake my head, "ha, I am not asking Evan for help... of all people." Once the words come out my heart speeds up. I should not have said that.

Of course, Mia's eyebrows furrow, "you say that like you two are close or something. Did you know her before yesterday?" She asks me.

I press my hands together tight and try to keep my composure in my face, "no, I just- she doesn't seem like the type." I lie... straight to her face.

I can't tell Mia about Evan and I's past. That is something I don't talk about with anyone. What happened with Evan had a big impact on me. Mia knows I had a rough experience with a past lover, but over the months I have known her, that is all I have said.

I wouldn't dare divulge the details of Evan and I's relationship, mainly because I am scared that if I talk about it and acknowledge it, the feelings will resurface along with the memories. That's now an even bigger concern seeing as that she works with me.

"I have to get going, I'll text you when I get there." I say to Mia, ready to leave. "Have a good day."

She kisses my lips quickly and I leave the apartment.

I arrive at the school and make it to my classroom without issue. From my desk, I see Evan fumbling with her keys at the door. She drops them and picks them up quickly, her (still) immaculate calf muscles flexing when she does so.

I didn't forget what I saw yesterday afternoon. She was watching- no, lurking. My only question was why?

I check the time on my watch and see that I have a good half-hour before I see any students, so I wander across the hall to Evan's room.

"I like your room. It's very...you." I say, leaning against the door with my arms folded while examining the classroom.

Her head snaps around quickly, "gosh, you scared me." She gasps. "But thanks... though I am not sure you have the right to claim you know what is 'me.'" She grins, organizing papers on her desk.

I bite my lower lip and nod slowly, "right." I take a breath and step into the room and close the door quietly. The sound of the latch clicking makes Evan's head snap to me again.

"What are you doing? Open that door, Lex." She sighs. Lex.

I hold my palms up in surrender, "I'd rather not have the entire school hear the conversation."

"Any conversation we have here is game for the school to hear." She reminds me, giving me a look.

"I need to talk to you, Evan." I say softly, my eyes fixated on her face.

The (now not-so-dirty) blonde sighs and takes a breath, leaving me in agonizing silence for several seconds. "Fine. If it's that serious, we can talk after school today. Late lunch?"