Her Ex-Student

03. Where His Fingers Suffice *

Oliver ripped me a new one when I went back to pick up my things. He already packed my possessions and left them at the front door. I wanted to kick the door and scream and punch him, but the sick bastard already left for his work vacation. Even with Diana's motivational speech, I still wondered if Oliver ever truly loved me. All I could think about was the first time we met; the first date we went on, and the first kiss we shared. I cared about him, and I still do. It's hard for her to understand why I still did. I don't understand this myself either.

I placed the five boxes in my car before shutting the trunk. Tears welled in my eyes. I always had my suspicions. The late nights home, the lack of intimacy, and secrets. Yet, I wanted to believe that he was still the man who promised me a lifetime with him. I flipped off the house one last time before getting in my car.

A couple more stoplights and I would've been in the apartment's parking lot. Instead, I turned into another familiar street. His street.  I briskly glanced at my outfit. The only right thing I did was dressing down in my joggers and a sweatshirt. I didn't come here to impress him but solely to talk to him. Maybe this time I can finally convince him that we're nothing more than acquaintances.

I turned off the engine and checked my watch to read 7:00 sharp. The lights were dimly lit from where I was. Now that I think about it, his apartment was a bit more secluded than how I remembered it and empty. There were only my car and a few others scattered about I walked directly to the door and pushed the doorbell. I glanced behind me a couple of times before ringing it again. The wooden glass door finally opened revealing him shirtless again.

"You're late," he chastised. I forced my eyes to look at his in defiance.

"I only came here to tell you that I mean it when I said we should not see each other again."

"Then why did you come here?"Unless you wanted to see me again," he suggested. I heard rustling behind me before I was pulled in by him.

"What are you doing?"

"It was getting cold," he explained. I could sense there was another reason but I was distracted by his home. Was this even an apartment? It was too tall to be a mansion and too big to be a house. I grew more anxious the more I realized how weird this living situation is. It was mostly dim with only a few abstract paintings on the wall. There were a few odd artifacts and vases neatly and skillfully used to decorate the living area.

"You live here?"

"Yeah, this is my family's property. A personal hotel if you will. Staff members are in different rooms so don't worry. I'm not gonna kill you if that's what you're thinking." He led me into the main area where there were two leather sofas sat across from one another.

"Sit." He gently pushed me on the seat. I bit my lip nervously and played with my hands as I watched him from underneath my eyes. He was looking at me as well.