by Ivy Smoak
A heard a few girls giggle.
"You want to capture your audience's attention. You want them to yearn for more. And that, in my opinion, is the hardest thing about giving an effective speech. Because you can't force lust. It has to come naturally."
Am I forcing it? It didn't feel forced to me.
"Anyway, something to ponder over the weekend. Class dismissed."
"I guess I'll see you on Monday. If you change your mind, you have my number." Tyler winked at me.
I smiled back at him as he walked away. Wearing Professor Hunter's sweater to class had taken a lot of courage. But now it was time for the hardest part. I tried to walk as seductively as I possibly could in rain boots, and slowed down slightly when I passed by his desk so that he'd notice me.
"Miss Taylor, if you would, please wait a moment."
I froze. He had noticed. I never expected him to talk to me after yesterday, though.
"You're wearing my sweater."
"I've been told I look good in it."
He was silent for a moment. "You have a date this weekend," he said casually. He didn't ask it as a question, but said it as a statement. I felt like there was a trace of anger in his voice.
I gulped. That was none of his business. Especially since he had a girlfriend. "And how was yours?" I replied, with more sass than I intended.
"Hmmm?" he said, and raised his left eyebrow.
"I have another class I need to get to."
"So do I."
My heart was racing.
"Well then." I turned.
"Penny?" The tips of his fingers brushed the back of my wrist.
It sent shivers through me, and my body actually shook. Play hard to get! I went toward the door. Before I walked out I turned just my head, and said, "Have a good weekend, Professor Hunter."
Chapter 12
Saturday
I looked down at my phone one more time. For some reason, I had this hope that Professor Hunter would text me and beg me not to go. Or show up and whisk me away. I carefully clicked on his name, trying not to smudge my nail polish. Even though it was foolish, I couldn't help wanting to text him. He was most likely on a date with his girlfriend. The thought made me want to text him even more.
"Penny, you need to get ready to go. We need to leave in just a few minutes if we're going to be there on time."
I hopped off my bed. "I am ready."
"What the hell are you wearing?" Melissa said as she looked at my outfit. I was wearing jeans and a tank top. Apparently I was underdressed because she was wearing a new dress. It had a high neckline in the front, but there was no back until just above her butt.
"You look great, Melissa," I said, trying to change the subject.
She sighed in response and walked over to her closet. "Penny, you need to look hot. Don't you want Austin to be upset about what he's been missing?"
"I don't care about what Austin thinks."
"Just a second. Here," she said and tossed me a black dress.
"But..."
"Penny, you're not wearing jeans to dinner. You'll make me look ridiculously overdressed. And I bought this specifically for tonight."
"So bossy," I mumbled under my breath.
"Yep, now change."
I pulled on the dress, strapped on my black stilettos, and stood up. "Fine, now I'm ready."
"Perfect. That'll make him drool."
I couldn't help but smile when I looked in the mirror. The super short, sleek black dress I was wearing had a neckline that plunged to my belly button. The designer must have had a vague sense of modesty, because the dress had a black mesh material between the neckline so that I wasn't completely exposed. There was a slit up the side, and if it was any higher, the dress wouldn't be suitable to wear out. I completed the look with a pair of dangly earrings that helped elongate my neck. I felt sexy.
"Ah, I'm excited! Let's go," Melissa said.
We made our way out of the dorm. We walked arm in arm along the brick walkway, as was our custom, so that neither one of us fell over in our heels.
"So, are you nervous to see Austin?"
"I'm still mad at him."
"And you should be. But he clearly misses you, or he wouldn't have agreed to come."
I felt myself starting to sweat. "Melissa, I am nervous. Do I really have to do this?"
"You cannot back out at the last minute!"
"I feel like I'm going to be sick."
"Well, just don't get sick on him."
"Melissa!"
"Okay, okay." We stopped for a moment and she turned to face me. "Here's what you have to do. Just remember to act confident. And most importantly, don't say that you've missed him. That gives him all the power. You need to make him want you, not the other way around."
I took a deep breath. "Play hard to get?"
"Exactly." She grabbed my arm and we started walking again.
We stopped again in front of Kildare's, the restaurant we were going to. It was only 8 o'clock, so even though we were underage, we'd still be allowed in.
"You ready?" Melissa asked.
"As ready as I can be."
Melissa stepped into the restaurant first. "Hi," she said to the hostess. "We're looking for two...oh, never mind. I see them!"
Josh was waving for us to come over to a booth. He stood up as we approached and so did Austin. My stomach started to churn. I couldn't be confident. This was Austin. The Austin. The one that strung me along all of last semester and "didn't do labels." With his short, light brown hair, grayish blue eyes, and that sexy scruff on his chin, he had this way about him that made me act foolish.
He had me wrapped around his finger, and he knew it. I had slept with him, hoping that would get him to stay. But that wasn't the case. He just wanted me for my body. So I kept giving it to him. His position on "labels" never changed. And then when the semester ended, I stopped hearing from him. All summer I waited. When I got his, "Babe, it's hard being here without you. I miss you," text, I came back to campus as soon as I could. And he had completely disappeared. I felt my knees trembling. I knew I was hurt, but I hadn't realized how angry I was.
Be confident, Penny. I thought about the way I'd been acting with Professor Hunter. Austin had nothing on Professor Hunter. If I could act sassy and confident and strong around him, than this should be a piece of cake. I can do this.
When we reached the boys, Josh pulled Melissa close and kissed her passionately. This was already awkward. I looked up at Austin.
"Babe, that dress..." Austin said. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to him. He leaned down for the kiss but I turned my head. It didn't seem to deter him. He pecked my cheek. "Penny, where have you been hiding?"
"I've just been really busy. How are you, Austin?" How could he ask me that? He was the one that had been ignoring me. I wished he would let go of my waist.
"Better now that you're here." He reached down, grabbed my chin, and tilted it toward him. "I've missed you, babe. It was a long summer without you." He smelled like strawberries and beer. I had used his strawberry scented shampoo before on the occasions that I had spent the night at his apartment.
"I..." I stopped myself before I told him that I missed him too. I needed to take Melissa's advice, and that meant not telling him that I missed him. "I had a great summer. Well, crap job, but you know how it is," I shrugged.
He let go of my chin. Ignoring my comment, he said, "You really look stunning. You always did know exactly what I like."
I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. This wasn't even my dress. He slid into the booth and I sat next to him. Josh and Melissa sat down across from us.
"How long have you two been dating?" Josh asked Austin and me.
"A little over six months," Austin replied.
His words were hard to make out, because at the same time, I said, "We're not really."
Austin and I looked at each other. I turned back to Josh.
"It's complicated," I said.
"Ah." Josh
turned to Melissa and made an apologetic face. I could tell that he was flustered that she hadn't told him the situation.
"It's not that complicated," Austin said and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He scooted closer toward me so that our bodies were touching. I looked up at him and he looked down at me. "I'm sorry," he mouthed.
I gave him a small smile. That's what I had wanted. For him to apologize. I sighed with relief. Maybe now I could relax a little and enjoy the night.
Chapter 13
Saturday
I took another bite of the chocolate cake and glanced up at Austin. The two of us were alone in the booth because Melissa and Josh were still dancing. We had taken a break to have dessert. Austin was starting to stare at me, with his cloudy blue eyes, in that way that made my knees weak. He had already been through a few beers and I knew what was on his mind. I looked back down at my plate. I didn't know how much longer I'd be able to resist him.
"I got a new place," he said.
"Same roommates?"
"No, actually." He had started rubbing the back of my neck with his thumb. The familiarity of it was soothing and somehow arousing at the same time.
Austin knew that I didn't like when he smoked. It made him act like an idiot. And his old roommate, Benji, was usually the one persuading him.
"How's Benji doing?"
"I haven't seen him."
I hadn't expected that. He had apologized to me, plus he was done hanging out with his loser friends? Maybe he had changed. Being a senior seemed to make him take things more seriously now. I took another bite of cake, and Austin suddenly started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
He just kept laughing. "You have chocolate on your face."
"Where?" I wiped the side of my mouth with my hand.
He leaned toward me and slowly wiped the other side of my mouth with his thumb. He then placed his finger in his mouth and sucked off the chocolate. I could feel my heart rate accelerating. Why is that so hot?
"Did you want to come see my place?" he asked.
I gulped. He didn't really want me to come see his place. He wanted me. And I loved when he wanted me.
"Let me run to the ladies room real quick," I said, and slid out of the booth. I closed the stall door and just stood there. I didn't actually need to use the restroom, I just needed a second to think. Melissa had told me to be strong and I was about to cave. I needed to go back out there and tell him I wanted to call it a night. If he really had changed at all, he'd respect that. I walked out of the stall, washed my hands, and fixed my hair in the mirror.
When I excited the bathroom, Austin was still sitting at our booth alone. But he was turned around, talking to the booth of girls behind him. All four of the girls laughed at something he just said. I felt my heart rate accelerating. I walked back over to our table. He continued chatting to the booth of girls and didn't even notice my return.
Without even realizing what I was doing, I grabbed my glass and tossed what was left of my water in his face.
"Penny, what the hell?"
"Have a good life, Austin." I turned around and walked briskly out of the restaurant.
I heard footsteps behind me. "Penny, wait," Austin pleaded.
I ran down the stairs outside the entrance of the restaurant. My heels clicked on the brick sidewalk of Main Street.
"Penny, I'm sorry."
"Yeah I know, you already said that tonight." I turned around to face him. "What exactly are you apologizing for anyway? Are you trying to say that you somehow 'accidentally' ignored me all summer? Or are you referring to the girls you were just flirting with on our date? Or maybe all the times you've stood me up? Or are you just sorry for being an arrogant asshole in general?"
"Just..."
"Just what, Austin? Just give you another chance? Why, because you didn't mean all those things you said about 'labels'? You've changed and you want to be my boyfriend now?"
"You know that's not what I want. But I do want you."
"And every other girl on campus?" I was seething. I turned to walk away again.
"That's not what it's like. Damn it, Penny, won't you just listen to me?" He grabbed my arm.
My heel got stuck in a gap between the bricks as he pulled me. It snapped off and I fell to my knees. His hands were on me in an instant to help me to my feet.
"Get off me!" I yelled and pushed him away. I stumbled to my feet. The tears were starting to well in my eyes.
"Geez, Penny, lighten up."
"Save your advice, Austin. I don't care. We're done."
"Until you call me again, begging to see me."
He did get my calls! It took every ounce of restraint in me to not slap him.
"Well, until then," he said. He turned away and walked back up the restaurant steps.
"Grow up, Austin!" I yelled. Without turning around he put his hand up in the air to acknowledge he had heard me, and disappeared back inside the bar. He hadn't changed at all.
I was done with boys. I wanted a man. And I wanted that man to be Professor Hunter. It was time to find out if he wanted me. Before I could chicken out, I took my phone out of my clutch and texted Professor Hunter. "Any chance I can get a lift?"
Chapter 14
Saturday
Not even a minute passed before I got his response: "Where are you?"
"Outside of Kildare's."
My phone bleeped. "I'll be right there."
I put my phone back in my clutch and sat down on the curb. My knees were bleeding and I was holding my broken heel in my hand. I smiled when it began to drizzle. It was like my fantasies were coming true. After several minutes of nervous waiting, a black Audi coupe rolled up next to me. Even his car was sexy.
Professor Hunter leaned over and opened the car door from the inside. I climbed inside and shut the door.
"Did I wake you?" I asked. He put the car in drive and drove off. His hair was sleek from the rain. He was wearing dark jeans and a gray hoodie. The zipper of his hoodie wasn't pulled up all the way, and he clearly wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. His outfit made him look even younger. He really couldn't be much older than me.
"Yes," he replied.
The rain quickly picked up. In the silence, the drops began to splash loudly on the windshield. I could tell he was a little grumpy from me disturbing his sleep.
"You live near here?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Where?"
The car pulled to a stop at a red light. He leaned across me and opened up the glove compartment. I gulped. I wanted to kiss him so badly. He grabbed a tissue and placed it gently on one of my cut knees. Ignoring my question, he asked, "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"I fell, that's all," I whispered. His breath smelled minty. I had woken him up and he had taken the time to brush his teeth. Was he going to kiss me? He let go of the tissue and sat back in the driver's seat. I blotted my knees with the tissue.
"That's all?" he said, staring at me.
I lifted my stiletto from my lap and shrugged.
When the light turned green he stepped on the gas. "You enjoyed your date then?"
"No."
We drove on in silence again. We were almost back to my dorm.
"Is that what you wanted to hear?" I added.
"I don't desire for you to be unhappy, Miss Taylor."
"Why did you give me your number, Professor Hunter?"
He pulled to the curb outside of my dorm and turned the car off. "You seem keen on putting yourself in dangerous situations." He glanced quickly at my outfit and then got out of the car.
My face flushed. Professor Hunter ran through the rain and opened up the door on my side. I slowly stepped out, not wanting for this moment to end. I kept blowing all my chances with him.
Instead of turning to walk me to the door he just stood there, staring at me. It was like he was waiting for something. I remembered the dream he recounted in class. He was waiting for something exciting to happen. And it was pour
ing.
"Professor Hunter..."
There was that look again. It took my breath away. And for the first time I realized that it wasn't anger or hunger. It was hunger and anger. He leaned down and placed his hands on the car, on either side of me. Our mouths were less than an inch apart. He opened his lips slightly like he was about to say something. I could feel the heat of his breath in the rain. He drew a fraction of an inch closer.
"I can't seem to stop thinking about you," I whispered.
Instead of responding, he quickly grabbed the back of my neck and let his lips meet mine. His kiss was full of passion, passion that he had been holding back just as much as I had. He pressed his body against mine and lightly pushed me so that my back was on the cold, wet steel of the car. He leaned into me. The contrast of the heat from his body and the coolness of the car sent a spark through me. I had never wanted someone so badly before. I let my hands wander beneath the back of his hoodie. His skin was so soft.
His lips pulled away from mine and he groaned softly in my ear. "Penny, you need to try to stop." He stepped back and lifted the hood of his hoodie over his head. He rubbed his forehead as he walked around the car. With one last smoldering glance, he got into his car.
I stood in the rain as I watched him speed off.
Chapter 15
Sunday
"Penny?" Melissa nudged me. "Penny it's nearly dinner time, do you want to get up and get something to eat with me?" Her voice was etched in concern.
"I'm tired," I groaned and tried to turn over.
"Penny, you have to get up. Tell me what happened last night." She pulled the sheets off of me. "Oh my God, Penny, are you bleeding?!"
I looked down at my knees. The rain had made the blood trickle down my shins. It looked like something out of a horror film. I started laughing.
"Penny you're freaking me out."
"I'm fine," I sat up. "I just fell last night."
"Penny I have to ask you a serious question, so stop laughing. Did Austin hurt you?"
"No," I said immediately. "Geez, no."
"Okay, good. Then get up. We're going to the dining hall." She tossed a pair of workout shorts and a tank top at me. "You can tell me all about last night while we eat."