"Have you by any chance gorked out of your brains?"

"Why?" I asked Nina while I wrote my English essay due the next day.

It had been a week since I last met Mister Vogue cover in the park, I thought mentioning any of that to Nina would only cause melodrama and endless gossip. I could pass on that one.

"You can't be writing some shitty English essay when you have five goddamn chapters to study for economics. You gotta have a serious death wish if you think you can pull that off within a few hours, woman."

Oh Crap!

"Don't tell me the test which he mentioned last week is tomorrow."

"Yes it is."

I slammed the book shut and rummaged in my bag for the economics textbook.

I was a major goner.

We studied the chapter glossaries and other stuff which were likely to show up in the test; so far we'd only covered two chapters. I stayed up until two in the morning, without bothering to eat much during dinner. I felt agitated, nervous and jittery all the same. I thought university was going to be fun, it's what the pass outs drilled in your head when you were in high school. That was a freggin' illusion. This was a worst case of out of the fire and into the frying pan. Irony was a bitch.

My mom made sure I wasn't getting time to breathe so I wouldn't even bother to ring her up or disturb the eerie peace that they enjoyed so much. No wonder that woman was so excited while I applied for Carmel. Who needs the kind of mother if she doesn't need me? So long as the college bills were paid. I was good. I almost snorted at the sudden memory that poked in my head. It was shortly after I'd unpacked my luggage in the Carmel dorm.

"Did you settle well?" My mom had asked with her usual fake enthusiasm.

"Yeah mom, I did." I refused to pour details.

"Good."

"Chez was the one who helped me with all the paper work and..."

"We'll transfer more cash into your account once daddy gets time off, okay, baby?"

See what I mean, when I say she doesn't give a hay?

"Thanks mom."

"Sure baby, uh—"she continued, "Listen Alana, I need to get going. I'll call you later?"

"Sure mom. Say hi to dad for me."

My father was the only person why I still spoke to this woman. I know what you're thinking.

Nope. She's my real mother.

None of it mattered to me anymore; I made it a point to ignore the burning ache that flared inside in my chest, suffocating me. I never spoke about it to anyone, not even Chez. My mother lived in a world of misconception, thinking money could buy her only daughter happiness. I hadn't once doubted her so called love for me, until one day during grade nine, when a school bus skidded on the wet roads resulting in a life threatening accident.

Chez's parents were more worried about me then, my mother ever could be. His mother brought me chicken soup and everything else my mother was supposed to do. My dad cared, alright, but his case and his court drama never left him much time for me. That wasn't his fault.

There was a part of me that envied Chez just a wee bit. He wasn't wealthy or couldn't afford the best but, seemed to have everything I could ever want.

Everything I dreamed of having.

                                                                    ****

I rushed back to class in the morning with a brewing coffee cup in my hand. I almost barged in on a very impatient and brooding Mr. Masters.

Ten minutes late. Bummer.

The line outside of the cafe was never ending. Nina showed at the nick of time, pushed through most of the people, ignoring the sting eye and a few ear piercing words. She still managed to order us a caramel latte and a donut. Apparently, foul play was part of her everyday routine.

Thankfully, a good amount of caffeine helped the sleep to wear off. I hadn't been able to revise for the test, let alone open the book. Mr. Masters distributed the question sheets, "I will collect your answers exactly after forty five minutes. Your time starts now."

I scanned the question sheet. Damn this. There wasn't a single question I'd studied; it was like walking into a lion's den and declaring you were out of meat stock. Nevertheless, I wrote whatever I knew.

Forty-five minutes later the professor collected our answer sheets. Nina had brushed through most of the stuff, judging by the look on her face, she was definitely flunking and I was positive to join her Flunk club. The rest of the classes took an eternity to end. Towards the end of the last hour, Mr. Demon Professor took the liberty of interrupting during my history class.

"Sorry to interrupt your class Ms. Vladovski," he smiled at her politely; the blush on Ms. Vladovski's face was evident though it was a shame Mr. Masters remained on the blind side of knowing how much impact he had over the female species.

He faced me directly. At that very moment I wished I could stab myself to death. "I need you to see me after class, in my office."

"Yes, sir."

Chez passed me a quizzical look, sort of 'you better beware'.

After Ms. Vladovski was done with the class, I made my way towards Block D at snail's pace to Mr. Masters office, the supposedly hell on earth. To my utter relief, I found Nina standing outside of Mister Demon Professor's office door, biting her already bitten nails, probably thinking of ways she could bail her visit.

"Why are you here?" I asked her.

"The same reason you are." She said casually, like this was the nearest barista and she were a regular.

"Do I look good?"

Nina's eye ran a scan. "Seducing tactics do not work with our professor. Just sayin'." She made a sour face, inspecting her nails. "It wouldn't matter even if you're wearing the best lingerie you could find in Victoria's Secret because you and I are about to get boiled, skinned and sacked. I bet he has some new torture devices he's busy putting up. Don't tell me I didn't warn you."

That explained. She was indeed a regular.

I swallowed hard. "What other choice do we have?"

"We don't, considering the possibility he would follow us down in hell if he has to. Last time I hid in the girl's restroom and a few minutes later he was banging on the door from the outside like a freaky psycho lunatic asylum run-away."

"Don't worry. You and I are in this together." I gave her false hope, but it sounded more like I was assuring myself.

"Yeah. We deserve a donut and a coffee treat after this." She knocked softly on the door, we heard a soft come in.

Nina was the first who stepped inside, followed by me who shut the door. Some things are better left behind closed doors. Mr. Masters was seated behind his oak desk, scanning a pile of papers through the thin rims. If there was anyone who could pull off that corporate look. It was him.

His eyes leveled with mine, it wouldn't be justice if I said he glanced at us, it was more of a full on Death Glare. The deafening silence stretched on as he remained silent and honestly, it was getting on my nerves until Nina decided to open her Big fat mouth.

"Sir, you called us."

That's when all Hell broke loose.

"Come here, you two."

We neared the table, neither of us taking a step closer. He pulled out a paper out of the pile and slammed it on the table. Hard.

"Can either of you explain me what the hell is this?" that was directed to my friend. If I would've been in her socks I would be running for the hills, it was a miracle she didn't react, didn't even flinch.

"I promise to study next time, sir."

I sneaked a peek; she'd got a C.

"What is wrong with the two of you? You have scored the lowest among my entire class."

Our heads were bent low. My shoes suddenly seemed pretty interesting.

"Nina, if you don't pull your socks now, I'm afraid I'll have to grade you a failing mark by the end of the year, do you understand?"

She nodded.

"I expect verbal response and eye contact." Mr. Masters growled.

"Yes. I do understand, sir." She repeated, "I'd just gotten a little busy with..."

"Busy doing, what?" he snapped, "Painting your toes? Or perhaps upgrading your wardrobe?"

I burst into a fit of laughter, that's exactly what she'd been doing. I immediately shut myself when he threw daggers at me.

"Just busy completing my assignment." She completed.

"Which was due last month, I presume."

To that she remained silent. "You've been in my office more times than I could count on my fingers and toes all together."

"It's only my fifth time, sir." Nina tried to clarify.

"This should be your fifth and the last time. I don't have the stomach of tolerating it anymore." he handed her the paper, gestured a hand towards the door "you may leave."

Nina passed me an apologetic glance and a told you so gesture before leaving me alone with the demon professor.

"And you, Miss new comer." He growled, "Look at me, don't stare at the floor."

I glanced into his deep brown eyes, which were smoldering if nothing else.

I couldn't even recall the last time I was being scolded by anyone. My father never thought it was necessary, not even when I had sneaked into his office and scribbled on his important work files when I was four, so the feeling was quite alien.

Demon professor thrust the answer sheet in my hands.

Holy mother of god Hades.

A big Fat 'D' stared back at me in red ink.

"Do you also have any excuses?"

Either I had dreamed of that day in the park, or maybe his ancestors were from the Mr. Hyde family.

"No sir."

"If you think I'll excuse you just because you joined a few months later, then I'm afraid you're mistaken." He sounded somewhere between cold and controlled, like a control freak to be very precise. I had goosebumps all over my body.

He continued, "I don't care if this is a university, I don't care if you think I'm controlling.  As a teacher, it's my duty to make sure everyone gets a passing grade if nothing else. I checked your grades from your previous university and they seemed acceptable. Do you have a problem understanding what I teach you? If so, then please tell me how I can make it right. I'm sure we can come to a resolve."

If I could only tell him that my lack of concentration had nothing to do with his teaching and everything to do with his sexy bod. Ha. As if I could tell him, not even if my life depended on it.

"I think you teach really well. That's not the problem." I felt the color rush towards my cheeks. "I just moved into the dorms two weeks ago, and it has been a little exhausting since then. I had to gather notes and also write essays. I'm really sorry if it looks like I'm making excuses, but I will work harder next time, sir."

"I hear your conviction, so I'll let it pass this one time." he went back to his seat. "I want you to write the paper five times and show me first thing in the morning. Have I made myself absolutely clear?"

"Crystal, sir."

He nodded, seeming pleased with himself for some unknown reason, he swirled a glass paper weight on the desk, with his elegant fingers, "If you have any difficulty, please feel free to ask. Call me if necessary, I will make time, but I don't want to see that grade on your paper again."

"Yes, sir."

"Can you please pass on the message to Nina?"

"I will."

I thanked him, grabbed for my stuff and started to leave, "Alana, I was just wondering. The number from which you called me the other day, is it yours?"

Where was he getting at?

"Yes, it's mine."

He was tapping the fountain pen on the desk. Was it possible that he was tensed for some reason?

A moment later he decided to speak. What wouldn't I pay to know what went on in that broody head of his, "what do you do on weekends?"

"Uh..nothing mostly, just in my dorm. Sometimes I just go for a walk."

"I see." It was difficult to look beyond his cool demeanor. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

That's it?

I tried to hide the pang of disappointment that washed over me; his eyes did not waver from me until I was out the office door. Nina appeared to be seated in one of the empty waiting chairs typing frantically on her blackberry, giving company to the king of slackers, (who slept through most classes with his leg hoisted over the desk and did not take the liberty of jotting notes and didn't care when asked to leave during classes), still what he said next knocked the air out of me.

"Got a D?" I asked him.

"No." He vacated the seat, picking a single handbook. "I got an A."

See what I mean?

Nina's eyes went widened. I chose to ignore and tried very hard to keep a straight face, "Then, why are you being called?"

He brushed his messy long hair back from his forehead, adjusting his wrinkled shirt, his sleepy eyes fixed on mine, "I slept during his class."

Such Old news

He walked sluggishly, "Alana, right?"

Figures he wasn't sleeping the day I decided to do a grand entry in the university, "yeah."

He pulled his hand out of his pocket to me, shifting his weight from one foot to another, "Edward, but I prefer Eddie or Ed." He offered me a handshake.

I shook his hand. "Nice meeting you, Ed."

"I hate how people think its funny asking me if I sparkle in the sun or if I know the Voltouri. So anyway, did you get the notes for last week?"

"I did."

"Awesome, so Uh—can we like sit together tomorrow during economics?" noticing my hesitation he added, "I have to fill up my notebook."

"Sure."

He gave me a thumb up, "see you around," with a two fingered salute he walked into the cabin.

                                                                     ****

"You're telling me, you already have plans without me?" Chez asked me over the phone, he sounded furious. 

"It's just coffee, you're welcome to join though." I said, though I wasn't sure how it would turn out if Chez tagged along with me and Nina to the barista. "I have a crap load of homework to do, so we won't be long. Do you want to join us?"

I heard a dead silence on the other end which had me thinking if he had hung up on me.

"It's Cool Al, you gals can carry on."

Fantastic! Now I was the bad guy here. The villain, who abandoned her best friend over a new friend. I really needed a girl friend. There were some things that boys never understood no matter how great friends they became because; in the end they either ended up becoming the boyfriends or possessive brothers. Chez was the latter one.

At the moment, I didn't need either of them.

"If you're sure..." I started saying.

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

The phone went dead on the other end.

I sipped onto the goodness of my coffee letting the caffeine rile up my senses while Nina cooed about a group of hotties who'd just taken over the booth which had been vacated a while ago. I didn't bother to spare a glance in their direction, if the good professor was the male protagonist of the Vin Diesel movies, these men easily qualified as the villains.

"Stop staring." I squeezed her hand.

Nina took a bite off her donut. I realized she wasn't the obeying type. I gazed up just in time to see her and some guy doing weird 'call me later' eye contact.

"Let me guess you're wondering how you could bail me and join his table?"

"Mind reading, huh?" she gave me a tooth paste commercial smile, "sorry to disappoint you sweetness, but I didn't plan on doing that. Have some faith. We just exchanged numbers."  She went back to frantic texting, which was going to get her fingers sore by morning. I was sure.

I checked the time, "its eight thirty Nina, we gotta go. I have just written the economics paper twice. Mr. Masters instructed five. What about you?"

She didn't even look up and raised a finger, "just once?" then she sighed and added "Half, actually. Don't worry I'll either call in sick or write it in the morning, classes don't start tomorrow until ten anyway."

Her curious hunter gaze traveled out the glass see through wall and she stiffened, like she'd just watched a damn Godzilla across the road. She looked away at once muttering 'shit. Shit. Shit.'

I started to turn my head, "NO." She hissed, "Don't turn around."

"Okay, but tell me what's scaring the freaking daylights out of you?"

"Rowan."

I need an ear check, "Who?"

"The mad man teaching us economics." she started to bat her eyes, gaze shooting down she fumbled to get nothing from her purse.

"What happened?" I whispered.

"Pretend like we're not talking about him, okay?" she whispered, her bangs were covering most of her eyes. "He has us pinned, and he's staring holes in your back."

My face suddenly turned hot, "what is he doing now?"

She leaned onto the table, careful of not pushing the empty plate off the table. "There's a woman with him."

"A woman?"

My head started to spin; all my happy fantasies came crashing down the fantasy pyramid I'd constructed a few days ago.

"Is she pretty?"

"I don't know what your definition of pretty is, but she's a fine looking woman. Definitely no Jennifer Aniston. Not even close" she paused for a while and continued, "They left the street together." She put emphasis on the last word on purpose.

I acted on impulse and climbed to my feet, picking my bag and slumping it over shoulder, "I'm going."

"You're going to follow them?"

"Yep."

****
A.N: hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, please don't forget to Vote and Comment telling me what you think :)