Chapter 14: Fourteen

As everyone filtered out of the class, Jacob pulled me to the side with my elbow. He lightly traced his fingers down my arm, looking down at me with concern filling his features. “That was such a dick move from him.” He said, sneaking a glance at Declan who was sitting down, doing something on his laptop.

I nodded, “Yeah, it was really weird. I don’t know what’s wrong. So embarrassing.”

“It’s alright,” he ruffled my hair, and I made a face. “No one remembers this kind of stuff.”

“I know,” I sighed, “I really don’t care about other people. But yeah, just, I felt weird. Like a child,” I rolled my eyes and Jacob grinned. “Come on, wanna get a bagel?”

As I was about to answer, I felt Declan brush past me. I felt his arm hit my shoulder, and almost stumbled. I looked at him, and he was staring at Jacob’s hand on my other arm. “Miss Whitefield, come see me in my office, please.” He turned around and walked away hurriedly.

I looked at Jacob. His eyes were narrowed, “What’s that about?”

“I don’t know.”

He groaned, “I kind of hate him, man. Why is he so strict? We’re not in school.”

I shrugged, “Um, you go on ahead. I’ll go and see him and then catch you.”

“I’ll walk you, come on.”

Jacob led me with his hand lightly resting in the small of my back. When we reached Declan’s office, he lightly touched my hair. “See you in a bit, Wills.”

Jacob left me at the hallway corner with a wink and a lopsided grin, but I barely noticed. My breath had quickened and I was already thinking about the look on Declan’s face when he had asked me to move seats. That strange mix of irritation and something else. Something sharp.

Seeing him and being around him alone always did this to me. It created this anxious feeling in my gut that almost felt like butterflies. It was a mix of something sweet and heady and bitter.

I knocked once on the door to his office before pushing it open. He was standing by the window, his back to me, hands in his pockets like he was trying very hard to look casual.

“You wanted to see me?” I said quietly.

He turned around, too quickly. “Yes. Sit down, Miss Whitefield.”

I did, slowly, suddenly aware of the way the air felt heavier in here. His office always smelled like something woody. Maybe he used incense sticks. Whatever it was, it made me feel a little more relaces.

“I just wanted to check in about class,” he said, sitting behind the desk but not really looking at me. “You seemed… distracted.”

I tilted my head. “Distracted?”

“Yeah. With Mr. Peters. Jacob.” He said the name like it tasted bitter in his mouth. His mouth twisted into a scowl for a second. “You two are close, then?”

I raised an eyebrow. “We’re friends, so yes, I guess you could say that.”

He gave a dry laugh and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Right. Just friends.” He leaned in toward me, his eyes sparkling. “I saw the way he was touching you, Wills.” His tone when he said Jacob’s nickname for me was so sour it took me aback. “Does he always touch you like that? All your friends touch your hair and your face like that?”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t like the way he touches you” he said lowly, too lowly.

“Why?” My voice was detached and cold. I was surprised even myself.

His jaw clenched. “Because it’s... unprofessional. It reflects on you.”

My jaw clenched. “Are you implying I’m unprofessional because someone put their hand on my arm?”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m just saying… be careful who you spend time with. Jacob isn’t exactly subtle. People notice.”

“What people?” I shot back. “You?”

Declan’s eyes locked on mine. For a second, the mask slipped. There was something hot there; anger, or jealousy, I wasn’t sure. Maybe both.

“You should stay away from him.”

I laughed in disbelief. “You don’t get to tell me who I can or can’t talk to.”

“I’m your professor,” he snapped, then immediately looked like he regretted it. “I just mean…fuck.” He muttered the swear under his breath.

“No, you don’t just mean anything,” I cut him off, standing. “You wanted to talk about the class, or was this just an excuse to interrogate me about my friend? You can’t fucking do this, Declan. Showing up out of nowhere and getting jealous when a man is around me.”

He stood too, suddenly, and for a moment we were too close. “I’m trying to look out for you.”

“By judging me? By acting like I’ve done something wrong for talking to someone my age?”

He narrowed his eyes. “It’s not just Jacob, is it? Seems like you always have someone circling. You enjoy that kind of attention, don’t you?”

My breath caught in my throat. That stung. Not because it was true, but because he knew exactly where to aim.

I swallowed hard. “Wow. That’s low, even for you.”

Declan didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with something burning behind his eyes, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure if it was desire or resentment or anger; or all three tangled so tightly he couldn’t tell either.

I turned to leave.

“Willow,” he called out, voice softer now. Sweet. It would always hit my heart when he would say something so sweetly. My name, especially.

I stilled but didn’t turn around.

I felt his arm encircle my waist, and he pulled me to him, till I was flush against his chest, my back to his chest, my breath in sync with his.

His grip tightened, and I let out a heavy breath. For a moment or two, we were just standing there like that. His grip loosened, and he turned me around. I looked up at him, and his gaze was dark, his eyes hooded. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. His head dipped, catching my lips with his. It was slow. Sweet. His mouth moving against mine; my breath mingling with his. “God you…” his words were a whisper, “You’re fucking addicting. I can’t get enough of you.”

I couldn’t either. I pulled him in closer, opening my mouth for him to put his tongue inside. I almost moaned in his mouth, and he grabbed my hair. “Quiet, baby.” His thumb was on my jaw now, stroking it gently while his other hand gripped my waist like he was afraid I might vanish.

I probably should have pulled away. Said something. Anything.

But I didn’t.

I let him kiss me again, slower this time, like he wanted to memorize me.

And then he stepped back.

The air between us cooled instantly. His chest was rising and falling quickly, and mine matched.

We just stared at each other. Eye to eye.

His eyes weren’t soft anymore. They were confused. Flickering. Like he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. Like maybe he regretted it already.

And maybe I did too. Or did I regret it simply because he looked like he did?

I looked away first. Smoothed down my shirt. Took a slow step back, then another. His hand reached out slightly, but I was already near the door.

“I… I need to go,” I whispered, avoiding his eyes.

“Willow…”

But I didn’t let him finish.

I slipped out of his office, closing the door behind me with a soft thud, and leaned against the wall for a second. My lips still tingled. My mind felt like it had been turned inside out.

What the hell just happened?

I walked away quickly, not sure where I was going, only that I needed to get away before the confusion turned into something worse. Before the tears started.