Yesterday I had woken up with a throbbing headache. All too quickly, the images of my encounter with Mr. Preston played out in my mind’s eye.

Damn. Why had I made myself so vulnerable? He had taken a joke out of my bout of weakness, and for that, he had to pay. Today would be the first day. He would be sorry that he had messed with me. I was not a good enemy to have.

I put on my uniform and unbuttoned my blouse further than I was used to. My makeup was a little heavier today, and I tamed my curls more thoroughly so that they flowed down my back in wild waves. I also stole two sprays of Leilah’s perfume, which smelled divinely good of flowers, spices and something feminine.

With a proud stride, I walked down the hallways to the large common room, where several students had already gathered and were playing card games or laughing loudly in groups at some dirty joke. Filled with anticipation, I kept a lookout for the trio, who had become a bit too dear to me in the meantime.

My roommate beckoned me to join her, and I passed quite a few students I’m sure I’d seen at some point in class. By now, my name was no longer trending on their social platform and people had already found other gossip to talk about.

It was rather sad how quickly people forgot about the death of a classmate. I, for one, dreamed of her almost every night. And then these strange snippets that I could barely remember the next morning…. I shook my head. Not now.

“What’s that perfume?” Noah asked as he stepped closer to my throat and sniffed.

“Don’t you like it?” I put on a pout, and he playfully wrinkled his nose.

“It’s mine, you prick. And it smells amazing. Don’t listen to him,” Leilah cut in.

“I like your natural scent better,” he admitted with a wink and Caleb looked at him admonishingly.

“What’s the occasion?” the handsome guy with the light hair asked as he eyed me. I shrugged.

“Isn’t a girl allowed to make herself look pretty anymore?” Leilah looked back and forth between the two of them, annoyed, and I stayed out of the debate.

The boys led us to a pool table where balls and cues were already waiting.

“Fancy a round?” Caleb asked. I hadn’t played in a long time, but it was like riding a bike, wasn’t it?

Noah and I teamed up, and I already felt sorry for him because we were sure to lose.

“You owe me a drink if I have to give those two the win.”

I giggled, honestly amused by his lighthearted nature.

The flames in the fireplace cast a reddish shimmer on his skin, making it glow. He really wasn’t bad to look at, especially with his shirt stretched around his biceps like that.

Noah flicked me in the face, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Done staring?” I rolled my eyes and focused on the game.

Two losses later, I was already so pissed off that I threw in the towel. Either the others were far too good or I was lousy. Maybe both.

Leilah had taken pictures of us and our angry faces every now and then, and knowing her, she had posted them already. I looked at my tablet and scrolled through my feed.

Her evidence of our failure popped up, and I had to smile at some of them. One in particular caught my eye: I was standing with the cue in my hand, looking teasingly over my shoulder at Noah, who gave me a charming smile and tugged playfully on one of my curls.

It looked cute, so I downloaded the picture and posted it along with other funny ones on my profile. At least it didn’t seem so empty now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black-haired man walking hurriedly down the hallway, his hair wild and unkempt. Halfway down, his face barely turned in my direction, and I knew he saw me. I held his stare, didn’t buckle.

I could have imagined it, but I was almost sure he clenched his jaw dangerously hard before turning his face away.

We spent another solid two hours in the common room when suddenly my tablet vibrated. I stared at the brief message from Unknown and narrowed my eyes.

UNKNOWN:

What the fuck do you think you’re doing?

What was his damn problem? I was itching to send him a jerky comment but changed my mind at the last moment.

No, he didn’t deserve my attention—not yet. It would infuriate him much more if I ignored his message, so I tucked the tablet back between the waistband of my skirt and my belly.

“Did something happen?” Leilah asked worriedly, but I assured her that everything was fine.

“Let’s go, I’m starving,” Noah called out, and I had to agree with him. My stomach was growling since I hadn’t eaten all day and the sun was already setting. “I have to see the nurse first, though.” I looked at him, confused. He didn’t seem sick at all.

“Are you getting the flu?” I asked, but he shook his head.

“It’s nothing. I just need to pick something up.” I didn’t dwell on it. Obviously, he didn’t want to talk about it, and I gave him his space.

We all walked together to the nurse, who had also treated me back then. In front of us, Caleb put his arm around Leilah’s shoulders, and she nuzzled against him.

A small smile spread across my face when I saw them together like that. Maybe now they dared to love each other out loud. I wished this happiness for her.

I remembered a time when I was also in love. It was long ago, and the story did not end well, to say the least. I was over him now, but emptiness still lingered in my chest.

The door to the nurse’s office opened before we could even knock. The three of them entered, leaving me in the hallway. I should just wait here, they had said. Alright. Still, it seemed strange.

My tablet vibrated again, and I knew who it was before I even read the message. Mr. Preston had sent me the picture of Noah and me and written a rather harsh message underneath.

UNKNOWN:

-picture-

Are you serious?

Again, I ignored his message and leaned against the cold stone wall. It was easy to give him the cold shoulder, especially when I knew it would drive him crazy. I wondered how far I could push it with him, how long he would keep playing along. Maybe I was also tripping headfirst into something there was no turning back from.

I startled when the door was yanked open and Leilah, Caleb, and Noah stepped out. The three of them seemed more jittery than they had all day. Who knows what drugs they were getting in there. The more important question, however, was what I had to do to get the same.

“And now we’re going to eat,” the black-haired girl said, linking arms with me as we made our way back.

I was painting my fingernails while Leilah scrolled on her tablet. Sometimes she snorted or rolled her eyes and I had to smile every time.

“Are you and Caleb a thing?” I asked shamelessly. My curiosity had gotten the better of me and I hadn’t had girl talk like in forever.

“Our…relationship is very complicated. It’s hard to explain.” She looked conflicted, was probably weighing how much she could tell me.

I didn’t blame her. She barely knew me, and I didn’t expect her to blurt out her entire love life. “Our bond is not accepted by my parents and by my brother even less.”

“If that’s what’s holding you back, then I misjudged you to be stronger than you really are,” I replied bitterly, unable to stop the sadness that crept into my heart at her words.

Leilah gave me a sorrowful smile. “Don’t mistake my appearance for how I feel inside. My world is so much different from yours.”

“We breathe the same air and cry the same tears. Our world is certainly not as different as you may think.” Her eyes told me that she disagreed, even though she didn’t want to.

We spent some time in silence, just enjoying each other’s company.

She lay on her back, hands behind her head. “Thank you.” That statement had caught me off guard.

“For what?” I rested my cheek on my knee and studied her.

“For making me feel human.”

Thank you for making me feel like I have a friend.

Leilah was sound asleep. Only her soft snoring filled the silence in the room. I still had my bedside lamp on and was looking at the latest posts on our social platform when something crossed my mind.

I tiptoed to our closet and pulled out a flimsy silk top, took off my pajama shirt, and put on the black lacy thing. It didn’t hurt to send Mr. Preston a picture after ignoring his messages all day.

Without making too much noise, I stepped back into the much too hard bed and posed in the dim light until I was satisfied with a picture.

Fortunately, I had forgotten to take off my makeup, otherwise the dark circles under my eyes would have made me look like a sleep-deprived panda.

AVERY JAMES:

-picture-

Good night.

I did not have to wait long for an answer. Soon my tablet vibrated, and I read his message.

UNKNOWN:

Why do you fucking do that?

To mess with your head, asshole. Why else would I send you a provocative picture in the middle of the night?

AVERY JAMES:

What do you mean?

UNKNOWN:

You know exactly what I mean.

Stop looking like that.

Someone here has anger issues, I thought, that’s hot. Speaking of hot…

AVERY JAMES:

But yesterday you pretty much liked my look.

You know, back when you were so hard only by having me under you.

UNKNOWN:

If I were a weaker man, I would have fucked you then and there.

But your edginess was satisfaction enough.

Reading these words, the warm feeling in my lower belly spread again. Inevitably, I remembered how he had felt on top of me, how hard he had breathed against my throat. No, Avery, focus.

AVERY JAMES:

Who said I would have let you?

UNKNOWN:

You pressed yourself so hard against my dick, it was the most obvious invitation.

Without wanting to, I squeezed my thighs together, thinking about the bittersweet friction he had given me. That feeling still lingered like an echo in my mind. But I couldn’t give in, couldn’t let him see that Friday night had affected me more than I preferred.

AVERY JAMES:

That is not true.

UNKNOWN:

It sure is.

I bet you’re drenched just by the thought of us yesterday.

Oh, if he only knew how wet I was because of him right now. Why shouldn’t I take it one step further?

AVERY JAMES:

Come and feel.

UNKNOWN:

Is this an invitation?

He wouldn’t come anyway, I was sure of that. Mr. Preston had made it all too clear that he was just messing with me.

AVERY JAMES:

Yes, professor.

UNKNOWN:

10 minutes, then come outside.

Was he being serious, or was this another test of how far I would go? I wouldn’t fall for it again.

AVERY JAMES:

And if I don’t want to?

UNKNOWN:

Then I’ll come in and give your roommate a show she surely won’t forget.

Tell me, is this your thing?

My throat felt suddenly way too dry. I slowly got the feeling that he really expected me to come outside in a few moments. I could also very well believe he was psycho enough to just show up here.

Before I had to face him, I wanted to put on another pair of shorts. If I was going to tempt him, then at least with a decent outfit. Matching my top, I slipped into the black silk bottoms that came with the set.

Pulse racing, I looked in the mirror one last time before closing the door as quietly as possible behind me and exhaling deeply. Leilah would certainly not wake up, even if the entire building was shaking.

I wasn’t sure where to go, so I just turned left and head straight out, always following the candleholders on the wall.

The glow of the flames barely lit the way and cast an uncanny shadow on the paintings. With each flicker, it looked as if the people in them were moving.

My plush slippers were so silent that I couldn’t be found unless someone was specifically looking for me.

I wondered if he had already left or if he was just lying in his bed making fun of my naivety. The cool air gave me goosebumps, and I rubbed my bare upper arms to create at least a little warmth.

Before I turned again, I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my neck. Maybe it was just the adrenaline or the uncertainty of what would happen next. I didn’t hear any footsteps, so I must have imagined the feeling of being watched. And there… A draft behind me.

I turned around, but no one was there. Pull yourself together, I thought, and kept walking. One particular painting on my left caught my eye. The frame stood out clearly against the black tapestry and looked quite aged.

A beautiful woman with black curls stared back at me, her dress as if from another time. The silk and chiffon hugged her curves like ice blue water and brought out her eyes. She didn’t smile. No, she looked down on you like the queen she probably had been.

A rough hand closed around my throat and pulled me back so that I slammed against a hard body.

‘Hello, little brat.’