The soft clicks of Elara heels against the tiled floor filled the air of the almost empty hallway. Students had already made their way to class with only a few who didn't care about the consequences of coming late to class lingering along the hallway. Usually a normal student would hurriedly head to class when they notice a teacher, but not the students of Blackwood Academy. Teachers were nothing more than servants who were employed to teach them.
Her nerves were still jittery and all over the place to worry about them. She couldn't help but glance back several times than she could keep track of.
She needed to make sure that Mr. Grayson wasn't seeking up behind her like he had done on several occasions. Everything about him made her skin, from the way he thinks to that oily smile of his and also how he always looked like he had something to hide.
"It's too early, Elara,"she said to herself, clutching the straps of her bag tighter. "Don't let him ruin your day. Ignore him."
She was grateful that she didn't have to teach first period since she wasn't in the right mind frame to stand in front of uninterested students without losing her cool.
She was so busy listening to the internal monologue in her head that she hadn't noticed the shadow walking towards her until she collided with something firm.
"Jeez!" She let out a sharp gasp almost tumbling to the floor but was saved by the pair of strong hands that held her shoulder firmly.
"I'm so sorry. Didn't notice you there. Are you okay?"
Elara froze.
Adrian.
Another Blackwood.
She muttered a whispered curse under her breath. Why do I keep crossing paths with a Blackwood? First Lucian, now him.
He stood in front of her looking as charming as he had been that day in class. Even though he looked and acted different from his brother,she still knew that she had to keep her distance with anyone from that family. Whereas Lucian always had a mischievous look in his eyes, Adrian's on the other hand had soft looking eyes.
"It's okay. I'm fine. Totally fine" Elara replied in a rushed tone taking a step back which caused his hands on her shoulders to fall back to his sides. She brushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear, trying to regain composure.
She noticed the way his eyes stared at something behind her and then back to her,a hearty grin lighting up his face. He seemed to remind her of a kid who was up to no good.
Adrian opened his mouth to speak but before he could utter a single word, Elara stepped around him looking back. She couldn't afford being seen with her student in a compromising situation.
Her pace quickened the closer she got to the teachers office, though she still couldn't shake off his sharp eyes pressing against her back.
She wondered if he knew of what had transpired between his brother and her. Lucian didn't seem like one to go about sharing his private affairs but Adrian was his brother so she couldn't be sure. He might have probably bragged about kissing his teacher. That's just how boys were.
The thought made her stomach churn. Her life was one hell of a mess.
She shoved down those thoughts, pushing into the office thankful that she was the only one who had arrived. At least she didn't have to face the disgusted look of her co-workers as they watched her walk towards her desk.
She needed that moment alone.
_________
The hours crawled by.
She was grateful that she didn't have to count each second while anticipating the final bell. She had been too busy all morning but she was able to endure it as the students had been responsive, making sure to answer any questions she asked and asking her a few ones back. Nothing made her more happy than seeing that they understood what they were being taught.
By the time the bell rang for lunch,her feet throbbed. She made a mental note not to wear footwear a little bit tight when she had to stand throughout the day. All she wanted at that moment was to lay her head down on the desk and shut the world out.
She wondered how life would have been if she grew up with the same privilege as her students. She had always known life to be tough. She grew up with parents who were unable to provide good food to fill her stomach and good clothes on her back. Things became worse after they died and then came Damien who had disguised as a saint, only revealing his true form when she had fallen deeply in love with him. They didn't understand how it felt to live a shitty childhood and an even shittier adulthood.
She focused on organising the materials she had used during the lecture, arranging the submitted project and book neatly. She tried to take her mind off of other things by focusing on making sure the desk was in order. Her fingers hovered over the pens, stacking them in order by colours.
She heard the faint creak of the door as it pushed open.
Her head snapped up.
And there he was.
Lucian stared at her with that look in his eyes,his hands around the knob as he locked it with an inaudible click. He raised his hand at her in a wave,a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He held a bag in his hand which he waved in front of his face.
Her pulse stuttered.
He pushed against the door before walking towards her in deliberate slowness. The click of his shoes against the marbled floor seemed to echo through the empty classroom.
His voice, low and dripping with amusement, filled the silence.
"I see that you're… alone" he drawled cocking his head,his lips curving. "Almost made me think that you were… waiting for me?"