Chapter 7 7. Ten days

Briar's POV

The heat I felt last night on my cheeks was still fresh and I just cannot erase that incident from my memory. To put in simple words, my fear made me do something I could never imagine. I hugged my principal and not just hug, I JUMPED AND HUGGED Mr. Wilson. It was just amateurishly exasperating. I know how each time I recall that incident an extremely clear image of Mr. Wilson with that teasing smile, comes in my head.

I can only imagine how much fun he must've made of me in his brain. And on top of hugging him, I also rambled in front of him. Fuck my anxiety! My situation strangely keeps getting worse in front of him making it purely awkward for me to come in contact with him.

My heart beats faster thinking what happened last night, not just with me, but even Rose. I would've gotten mad at her as I was unaware of the other side of the story.

When I came back the previous night, nobody was in the dorm. To my surprise, even Gretchen was not the room, because she usually stays behind even if others are outside. There was some sort of bustle in the entire dormitory, when I came out of our room and saw some girls talking in the corridor.

"What's happening?" I asked Ivana, my classmate as I saw her rushing towards the hall area.

"I heard, Rosé has got into an accident and maybe her leg is broken." She said, looking worried as well.

"WHAT?!" I shrieked with my eyes widened.

Without wasting another second, I sprinted to the sick room, with anxiety taking over and only hoping for her to be fine. Mixed emotions of fear, hurry and apprehension started taking over my brain. I was running as fast as I could not caring about anything more than to see my best friend. The tears as if never left my eyes, I entered the sick room and saw all a few of my classmates. But a wave of relief spread over me when I saw some other girl lying on the bed. My throat was dry and I was panting, realising how fast I was running.

"Briar?" I heard a voice from behind and I saw Rosé walking towards me with tears filled in her eyes.

"Briar, you're okay! I was so scared." She said while hugging me tightly. I buried my face in her neck, letting tears flow out. I was relieved seeing that she's fine, though I felt bad for the girl whose leg was broken.

As selfish as it may appear, obviously my sympathy was connected a lot more to my friend rather than a stranger, I still got sad because I myself know how bad it hurts with a broken bone.

Without even asking, Rosé told me what actually happened. She was in the line to return the book. Almost all the girls had returned to their dorms. While some other girls were waiting in the line, they suddenly heard a loud thud and someone screamed. All of them went after the noise and saw a girl lying on the floor crying. Seeing the ladder beside her they understood she fell from it while searching for a book. She was crying, so they quickly picked her up and went to the sick room.

There was no emergency wheelchair available, which is why they had to help her get up and take her to the sick-room. Our library attendant quickly took the keys to lock the library as it was almost time for it to close, they forgot in panicky that I was still in the library. And after hearing the story I realised it wasn't her mistake.

If I was in Rosé's place, I would've also done the same. Still she apologised to me a several times because she felt for leaving me at the library.

>>

The next day another fresh morning and I simply wished for not encountering Mr. Wilson. Not because I don't like him but because of that embarrassing incident, assuming he might look at me and laugh again.

As we were walking to our classrooms, I realised in the mist of all that happened I left my book in the library last night.

"Shit!" I exclaimed suddenly.

"Huh? What?" Bianca said, with her eyebrows furrowed.

"I forgot my book at the library yesterday. Now I have to search for it again." I said, feeling gloomy.

"You can do that after school or maybe in the free period?" Ariana suggested.

"I guess." I said as they dragged me to the class.

The second period, world history was over but when Mrs. Jones was leaving, she stopped and turned around calling me. She waved towards me and I went to her, knowing very well she'd ask me to run errands. But it was Mrs. Jones, I couldn't possibly decline

"Briar can you please give these files to Mr. Wilson in his office?" She said, because it wasn't a question or a choice where I had the option of declining. But why all of a sudden so much work is coming related to him. I've never gone to the principal so frequently? She looked at my face and noticed the irritation I was going through.

"You can do it, right?" She said, giving me her prettiest smile, knowing very well it can make anyone's heart flutter.

I don't want to meet him. Just say no Briar. I thought to myself. But saying no, to my favourite teacher would be mean. But I should say NO. SAY NO!

"Yes, ma'am, I'd surely do it. It's completely fine" I said smiling, taking the files from her.

"Thank you so much Briar." She said giving me a soft tap on my cheek while smiling. flowers bloomed inside my brain. She knows what she's doing.

When your favourite teacher shows even the minimalist form of affection, you feel like you'd even climb a freaking mountain for them. I felt the same. And that too because, I love this woman. She's like my second mother and I had never stepped back from helping her even in the slightest, so, I went to the office to give the files.

I just stood a few yards away from the door. It had been a few minutes of me trying to encourage myself to go in but I was not able to. Wish I had all the time in the world, but I couldn't stand there the whole day. The fact that I could see the lights turned on, peeking at me from the little glass on the upper half of the door, gave me a confirmation of his presence inside. I still took a deep breath making myself ready to go in.

I entered the outer office with nobody there and walking straight to his cabin, I knocked on the door. As I slightly opened it, I said, "May I come in sir?"

"Yes." I heard from the other side of the door.

"Good morning, sir" I said, with my head down, in an attempt to ignore him at any costs.

But I failed.

"Good morning, Briar." He said, saying my name in the end of his sentence.

I just kept the files on the table and with my head down, I said, "Mrs. Jones has sent these."

"Okay." Right when I heard his confirmation, I hurriedly twisted my feet towards the exit walking fast, when he stopped me.

"Briar." He said in his deep voice. I hated admitting how my name sounded a ton sexier, when he says it. But the humility I faced, not even a few hours ago to be exact, didn't let me enjoy this moment, rather giving me the negative butterflies, heating my ears.

"Did I ask you to leave?" He completed his sentence. His mere words, sent an electrifying effect through my entire body. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes furrowing my eyebrows, cursing under my breath before turning around.

My eyes travelled in his direction and I met his beautiful forest grey eyes. The thought of being in his eye frame gives me shivers yet I blush. I could only see him wearing a grey cable knit sweater, since he was sitting on his chair. With his hair appearing like a perfect mess, I noticed how effortlessly pretty he looked.

His face with adorned with a light beard, making him look mature in contrast to how young he usually looks. Perhaps, he forgot to shave? But even after looking like he might have stayed up all night, he was breathtakingly handsome. I couldn't appreciate this man's stature enough, given his stunning voice makes anyone turn and his face make them stop to stare.

"You don't have to be embarrassed about whatever happened. What you did was just a reflex. So, it's okay." He said in a calm, comforting voice. I saw a genuine smile on his face. It felt like he really meant it.

"Thank you, sir." I said feeling at ease.

"Well, tell me one more thing. What was that you wanted to say last night?" He asked curiously.

"What, sir?" I asked trying to recall simultaneously.

"Last night, you wanted to ask me something but you left." He said, tilting his head slightly.

"I was scared to go back to the dorm because it was dark and I thought the warden would scold me for coming late." I said truthfully. "But I was too embarrassed to ask you." I said, looking at his face thinking I might find his teasing smile, but to my surprise, he was listening with concentration and not in an attempt to make fun of me again.

"I see, that's fine. Don't be embarrassed, you can always ask for help." He said showing his perfect smile.

"Thank you." I said, feeling relaxed in his company for the first time.

"Uh Briar, wait." He called out, when I was about to move out, getting up from his chair. Realising how tall he is adrenaline rush through my body; I'm not used to his tower figure.

He took out a book from the shelf, right behind his huge chair. A few steps closer in my direction and I realised that he was carrying the book I was planning to take from the library yesterday.

"I found it after you left. You want to read it, right?" He asked, handing over the book to me.

I nodded and said, "Yeah. Thank you once again sir."

"But, don't take it as a gift. I'll fine you if you submit it late." He said and my eyes widened.

"I'm kidding, don't worry." He chuckled. "So, how much time do you need to study it?" He asked, sliding his fingers into his pant pockets.

"If I get time, I'll complete it in three days. But I'll return it you in ten days, because I might have some work to do as well." I said calculating the time I may require, in my head.

"Okay then, ten days." He asserted.

"Yeah, ten days." I nodded.

I feel like he's not as bad as I think him to be.