Chapter 5 Except you, Miss Giovanni

ARIA

I overslept... thanks to the leftover beer Laura brought after dinner yesterday.

We ended up drinking while eating pizza and binge-watching Pretty Little Liars until i passed out on her couch.

Now, we're running late for our first class... Literature. The same class where I was supposed to hand in that damn assignment... and see him again.

Laura and i rushed out of her dorm like maniacs, barely dressed, hair still wet. By the time we got to the building, we were ten minutes late.

"Crap," i muttered, my heart pounding in my chest.

Laura rushed in first. She was also in a hurry that she didn't even notice she had left me standing outside the classroom, alone... with my stomach in knots and fingers white from gripping my literature textbook like it was a stress ball.

I couldn't move. I just stood there, frozen.

He's in there.

I couldn't stop thinking about the way he looked at me last night.

I was too nervous to go inside the classroom after seeing him yesterday.

"Aria Giovanni" a voice said coolly.

I almost jumped out of my skin when i heard my name. I turned back to look at who it was.

I blinked at the guy standing a few feet away from me.

Taller than I remembered. Tousled dark hair. Clear, amused eyes. With an easy, effortless smile.

"James. You scared me" i said with a half smile.

"Oops sorry, i didn't mean to sneak up on you" he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"What are you doing here?" I asked curious but still a little bit shaken.

Hoping he wasn't a freak that followed me to class.

"Oh, i'm also in this class" he smiled.

"Really how come? Didn't you say you were a law major?"

"Oh yes, but i opted for this class for my pre-law program. Literature can help develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills, which are valuable for legal studies." He rambled on.

"Right" i mumbled.

"So what are you doing outside?"

"Too nervous to step in"

"Let's go in together"

Before i could even object to what he just said, he was already taking me inside.

When we got in, the class

went silent and i brought my head down and used my textbook to cover my face.

"Look, there's free seats at the front row" James said.

He took me straight to the front seat.

Great. Right under the professor's gaze.

Laura gave me an apologetic smile from the second row. I shot her a death glare.

Traitor.

This was the second time professor Carter has seen me late to class. He must think i was slacking off.

I found the seat and sat down next James, trying to disappear in my oversized hoodie.

I dropped my textbook on the desk and i slowly lifted my eyes.

Professor Carter was leaning against his desk. Arms crossed. Jaw tight.

His dark eyes weren't just watching me they were drilling a hole straight through James's skull.

His gaze was dark and cold. Nothing like what i had experienced in the hotel.

But I knew better.

"Nice of you to join us, Miss Giovanni. Mr...?" Professor Carter's sharp voice finally broke the silence again.

"James Thatcher," James replied confidently, extending a hand toward him.

Professor Carter didn't take it.

"Let me remind the class," he said coldly, turning away. "That your assignments were due today. I hope no one's tardiness affects the quality of your submission."

His words weren't directed at the class. They were directed at me.

Every syllable was like a slap to my face.

I swallowed hard and stared at the floor.

"Well, he's a ray of sunshine." James leaned over and whispered to me.

I didn't answer. I couldn't.

Because I knew something James didn't.

That man wasn't just a random professor.

He was the stranger i kissed. The one who touched me like i was the only girl in the world.

And now, he was glaring at the guy sitting next to me like he'd already claimed me.

Like i belonged to him.

"Let's continue." he said.

I exhaled quietly and opened my notebook with shaking fingers, pretending to pay attention.

Professor Carter continued with the lecture, but i wasn't very focused.

Something about postmodern themes and intertextuality. Maybe Virginia Woolf. Maybe not. I couldn't hear anything over the pulse pounding in my ears.

James kept stealing glances at me. I could feel that too. His smile was boyish and innocent.

But his thigh brushed against mine under the desk, and I couldn't tell if it was an accident or not.

Then... finally... the class ended.

Students shifted in their seats, slamming their notebooks shut and gathering their bags.

Laura stood up quickly, stretching, saying something about coffee. I nodded vaguely.

"Before you go," Professor Carter said suddenly, making everyone stop in their tracks.

"Please leave your assignments on my desk. All of you."

Everyone started moving towards the front desk with their assignments.

I stood up too, gripping my folder, ready to add mine to the stack of folders already piled up.

But his eyes locked on mine. And he spoke again, but this time he was speaking to me.

"Except you, Miss Giovanni." His velvet voice was calm.

I froze.

"Sir?" i managed to say.

"You'll bring them to my office," he said, "since you arrived late... again... consider it a... personal penalty. You do remember where it is, yes?"

A few students looked back at me, muttering quietly. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Yes, sir," I said quietly.

"That's kind of extra, isn't it?" James said.

I didn't answer again. It felt like James was making my problems worse.

I avoided the professor's eyes and nodded, sliding my assignment back into my bag.

"See you outside?" James asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah," I lied.

Laura shot me a good luck look before she and James left the room together.

The classroom was empty.

The professor also packed his things and headed out of the classroom.

I took a breath and slowly walked forward, taking the neat stack of papers and i followed him back to his office.

We got to his office and i put the files on his table.

"Here," I said softly, "all the assignments... and mine."

"Good." He finally looked up.

"You've made a habit of being late, Aria."