Chapter 4 CHAPTER FOUR.

Clara's POV.

Wait! What was he doing here?

I blinked repeatedly to confirm he was the one that I wasn't hallucinating and truly he was the one.

"Good morning class." He greeted, his eyes still locked with mine as I began to breathe heavily.

Please lord, don't tell me it was him.

"I am Mr. Asher Blackwood, your new professor." He introduced himself and just like that, I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole.

I had a one-night stand... with my professor.

He didn't look like one last night, not with the way his glasses sat crookedly on his nose, the soft stubble on his jaw, and that boyish grin that screamed bad decisions. I thought he was a hot grad student at best.

Now, he's standing there with that same smirk on his face, like he could read every panicked thought flying through my head.

This has got to be some cosmic joke.

"Damn" I muttered under my breath. How was I going to survive this semester?

Professor Asher's expression shifted as he adjusted his glasses and dove into the lesson, his voice smooth and authoritative. Meanwhile, I was chewing on my own cap like it was my lifeline, drowning in thoughts.

What if he thinks I'm some desperate groupie?

What if he reports me?

What if I get kicked out?

I was on a scholarship for heaven's sake. I couldn't afford a scandal. I loved literature too much. I couldn't drop this class.

Thirty minutes passed, and I still hadn't heard a word of the lecture. My pen was clenched so tightly in my hand, it was a miracle it hadn't snapped in two.

Okay. Breathe. Just wait till class ends, pull him aside, and clear the air. Be mature, Clara. Be cool. Be —

"You, in the pink shirt chewing on your own — stand up."

I froze.

"The theme of love contrasted with hate. Explain." His voice was calm but firm.

The class went silent. My spine went stiff. Every eye turned to me.

No. Please no. Not me. Anyone but me.

My legs wobbled as I stood, eyes downcast. I just needed a second to collect my thoughts, just a moment of —

"Please, raise your head while answering. The entire class deserves your full engagement." He added, and I nearly screamed.

Why now? Why me?!

I lifted my gaze - and BAM - his blue eyes met mine. My throat dries instantly. My mouth moved but no words came out.

"We're waiting, Miss...?" He promoted.

"C - Clara." I stuttered like a bloody fool.

"Well, Miss Clara, don't keep us waiting."

Laughter erupted behind me.

Dylan and Anna were snickering in the corner — his arm around her, her head leaning into his shoulder. He whispered something into her ear, and she giggled like he'd just told her she was the only girl in the world.

My heart twisted in my chest. Not because I cared, he could die for all I fucking care, but because this was the absolute worst day to be humiliated. Again.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Without another word, I grabbed my bag and dashed out of class, ignoring the calls and laughter behind me.

I barely made it halfway down the corridor before I heard someone behind me.

"Hey! Clara, wait up!"

No. Nope. I don't want to talk. I want to disappear.

I walked faster but a hand grabbed mine, spinning me around. I gasped then tripped over my own foot and crashed into the person like a wrecking ball of embarrassment.

"Oof!"

We both hit the floor. Hard.

"Ow," Jake groaned, shielding my head with his hand so I didn't headbutt him. A small blessing.

I stayed there, awkwardly sprawled on top of him, for a full five seconds, my brain buffered like a broken website.

"Can you get off me? No offense but you are heavy." He told me.

That snapped me out of it. I scrambled to my feet, mortified and I gulped, hurriedly getting off him and dusting myself while he did the same.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I saw the same level of concern I saw in Professor Asher's eyes yesterday in his.

Since when did people start caring about me?

"Yes and my apologies for crushing against you. I hope you are not bruised?" I asked, feeling a twinge of guilt hitting me in the heart.

He risked an injury to save me.

"Oh! It's nothing. There is dirt on your face though." He said and moved closer as if to wipe it off when he wrapped his hands around my waist and drew me closer into him, his tongue licking my flesh.

My body turned to stone. My palms grew sweaty as I tried to breathe, the air suffocating suddenly.

"Don't tell me you two left the class to get intimate." I heard a deep, angry voice and looked up to see professor Asher standing just a few feet away from us.

His grey eyes were flashing with rage, his hands clenched into fists while I felt like the ground should open up and swallow me.

Now he would definitely feel like I am a whore.

I'm so dead.

Jake was my coursemate and a flirt who sometimes poked fun at me. I tried my best to avoid him and when I began dating Dylan, he backed off respecting that I was with someone else.

But now that Dylan has made it clear that I have been dumped, I guess I am back on his list.

"Oh! Please pardon us, professor. She is just too sweet to resist." Jake winked at him and I wanted to bash his head against the wall.

"Too sweet to resist?" Professor Asher repeated as he glared at both of us. Jake nodded, about to say more when I hurriedly covered his mouth with my hands.

I faked a smile at professor Asher to reduce the tension but he just scoffed before turning to walk away, his footsteps heavy and sending fear through my heart.

I returned to class just in time to see Professor Asher talk about a project he was going to pair us for. He got the Class Rep. to bring the list for our class and began to pair us randomly with names.

Please not Jake. Please not Jake. Please not —

"Jake Williams and Clara Bennet are to be partners as well." He announced.

Jake threw a devilish smirk and wiggled his eyebrows.

I slumped forward on my desk, ready to scream.

Professor Asher glanced at us, at me, and for a moment, his eyes lingered a second too long and I swallowed hard.

Goddess, please help me.