Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ava
“Louis was obsessed with power. He loved the idea of controlling people. That’s why he kept the Lords and Ladies running around all day. There were a thousand activities, all requiring different attire and strict etiquette. That way, they were too busy trying on clothes to get together and plan his demise.” The professor had been going on about the former king of France for more than an hour, and my head was starting to fall.
“The reason he built Versailles wasn’t because he wanted a pretty palace. He wanted to show off. He was top dog, the biggest dick in Europe, and he meant to prove it. He practically dipped the entire thing in gold. Then he added mirrors, a modern marvel so extraordinary that the palace became one of the greatest wonders of the world.”
My eyes were ready to close. I could see Channing on top of me, his predatory smile, and his shaggy hair swinging back and forth while he slammed his cock into me. I would’ve killed to be with him right now.
“His problem was his overemphasis on religion. Everyone attended mass, and they were staunchly Catholic. Their ideas regarding technology, sex, and life in general became so rigid that they stunted themselves and their culture.”
I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes so I could focus on the teacher’s voice undistracted. That was a mistake. Every time my legs shifted, my body tingled, and I felt something building up inside me. I saw us sitting in the study room together. I was trying to tell him something about one of his classes, but he was staring at me. When I looked up, he kissed me, and I felt my breath being sucked out.
I opened my eyes, and he was standing at the classroom door, rising up and down on the balls of his feet, waving at me.
“In fact, the French gave up their state religion after the Revolution. It was a strange time in history. This wasn’t long after the American Revolution, and the idea that people could lead themselves was starting to spread.” The teacher was facing the students, standing in front of his desk. If he tilted his head just a bit, he’d see Channing.
I turned back to him. “Go,” I mouthed.
He smiled and shook his head. Then he motioned for me to come out to talk to him. I shook my head, but he wasn’t giving up. He leaned against the doorframe and started tapping his foot.
“They took the principle of liberty and turned it into a goddess. That’s where we get the Statue of Liberty.” The teacher looked to his right. “Excuse me,” he was staring at Channing.
He smiled at me and wagged his finger, motioning for me to come out into the hall to talk to him. I sighed and ran up out of my chair. The second I got into the hall, I grabbed him by the wrist and pushed him up against a wall. “What are you doing? I’m in class.”
“I don’t care.” He slammed his lips to mine.
I pulled away. “Is that why you interrupted my class?”
“No,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper. “This represents a third of my chemistry grade.”
I backed away so he could hold it up to me. Hamburg had scribbled a big red A that took up the length of the paper. “Oh my God,” my eyes widened.
“I know for certain now. I’m gonna pass.”
“Whoo!”
We both jumped up and down. Then he wrapped his arm around my neck and kissed me. “It’s all because of you,” he whispered and pulled away. His face was close, our foreheads touching and our eyes locked. “How could I possibly thank you for this?”
“It was you. You knew how to do it all along.”
“But you helped,” he kissed me again. “I wouldn’t have passed if you hadn’t come along. I would’ve just gone out and drank, and screwed around. You put me back on the right path. I promise you, Ava,” he took my hand, “I’ll pass. You and I can have that house at the base of the mountains, and live the way we want.”
I felt myself tearing up. “I hope so.”
“I’ll do this for you.”
“Good, do it, and you won’t ever regret it.”
I kissed him again, and this time he pulled into it. He let his tongue pass through my lips, pull back over my palette, and out again, so he could bite my bottom lip. “It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you.”
The students were starting to stream out of the class. He pulled away, and we walked side by side down the hall towards the door leading out into the courtyard. My phone started ringing when we walked outside. “Hello?”
Channing mouthed, “Who is that?”
“Hey, sweetie.”
“My mom,” I mouthed, and we started walking towards a table to sit down. “How are you?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she sobbed.
“Mom,” I tried to hide my panic, but it still came out. “What’s wrong?”
Channing was sitting next to me. He rested a hand on mine.
“It’s just—I don’t talk about this,” I went silent.
“What’s going on, Mom? Whatever it is, I’m sure—”
“It’s the house.”
I froze, and Channing grabbed my hand up. “What are you talking about, Mom?” I could feel tears welling up.
“They fired me at the bar. One of the guys came in and he tried to grab me, so I threw him out. He knew the owner and he told him about it, so they fired me, and now we’re screwed. Ava, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I-I don’t have it.”
“We’ll sell if we have to. We’ll make do.”
“No, Mom. We both know that won’t happen. You don’t have the money. I…”
“If you don’t have it, it’s okay. Don’t do anything dumb. Just stay where you are and study. We’ll be fine.” I heard my sister shrieking in the background. “I gotta go.”
I set the phone down, and my head fell onto the table. I didn’t want Channing to see this. The last thing I needed was his pity. This had been bothering me for a long time. Channing’s life was so different. He could have everything he wanted. He didn’t understand the fight I had to go through on a daily basis.
But I didn’t want that to make me a charity case. I was a strong, independent woman. Charity would shift the balance of power in our relationship. I’d owe something to him, and if things got bad, or he turned out to be wrong for me, it’d make it harder to walk away. I’d owe him for saving my family and helping me get through school, and I’d have to pay him back somehow for it, even if he just did it because he cared. That was how life worked. Nothing was free.
He could throw it in my face, tell me that he made sure my mother didn’t lose her home. I could see it now. I’d be in a corner of our dream house, and he’d sweep everything off the table and tell me, “If it weren’t for me, they’d be homeless.” That simply couldn’t happen. It’d be like giving a piece of my freedom away, and as much as I loved Channing, I had to be realistic. There was always a chance that he’d leave.
I was sobbing, and tears were falling down my cheeks, pooling up on the table underneath me. I didn’t want to look up at him because I knew what he’d say. But I couldn’t lie to him.
He rested a hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s my mom,” I sat up and wiped my tears away. When I did, I turned away so he couldn’t see, but I saw him looking at me out of the corner of my eye. “I’m sorry.”
“No, no. Don’t apologize. I’m just wondering if there’s anything I can do.”
“No, there isn’t. I mean…”
“What is it, Ava?”
“She can’t pay for the house.”
“Then I can help. What’s the problem?”
“No,” I said.
“What?”
“You can’t pay.”
“But I have to. I’m not going to let you lose your family home. I wouldn’t feel right.”
“Things change. People move. They lose their jobs. It’s a part of life.”
“You must know I’m not going to just walk away and let your family get kicked out on the streets. I can’t do it.”
“They won’t get kicked out on the streets.”
“Did she lose her job?”
“It wouldn’t be right for you to interfere.”
“And why not?” He was getting upset.
“For reasons that I absolutely refuse to talk about.” Explaining would just muddy the crystal clear pool we’d been swimming through together.
His face went red. “You can’t keep me from this.”
“I have to.”
“Why?”
“I’m sorry, Channing. Please, it’s going to be fine.”
“If you don’t want me to interfere, I won’t, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten upset like that.”
“It’s okay. You’re worried.”
“And I’ll be worried for a while.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. Just promise me that you won’t do anything. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I promise.”
“You mean it?”
I searched for any sign that he might be lying. “No, I mean it. If it upsets you, I’ll let things be.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Thank you.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and let me cry. The sobs didn’t dissipate as they rolled through. They just kept getting stronger and stronger, cutting off my breath until I was choking and trembling. My face had gone bright red.
“No,” Channing’s voice was shaking. “Come here.” He pulled me closer. “I don’t care what you say. Your heart is breaking. I’m not going to sit back and let that happen.”
“But…”
“What is it?”
“I don’t want to owe you anything. I want things to be simple.”
“It’s nothing.”
“But I don’t want you to throw it in my face later on.”
“It’s not even that much money. I don’t care about the money. My parents spend thousands a day. You’re what matters. You’re the one that’s hurt, and your family is—no. I will do anything to make sure you’re happy. That’s all I care about.”
I went silent and pulled away.
“Please.” He took my hand. “Let me do this.”
“Okay.”
He grabbed me and kissed me. When he pulled back, he was smiling like a child. “It’s an honor to be able to help you.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
“I won’t accept it. I don’t care what happens. This is my gift to you.”
“It’s a beautiful gift. Thank you.”
“Of course.” I was unsettled but grateful. We stayed there for a while, talking while students passed us by. Many of them stared. Others pulled their phones out and started texting. None of it mattered, though. We were together, and when he got up and took my hand to walk me to my dorm, the moment was starting to slip away, and I was happy again.
When we stopped outside my apartment, he lingered for a moment longer. “Would you like to get together on Sunday?”
“Don’t you have a game?”
“Yes, but I was hoping I could head over after.”
“Okay.” I pecked him on the lips. “I’ll see you then.”