Chapter Fourteen

 

Audrey

 

The first day of my fall classes is going great…until Organic Chemistry with Professor Talbot. It’s obvious, by the way the silver fox stands a little too close and laughs a little too much with students who come up and talk to him, that he thinks he’s God’s gift to women.

Just like Professor Burrows.

“Miss O’Neil, I need to see you after class,” Professor Talbot says, as everyone starts putting their things away in their backpacks. 

While I wish I could say I’m surprised that he’s called me out, I sort of assumed it was only a matter of time, based on my grocery store conversation with Professor Burrows.

My heartbeat is hammering away at an unhealthy pace as I quickly pack up and head down the auditorium stairs, wanting to have this conversation while other students are still milling about.

“Yes, sir?” I ask when I get to his podium.

 “It’s nice to meet you, Audrey. I look forward to a wonderful semester,” he says, holding his hand out for me to take it.

“You too,” I reply politely as I put my hand in his to shake. He doesn’t let go right away.

“I’ve been told that science isn’t your favorite subject,” he says with a grin. “Such a shame.”

“No, sir, it’s not, but I plan to study and work very hard this semester.”

“I’m also aware of your…unique but highly effective study techniques from last semester,” he replies. “The hard work you put into Professor Burrows’ Physics class was impressive.”

And here we go.

“I would prefer to stick to the traditional methods of studying this year,” I tell him, trying to shoot down his implication.

“It would be a shame for you to struggle through the semester and come up short at the end of the year, Miss O’Neil. Failing would mean having to postpone your graduation another year. That would be a real shame. Better to get ahead of the curve now, don’t you think?”

He’s going to fail me if I don’t sleep with him. That’s basically what he’s saying.

Leaning closer to whisper in my ear, since there are still a handful of students in the auditorium, he says, “I’ll see you at Burrows’ house tonight, eight sharp. Don’t keep us waiting. It’s going to be an enlightening encounter that you’ll never forget.”

“No, thanks,” I respond before I start to walk away. He claps a hand down on my elbow and squeezes it, stopping me.

“Then I’ll see you next year in Organic Chemistry, and the year after that, and so on, Miss O’Neil,” he threatens through clenched teeth before he eventually lets me go.

I rush out of the auditorium and practically run back to my apartment across campus.

By the time I get inside, my breaths are infrequent, coming in partial gasps.

I recognize the tightness in my chest and the trembling as a panic attack. Usually it’s thunderstorms that cause them.

I’m starting to realize there’s something I’m even more terrified of than lightning, and I have no idea what I’m going to do about it.