Chapter 5
IVY
On Monday, I went to Will’s class not expecting anything.
I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Didn’t want to get jealous or mad if he didn’t give me attention. I would’ve understood. And because of that mentality, I didn’t second-guess our kiss on Saturday when he didn’t even look at me in class.
I couldn’t imagine how he must feel. He had a great responsibility. He was a professor, and being with a student wasn’t allowed. I got that, and I didn’t want to risk him getting fired, or me getting expelled.
Will seemed content. Happy. He taught the way he always did, and didn’t seem distracted or confused. I was glad. It made staying composed much easier.”
Once class was dismissed, I packed up my notebook and walked down the few steps to head out the door, and when I looked over at him to give him a smile, he lifted his hand and said, “Ivy, a word, please.”
He sounded serious, and, suddenly, my body went numb.
Oh god…he’s going to tell me that it’s over.
Whatever we started is already over.
Fine.
That’s fine.
It’s for the better, anyway, right?
This is way too risky.
I swallowed and looked behind me as the last student left the room, closing the door behind them. And when I turned back around, Will was standing right there in front of me.
I didn’t have a moment to realize what was happening before he cupped my jaw with one hand, placed the other on my lower back, and covered my mouth with his. The kiss was deep, and I melted into him instantly.
Will broke the kiss but stayed close, the tip of his nose brushing mine. “Sorry I ignored you,” he said first.
They surprised me almost as much as the kiss.
“It’s okay. I understand,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “I had trouble sitting back there too. I didn’t want to stare.”
“You didn’t,” he assured me, smiling gently before he pressed another kiss to my lips. “I just wanted to make sure that you know Saturday night wasn’t just a random hookup. I want to be around you. We just have to be careful.”
I looked up at him, unable to stop a grin from spreading on my lips. “We’re not being very careful right now.”
“Yeah, I know.” He chuckled, brushing aside a strand of my hair, then stepping back. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I don’t know yet. I still have a painting to finish.”
“Good. Then meet me at the studio. I’ll be there at six.”
“Okay.”
He watched me for another moment before placing one more kiss to my lips, then he nodded toward the door. “Go. You’ll miss your next class.”
I didn’t want to leave, but I also didn’t want to risk getting caught by the next students walking into his classroom. Giving him a smile and gently squeezing his hand, I left the room and walked down the hallway to get to my next class.
Will stayed on my mind for the rest of the day, and I wished that kiss he gave me could’ve lasted longer. Everything I already felt for him before intensified, and this thing growing between us would soon bloom into something bigger. I couldn’t wait.
I wanted to embrace every feeling I felt.
I wanted to embrace him. Wanted to embrace us .
***
At six-thirty, I finally made it to the studio.
After all my classes and dropping my books off at home, I headed back to campus to meet Will. Nobody else was around the art wing. Good. I wanted to be alone with him.
When I pushed open the door, Will turned toward me with a smile. “There you are.”
I looked from him to one of the tables which had food on it, and a bouquet of yellow, orange, and pink flowers. I opened my mouth to say something, but couldn’t.
He looked at the flowers too, then picked them up before walking toward me.
“Are…those for me?” I asked, finally taking my eyes off them to look up at him.
He nodded, smiling again. “Do you like them?”
“I do. They’re beautiful.” I was too stunned to say more.
He got me flowers, and it looked like he also got me dinner.
I didn’t plan on eating tonight. Simply because being with him was enough to distract me from anything else.
Food became secondary when I was with him.
I didn’t have a bad relationship with food, and I definitely would’ve eaten something once I got back home.
He chuckled as I stayed quiet, just staring at the flowers. Reaching up one hand, he cupped my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. I melted into him, still trying to realize what was happening.
Is this a date?
Please…let this be a date.
When he pulled back, he asked, “Are you hungry? I got us dinner.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I figured it was only right to get you something to eat after asking you to come here this evening. I got us sushi.”
“Risky choice for someone who doesn’t really know me,” I challenged, pursing my lips.
A smirk tugged at his lips. “I know you like sushi.”
“How?”
His hands were on my waist now, pulling me closer, but not tight enough to squeeze the flowers between us.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek before saying, “I overheard a conversation you had with Ruby in class a few weeks ago. You were listing your favorite foods to make a meal plan together, and you mentioned how much you loved sushi quite a few times.”
I parted my lips to protest and tell him that it wasn’t nice to eavesdrop. But that’s not what that was. Ruby and I often talked during classes, and he probably just listened absentmindedly. Still, he remembered. “I do love sushi,” I finally admitted.
His grin widened. “Good. Now, come sit.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his waist and looked back at the door behind me. “What if someone comes in?”
“I’ll lock the door. Don’t worry.”
That didn’t make my worries go away. But it did make this situation more exciting.
The idea of getting caught and the possible consequences were scary to think of, but this was thrilling. God, dating a teacher was fucking thrilling.
***
“I will be dreaming about this sushi forever. Where did you get it?” I asked after swallowing the last California Roll.
“It’s a place called Yooji’s in the city center near the train station. It’s a small little restaurant. Very quiet and cozy.”
“I’ve never heard of it. I should really start going further than campus,” I said with a laugh. “That was amazing. Thank you, Will.”
He smiled and reached for a napkin to wipe his fingers. “Thank you for wanting to be here. I know this can’t be easy.”
“Oh, it is very easy,” I said quickly, looking at him wide-eyed.
“I’ve been wanting to be alone with you for a long time.
God, this is going to make me sound so weird, but I’ve had a crush on you since the first time I came into your classroom.
If anything, it’s you this can’t be easy for.
You have so much responsibility, yet you did all this for me.
” I looked around the table, at the empty sushi containers, at the flowers he got for me.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble, but I don’t want to stay away from you, either. ”
He watched me closely as I spoke, and all kinds of emotions and thoughts flashed through his gaze. He was thinking about this. Trying to figure out if I was still worth the trouble. And when he smiled, the ache in my heart eased a little.
His hand came up to cup my cheek, brushing my thumb along my cheekbone as he leaned in. “Let that be my worry. Let’s not make this hard. We’re here now, and I want us to enjoy every moment.”
I studied him for a while. I had no issue believing him. I trusted him. But I was still worried. “Maybe we just keep this a secret. For now.”
We had to, anyway.
“Yeah, for now.” He smiled before moving closer to kiss me. His lips parted and his tongue slid into my mouth, gently curling around mine.
I moaned into the kiss, reaching up my hand to place it on his shoulder.
I didn’t want this kiss to stop, but I also didn’t want him to think that I was here for only one thing.
Sex hadn’t been on my mind in a while. Though, every now and then, whenever I looked at Will, I thought about all the possible moments that could turn into something more.
This kiss, for example.
But he broke it before I could fantasize about him touching my body and taking off my clothes.
“You wanted to see the finished painting,” he stated, getting off his stool.
I held my breath to stop myself from arguing with him. I did want to see it, but I also wanted him to keep kissing me.
God, I’m desperate.
Will walked over to the covered painting to reveal it, and I looked at it, taking in every detail, every perfect stroke he made to create that masterpiece.
“It’s…” My mouth was dry, and words didn’t come easy. “It’s so…peaceful.”
It already had been the first time I saw it, but now that it was done, it was perfect.
He added texture, and the colors had darkened just slightly.
It was still cheerful, but maybe only to people who didn’t know what that place meant to Will.
He had told me that the landscape was one he saw often as a child.
One he remembered almost daily. And without having to stand in the exact spot in real life, I knew it would look just like this painting.
“The sky,” I said, admiring the darker shades of blue in the distance, while in the front, they were lighter.
“Reminds you of something?” he asked, watching me instead of his painting.
I nodded. “Yes, I just don’t know of what.”
Then it hit me. I turned my head to look at my unfinished painting.
The ocean. The water I painted in dark blues, almost blacks.
But the colors weren’t exactly what reminded me of Will’s painting.
It was the way he painted it. The way he moved the brush across the canvas.
It was painted in a similar style as mine.
“I was inspired by your work.”
I looked at him, my eyes wide again. “But…you’re my teacher. Everything I learned…everything I’m capable of doing is because of you.”