Page 102 of Teacher's Pet

Megan

The blurry, grainy image on my phone screen feels like a loaded gun pointed straight at my best friend. The photo, sent by Cole, supposedly shows Ana wrapped up with someone who could very well be Professor Ackerman.

Since getting back to the dorm last night, Elijah and I haven’t looked away from it.

"Call her again," I snap, my fingers tightening around my phone.

Elijah exhales, frustrated.

"Oh, I’m sure after the twelfth fucking time, she’ll answer." He throws his arms up. "Here’s an idea: maybe next time, don’t blow up on her because you had unresolved feelings you lied about. Newsflash-" He leans forward. "You willingly spoke to Cole. You know what he did to Ana. Now he and Walker are all buddy-buddy. That’s probably why Walker even talked to her in the first place-"

"I understand all of that, Elijah!" I cut him off, my voice rising.

I hold up my damn phone, shaking it in his face.

"But this, do you have any idea how fucked Professor Ackerman is if this photo is real? Ana is vulnerable as hell right now. He’s taking advantage of her."

Elijah rolls his eyes, unimpressed.

"If it’s a real photo." He gestures at the screen. "That could be any guy. It’s too fucking blurry to tell. I only knew it was Ana because of those hideous plaid shorts she insists on wearing."

I glare at him.

Now’s not the time.

He exhales, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What did Cole even want you to do with the photo?"

Shame claws at my chest.

Even entertaining a conversation with Cole last night kept me up. It was spiteful, reckless, and now? I regret every second of it.

"He wanted me to show it to Professor Ackerman." My voice is barely above a whisper, "He said Ana doesn’t know her mind well enough to realize when she’s getting taken advantage of."

Elijah’s lip curls in disgust.

"Sounds like he’s speaking from experience."

I look back down at the photo, my mind racing.

"What if it is Mr. Ackerman?" I press. "Do you honestly think Ana wouldn’t do something reckless just to get back at Walker?"

Elijah’s brows furrow.

"You must think so little of Mr. Ackerman if you assume he’d just throw his career away to fuck a student."

"And if he isn’t a stand-up guy? You may only have dick on your mind, but I know you can at least appreciate Ana’s looks. You don’t think a man as young as him would take advantage of her if given the chance?" I scoff.

Silence.

For once, Elijah doesn’t have an immediate comeback.

He ponders the question, his jaw tightening slightly. "I suppose it’s possible," he finally admits. "But Ana is old enough to make her own decisions. She makes her grades just fine. She wouldn’t need to fuck him to get an A. So, tell me, why the hell would she be doing it if it were true?"

I open my mouth.

Nothing comes out.

Why would she?

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