Page 104 of Teacher's Pet

"I was pissed at you last night!" The words burst out of me, louder than I intended.

Her jaw tightens.

I inhale, trying to steady myself. "Cole said he knew whose apartment you were in last night. He made it sound like you were in trouble, and honestly? I was angry enough to hear him out. If it is Professor Ackerman, Ana, we can go to the dean-"

"Mr. Ackerman is not the guy in that photo!" Ana’s voice echoes through the dorm, her frustration breaking through.

Her fingers curl into fists, her entire body tense with barely contained rage.

"Perhaps you two didn’t get the fucking memo, Cole hates my ass. And clearly, Walker is no better. Anything he tells you is absolute bullshit."

Elijah and I say nothing.

"I tried to explain things to you last night," she continues, her voice shaking slightly. "But after you walked away, I needed a place to land, to give you space. Whoever I choose to spend my time with outside of this campus is nobody’s fucking business."

I open my mouth, but she cuts me off before I can even try to argue.

"Last time I checked, I’m still an adult." She exhales sharply, running a hand through her hair. "One who isn’t fucking one of her teachers. Can you hear how fucking crazy that sounds out loud?"

Elijah, still seated, leans forward.

"Ana, if you’re being taken advantage of, we can help," he says, his voice softer than mine.

Ana lets out a bitter laugh, her arms crossing over her chest.

"The only people taking advantage of me are the ones trying to make that photo become something it’s not."

Her eyes flicker between both of us, as if daring us to say otherwise.

"The least you two can do is not feed into their delusions."

Snatching up her things, she turns on her heel, already marching toward the bathroom.

"I’m taking a shower before class." Her voice is flat, final, "When I get back out, this conversation better be over."

The bathroom door slams shut behind her.

Silence.

Taking a deep breath, Elijah and I finally lock eyes.

Neither of us says a word.

But the tension in the room?

It’s suffocating.

"You shouldn’t have trusted anything that little weasel gave you."

Elijah’s voice is firm, unwavering. His arms are crossed, his expression filled with exasperation.

"Ana would never get with someone that fucking old. No matter how yummy Mr. Ackerman looks, Ana isn’t gonna do anything to compromise her spot here."

I open my mouth, but he keeps going.

"You know about her dad. The last thing she wants to do is disappoint him."

His words land heavier than I expect, sinking into my chest like lead.

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