Page 9 of Witch Please

“He didn’t give me an explanation, Dr. Pilar.” Kennedy paled, twisting her braid around her finger. “I was on my way to the theater to get a jump start on set up when his text came through. He asked if I could drop by your classroom to tell you in person.”

With her message delivered, she left.

Sebastian: Meet me at the Rocky

Once again, no explanation. No additional text came. Just a directive. My curiosity got the better of me though because I couldn’t think of any reason why Sebastian would need to meet me at the Rocky, there weren’t any notable speakers or lectures scheduled there for another three weeks.

When I arrived, the screen hanging over the stage had been lowered as if expecting a presentation—however no one other than Sebastian was in the room. He had rearranged some of the modular pieces of the scattered sofas to make one oversized, enclosed pod placed in front of the seats in the front row. To its left there was an equipment cart holding pizza and a bucket of various snacks you’d typically find at a concession stand.

“What is all this?”

The obvious answer was a movie of some form, but I was more curious as to thewhy. Why the movie, and the pizza, and the concession food?

“I thought I’d give everyone a night off and we could watch a few movies. If we start right now, I think we can make it through all three before you start yawning.”

“Three movies? Why on earth would you want to sit here and power watch three movies?”

He took my bag and placed it on the chair next to his set up. From that same chair he produced a bag from the Dartmouth Bookstore.

“Pajama pants and a sweatshirt.” He smiled when he handed them over. “In case you wanted to get really comfy while watching the movie.”

Charmed. That was the perfect word. Totally charmed at this whole set up.

“You mentioned yesterday not being the kind of woman that exudes sensuality. While I wholeheartedly disagree—I thought that given you are voraciously academic, we could perform a study on sensuality from three very distinct films:Girls Trip,Burlesque, andPoison Ivy. Overt sexuality but in an empowered way; overt sensuality in a “give the guy what he wants” way, and the subtleties of communicatingwantanddesire.”

There was a part of me that thrilled at this effort. That he recognized my need to break things down and examine from all sides in order to understand them. It said something about his approach to our friendship that tickled me. Alternately, it also made me question our kiss even more. Had it been simply an experiment? A way for him to see how I would react? Maybe I’d read way too much into that kiss.

“There is a method.” He pointed the remote at me once I’d returned from the restroom, changed and ready to “relax” while we watched our movie marathon. “Just trust me.”

What choice did I have?

Chapter 8

Call me unorthodox. I’m certain however, that if Imogen canseewomen acting in seductive ways that eventually the academic side of her brain will somehow make sense of it. For some reason she has a mental block that prevents her from believing that anyone who doesn’t fit into a specific mold can’t be sensual, or god forbid, sexual.

That kiss last night proved every instinct I had about her was right. I knew it. Beneath that buttoned up exterior was a gorgeous, passionate woman just begging for release. Presently she was bundled up in a hoodie and flannel pants, sporting the glasses she’d swapped out for her contacts.

“Did you learn anything from the first movie?” I asked, clearing out ofGirls Tripand preparing the que forBurlesque.

“Plenty of things—though I’m not sure if they apply to the role of the witch. I honestly would have never taken you for a slapstick comedy kind of person, Sebastian. I had you pegged as a solidlyAb Fabkind of humor.”

Her giggle caught me off guard. I tried to remember if any time she had elicited such a light, tinkle of entertained glee. I’m sure she’d laughed over the course of seven years, but I’m certain if I’d heard that gleeful sound I would have made an effort to replicate it.

“Dr. Pilar, surely there is at least one key takeaway from that film. Think through it. Four women—all of different levels of sexual experience, economic backgrounds, and professions. But they had one main thing in common, other than their friendship right?”

Her blank, panicked stare rivaled any from a student in any of my classes. I’d be entertained if I wasn’t so surprised.

“Do I need to make you take notes during the next movie?”

She shrugged, taking a sip from the Pimm’s I’d supplied along with the pizza. I’d felt a definite satisfaction in being able to elicit her surprised smile.

“What about how each of them knows exactly what they want in regard to being sexually satisfied? They don’t just ask, but demand that it be so. Each of them has no hesitation in clearly communicating to their potential suitors the ways in which they want to be courted, treated while on a date, and how they prefer to be pleasured in bed. Taking this into the context of the witch and Macbeth—he craves guidance, right? In the traditional play and in mine—who gives him direction? Who does he listen to, take into confidence, and trust to help him succeed in his goals? Macbeth craves a firm hand to guide him, Imogen. Just like the women in this film.”

I didn’t wait for her to comment. I preferred to let her marinate on that statement, and internalize it while we watched the next film. If I knew anything about Imogen, she didn’t like to be bested or be without the correct answer. By the end of the next film she was immediate with her observations and answers.

“These girls are more sensual. They make clear what it is they want, but use their sexuality to tease and titillate. Making the men work for it before rewarding them with what they want.”

She recited her answer as soon as the credits began to roll. As if she’d been rehearsing that statement over and again in her head for some time. She bit her lip, the skin around her eyes softening as she looked at me, waiting for my response. My experience with scads of students over the years provided me enough know how to be able to spot the star pupil, desperate for the verbal pat on the head.

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