Page 5 of Claiming Kenna

I looked it over, wrinkling my nose at the stale pies and sandwiches. Free lunch came with our horrendous student debt we acquired when we studied here so I made a point of eating here every day I was on campus. But I sometimes wondered if my instant coffee that tastes like dirt was gourmet in comparison. I grabbed an egg sandwich and glass of water and went and sat down with Kyan and Claire on one of the last empty tables we could find.

“So Kenna, what’s new with you? You seem more reserved than normal,” Claire said to me while pushing her oversized glasses back up the bridge of her nose.

“Just a lot going on I suppose.” I admitted then picked at a piece of my sandwich.

“You know we should come bring dinner to your place tonight and we could study together for a change?” Claire suggested. My hands went sweaty at the thought of what I will actually be doing tonight. “I can’t, I have work every night. You know that,” I answered. Claire sighed loudly.

“I know. We worry about you sometimes.” Claire confessed then Kyan nodded in agreement

“Yeap you are the strongest person we know. You must be exhausted every single day you come to school.”

I managed to get through my egg sandwich over the next thirty minutes. Thankful I got a glass of water to wash down the dry, stale bread. Claire and Kyan had changed the subject and were back to talking about high fashion and parties. I was strong. I knew that. I fought hard to be here but I guess you could call me a lone wolf because I was ok in my own company and I didn’t like the spotlight of personal questions to be on me. I was happy being the one to sit silently listening to their crazy arses.

The small bell came to life giving us instruction that it was time for the next class. An hour seminar with Professor Cullen. I eyeballed the glass double doors that lead out to the outdoor area and contemplated running through them. Maybe I could just ask Claire and Kyan for their notes. I chewed the inside of my cheek thinking about how that would lead to Claire and Kyan coming around for a study session. I got up and trailed Claire and Kyan back through the now empty sea of tables feeling glum.

“You will be glad when this semester is over so you don’t have to do pysch anymore,” Claire noted.

“Yeah probably my least favorite but I know it will be worth it in the end,” I murmured.

“Professor hottie helps take the edge off I am sure,” Kyan laughed.

“Ew he is an old man. I don’t know what the attraction is,” Claire stated. My cheeks reddened on cue.

“I don’t think he is that old,” I muttered. They both eyed me.

“How old do you think he is since you have clearly thought about it a lot,” Kyan teased.

“It’s just a general observation and I would like to guess late 30s early 40s,” I bit out ready for this conversation to be over.

We slowed our pace nearing the classroom. Students were already swarming in, fighting over the seats at the front. I never understood that. I can still see and hear the same from the back where I am hidden. I waited for the line of students to go into the room so I could quickly head straight to the back and avoid Cullen. The last person in line had gone and I was about to head in when a hand brushed along my back sending electric shock waves through me.

“Good afternoon Kenna,” Cullen said, then stepped around me and sauntered into the classroom. The aroma of a fresh musk scented cologne was left in his place. I closed my eyes savouring the smell. This next hour was going to be hell.

Itookaseatin my usual spot. Cullen greeted the entire classroom, scanning the room and when his eyes landed on me, I could almost swear I saw a look of burning need in his eyes. I closed my thighs tightly together, trying to erase the tingling in my core, telling myself I was sick in the head. Sleep deprivation and stress was surely to blame. Cullen announced to the class we will be finishing off our case studies from yesterday and then watching a small video on the projector about human rights. Kyan, Claire and I bounced a few small notes off each other while finishing our own case studies.

“Can you take mine up with yours when you hand it in?” I almost begged Claire quietly. She smirked at me and I realized I wasn’t fooling anyone. But she did what a good friend should do and took the paper off me and took it to Cullens desk and added it to the pile. Cullen looked past Claire as she was walking back and his eyes openly roamed over my face looking more intrigued.

Cullen set up the projector and connected the video on it and turned off the classroom lights. It made the room feel so much more intimate. He then made his way to the back of the classroom. I sunk back in my seat. He stopped beside me and pulled out the spare seat. Kyan and Claire made half choking noises trying to hide their laughter. I side eyed them making it known I was not happy to be the root of their entertainment which made them chuckle more.

“Is this seat occupied?” Cullens’ English voice washed over me. “No,” I grumbled.

“I love sitting at the back to watch presentations like this. The view is much nicer.” He commented. He leaned back on his seat, spreading his legs out slightly in front of him so our legs were nearly touching. It felt electric like sparks were going to appear if our legs made even a minuscule touch. I glanced to the side of me stealing a small look at Cullen and he was looking straight ahead, but his face looked like it could be carved from stone and he rubbed his hands on the thighs of his pants. I wondered if he felt it too. Whatever this was.

I looked over his fingers looking for a wedding ring but there wasn’t one there.Interesting.I trained my eyes back to the projector trying to ignore Cullen beside me. Claire pressed a small folded up piece of paper onto my desk. And I should have known better because Claire and Kyan have no filters. But I unfolded it and saw what they had written. My mouth fell open and I quickly tucked it into my jeans pocket. The seat beside me scraped across the floor and Cullen bounced up and paced back to the front of the room not sparing me another look. I snapped my head back to Claire and Kyan and they both held looks of regret.

“Why the fuck would you say that?” I hissed at them.

“Jesus Kenna you didn’t need to open it in front of him,”

“I didn’t know you would write,I hope you know teacher/student sex is illegal. You guys are so immature,” I bit out. But it was more my embarrassment than anger at Claire and Kyan that was the issue. I wish I could sink into a deep hole right now instead of ever having to see Cullen again. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over me. He must be so upset with my friends and I. Cullen made himself busy with tasks at his desk not once looking in my direction. My hot mood had now cooled so much that I thought I would turn to ice. I kept my head down the rest of the session, doodling pointless patterns on my hand so I wouldn’t be tempted to look to the front of the room.

The room lights came on at the end of the video and I stuffed my pens into the front pocket of my backpack and high tailed it out of the room. I was usually the last to leave. But I couldn’t stand being here any long. Cullen hadn’t even let the students go yet but my nerves were completely frayed so I didn’t care. I had to try to give myself a mental pep talk before tonight because I was determined to make something in my life go right. I should see the funny side of this situation with Professor Cullen but instead, it had left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Strolling out of the school I stopped short and looked up into the sky. Fresh snowflakes were falling and my face had a growing collection of them. I smiled to myself letting my dismal afternoon float away. I was going on a date tonight and I gave in to the temptations of wondering who I will be going on a date with.Would he be old or young? Maybe he would be here on business or live in New York and just felt like going out for dinner?Hopefully he was a businessman and he appreciated the fact I was studying to be a criminal lawyer. We may even talk so much that he will buy me desert. I can’t remember the last time I had the luxury of a restaurant dinner and desert all in one sitting.

I huddled tight into my jacket now and kept heading towards the bus stop. I was going to go all out and splurge today since I would be making good money tonight. Usually we get paid weekly but because I’m starting mid week and this is a trial run Crystal convinced her boss to pay me straight away tonight. I know Crystal really knew how hard things were for me with money and I was thankful she was looking out for me. The inner city bus came to a screeching stop with its old brakes protesting. Then I gave the bus driver my cash and shuffled to my seat. Sitting down in the warmth of the bus was another luxury I was praising right now.

Hourslater,Itwirledin front of my bathroom mirror feeling pleased with myself. I had my black ankle boots on that I normally wore to work teamed up with a black long sleeve chiffon dress that I have had for years, black stockings and I had my hair in a half up half down style. Crystal messaged me to say an uber would be waiting downstairs for me and not to be late. They had a string of potential dates for me apparently because I was ‘fresh meat’ to all these men. I didn’t like being called that but I guess it was the truth. I wonder if the men will know I am faking being sexy because I have only slept with two guys and the last one was over twelve months ago.

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