Page 63 of Surrender

Not at all confused or disappointed.

Definitely not.

Thursday is more like my Friday because it’s my last day of classes before the weekend.

Professor DeMarco’s words from yesterday hang in my mind as the end of class approaches. I catch his gaze a couple of times and think it’s on his mind, too.

He has office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays, after all.

I could go to his office.

I’m all jumbled up wondering if he wants me to, ifIwant to when class ends and students begin to file out. I take my time putting my things away just in case he wants to come over and talk to me like he has been.

I don’t get to find out, though, because Shelby Cunningham approaches his podium and starts asking a million questions.

I can’t stall long enough to wait her out, so once the last pen is tucked away in my pouch, I hoist my bag and make my way out.

I catch the professor’s gaze as I head for the door, and I swear he looks a bit disappointed.

That I’m leaving?

Maybe he really does want me to come to his office.

I can’t decide ifIwant that, though I did enjoy our brief conversation yesterday.

At least, I think I did.

I don’t know; he makes me feel immensely confused about everything.

My steps are slow as I make my way down the hall. I end up stopping a few classrooms down.

I don’t know what I’m stopping for, exactly. It would be too obvious if I waited for him to leave the class, wouldn’t it?

Before I can decide what to do, Shelby comes out of the classroom. Her pace is brisk, but she slows down when she sees me standing in the hallway.

“Sophie, right?”

My eyes widen in surprise and I nod.

She holds out a folded sheet of white paper. “I was asked to give you this.”

What?

I take the paper, but my confusion must be evident.

She flashes me a smile, then turns and continues down the hall.

I swallow, glancing back at the classroom where I know Professor DeMarco is alone now, but going back feels about as subtle as waiting for him in the hall.

I open the sheet of paper and my heart stalls when I read the message typed inside.

Sophie,

I enjoyed seeing you yesterday after school.

Don’t come to my office hours today.

Come to my house tonight.

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