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Stud

Have fun studying, Bobcat.

Me

Ugh, such a fun Saturday.

Stud

Tonight will be fun though =]

Me

What if Tori shows up?

Stud

I’ll find a way to get rid of her.

Stud

Don’t worry, if it means I have to fake a sickness and stay in my room all night, I’ll do it. I will never put you through having to see me with her again.

Me

I’ll send the video out myself before I let her touch you again.

Stud

No, you aren’t doing that.

Me

I’ll see you and Mav soon.

Stud

I’ll text you when we finish with practice.

I dig my headphones out of my bag and set my laptop on the table in the study area of the psychology building.

I’d much rather be hanging out with Berkley and Darby, pre-gaming for the home game today, but I knew if I wanted to go to the game and the party for Nate’s birthday, I had to finish these assignments.

This past week, I let my need to discover Tori’s secret cut into my classwork.

I now know that Professor Douglas is for certain not her actual teacher; I confirmed his only lectures are advanced psych classes, and because she isn’t a psychology major and would only be taking electives, she must have met him another way.

So unfortunately, I’ve only spotted her one time in this building over the past week.

Wednesday at two p.m. I checked Professor Douglas’s schedule, and he has office hours from 1-3 p.m. that day.

Cash thought Tori had a class in the business building during lunch on Wednesdays, but I’m wondering if that was a lie, so my plan is to show up at 1 p.m. next Wednesday and try to catch her going in.

My stomach churns with nervous energy, though, because a big downfall in my plan keeps playing on repeat. How am I going to actually see anything? I’m sure they won’t be stupid enough to do anything in plain sight.

So, while at first, I felt it was the best plan ever, now I’m worried I won’t be able to acquire any hard evidence. Will simply accusations and threats work to get her to leave us alone?

And because of all this, I wasn’t bluffing when I texted Cash that I was ready to send the video out myself. Yes, it would be embarrassing, but I’m tired of letting her win this shitty game.

Thankfully, she hasn’t pressed Cash much this week, but something in my gut knows she’ll be expecting him by her side this weekend. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my anxiety over what her presence could mean for us.

Music floods my ears, and I push the thoughts of Tori to the side.

Focus, Bellamy.

First, I work on my assignment for child psychology.

This class is the most intriguing to me and has definitely made me realize my niche is for children, or even younger adults, like myself.

My mom and I have come a long way in the past three years, but there are times I still resent her for not getting herself or me the help we needed all those years ago—the help we still need.

I want to be an advocate for people, especially children, to get the help they deserve.

I was a broken kid who became a broken adult, who’s still working to repair the damaged pieces.

I often think of Cash, Mav, and Hudson in my classes, too.

They were all still kids when they lost Jules, such a profound loss that shaped them as humans at a crucial age.

Each of them has wonderful adults in their lives, but sometimes when people are drowning in their own grief, they don’t know how to help themselves, much less others.

And as much as I hate Tori, over the past week, I’ve found myself curious as to why she acts the way she does. Does she have her own childhood trauma?

Movement past the door draws my attention, and almost like I conjured her up, Tori sashays past.

Holy shit.

I’m so shocked that I almost forget the whole purpose behind my plan. I snap myself out of it and try to stay calm as I stand.

Grabbing my phone off the table, I quietly head down the hall, trailing behind where she gently knocks on the professor’s door. I quickly hit the record button on my phone, knowing that once they shut that door, I’ll lose my chance.

The door opens, and my heart races as I try to keep my hand steady so the recording isn’t too shaky from where I stand in a small alcove in the hallway.

A skeevy smile takes over his face when his eyes travel up Tori’s bare legs.

Her hand lands on his bicep, and he rests his arm around her, letting his palm splay across the top of her ass.

My stomach drops when the door shuts behind them.

Inappropriate touches for a professor and his student, absolutely, but I worry it isn’t enough to make an impact.

“Miss Clark,” a familiar voice says from behind me, and my stomach sinks.

I tuck my phone to my side and turn slowly to find the assistant chair of the psychology department, one of my favorite teachers since freshmen year, walking down the hallway in my direction.

“Hi, Dr. Gentry.” I smile, trying to calm my nerves, not sure what she saw.

Her face isn’t disappointed, more curious than anything.

“Don’t get yourself in the middle of that.” She nods toward Professor Douglas’s door, and disappointment floods me that she would try to brush something like this under the rug.

She must notice the look on my face because she immediately adds, “A student who graduated last year came forward with hard evidence about his indiscretions. That’s why I’m here on a Saturday. He’ll be asked to leave the facility and the school in less than two hours.”

My jaw falls open, knees nearly buckling.

“Did he ever harm you in any way?” she asks.

I shake my head as I to process what this means for my situation.

“No, just some questionable grading and suggestive language,” I say, looking over my shoulder, verifying the door is still closed to his office.

“Well, as of next week, Professor Hartwick will be taking over the majority of his lectures.”

“Good,” is all I can get myself to say.

Shaking her head, she gestures toward his office. “I don’t recognize the student who just went in there, but if she is a friend to you, I suggest you tell her to come forward, as any relationship other than student-teacher is inappropriate, but she’s not to blame here.”

I nod in agreement. I’m so bewildered, I can’t even think straight.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to knock on his door and schedule an impromptu meeting with him. In good conscience, I can’t leave her in there with him while I wait on the dean.”

I may not have much to go off of with Tori, but I’m thankful for my fellow classmates. Now, justice will be served against a man with a known pattern of student relations and obvious manipulation with the power he has in this department. Or should I say, had?

Quickly, I gather my belongings and decide to head to the library. When I find a private spot to finish my assignments, the first thing I do is pull up the video I snapped of Tori.

A smile slips over my face as I realize I can still use this to my advantage.

Maybe this will really work out, after all.

Cash texted that they finished with practice and are heading my way, so I pack up and walk the short distance to the parking lot. Even with my mind flitting back and forth between the huge discovery about Professor Douglas and the Tori drama, I was still able to finish my assignments.

I’m standing on the curb when they pull up, both windows down. Cash’s eyes bore into mine, smiling brightly as he hops out of the Tahoe to open the door for me.

I take him in, freshly showered after practice.

He’s in a tight tee with jeans pulled over his boots, and his hair tucked behind his ears.

My pulse beats rapidly at the sight of him.

My heart and soul, the boy who changed me in a way no one ever could, and the man who completes me in a way no one else ever will.

A wide grin spreads across my face because, for the first time ever, I make up my mind.

Nothing will stop me from loving him or being loved by him. No one will stop us from being together.

As his deep brown eyes wash over me, I think he feels it too. There’s no denying us anymore. We just need to find a way to make this work.

“Hey, Bella,” he whispers as he takes my bag and helps me into the backseat.

“Hi, Stud,” I say, letting my pinky slip briefly into his before he shuts the door.

Mav doesn’t pull away immediately. Instead, he looks between us several times before allowing a big smile that matches ours to take over his own face. “Are we doing this for real this time?”

I smile at him in the rear-view mirror and do something I haven’t done before.

“Yeah, we’re doing this.” I lean into the front seat, pressing my lips to Cash’s.

Feeling giddy and hopeful, I fall back into the seat, relishing the surprised yet proud look on Cash’s face that I just did that in front of his twin.

“It’s about damn time.” Mav bops his head, hooting as he turns up the music.

Yes, it is. Now I just hope the rest of the family will feel the same.