FORBIDDEN LOVE

NINA’S POV

“Thanks, Lucas,” I said as I stepped out of the car.

My stepbrother waved goodbye, and I offered a small smile. As I noticed a few boys eyeing my legs, I instinctively tugged my skirt down and quickened my pace until I reached my classroom.

“Next time, could you let me know in advance that Lucas is bringing you? I could wait outside and flirt with him,” Emily suggested. I chuckled and rolled my eyes. “Honestly, I’ve been thinking about it, and I believe your stepbrother and I would make a great couple.”

“You're too good for him,” I laughed, and she pouted. “Let’s be real, Lucas is a jerk,” I said, making her snort in agreement.

“But he’s so hot!” she whispered excitedly. I sighed as she added, “They say he’s great in bed,” raising her eyebrows. I frowned at the thought of the girls who supposedly left his house all flustered, and Emily bit her lip in amusement.

“Ugh!” she laughed, and just then the professor walked in. I straightened up and pulled out my black math notebook.

He introduced today’s topic and I took notes on what I deemed important, dreading functions.

When the bell rang, I grabbed my new favorite pink notebook. Professor Winston entered, and whispers circulated among the students.

He joined us last year, captivating the girls with his undeniable charm and looks, flashing a teasing smirk.

“Good morning, class,” he announced, rolling up his sleeves.

“Good morning, Professor Winston,” we all replied, almost like young kids, but that was his style. He smiled and wrote a quote from a famous Greek figure on the board. As he explained it, many girls simply gazed at him while others, like me, took notes.

I noticed Emily glancing at his rear while she bit her lip, laughing quietly and shaking her head.

“Miss Moore, would you care to share the joke?” Professor Winston asked, making me gulp.

“I was just remembering something, professor,” I stammered.

“Are you sure?” he asked, shooting me a sideways glance. I nodded. “Please stay after class,” he added. I sighed but agreed.

The minutes seemed to drag indefinitely, and when the bell finally rang, I sighed and tossed my stuff into my backpack. Everyone began to file out, but Professor Winston stood by his desk, waiting for me. I settled into my seat, bracing myself for what he would say.

“Now, can you tell me what the joke was?” he inquired, and I lowered my gaze.

“A classmate was staring at her butt; I thought it was funny,” I whispered. He raised his eyebrows.

“Who was it?” he pressed, but I shook my head. “Nina, tell me now.”

“I can’t, sir,” I murmured, determined not to betray Emily. He shut his book forcefully and pulled out a small notebook, making me curse under my breath. He looked at me, shaking his head, which made me sigh.

“Alright, you have two weeks of tutoring with the counselor,” he said with a smile. I frowned. He handed me the paper, and as I read it, I shrugged, trying to leave the room.

“Did I tell you to leave?” he asked, making me apologize and return. “Give me that paper,” he instructed. I sighed and handed it to him. “Now you can go. See you tomorrow, miss,” he said, passing the paper back. I took it and left the classroom.

I glanced at it: five weeks of daily tutoring starting today at 3 PM.

My mouth dropped in surprise, and I hurried over to Emily, who looked puzzled.

“The professor just assigned me five weeks of tutoring with the counselor!” I exclaimed, then furrowed my brow.

“Counselor?” she asked. I nodded. “Oh right, Mrs. Patty resigned,” I murmured, scrunching my nose. Rumor had it that the new counselor taking over for her was young and attractive, which caught my attention.

“I used to meet with Patty every afternoon, sometimes at her place, sometimes at mine,” I explained, and she made a face. “You did this to me,” I whispered, and she glanced around. Then she smiled.

“That boy in our art class is Australian and just arrived; he has few friends,” she said, nudging me to look.

A tall, handsome guy with a lip piercing was strolling around the cafeteria.

“Go talk to him,” I urged, and she grinned in response.

“Really…?”

“Of course,” I replied as she stood up and made her way towards him. I chuckled and started eating some chopped fruit I had packed.

I felt someone watching me but chose to ignore it. The bell rang about fifteen minutes later, and I gathered my things to walk to my next class. Mr. Winston entered, and I frowned at the sight.

“Alright, class, we have some changes. As you know, Mrs. Patty is no longer with us,” he announced. “So, Professor Alexander Gray will be taking over the Ethics class with you,” he continued, and murmurs filled the room. I sighed.

Mrs. Patty was like a mother to me, the school psychologist who knew everything about my life. I snorted, and the room fell silent.

“Good morning,” came a hoarse voice as Professor Gray introduced himself.

The class responded in unison, “Good morning, Mr. Gray.” He chuckled, glancing down.

“I see someone is missing,” he said, and I frowned, realizing Emily wasn’t here.

“Emily had an emergency and went to the bathroom,” I explained, turning back to him. He had honey-colored eyes, a well-defined jaw, golden hair, and a fantastic physique. I could feel myself licking my lips.

“Let’s wait for her to arrive,” he said, and I nodded.

I noticed the other girls, clearly longing for his attention, their eyes undressing him from a distance.