4. Drawing The Line
Thea’s point of view-
That ought to teach him a lesson but as I stepped outside, I realised that he was right and he was doing it for the both of us. I was being petty and he was being responsible. This little game needed to be stopped before it erupts so much that it would be out of our control. Also, how can I forget that my Mom was keeping tabs on me, even though she was a hundred miles away. She could fire him and make sure not to get him a job at a decent place. Perks of her being a lawyer I guess, I sigh momentarily as I shake my head as I pass a number of classrooms before stepping out of the building.
“Excuse me?”
I turn my head to see a blonde-haired boy with baby blue eyes looking at me, a bit flushed, embarrassed maybe.
“How can I help you?” I ask, with a small smile.
“Actually I am relatively new and I am kind of lost. This place is huge.” He said, looking around and I could empathise. I felt the same when I came here for my orientation, the first time.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to be embarrassed.” I said, with a reassuring smile. “I felt lost too, even during my third time.”
He returns my smile, before asking if I mind showing him around. Having nothing much to do, I decided to show him around.
“By the way, I am Michael Preston.” He introduces himself.
“I am Thea Quinn.”
I got to know that he was on a scholarship; and that this was his dream university. He was pretty friendly so our conversation was pretty easy-going. I also learned that he played football and that he was from Australia; that explained the accent. I also got to know that he was majoring in Abnormal Psychology as well. Our tour ended after what felt like a long time and he thanked me but still joked about getting lost.
“Well, I will see you tomorrow.” I said, “And it was nice meeting you.”
“You too Thea.” He said, before walking off in the direction of the boy’s dormitory.
Giving Preston a tour distracted me from the actual issue that was going inside my head. I walk outside, on my way to home. I and Lucy had rented an apartment together, mainly to avoid the clutches of my Mom. She cannot keep tabs on me, in my own place. After a fifteen minute walk, I reached our place. After stepping inside, I saw Lucy and Tobias, watching a movie together, with wide eyes. The curtains were drawn and the popcorn was in front of them but they were too busy watching to pay any attention to the bowl. I get a wicked idea as I take off my shoes, making sure not to make any noise.
I carefully tip toe around the sofa, as I noticed they were watching an indonesian horror movie as I walked around so that I was behind their sofa and fortunately, they still didn;t notice my presence. Just as the ghost showed up on the screen, I screamed at the same time from behind them and they shrieked out in fear, throwing the popcorn up in the air as it landed everywhere around, as I was laughing out loud at both of them.
“How dare you?” Both of them screamed as I stuck my tongue out at them.
“Oh, you’re so dead today, Quinn.” Tobias threatened, as he threw a handful of remaining popcorn at me.
“Popcorn fight it is!” Lucy announced before repeating the same action as Tobias.
“Two against one is not fair.” I said, the next minute I was attacked with a pillow next.
“That’s cheat-”
Another pillow was thrown at my face.
We ran and played around, making the house a mess of popcorn and pillows everywhere. We were laughing, screaming and playing around like little kids; and it was so much fun. This went on for a few more minutes as we then retired by laying down on the floor, breathing heavily and completely exhausted as we then burst into a laughing fit. Such mad creatures!
“We should do this more often.” Lucy said.
“Yeah.” I agree, as I smiled and closed my eyes for a few seconds..
“Let’s go to a club this weekend.” Tobias suggested.
“Good idea!” Lucy immediately agreed, as I kept my eyes closed pretending that I couldn’t hear them. And the next minute, I was being tickled by both of them.
“Gu..guys…ha ha..ple…please.” I managed to request in between the fits of my laughter.
“NOT UNTIL YOU SAY YES!!!” Both of them declared.
“I…will…goooo…” I agreed.
And they stopped as they grinned and I rolled my eyes at them and then chuckled. A distraction is what I need anyway and luckily, I won’t have to see him for the next two days.
And then I have one class with him before the weekend.
“We need to go shopping Lucy. We really don’t have anything to wear.” I said, suddenly remembering.
We haven’t gone to a proper club since high school graduation, because of my Mom. But what can she do here? I smirked at the idea as Lucy started digging for a good boutique for us to buy clothes and I can also bring my new friend with us.
“Uh-oh, I can literally see your screws sewing an evil plan in your mind.” Tobias said, as I wink at him. “She is in revenge mode.” Tobias said, in a light manner.
“I don’t have any complaints.” Lucy said, sharing a smirk with me.
“I am out of this evil squad.” He said, as he took his jacket and left. He stays just a few blocks away from us.
Later that evening, as I was preparing a report on my laptop, I got a notification saying that I had an email. Clicking on it, I noticed it was from Professor Dawson. He had sent an assignment for the next two days and asked me to forward the notes and important questions related to it.
And there was also a personal two line message which said that he was sorry for not behaving the way he should and that he will be careful from now onwards. I rolled my eyes and focused on what I was supposed to do. I forwarded the mail after arranging it properly to the group of students. And then, by mistake, I opened the email that made me pissed at Dawson in the first place besides my Mom calling me and checking on my progress.
_________________________________________________________________________
From: Professor Dawson
Subject: Today’s assignments
To: Thea Quinn
Miss Quinn, glad to know that you have already taken up the responsibilities of your work. From here onwards, I will send you some reading materials and case studies which you can forward to your classmates along with instructions on how to go through them and refer to it while doing your studies.
I have sent an attachment within this email where you will have access to the emails ids of your classmates. For tomorrow, there is nothing as such to prepare, just ask them (and you yourself) to read through the chapter so as to know what I will be teaching and you all can relate to it easily.
On a more personal note, Miss Quinn, I think whatever it’s that we are trying to do is not a good idea. We are crossing the lines and I am pretty sure you know what I am talking about. You are a smart student but still young to understand things. As an adult, I think I should be more responsible to remind you that we need to keep our relationship chaste, as we are expected to. Whatever we are feeling towards each other, it’s just plain infatuation, nothing more. So, from here on let’s just not cross the lines. It’s okay for us to have lunch with your friends but I would have to say that we keep that limited as well.
Have a nice day, Miss Quinn.
Professor Dawson.
Abnormal Psychology 101.
————————————————————————
I immediately press the ‘delete’ button. It made me so upset. I am nineteen years old and going to be twenty soon. He had the audacity to think of me as a child and on top of that, he called our undeniable feelings ‘plain infatuation’. I scoff and then finally tears start to well up in my eyes…angry tears this time. Maybe coming to this ridiculous school is a bad idea after all. I remember crying yesterday as well,thanks to my brief phone call with my Mom and that email was just a cherry on top of the cake.
Fortunately, Lucy was out for some grocery shopping and that meant I could cry but I wasn’t in self-pity mode today. Instead, I wanted to focus on the weekend’s club plan instead, which meant preparing for the quizzes that were gonna take in the upcoming week in advance. I wanted to shut both my mom and my thoughts related to Dawson aside. Putting my hair up in a messy bun, I decided to focus on my school work. The past days just flew by in a blur and I found myself sitting in Abnormal Psychology 101 with my new friend, Michael. It was his first class so he was a little excited and when I asked if he wanted me and my friends for the club thing, he immediately agreed. Apparently, he was pretty popular and not to brag I was too, which made a few fellow classmates stare at us.
“We are getting a little too much attention, aren’t we?” He asks, his cheeks a shade of pink.
He was cute, it made me smile. “Yeah, it has been taking place since the time we started hanging out.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat, made both of us look at the front and it was Dawson, glaring at the both of us. He asked Michael to introduce himself and he did. His eyes turned to me and he was shooting daggers at me. I rolled my eyes at him, making sure he noticed it. He clenched his jaw and of course, he couldn’t say anything because we were in a full classroom. He then started his lecture and poor Michael was having a bit of a problem to keep up, so I tried my best to help him out while also managing to take notes.
The bell rang and a few people said, “Two of you look cute together.”
Michael and I just shared an embarrassed smile as he asked me to first and followed me behind but before we could step outside Dawson asked me to stay back.
“So, you will text me, right?” He asks and I nod my head as he walks off.
“How can I help you this time, Professor Dawson?” I ask, as I put my hands on his desk, looking at him, a little irritated by his pettiness. He is so frustrating. He wanted to draw lines and that’s what I am doing.
“Don’t give me that attitude, Thea.” He said, his jaw clenching. It was kinda hot though; him being angry looked really sexy on him. Ugh no!
“Or what?” I asked, “you will punish me or something Dawson?”
Oopsie. I was feeling a little too brave at the moment but then something in me just wanted to push all of his buttons for some reason.
He narrowed his eyes at me and I just giggled. He then pulled me towards him by my wrist as I stared at him, surprised. Our bodies were almost touching as I completely melted under his touch. Oh my- this is crazy, I have never felt like this. Every single nerve and cell felt on fire and his hand holding onto my wrist sent down shivers in my spine. I wanted him to kiss me so badly right at this minute. I looked down at his lips and bit my own before looking at him, with an innocent face.
“Stop looking at me like that and stop pushing my buttons.” He warns but he himself didn’t look like he wanted to let me go.
“Professor Dawson, I think you’re crossing the line.” I said, quoting his line from his email as he pulled his hand away.
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Kiernan’s point of view-
She is a brat and she is pushing my buttons; when she looked at me with an innocent look in her face all I wanted to do was devour her right there at the moment. I lost my control again; every single time she is around me, my mind wants something but my heart and body just want her. The smell of her lavender perfume mixed with the scent of her shampoo drove me to the edge.
I pushed my hair back, frustrated as I sank down in my chair, as I closed my eyes and there she was standing in a long white dress on the beach. Her red hair flowing and dancing along with the air’s direction and she is looking at me with her pretty brown eyes as I was her entire world and she wanted me. I immediately open my eyes, shaking my head as I decide to focus on my present work. I will be seeing her directly on Monday, I need to get a grip till then. This was probably the last time she would dare to play with me.
And who is that blonde kid anyway? Then I looked up and realised that it was time for lunch. Great! I will be seeing her again then; it’s like I am trying to stay away from her and the universe is doing the exact opposite. I stepped inside the cafeteria and there were her friends Tobias and Lucy, along with the blonde guy. And I saw Thea in the food line and I went to stand behind her. Her earphones were plugged in her ears as she was oblivious to the fact that I was standing behind her. She was talking to someone on the phone.
“I don’t know why he didn’t send you a report. Mom.” She said, clearly frustrated.
“Why don’t you ask him yourself, Mom?” She asks again and I am pretty sure she rolled her eyes.
“His name is Kiernan Dawson, he is probably in his thirties…” She answers with a sigh.
But, wait, why is her Mom asking about me?
“Because he is a genius Mom…stop ogling over my professor Mom.” She said, in a low irritated whisper and ended the call.
“Whatever you cannot stop me from going to the dance club tomorrow.” She whispers and I remember that she was talking about it with the blonde as well.
I looked over at their table and saw him staring at my girl and if she wasn't my student I would have shown him exactly who she belongs to. At the moment, I couldn’t do anything besides giving him a death glare. What the hell am I thinking? It’s good for her, if she involves herself with someone who is near her age, it’s normal, accepted in the society and blah blah. I just don’t like this guy, Tobias is still better. Umm maybe not!
“Hey, Miss Quinn.” I said and she turned to look at me, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment and nervously met my gaze.
“How long have you been standing there, Professor Dawson?” She asks, biting her lip and I get distracted. I look down at her mouth, wondering how it would feel to kiss those lips. Damn it man, she really makes everything hard for me, I look up in her eyes and she just ignores me walking away to her friends.
The blonde shared his plate with her and she gave him her sweetest smile, he looked completely dazed before smiling back at her.
“Kiernan?” A shrill, female voice called me.
Well, two can play at a game.
“Hey, Selena, long time no see.”
“Let’s have lunch together.”
“Sure.”
I immediately took a plate for myself and for her as we took a seat near her so that she could notice us and I caught her staring at me and Selena; she didn’t look too happy and I gave her a smug smile to which she just rolled her eyes. Selena was boasting about her rich Dad taking her to a nice beach and I immediately remembered my imagination of Thea in the long white dress and I quickly disposed of it as I listened to her boring bragging conversation. Next time I looked over at her table and noticed she was gone and so was the blonde. Where the hell did they go?
No, focus on the conversation Kiernan.
After a long tiring day, I took a shower and then retired to my bed. After sleeping for half an hour, I got up and decided to go through my emails and noticed that there was another email from an unknown sender.
_________________________________________________________________________
From: Theresa Collins
Subject: Regarding Thea’s school work and progress
To: Professor Dawson
Dear Professor Dawson,
I am Thea Quinn’s mother, Theresa Collins; she is a student from your Abnormal Psychology 101 section. I just wanted to ask you to report to me about her progress regarding her school work, every weekend. I want my Thea to be an excellent student and shine brighter and would want to know if she is falling behind so that I can be a little stern with her. I wasn’t fully supportive of her taking Psychology as your subject but now that she has already done it, I want to supervise otherwise I will have to change her major.
And I would like you to be a little strict with her if she is not focusing on the class and just report me about it. You see, she is my youngest child out of my two twin girls and I want her to do her best because she is the only one who can walk in my footsteps. She was the only one who got accepted into your University so you can understand how important this is for me. She is a smart girl but sometimes she tends to be a little brat and too vague about the world and it’s ways; if you think her actions, even the most insignificant ones, might affect her studies, please let me know.
Thank you for your cooperation and my apologies if I disturbed you somehow. I hope to be hearing from you soon. And I hope you would keep this private; my daughter thinks I am being too indulged in her life but I am just doing what every other parent does.
Thanking You.
Theresa Collins.
CEO of Collins and Cooperation.
_________________________________________________________________________
I read it and then searched up her name on the internet; there it was. She was a redhead too and she was in her forties but still looked too young for her age. She looked really powerful, confident and intimidating. Her eyes were blue though, scrolling down a bit I saw a family picture and understood that she got her brown eyes from her Dad, who was huge by the way. It showed that he was an ex-boxer and now a coach slash owner of his own gym. He must be near six feet two. My jaw almost dropped on the floor; if I hurt Thea her Dad can just throw me off in one single punch and I will just die on the spot. And then I saw other pictures of three redheads with a teenage Thea standing in the middle. They had blue eyes like their Mom and their names were Haylee and Kaylee. There was a cosy picture of Thea and her Dad hugging each other at a baseball match, it was a cute picture and she looked so carefree in there.
I went on to instagram and searched her Thea’s profila and she had a nearby of twenty thousand followers. She had a number of pictures with Lucy, Tobias and her sisters along with pictures of her Dad, not so many with her mom. And in those few pictures, that was with her mom, they looked from social events and she looked super guarded in those. She was barely smiling in those and looked so out of place. I mean, her mother is kind of scary.
Should I email her back? I really cannot ignore her, she might pester Thea once again or worse she might show up here. Powerful people are scary! Should I tell her blonde boy? I mean, she did ask me to give her the smallest details. Whatever, I will reply to her tomorrow, I am not her servant and she doesn’t pay me. I cannot believe she wants to keep tabs on her own daughter. So, this was why she was asking about me on the call. I shut off my laptop and then I got a phone call. I checked out and quickly answered with a smile, it was from one of my college friends. He said that some of our old friends were in town and we should meet and hangout. I needed a breath of fresh air so I agreed right away; we decided to get drinks and catch up at a bar cum restaurant tomorrow evening. Maybe they can give me some advice or maybe blowing off some steam with women near my age is what I needed.