Chapter 58

Tessa’s POV

Emily stood before me with a kind look in her eye and a small smile plastered to her lips. I wasn’t sure what she would possibly want to talk about, but I knew it couldn’t have been good.

“Yeah,” I found myself saying, trying to plaster a smile on my own lips. “I would love to talk during lunch. Should I just go to your office at that time, or…”

“Yes, that would be perfect,” she said fondly.

I watched as she disappeared down the hallway and toward her classroom.

I felt nauseous.

I thought about going to Joseph’s office and talking to him about this, maybe he had some kind of idea on what she might want to speak about. But I was going to be late for my next class if I didn’t leave right now.

I quickly grabbed my things out of my locker and went straight to my next class.

By the time it was over, it was lunchtime.

Ruby met me outside my classroom door as she often does the period before lunch, and she was chatting my ears off about the pizza they were serving today.

“I wish they had a vegetarian option,” she said pouting. “I can’t eat meat and the school is fully aware of this. You’d think they’d offer a hot vegetarian meal and not just salad.”

“I would write a letter to the school board requesting such,” I told her as we reached our lockers. “Because you are right, it’s not fair that they don’t offer meals to fit all types of eating habits.”

“You are so right,” she said, leaning against the locker. “If I make a petition, will you sign it?”

“Of course, Ruby,” I said in return.

“We need to hurry to the lunchroom before all the tables are filled up,” she urged.

I hadn’t told her I had a meeting with Emily Thorton yet.

“Actually, I’m not going to the lunchroom today,” I told her, not meeting her eyes.

I could feel her staring intently at the side of my face.

“Are you having lunch with Joseph? I thought you said you weren’t going to do that anymore because students were getting suspicious that one time.”

“I’m not having lunch with Joseph either,” I said, biting onto my bottom lip and giving her a sheepish look.

“Emily wanted to talk this period.”

“What?!” She gasped, her eyes large and alert. “What does she want to talk to you about?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” I admitted. “But she confronted me at my locker earlier and asked to see me. So I guess I should go.”

She was quiet for a moment, but then she nodded.

“Yeah, I suppose you should. Will you fill me in on everything, later?”

“Of course,” I said in return.

She gave me an encouraging smile and two thumbs up, making me chuckle as I shut the locker door.

We said our goodbyes and I made my way up the stairs and towards the faculty offices.

Emily’s office was a few doors down from Joseph’s and her office remained sealed shut, just as his did.

I paused outside the door feeling my heartbeat quickened its pace.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

“Come in,” she said from inside.

I hated how kind she sounded daily.

I swallowed the lump that formed deep in my throat and stepped inside.

She was sitting at her desk with her hands folded out in front of her and she had the kindest smile on her face. She kept her posture straight and peered up at me with such a loving and curious gaze that it nearly made me sick.

“Please, take a seat,” she said gently, motioning for the chair in front of her seat.

I forced a smile and sat down in front of her, trying to maintain my trembling body. “I’m sorry to pull you away from your lunch hour But I’ve wanted to talk to you for some time now.”

“About what?” I found myself asking, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt.

“Well, I know that you are Joseph Evergreen’s student. Actually, he talks so fondly of you, I think you are one of his favorite students.”

Joseph talks about me?

For some reason, Emily telling me that caused my entire body to heat up and I knew I was red all over.

“He even mentioned something about you being his pen pal.”

My eyes widened.

“Joseph… erm… Professor Evergreen told you about that?” I asked, meeting her chestnut brown eyes.

She nodded once.

“Yes,” she answered. “He’s quite fond of you. You even made him lunch the other day. So that proves just how close you two really are.”

Wait… he ate that lunch in front of Emily. I’m not sure why I suddenly felt so embarrassed over that fact, but I felt the need to avert my eyes and glance at my lap.

“No need to be embarrassed,” Emily chuckled. “I know what it’s like to be infatuated by a teacher. Joseph is quite charming, so I don’t blame you in the least,” she said with a light laugh.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand,” I said, furrowing my brows together. “You think I’m infatuated with Professor Evergreen?”

“He is a famous author, and many students seem to have crushes on him. So yes. I believe you are infatuated. There’s nothing wrong with that Tessa. Believe me, I understand.”

I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going and if I were to be honest, it was making me a little uncomfortable. But Emily looked at me with such admiration that I felt compelled to stay and hear the rest of what she had to say.

“Joseph also seems to be fond of you as well and I admire that. As I said, he talks very fondly of you. So, tell me, how was it being his pen pal? I’m sure it was a nice experience.”

Being his pen pal has always been made up, so I knew I had to come up with something to please her.

“Oh yes. It was nice. We had a lot of conversations and then we met up a couple of times for dinner and to discuss some books and how to better my own writing. He was always such a gentleman,” I told her, trying to keep a smile on my face.

She stared around my face for a short while, trying to figure out if I was telling the truth or not.

“That must have been interesting,” she breathed. “What’s he like outside of school?”

“Pretty much the same as he is inside of school,” I shrugged. “Very serious and passionate about his work.”

“I see,” she said, almost thoughtfully. However, her expression was hard to read. “He’s very mysterious, don’t you think? It’s no wonder students are so curious about him.”

“Curious?” I asked, feeling my body tense.

“You don’t see it?” She asked. “I suppose you wouldn’t. Many female students take notice of him.”

At that point she chuckled, and I felt heat prickling the back of my neck.

“I have noticed that you are around him often. It’s quite sweet that you are so close to him,” she said, entwining her fingers together and resting them under her chin as she stared at me.

“He’s my mentor, Miss Emily,” I told her, unsure of where she was getting at.

“I feel there’s a bit more to it than that. I’m sorry for being so forward. But you seem to have a special fondness for him. I see the way you look at him.”

Her voice remained calm and kind, but her words sent a shiver throughout my body.

“I’m sorry, I’m not sure where this conversation is going,” I said, furrowing my brows together.

She leaned back in her seat and continued to watch me closely for a moment, and at first, I didn’t think she was going to say anything more.

“You seem like a sweet girl, Tessa; not to mention very smart. Mr. Evergreen is after all your professor and mentor. I would hate for you to jeopardize your school career because of your… closeness… with him.”

The way she said, “closeness” sounded like it tasted terrible on her tongue.

“He’s very handsome and incredibly talented. The school is lucky to have him here. I can’t imagine that he’s even single. Has he ever mentioned anything about a wife or children to you?”

“…. No, he hasn’t,” I said, trying not to sound as bitter as I felt.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but she stifled it.

“I just want you to be careful, my dear,” she said, sighing as she untwined her fingers and turned toward her computer as if she was finished with me. “I wouldn’t want you to get hurt or distracted… especially if he were to start seeing someone.”