Several days had slipped by since I last laid eyes on Klayton Allan. Or Professor Allan. Or just Klayton. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what to call him anymore. Our first class together had been Monday, and now it was Wednesday. For some reason, I found myself counting down the hours until I would see him again. His voice lingered in my thoughts like a haunting melody, and his face haunted my dreams. I kept replaying the image of his jet-black hair and the thought of his lips tracing a path down my neck. Okay, stop. Focus, Adira.

Today was the day I’d get to be in his class again. Even though the subject matter bored me to tears, the view certainly did not. Ugh, I sounded like a lovesick teenager with a crush. Maybe I was exactly that.

~

I walked into the classroom with a newfound confidence, choosing a seat near the center of the room. It felt like the perfect spot—not too close to embarrass myself, but close enough to steal glances at him. Most other students filed in just as I settled down, and I found myself next to a random boy and, unexpectedly, Maya.

Despite our awkward and confusing first meeting, she approached me again, and this time, our conversation slipped into easy small talk. Her red hair bounced with her lively personality, which was warm and genuine. I couldn’t help but laugh at her jokes, feeling the tension from before fade away.

Just like last time, the room quieted abruptly when a commanding presence entered. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. But I almost couldn’t help myself.

Our eyes locked instantly. His gaze darkened under my heated stare, and I had to look down, pretending to be absorbed in my laptop. Be still, beating heart.

My pulse raced inexplicably. I glanced up again and saw him, already beginning the lecture. His voice held an unexpected passion that made even the dullest material seem compelling. I noticed some of the other girls around me stealing wistful glances, probably thinking the same thing I was. I frowned, reminding myself that he wasn’t mine.

Whenever his eyes flicked briefly toward me, I found myself nervously fidgeting. Then just as quickly, he’d look away. Was he avoiding me? A cold knot of dread settled in my stomach.

When the three-hour lecture ended, students began gathering their belongings to leave. As I hurried to pack my things, he suddenly called someone to stay behind.

That someone was me.

Reluctantly, I approached and took the seat beside his desk as he motioned. He mirrored my movement, sitting down opposite me.

“May I ask what this is about?” I whispered, eager to escape his intense gaze.

“This isn’t my first year teaching here,” he said with a smirk. “And I’ve lived in this town a long time. I wanted to check on the new girl. How are you settling in? No one new comes to Myersdale without me knowing about it.”

His teasing tone carried an edge of truth. I noticed some students subtly shrink away from him. Honestly, his presence alone was intimidating.

“I’m doing great, actually. I’ve already met a few people I think I could be friends with long-term. I’m really happy about that,” I admitted, biting my lip.

His eyes locked on my lips, darkening as they followed the movement downward along my throat. Did the atmosphere just shift? No, I was imagining things.

Suddenly, he stood and took a deep breath. Glancing at his broad back, uncertain of what to do next, I felt his eyes on me and he turned with a small smile.

“That’s good to hear. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m just an email away.”

“What? No number?” I teased, regretting the words the moment they left my mouth. This wasn’t some casual stranger; this was my teacher!

He hesitated, the weight of the boundaries clear in his expression. “That wouldn’t be appropriate, Adira. I’m your teacher.”

There was almost a pained quality to his voice. I quickly apologized, hoping he understood I was joking. Without much more, he excused himself, reminding me to finish my homework on Lycanthropy. Once again, I was left alone, my mind swirling.

The way he said my name echoed like a melody, smooth and effortless. Or maybe… more than that.

I shook the thoughts away, pulling out my phone to call Lenna. She answered after two rings, her voice loud and casual despite the crunching sounds in the background.

“What’s up, bitch?” she greeted.

“Bored. Just finished class for the day. Wanna hang out? Maybe show me around Myersdale?” I shrugged, not wanting to seem desperate.

“Yes! Come over now, and we’ll head out.” Her enthusiasm was infectious.

I hung up and made my way to our apartment building. After dropping off my things, I walked over to Lenna’s place. Before I could knock, she swung the door open, as if she'd sensed me coming.

We exchanged bright smiles and headed out the door. Our pace was brisk, and I struggled to keep up, prompting Lenna to slow down and chuckle.

“Sorry,” she said, glancing sideways. “I’m not used to slowing down for people.”

I laughed softly, but then froze when I realized where she was leading me—the wooded path where I first met him.

“Are you okay?” Lenna’s expression shifted, concern evident. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Feels like it,” I admitted, my face tightening.

She narrowed her eyes, but didn’t press. We walked in silence for a few minutes, the forest around us strangely familiar—like the place where I’d once gotten sick and passed out.

Finally, Lenna broke the quiet with a sharp question. “Okay, you have to tell me. The suspense is killing me! You’ve been here less than a week—what happened?”

I sighed, realizing there was no escaping her curiosity. I told her everything about Klayton—his looks, his demeanor, the magnetic pull he had on me—carefully omitting his name and the fact he was my professor.

When I finished, Lenna’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“He sounds… not normal. Like, some teachers aren’t just cool, right?”

Her playful tone lightened the mood, but inside, I knew this was just the beginning of something complicated and intense. I could feel it deep in my bones—Myersdale was already changing me, and Klayton Allan was at the center of it all.