Chapter forty

The week had been much of the same. I’d told Harry about Brian, and Harry didn’t like the sound of him hanging around me all the time but was fairly convinced that it was just an innocent infatuation destined to die off sooner or later. Sooner would have been preferable. However, I already had a routine going. Everyday I welcomed a good morning text from Harry, was greeted and promptly irritated by Brian at the tube, and then endured a monotonous day of insufferable people all clambering to be my friends and a pompous ass of a professor. Professor McAlister constantly felt the need to call attention to me in class. If someone asked for my pen and I handed it to them, he would call me out on being a distraction. If I sneezed too loudly he would reprimand me. In short, the man was my worst nightmare. However, all of this was inconsequential compared to what he did one particular Tuesday during the second week of the semester.
I dawned on my heavy, wool jacket to protect myself from the unusual cold.


Outing by authorsdescriptions featuring a leather purse

I remained toasty warm during the course of the drive and consequent tube ride into school. As usual, I filed into the lecture hall at around nine, maybe nine ten since the campus was buzzing with teenage girls, camera crews and journalists for some reason (I assumed it had something to do with the Science department, the only department that really got any fanfare around here), set down my tea latte and laptop, and went about ignoring Brian and whatever it was that he was saying (which was always something). Scrolling through a news site absentmindedly, I was taken aback when I saw my name in a capitalized and bolded headline: SARAH WILSON SPOTTED AT UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: HARRY STYLES’ STUDIOUS GIRLFRIEND SEEN WITH MYSTERY GUY

Beneath the awful headline was a picture of Brian following behind me. I don’t know what they were trying to imply, as I clearly had a plain look of disdain written all across my features. Gagging at the insinuating article still, Professor McAlister strolled into the class looking awfully smug.

“Well, well, well,” he said looking around the room, which was filled with the hushed whispers
brought about by fresh gossip. “I suppose we’ve all seen a lovely article about Ms. Wilson today,” he said cunningly, “or at least noticed the havoc she’s caused our school. Tell me Ms. Wilson,” he went on, “how does it feel to completely disturb the peace and order of our fine institution?”

I simply stared back. What did he want me to say? Yeah sir, it feels great, I love shoving paps out of my face and having my picture taken at the most inopportune time, thanks for asking. Well he wasn’t going to get that answer.

“It’s just a side effect of my lifestyle,” I said, stirring more whispers out of my classmates.

“Quiet down everyone,” Professor McAlister beckoned before making eye contact with me again.

“Sarah, please remain for a word after class.” He looked at me sternly. I was about to argue, but before I could, he began the lecture. And so I settled in for another long and torturous two hours.

--

After everyone was dismissed, I tried to sneak out with the rest of my classmates, however this was to no avail.

“Sarah, a word, remember,” McAlister boomed at me, beckoning me to come to him with his index finger twitching about furiously. I made my way down the rows to where he stood by his desk, but kept my distance.

“Yes?” I said, eager for this to be over.

“Sarah, there are a few matters we need to discuss and so my secretary has made you an appointment to see me next Monday. I don’t have the time to go over everything now as I have an engagement that I must get to immediately.” He began throwing his things in his satchel without uttering another word.

“What if Monday doesn’t work for me?” I asked him, trying to get out of this impromptu meeting.

“Make it work.” He said simply, brushing past me as he made his way to the door. He opened it swiftly and paused to look at the paparazzi that had gathered. “And try to keep a lower profile!” He said gruffly as he stormed out. I laughed to myself without a trace of humour; as if I had a say about my profile. I hadn’t gone looking for this attention, yet here it was. I sat down in one of the front desks and pulled out my phone, quickly ringing Harry’s number.

“Hello?” He said in his raspy morning voice.

“Oh babe, I’m so sorry I completely forgot that it’s early there.”

“Don’t worry, it’s seven so I was supposed to be up anyway,” he chuckled. “What’s wrong?” He asked me worriedly. He knew me so well, I didn’t even have to tell him that I was bothered; he just knew.

“There was an article published today saying that I was spotted at Uni with a ‘Mystery Guy’, meaning Brian,” I sighed angrily, “anyways, now the paps have all showed up and my ass hole professor is blaming me for everything.” I broke off, taking a second to calm down before continuing. “I wish I’d never left you, I could be laying in bed next to you right now, traveling the world without all this shit.”

“Oh darling,” Harry cooed. “Shit will find us wherever we go,” he laughed, “but it’s really not the end of the world.”

“I really miss you,” I breathed.

“I miss you so much it bloody hurts!”

I laughed at that, I would’ve given anything in that moment to have kissed him. However, my good mood was overshadowed by irritation once more as Brian walked through the door and came towards me.

“Dear God,” I complained, lowering my head into my hands.

“Is he back?!” Harry asked.

“Mhmm,” I mumbled.

“Sarah, if he becomes a problem, seriously, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

I laughed loudly.

“You sound like a mafia brother, babe!” I chuckled again. “It’s probably just what you said though, temporary and destined to die off sooner or later.”

“Well I’m not so sure anymore,” he said, still serious.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I can’t help it, I always worry about you.” He sighed, his stress evident in his voice.

“You’re not my mother so you don’t have to,” I told him.

“No, I’m your boyfriend, you’re the woman I love above all else in this world, that means that I will worry until the day I die.”

I laughed again.

“If you keep it up, that might be sooner than you think.”

He laughed at that before regaining his serious tone.

“Babe, seriously let me know though, okay?”

“Okay, I promise.”

“Brilliant, that eases my stress level a bit,” he chuckled.

“Good,” I smiled.

“I love you,” he said adoringly.

“As I love you,” I said, and then, as had become our custom, we hung up. Neither of us ever wanted to say goodbye and so we had made an unspoken pact to not do so. However, now I was left with Brian, and my usual gaiety after talking to Harry was short-lived as soon as he opened his mouth.

“Hungry?” He asked with a smile as we walked through the doors, out into the sunlight where, thankfully, things had calmed down a bit.

“I’m going to eat at home.” I got up without another word and tried to escape him.

“What did the Prof want?” He asked again, grating on my nerves.

“None of your business.” I said sternly.

“It could be,” he said, almost in a hushed tone.

I spun around at that.

“I beg your pardon?”

For the first time, he suddenly looked awkward, not making eye contact with me, but rather staring down at his shoes that were kicking pebbles on the pavement.

“I only meant that, I care about you, and we could be together… if you wanted to,” he said, finally looking at me.

Harry’s words flashed through my mind about “taking care of it”. Maybe he was right after all. I didn’t even know how to respond, but I had to be clear. Clearer than I already had been apparently.

“You need to stay away from me.” I turned away from him, ignoring him as he called my name over and over again, no doubt making a scene for all the reporters to hash through tomorrow’s columns. But I didn’t care; I had to get home where I would be safe and away from him and this toxic place which I had come to loath after the past week.

Notes

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