CHAPTER THREE

THE NEXT MORNING...

28th October 2019

Whitney lays in bed, a small fraction of light pokes through the closed curtain. She rubs her hands off her puffy red eyes. She sits up, resting her head against her pillow. She rubs her eyes once again, she pleads that it is all a dream. Whitney looks forward, she sees Naomi sitting in her bed, facing her "Rough sleep?." Asks Naomi. Whitney sits up, resting her back against the head board "Yeah, rough enough." Replies Whitney as she pulls her covers up to her shoulders.

Naomi presses herself from her bed, making her way over to Whitney. She sits on Whitney's bed, Naomi wraps her arms around Whitney, as she wipes away the tears from her eyes. The two sit in silence for some time. Neither one having the urgency to move. Whitney takes as deep breath and begins to get dressed. Naomi loos at her confused "You're going out?." Whitney holts for a moment, looking at Naomi "I have to go the hospital, I'll be back soon." Replies Whitney

Whitney opens the doors of her wardrobe, she grabs the first sweat shirt she sees. Whitney runs her hand across the Elmwood university logo. A small grin reaches her lips. She lets out a gentle sigh "Marney bought me this. My first piece of university clothing." Whitney throws it over her head. She grabs a pair of her navy sweat pants and some footwear. Whitney pulls open her bedroom door and closes the door gently behind her.

Whitney pushes open the front door of her sorority house, she walks outside to a rain storm. The weather is fierce, the trees bend in humbleness to it's ferocity. Whitney walks slowly down the path. The rain does not bother her. She walks the same pace as she gets closer to the hospital.

Whitney places her hand gently on the handle, pushing the entrance door open. She steps inside the hospital as she takes a deep breath. Her hair and clothes both soaked. She walks hastily to professor Harrison's office. She knocks on the door gently, her hair and clothes still dripping wet. She knocks once again this time with time with more force. Whitney rests her head against the door "Derek, it's Whitney. Please open the door." She whispers

The door swings open as Whitney jumps back " What are you doing here Whitney. And why are you soaking wet." Asks the professor. Whitney stumbles in through the door, plonking down on the seat opposite the desk. Professor Harrison closes his door and walks over to her "Let me get you a towel to dry off." He says

The professor leaves the room. Whitney stands up, walking around to the opposite side of his desk. She ruthlessly goes through his drawers, searching for something. She digs deeper and deeper, until eventually coming across a picture of professor Harrison and two teenage girls. Whitney takes the photo in both hands. She stares at the picture for a substantial amount of time. Her breath speeds up, her palms begin to sweat. Suddenly the office for opens, professor Harrison enters staring at Whitney "I got you a towel." He says. Professor Harrison looks at Whitney holding the photo "What's that." He asks

Whitney still looking at the photo "I don't know David you tell me." Replies Whitney. She turns the photo around revealing it to him. The professor stunned, unable to speak Whitney fills in the blanks "You see I think these are just two more girls you have on the go. Two girls you've been seeing behind my back." She says. Professor Harrison still in shock approaches Whitney with arms wide open. She kneels down beside her "They are my daughters Whitney, my two daughters." He says. Whitney jumps from her seat not answering the professor. She reaches for the door but has a change of heart "Oh and you forgot to mention that your wife is pregnant as well?. I told you David, that when we started this there has to be no secrets between us and now I find all of this." She says in uncertainty.

Professor Harrison approaches Whitney, he hooks both arms around her waist kissing her neck. Whitney tries her best attempts to shrug him off, but to no avail. He parts the hair on her neck to one side as he kisses it gently. Whitney's body heats up, the atmosphere intensifies. He spins her around, the two face to face. His breath warm, Whitney tries to resist but cannot. She grips on to his shirt as she pulls him closer. The two kiss passionately. Professor Harrison lifts Whitney up onto his waist, her legs wrapped around him tightly. He swipes everything off his desk before placing Whitney down gently.

Whitney grips onto the back of his hair as he kisses her neck. Her groans fulfil his ego with a stigma of testosterone. Whitney suddenly taps his shoulder, pushing the professor off of her "Stop this is wrong. We can't do this." She says. Whitney sits up on the desk, she takes professor Harrison's hands in hers. Her eyes water, as the professor holds her gently. "My cousin died last night." She whispers.

Professor Harrison, although shocked holds Whitney close to his chest. He exhales a massive breath, caught off guard indefinitely. "I need to go back to Forest Hills, for the funeral." Says Whitney. The professor places his hand on Whitney's cheek "Of course, not a problem take as much time as you need." He replies.

Whitney places her hand on top of his, she smiles looking at the ground. She raises her head slowly, she looks into her professors eyes before kissing him softly. He smiles as he holds Whitney in his arms for another moment. Whitney stands up, walking toward the door. Professor Harrison grabs her hand, placing one more soft kiss on her lips before he lets go. Whitney opens the door, one last look at her professor before the closing the door behind her. She walks down the hall, heading for the main door of the hospital.

Whitney begins walking back to her sorority house to start packing for her trip back to Forest Hills. She walks slowly, she passes by the campus coffee shop. This is a place where students will come to catch up on studies or indulge in the caffeine on campus. Whitney passes by the window of the coffee shop when suddenly she hears her name being called in the distance "Whitney."

She turns suddenly to see Miller walking toward her slowly. Her pulse starts to race, her hands sweaty. Whitney tries to keep calm and pretend that everything is okay. "Hi Whitney." Says Miller. Whitney swallows the ball in her throat as she attempts a reply "Hi Miller." She replies. Everything is quiet for a moment the tension in the air is palpable "I just heard the news. I'm sorry." Says Miller. Whitney looks to the ground "Thank you, it's more of a shock at the moment." She replies. "Listen Miller thank you, but I got to go pack." She says walking away.

Miller looks at Whitney walking away "Your going back there, aren't you?. Back to Forest Hills." He says nervously. Whitney turns her head slowly "Yes." She answers. Whitney continues walking forward as Miller turns slowly walking the opposite way. After some time Whitney reaches the sorority house. She opens the door and begins walking up the stairs to her room. Each step feels like the stairs is never-ending. She finally reaches the top as she walks toward her bedroom door.

Whitney turns the handle and opens the door to see Matt sitting on her bed. Whitney closes the door as Matt sits with arms wide open. She walks toward the bed, jumping onto it as Matt holds her in his arms. Whitney over come with emotion breaks down in Matts arms. She waits for a couple of minutes, enjoying the comforts of Matts arms. Whitney sits up wiping the tears away from her eyes "I need to pack." She says. Whitney stands up, pulling her black suitcase out from the corner of the room. She opens it up and begins throwing anything and everything into it. In a matter of moments she is fully packed and ready to hit the road. Matt takes her case down the stairs and Whitney follows right behind.

Whitney is greeted at the end of the stairs by all of her sorority sisters, including Naomi. The sisters gather round each other in one big group hug for Whitney. The girls hold each other warm, tightly as if one of them is moving out forever. Whitney lets go of her sorority sisters as she exits the house. She looks up one more time at the big, bold Greek letters.

Whitney blows her housemates a kiss before entering her car. Matt puts the suitcase in the trunk, closing it gently. He makes his way around to the drivers window "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." He says. Whitney smiles and pokes her head out the window kissing Matt as she starts the ignition "I'll call you when I get there." She replies pulling out of the driveway and taking off down the street.