Chapter 13

Beau dreaded the moment he'd expected these last few days. It was time for class again, and Victoria still wasn't speaking to him. He took a seat at the assembly desk and set down his paperwork. Every time he heard steps entering the room, he tried to deduce the weight of the person and judge who it was. When he'd heard light steps after three people had entered, he knew it was her. Beau peered from the corner of his eye and saw her take a seat. This time she sat a row further back, more toward an end he wouldn't normally keep eye contact with.

Victoria nervously sat down, doing her best to distance both herself and her emotions from Beau's viewpoint. She knew he was still devastatingly hurt, but so was she. Victoria reminded herself that it was he that caused this mess, not herself. But truthfully, she knew she had to get out of this relationship. If he didn't like knowing she was just his student, he wouldn't like knowing the rest of her biography. So far she'd done a superb job of keeping the rest of her life hush hush, but the way Beau pushed for her to be in his life, he'd soon find out. She wore pants today, anything to look less desirable. She didn't dare look up once she'd found her seat, instead pulling out a notebook and jotting down some pre class notes.

Throughout the entire class, Beau stole quick glances at Victoria, barely tracing her structure long enough to let it hurt him. When it came time to write, Beau busied himself grading previous assignments while his pupils worked. He knew any minute now Victoria was going to approach his desk and drop off her essay. He couldn't decide if he'd look her in the eyes, or completely ignore her presence. After reviewing her last assignment, he'd decided to write something down to remind her of just how much she was missed.

He slid her assignment back in the file of graded sheets where his students picked up their work after dropping off new essays. It was a mere 10 minutes later when Victoria stood up. He didn't need to focus in, he could just tell by the sounds and the blur in the corner of his eye that it was her. His heart began pounding, further clarifying it was indeed her.

Victoria placed her essay in the drop box, taking a peak at Beau from above. She could see the tired on his face and knew he probably laid in bed, unable to sleep in his depression. He didn't look at sharp as he normally did. It broke her heart to see this, but knew it was in both of their best interests. She thumbed through his files until she found her graded work and walked away. Beau looked up and watched as she stepped out of the room. She was always one of the first to leave, always working feverishly, faster than anyone to express her well articulated thoughts on paper before they escaped her brilliant mind. He knew she wore pants to dissuade his attraction, and mentally thanked her for that.

Victoria took a seat in the center area of the english department to review her professor's notes as she always did. She wondered if they would streamline personal or just be about her work. Within seconds, she'd found his handsome penmanship on the last page in red ink.

"Victoria,

Splendid as usual. I especially enjoyed your reasoning behind what drove him insane. Your work never ceases to impress me. You also never cease to impress me. I cannot stop thinking about the pain I caused you. I miss you dearly, and will do anything to gain your forgiveness. How can I spend the rest of my life knowing I won't get to touch you, hold you, or feel you again? I love you. I love you from your brilliant mind down to your heavenly body. Please, give me another chance.

Beau.

A+."

Victoria stifled back her tears at his gorgeous words, knowing she couldn't cave for both her or him. The rest of her world would destroy him. Her mind ached at this decision, so much so that she accidentally left her assignment on the sofa. When she stood up, Professor Walcott took notice to her left behind paperwork and retrieved it at once. He took a seat in the privacy of his office and thumbed through it, also impressed with her work. But, he was even more impressed with what he found out.

At last, he'd found his proof. Their liaison, his new upper hand.