Chapter 4: Boundaries
Alice and Caleb wandered the library together aimlessly, occasionally one would pick up a book they enjoyed and tell the other about it. Alice could feel her cheeks warm as she listened to him talk about the ones he liked most, she had always loved when someone was passionate about something, she felt closer to them then, and she found that a persons mind was the most beautiful thing in her eyes.
As Caleb realized Alice was staring, his cheeks grew red and he cleared his throat nervously to speak, "Would you...like to grab some dinner with me, Alice? I know this nice little café down by the south dorms."
Alice's face lit up and she grabbed his arm, "I would love to!" Caleb smiled and began to lead Alice out the door when someone stopped them outside, standing directly in their path.
"Alice. There's been a change of plans. Our tutoring session must happen now." Mr. Larson stood rigidly, his hands behind his back as he stared Caleb and Alice down, his eyes narrowing at their arms intertwined before turning back to Alice, waiting.
Alice awkwardly releases Caleb's arm and checked her phone for the time. "I'm sorry sir but...can't I get dinner first? It is only 6:22, after all"
"I can supply you with dinner, but the tutoring must happen now. I apologize Alice, but I'm sure you understand the importance of your grades, " He gave her a meaningful look before stepping between her and Caleb and placing his hand on Alice's back to lead her away from the library. Caleb stared at them in confusion, and shouted out, "I'll see you in English, Alice!" while trying to wave to her.
Alice stared at her feet as she was lead away by Mr. Larson. She felt humiliated and intruded upon by his decision, and was uncomfortable with the idea of now having to eat with him as well. She didn't have the courage to argue, though, and so she went with him to wherever he was taking her, whether she liked it or not.
"We will have dinner first. A bright might needs to be well nutritioned." He led her into building C, to where his room was, and unlocked the door, flicking on the lights as they entered. He went over to his desk and grabbed a bag of food, labeled Green Garden Cuisine. Alice had heard of it before but had never been as it was a rather pricey place. It was well known for its fresh and vibrant dishes, and although Alice knew the meal would be wonderful, she wondered why her professor had bought her dinner from there.
Mr. Larson waved Alice over to sit down on the chair set across from his desk, placing a salad container on her
side and then his own, "It's a Greek inspired grilled chicken salad."
Alice stared at it, her body rigid and uncomfortable at the forced dinner gesture. He cleared his throat to fill the silence and continued, "It is a delightful salad,Alice. Cool tomato and avocado and crisp cucumber tossed with olives and spinach. Paired with the beautifully flame-grilled chicken, it is quite divine."
Alice fidgeted with her skirt beneath the table and peered up at him nervously as he went to lift his fork, "Um...Excuse me, but, why did you go through the effort of setting up such an expensive meal for me if we supposedly needed to start tutoring? Couldn't you just have let me have dinner with Caleb?"
As Alice finished her sentence, her professors eyes had narrowed at hearing her words, and he placed his fork back down gently, taking a deep breath before saying through his teeth, "Is this meal not good enough for your liking?"
"The food looks wonderful, but the point I am making, sir, is that it was not necessary for me to have dinner with you." She watched him carefully for his reaction, and as he hung his head and sighed, she felt a pang of guilt that perhaps she was being too harsh. He lifted his eyes back to meet hers and spoke smoothly,
"I wished to get to know you better, Alice, so that I am better equipped to help you." He held her gaze, his mezmorizing blue eyes softening and pulling Alice's heart like a magnet. He leaned forward on the and spoke softer, "Is it so wrong for me to want to understand you better as my student? You have a beautiful mind from what I've seen in your portfolio, I want to explore that mind more." His lips curled into a smirk so intoxicating that Alice felt the blood rush to her cheeks and her hands began to sweat against her skirt which was clutched tightly in them.
Alice realized that she had suddenly became very flustered at the thought of how private this meeting was, and how strikingly attractive her professor was, as well. He wore a light blue button up shirt with cuffs down to his wrists, sleeves hugging his muscles, and a black Rolex watch on one hand. His dirty-blonde hair made the blue of his eyes seem all the brighter and she thought back to him stroking her lip this morning.
Trying to hide her sudden excitement, she picked up her fork and began to eat, avoiding eye contact in fear of giving herself away. He smiled and sat upright again, looking proud of himself as he readied his fork once more, "So, tell me, what do you enjoy most, Alice? What is your passion? What makes your heart soar?" He put a bite into his mouth and grinned as Alice lifted her eyes to meet his own, and he saw the change in them as she melted under his stare, already falling victim to him, exactly as he wanted.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone