"Hey, guys."

Sir Tristan smiled, tossing and catching his keys in the air as he entered the house. I sat on the couch, a throw pillow on my lap and body rigid. My heart still beating fast, but now with the addition of nervousness. Sweat forming on my forehead as I fidgeted with my hands.

Please go down.

Please go down.

Unconsciously, I started to shake my leg. The feeling of anxiousness growing by the second.

"Forgot my file," he showed the envelope he grabbed from the table. "Just came to get it."

"You're not staying?" Amayah asked, sat on the opposite side.

"No, I have to get back to uh... work," My eyebrow rose in question when he briefly glanced at me. "Busy week."

"Alright, take care on the way."

Sir Tristan smiled and was about to step out when he glanced back at me. "I just remembered, your dorm is on the same way as my workplace, right?" I nodded. "I can give you a ride home if you want."

I bit my lip, thinking. Despite wanting to continue talking or whatever it was I was doing with the dark haired woman, the need to disappear and run away after the discovery of my appendage was stronger. We were supposed to be having a conversation, not that.

And now that she knows, I'm sure she'll finally tell me to stay away now. I don't think I'm ready for another heartbreak just yet.

"That won't be necessary–"

I cut the beauty off. "I am actually leaving now. I'll take the offer if it's okay." I rushed out.

From my peripheral vision, I could see Professor Peterson looking at me with a raised brow and confused look. I decided to ignore it.

"Alright, come on."

Without even managing to stand up, the seemingly upset woman grabbed my hand discreetly and turned to her husband with a fake smile. But I don't think he noticed that it was.

"She doesn't need the ride, I still have something to say to her."

Nooo, I don't wanna talk anymore.

I pushed down the urge to whine and protest, maintaining a smile in front of Sir Tristan.

"She doesn't?" Looking at me, I had no option but to nod my head when I felt a rather hard squeeze on my hand.

"Yes, Sir. I forgot about it."

Sir Tristan nodded understandingly. "If you say so. Alright, I'll be going now."

Yup, I'm dead. She's gonna kill me for trying to leave.

As soon as he left, Professor Peterson's smile dropped as she looked at me, letting go of my hand. "Why'd you say yes? We're not done talking."

"T-That wasn't talking." I stuttered like a bitch, blushing as my still hardened member is a reminder of what just happened between us. "I wanna go home now."

"You were the one who kept on pushing me to talk, now you're running?"

"Because!" I couldn't help but whine.

Her lips twitched, trying to fight a smile. "Because what?"

I shook my head, not wanting to answer. She knows why.

"Is it because I kissed you?" Her eyebrow rose in question, and I almost slapped myself when a look of hurt crossed her face when I didn't answer fast enough. I was just wondering if it was just kissing. It felt too intimate and intense to just call it kissing.

She straddled me!

"Because if it is–"

"No, no, it's not because we kissed." I avoided her gaze. "I loved it."

And your lips felt so soft.

"Then what is it about?"

"I...you–how do you know?" I asked the question that's been bugging my mind. "How do you know about... about that?" I directed at the pillow on my lap, still being used as a cover.

I watched as her dark brown eyes widened in realization when she followed where I pointed. Clearing her throat, Amayah avoided my eyes. "Do I really have to answer that?"

Do I really want to hear her answer?

She's probably disgusted by me.

"No." I whispered, playing with my fingers. Feeling a lump form in my throat, I decided not to say anything more.

I wouldn't blame her if she tells me to never come back. It happens almost everytime to every person I meet. I'm used to it by now.

"If–oh shit, Aiden, why are you crying?" Amayah frantically held my face, using her thumb to wipe my cheeks. "Darling, what's wrong?"

I shook my head.

"Is it something I said?" I didn't answer. I watched as realization showed on her face as she looks at me. "I don't know what you're thinking right now but don't you ever, ever think that something is wrong with you. Your condition doesn't change the way I see you, okay? I like you the way you are, so please don't think bad about yourself."

"You're not disgusted by me?"

"No, baby, of course not. It doesn't disgust me, nor does it concern me. Don't let others make you feel like something is wrong with you because there isn't. And you're not alone in this," taking my hands, she ever so gently laced our fingers together. "I'm here."

"Promise?"

She nodded with a smile. "Promise."

Without missing a beat, I threw myself at her. Wrapping my arms around her waist and burying my face on her neck. A hand then touched my back, moving up and down soothingly.

"You're beautiful, Aiden. Inside and out."

"Fuck, I'm beat. I can't wait for the semester break."

"That's like over 2 months away."

"And that gives me courage to continue living."

"What about me?"

My eyes drifted from staring off to nothing back to my friends, particularly the couple that are now shamelessly flirting in front of Zoey and I.

"Of course, you do. You're my life." The simp replied in a kissy face. I scrunched my nose in disgust at the blatant display of affection.

Zoey faked a gag as I chuckled lightly at her reaction. Julius gave us a side glare, squinting his eyes at Zoey.

"You two are a bunch of bitter bitches. This is why you're single."

My blonde friend gasped. "Excuse me? I choose to be single."

I raised my hands when he looked at me as well, shrugging.

Julius let his girl go and sat between Zoey and I, wrapping his arms on either of us.

"Let me give you a piece of advice." I rolled my eyes. Oh g-d, help me. "Wanna know my secret behind the quickest way to a woman's heart?" It was a rhetorical question.

"Through her stomach with 2 boxes of chicken nuggets."

"A bilateral incision on the upper left region of the sternum?"

Julius and I said at the same time. He raised his brow before bursting out in laughter at my answer.

"You're laughing too much it almost seem fake." I deadpanned.

"The joke wasn't the one I found funny, it was the realization that you're hopeless. G-d, Aiden, I think you'll be staying single your whole life."

"I don't see anything wrong with that." Lexie intervened with Zoey agreeing. "Besides, if Aiden doesn't want to date, she doesn't have to."

"That's boring!" Julius rolled his eyes. "Are you sure you really don't like anyone, Aiden? Even just a tiny bit of crush on someone?"

I noticed Zoey glancing briefly at me before I gave my answer. "Sorry, bud. I really don't."

I really don't want to tell you who.

Speaking of who, the beauty currently invading my mind is walking towards us. The clicking of her heels echoing around the room as she took her steps.

As soon as Professor Peterson entered the room, our eyes met. I didn't let the contact last as I stared back at the table. But I could still feel her eyes on me.

I knew we still needed to talk.

We didn't get to finish last night because as soon as I pulled away from the hug, Aaron came downstairs, crying. He suddenly woke up with an upset stomach and immediately went looking for his mom. And I knew from that moment, we couldn't continue our conversation.

Before I left their house, she told me to meet her again at her place. And this time, it will be a conversation about what will happen between us. With our feelings for each other finally out in the open, it is solely based on our decision if we want to pursue something out of this.

Although I have my hesitations, I can't deny the fact that I want to try. That I want to be with her.

So it really depends whether Amayah likes me enough to be with me. And if she's willing to take the risk.

Because if not, there isn't really anything I could do.