He texted back:
‘Sure! :)’
I smiled and wrote back:
‘Ok, I'll see you soon!’
I got up and left the apartment without another word to Gemma. She'd get over it. She just needed some time to cool off. But when I got back to the apartment after having lunch with Richard, she still wasn't talking to me. It was a long weekend with Gemma giving me the silent treatment. I wondered how long she planned on holding this up. Since Gemma wouldn't talk to me, and I wasn't talking to Professor Moore, Richard and I had been texting all weekend. I really liked him. Not as much as I liked Professor Moore, but enough. When Monday came along, Gemma left for class before I woke up and I ended up walking to class alone. When I got there, on time this time, Richard had saved me a seat beside him. This definitely cheered me up. We flirted off and on throughout class which got us glares from Professor Moore. When we critiqued our sketches, Professor Moore ripped mine a new ass and told me that he needed to speak to me after class and to come to his office.
When class was over, Richard whispered to me, "that was harsh," in reference to Professor Moore's critique on my sketch. I waved it away to show that I couldn't care less.
"I haven't eaten, meet me for breakfast in the dining hall?" I asked him. He said yea and we parted ways. I headed down to Professor Moore's office. When I got there, he was already in there waiting for me
with the door open.
"Please, close the door behind you," he instructed. I did as I was told and sat on the chair across from him. He had his hands teepee atop his desk looking at me with disapproval. I almost laughed.
"I feel as though your little boyfriend is distracting you," he began. I rolled my eyes long and hard.
"You have got to be kidding me," I said.
"No I'm very serious and I don't want to see your grades suffer as a result," he continued. Now I was getting annoyed.
"Yea right! I'm the best artist in that class. Including you!" I added with a smirk.
"It's not about talent, it's about effort and your grades will reflect your efforts in my class," he said sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest. I did the same.
"I know what this is about. You're just jealous and mad because I'm showing Richard more attention then you!" I snapped. Professor Moore raised his eyebrows.
"Are you trying to make me jealous?" He asked. I didn't answer, I just gave him an exasperated look. "Is it because I'm married?"
"That definitely has a little something to do with it," I said sarcastically, looking out the window.
"I'll get a divorce," he said. I looked at him incredulously.
"Yea right! After just one fuck you're trying to convince me that you'll leave your wife?! You must think I'm stupid!" I was genuinely offended.
"It has nothing to do with the sex," he said. I rolled my eyes. He leaned forward and put his hands on the desk, reaching for mine, but I kept my arms crossed. "Dahlia, we have a connection." He was really starting to piss me off.
"You're just saying that because you don't want me fucking Richard!" I spat the words out and he cringed.
"Are you having sex with Richard?" He asked me.
"That's none of your business," I said looking out of the window again.
"Dahlia, I've never felt this way about anyone before, not even my wife. My wife and I haven't been intimate in a very long time," he told me.
"Save it. I don't want to hear it. As long as you're still married, there will be nothing going on between you and I. I'm no one’s side chick!" I said, standing up abruptly. I grabbed my things and left, shutting his door behind me. I was so mad that I was shaking. I had to get out of there.
Professor Moore text me:
‘Divorces take time.’
Before I could stop myself, I text him back:
‘Well maybe this will help speed up the process’
and sent him the pictures of his wife and Gemma. Moments later, he started calling my phone nonstop, but I didn't answer. It started raining and I had to run home. I realized that I was crying. I had got myself in a mess! I let the rain wash away my tears.