My Eros (Modern Cupid and Psyche Dirty)

Keia's lips twitch. "It's nice to see that not all young ones are unwise. You'll do very well as long as you remember to choose your battles."

Since I have no idea what she's talking about, I just nod and smile while Keia hands me my painkiller. I pop it inside my mouth, and it's while I'm in the process of washing it down with water that we hear the doors swing open.

It's Dr. Foames, and her lovely features are a picture of concern as she rushes inside. "What's going on? I was told Halyna has had some kind of mishap?"

Mishap, my arse.

It's her fault I'm here, but since saying anything will only land me in more trouble, I simply watch her sidle up next to the professor like it's her God-given place. Dr. Foames smiles up at him, but her expression turns into one of mortification when the professor doesn't even look her way.

Keia clears her throat, and as Dr. Foames turns to her, the redhead says with a smile, "How very thoughtful of you to come rushing here for just one student, Isabella."

"It's my job to care about students," Dr. Foames says rather defensively.

"I know that," Keia says cheerfully. "I just didn't think you did."

"That's not a nice joke—-"

Keia's eyes widen. "My apologies. Did I sound like I was joking?"

To say that I'm fascinated with this exchange is an understatement, but before Dr. Foames can answer back, the professor proves to be a killjoy with one curtly spoken word. "Enough."

Keia immediately throws her hands up. "Of course, boss."

Boss?

Dr. Foames is also as quick to comply, and she does so by turning to me once again with a fake smile. "How did this happen, my dear?"

"You already know the answer to that," the professor snaps.

Dr. Foames stiffens. "I assure you, I have no idea—-"

"You have her file, Isabella."

The professor's voice is ominously soft even to my own ears, but it's how he's using my file to put Dr. Foames on the spot like that which unsettles me. It's unfortunate but expected for a guidance counselor to have access to my records, but Professor Lucious?

The only way he'd know about my bad knee is if he's read the police report on my case, and I don't understand why either Agatha or Rosethorne would let him do that. There's obviously more than what meets the eye with him, but one thing I can be sure of: the professor is definitely not someone I can afford to piss off, and the way Dr. Foames is currently stammering in his presence just drives the point home.

"I'm s-sorry, I didn't mean to—-"

The professor bites out something in Greek, and although it's a little too fast for me to follow, it's gotta be bad with the way the older woman hurriedly snaps her mouth shut.

"This is the only warning you'll get from me." The words are enough to make Dr. Foames visibly whiten, but the professor's expression remains harsh, and his tone icily caustic. "Are we clear on this?"

The other woman all but chokes as she answers yes. I almost feel flattered by this protective side of the professor, and I'm even close to thinking he might not be as big a jerk as I originally imagined except—-

"Your jealousy is unbecoming for someone in your position, not to mention unnecessary."

—-for that.

He's just said her jealousy was unnecessary, and I'm not sure how to take that.

"I won't deny I find her intriguing, but you know how I am. How I've always been."

When I see Keia glance at me uneasily, I know right away that whatever else the professor has to say is likely going to hurt—-

"Ms. Mariposa is sure to bore me sooner or later, and when that happens, I shall move on to the next intriguing little thing."

Chapter Six

"Un-fucking-real."

I've just finished giving a near blow-by-blow account of what happened this morning, and my roommate, whose visit is both a puzzling but pleasant surprise, is now looking at me with great interest.

"Professor Luscious—-"

I can't help choking at the term she uses, and my roommate smirks. "It's what everyone calls him, and while he's not my type, I do see why you guys would find him attractive."

"I do not find him—-"

"Oh yes, you so do," the other girl retorts. "I can see right through you, and it's so obvious you have the hots for him."

"I do not!"

"The lady doth protest too much—-"

"Well, this lady liked you better when you weren't talking to her."

But this only makes my roommate laugh. "Anyway...what I wanted to point out earlier, before I was so rudely interrupted by a certain lady in denial—-"

I can't help rolling my eyes. I am not in denial. Really!

"The professor's notorious for not having any personal interest in students. There are countless horror stories about how he's shamed all of those girls who tried throwing themselves at him, but the one I find most ridiculous and hilarious is when this girl...she was two years ahead of me, if I recall correctly. But anyway, this girl had this oh-so-bright idea of deliberately cutting her finger open—-"