One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 87

Audrey & Third Person

Audrey's POV

I found Tina huddled over the bathroom sink, her shoulders shaking with **bs.

"Tina? Are you okay?"

"I just... I can't keep lying anymore," she murmured, quickly swiping her tears away from her cheeks.

"What is it, Tina? What's going on?" I took a step forward

Tina looked up at me, her eyes red and misted over with tears. She opened her mouth to respond, but all that came out was a strangled s**. I quickly rushed over to her and pulled her into my arms, feeling her form tremble against me as she cried into my shoulder.

"Tina, it's okay. I'm here." I whispered, rubbing her back gently. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But I'm here."

She clung to me for a long time, her tears soaking into the shoulder of my dress. Finally, she pulled back just enough to wipe at her damp cheeks with her gloved hand. "T-I'm sorry, she hiccupped. "I shouldn't have run off like that. I ruined everything. And I ruined your dress."

I pulled back slightly so I could look into her tear-stained face. Her mascara had gotten smudged from crying, leaving dark streaks down her cheeks-and my dress. Shaking my head, I pulled my handkerchief out of my pocket, dampened it in the sink, and began to dab at her face.

"Don't apologize," I said gently as I worked. "Those people were jerks. But why did their comments hurt you so much?"

Tina took a shaky breath, avoiding my gaze for a moment. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of one of her gloves. "They hurt because... because they're true."

My eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Tm... I'm g***y, Audrey, Tina whispered, her soft voice barely audible over the m**ed music floating in from the ballroom,

"You're g**y?" I blurted out. It wasn't that I was disapproving of her revelation, but rather that I hadn't expected it in the slightest. Throughout our entire friendship, as far as I was aware, Tina had only ever shown an interest in men.

She nodded. "I only realized it recently, and I'm still trying to come to terms with it. So those comments really cut deep." I swallowed, gripping her arms tightly. "How long have you known for certain?" She sniffled, wiping her eyes carefully to avoid smearing her makeup further. "I've had my suspicions for years, but only realized it a couple of weeks ago now," "Does anyone else know?" I whispered.

Tina quickly shook her head. "No. Just you," she murmured, inhaling sharply as another choked sob bubbled throat. "I can't tell my parents. They'd disown me."

"Your parents are homophobes?"

up in her

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21:18 Mon, Sep 16

Chapter 87 0.11%8

Π

"Unfortunately, yes."

more. Without saying anything, I pulled her in and hugged her tightly again, feeling her body shake against mine as she tried to hide her s**.

she murmured

right? **d and thick when she spoke again. Thank you for being such a good friend, Audrey. I don't know what I would do without you. You're the only person I feel

and Gavin," I said gently, not wanting to pressure her but also wanting

I just... need

you need. Your secret is safe with

pulled back again, and this time there was a nervous look on her face. Her

tell you," she said, shuffling her

"What is it?"

herself, before she spoke. "I... I've always had the tiniest crush on you Even though I know you're straight. I hope

a stray tear with my

reassured her with a chuckle. "I'm flattered, actually. And I'm sorry that I can't return those feelings, but I know someday you'll find someone who's perfect for you. Someone who'll love you for exactly

watery laugh and hugged me again. "Thank you for not taking my confession too seriously," she said. "I think I just sort of latched onto you a bit since we've been friends for so long now." I grinned and flipped my hair over my

shook her head. "You really are the best

scared to tell me anything." I assured her, giving her hand a

began to dab at her tear-streaked

bathroom vent.

Tina's shoulder,

Sep 16

Chapter 87

"Tina." I stammered, pointing.

when

that it was handly more than a blur, the gas, seeping out of the vent faster and faster, began to fill the room far more quickly than I had anticipated. It stung ny eyes and made my throat

of here," I coughed,

tell Tina twice. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her through the haze, both of us coughing and sputtering as

I slammed the door shut, coughing and gagging as I leaned against it. The cool air of the hallway was a relief for my burning eyes and throat, although it took a good thirty seconds before either of us

hell was that?" I gasped

stuff was had burned her eyes, too. "I don't know, but if

"Come on," I said, grabbing her hand. "We need to report this to the chaperones. There must be some kind of air

we made our way back to

Third Person POV