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."

again, feeling her body shake against mine as she tried to hide her s**. I'm so sorry. Tina," I said gently, rubbing large, slow circles on

murmured

It's what best friends are for, right? **d and thick when she spoke again. Thank you for being such a good

but

know. I just...

the time you need. Your secret

moment, she pulled back again, and this time there was a

I should tell you," she said, shuffling her feet

"What is it?"

I've always had the tiniest crush on you Even though I know you're straight. I hope that

away a stray tear

all," I 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

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

are the best friend I

hand a squeeze. "When

began to dab at her tear-streaked face. I watched her, staying by her side and

bathroom vent.

noticed something strange; over Tina's shoulder, there was a whitish

Mon, Sep 16

Chapter 87

"Tina." I stammered, pointing.

when

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

get out of here," I coughed,

her hand, I pulled her through the haze, both

cool air of the hallway was a relief for my burning eyes and

was that?" I gasped once I

Whatever that stuff was had burned her eyes, too.

to report this to the chaperones. There must be some kind of air vent

and we made our way

Third Person POV