One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 1*3**8 Audrey

After searching for a while, I finally found Tina sitting alone on a bench by the river, tossing popcorn to the ducks. I almost wouldn't have noticed her, had it not been for the plastic leather of her Wonder Woman costume catching the amber glint of a nearby streetlamp.

I approached cautiously, my red cape trailing behind me. My broken basket had long since been discarded in a trash can. "Hey," I said softly, sitting down beside her.

Tina didn't look at me. "Get lost, Audrey," she growled, jutting out her chin as she-rather forcefully-chucked another piece of popcorn into the water. A mallard skittered up and grabbed it before the other ducks could get to it.

But instead of leaving. I put my arms around her and held her fast. "No. I'm not going anywhere," I said firmly. "You're my best friend, Tina. I'll never leave you."

She stiffened beneath my touch but didn't push me away. Not yet, at least. When she finally relaxed slightly and it became clear that she wouldn't run away as soon as she was given the chance, I released her, grabbed a piece of popcorn from her bag, and tossed it into the water.

We sat in silence for a moment, watching as the same mallard from before greedily gobbled it up.

Finally, I spoke. "I'm so sorry, Tina. I didn't mean to break my promise. It's just... it's complicated."

"Complicated?" Tina scoffed. "What's so complicated about telling your best friend the truth when you promised there would be no more secrets?"

I sighed. A chilly wind blew across the water, and I pulled my cloak tighter around myself. "I got caught up in the guilt of it all," I finally said after a moment. "The longer it went on, the more I felt like I had to hide it. I knew it would only hurt more if I revealed how long I had been lying. It became this vicious cycle."

Tina turned to look at me, her eyes still red-rimmed from earlier although now her mouth was pressed into a thin line. "But we tell each other everything, Audrey. That's our thing. You promised."

"I know." I gritted my teeth and looked away. "Can I be honest with you?"

She scoffed again. "Oh, so now you want to be honest?"

Ignoring her jab, I said gently, "We're adults now, Tina; seniors in college. Sometimes adults have... secrets, and that's okay."

"But-

"It doesn't mean we're not still best friends," I interrupted before she could protest further. "I value your friendship above everything else, Tina. But sometimes I need to be allowed to keep certain things to myself until I'm ready to share them. Not constantly be strong-armed or guilt-tripped into telling."

Tina was quiet for a long moment after I spoke, tossing more popcorn to the ducks remained silent, giving her the space to think, to formulate her response. Slowly, her movements went from harsh and angry to slower, gentler,

right. I've

I shrugged. "A little."

09:29 Thu, Sep 19

Cha**

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to look through my phone and take the locks off my door, so... I don't know. I guess I thought it was normal to be

hypocrite, aren't I? I didn't tell the rest of our friends I was ***y,

You're not a

got so mad. I don't blame you for keeping your relationship with Edwin to yourself. It wasn't fair of me to expect you to tell me everything"

"Why wouldn't E*

Edwin looked at you like you were his shining star. There was so much love

thing; that Edwin had looked at me like I was more valuable than any of the expensive

Edwin, hear him out, Tina

"He's engaged-

H

she stopped me. "But don't be so

Fiona's words. She had seemed so sincere, and had even guessed what was happening between me and Edwin down to the last detail. It

her?" Tina

changing that. Even if he does love me, we'll never have that level of soul- connection. And if he does find his

about those fears," she said softly. "His perspective might be different. You won't know unless you ask him. Just.. be careful." Just then, we heard familiar voices approaching.

clutching his pirate hat in his hands. "Are you

and I exchanged a look, then nodded. "We're okay," Tina said

We wish you had told us the truth about your sexuality. But we want you

wish you had told us sooner so we could have set you up with some pretty girls to date," Betty grinned,

**

**

arms across her chest.