Chapter 6 : Interrupted

*Lily*

"Looks like the dynamic duo is back," Rachel quipped from beside me, nudging me with her elbow, her voice holding a teasing lilt.

My eyes drifted from Professor Alan and a group of five loud and squeaky girls chatting lively, to find Adrian reappearing, this time flanked by a new figure. The guy beside him was all athletic grace and easy charm, and I recognized him from the baseball team. He had a wide smile that seemed genuine and infectious.

His eyes crinkled at the corners as he laughed at something Adrian said. His presence was as commanding as it was amiable—a stark contrast to the brooding intensity that Adrian exuded.

"Who is that?" I asked, ignoring the odd flutter in my stomach by seeing Adrian again. Now, with the room a bit less dark, I realized I hadn’t paid much attention to how good-looking he was tonight. The guy managed to turn jeans, a white T-shirt, and a jacket into an outfit that seemed to have stepped right off a catwalk.

"That's Chris Harrington, Adrian's best friend and star of the baseball team," Rachel explained with a smile. "Chris is not as popular as Adrian, but they share the spotlight sometimes."

"Hmm, I can see why. He looks way more friendly than Adrian," I conceded, watching the two chatting and laughing, both holding bottles of beers in their hands.

As I tried to look away and distract myself with anything else, I couldn't shake off a growing sense of uneasiness bubbling within me. What was it about Adrian that kept drawing my attention? Knowing myself, Chris was supposed to be more my type than Adrian. Yet, as they walked side by side chatting with other people, my eyes didn't leave Adrian for a second.

"Some would disagree with you calling Adrian unfriendly." Rachel chuckled, though her eyes remained fixed on the two figures cutting through the crowd. "He pretty much owns the room whenever he walks in."

She was right about that, but I was too proud to acknowledge it. Ironically, Adrian only seemed to be irritating to me. Watching as he mingled with everyone, I wondered why I seemed to be the only one who hated his nonchalant demeanor and his cocky confidence.

"Whatever," I mumbled annoyingly, already feeling like I needed another drink.

"I'm going to hit the bathroom," Rachel said casually, her eyes still tracking the crowd as she got up from the couch and turned to me. "Hold my drink?"

"Sure," I replied, taking her cup. It was a convenient excuse not to follow her; the room was starting to sway slightly with each passing moment, an obvious side effect of the double shots we'd been downing. I was glad she didn't ask me to go with her, because I wasn't sure I'd be able to walk to the bathroom in my current state.

"Be right back!" she called out over the music as she disappeared into the sea of bodies.

Left alone, I suddenly felt self-aware of my surroundings. I looked around, hoping that no one would see me here, and decided to come and have a chat. I wasn’t introverted or had a social phobia, but I didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now.

I also didn’t want to be surprised by Louise. Just thinking about her made me completely alert. I didn’t know what her problem was, but I already didn’t trust her.

Realizing the coast was clear, I leaned against the couch, my head buzzing lightly. Feeling slightly nauseated, I closed my eyes for a second to steady myself.

"Enjoying the party?" a smooth voice asked a few seconds later, jolting me from my moment of reprieve.

My eyes snapped open to find Professor Alan Reynolds standing before me, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his jeans.

"Uh, hi, Professor. Yeah, it's...different," I managed to say, acutely aware of how close he was standing. In a classroom setting, this distance would've been normal, but here, in the dim light of a frat house party, it felt too intimate.

"Good different or bad different?" His smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth, and he tilted his head slightly, genuinely interested in my answer.

"Good, I guess." I forced a smile, but my mind was racing. Rachel's words about his rumored past with students echoed in my thoughts, coloring my perception of his friendliness. Was I misreading the situation, or was there a hint of flirtation in his gaze?

Maybe I was just too drunk and already imagining things.

"Professor Reynolds at a student party though… That's something I didn't expect to see tonight," I added jokingly, trying to sound nonchalant while internally questioning his motives.

"You can call me Alan outside of the classroom, Lily," he corrected with a chuckle. I fought the urge to gulp upon hearing him call me with such casualness. "And why not? It's always good to know what the students are up to outside of class. Builds rapport, don't you think?"

"Sure," I mumbled, my discomfort slightly growing. His presence was disconcerting, and I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol making me paranoid or if my instincts were right to be wary.

"Is this your way of gathering intel from us then?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation light despite the red flags popping up in my mind.

"Something like that," he replied with a secretive smirk.

Before I could delve deeper into his ambiguous response, a familiar figure cut through the crowd, his expression thunderous.

Adrian Sterling.

His eyes locked onto mine, then shifted to Professor Reynolds with a glare that could freeze hell over, then back to me.

"We need to talk. Now," Adrian stated, his tone brooking no argument as he grabbed my arm with surprising gentleness given his irate demeanor.

"Adrian! What the—" I began, startled by the sudden intrusion, but he was already pulling me away, weaving us through the throng of bodies.

"Excuse us, Professor," Adrian tossed over his shoulder, not waiting for a reply.

"What are you doing?" I asked as Adrian navigated us through the party with an urgency that was both confusing and alarming. Despite my dizziness, I thankfully managed to control myself and not tumble over my feet as he dragged me away. It didn’t escape my notice how my wrist tingled with the small point of connection between us, my skin burning up under his touch.

"Later," he replied tersely, his jaw clenched while he kept his gaze forward.

His unexpected intervention left me with a trail of questions. What could Adrian possibly have to talk to me during a party? Why did he look so pissed? And where was he taking me?

Adrian got us to a secluded part of the frat house, away from the curious eyes of people who were watching us and probably wondering about our sudden proximity. Once we'd reached an empty dimly lit corridor, the music from the main room still throbbing through the walls, my irritation hit its limits.

"Are you going to tell me what the hell you think you're doing?" I pressed in a commanding tone, releasing my arm from his grip in a swift move and crossing them in front of my chest. "It's completely rude to interrupt a conversation and drag me away like that—"

Only then did I realize how close he was. I'd never seen Adrian this close before. The few times I saw him was from across campus or when he was seated at the backseat of the classroom. Now, I was having a hard time focusing on anything else other than his beautiful features and the amazing scent of his cologne.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain control of my mouth and brain. "What is it that you have to talk to me that is so urgent and couldn’t wait?"

His eyes were hard and darkened, searching mine for something I couldn’t quite grasp. "I just thought you might need some help with Reynolds," he mused indifferently, and I immediately frowned at him.

Hearing Adrian call the professor like that sounded weird to me, but then I reminded myself that he was from the Silver Wing, and also a bad boy, so that probably wasn't even an issue around here.

"Why would I need help?" My gaze drilled into his, my rage still boiling within me. I wasn't angry that he took me away from Professor Alan. Truth be told, I was actually relieved since I wasn't comfortable with our conversation in the first place. But I would never admit that to Adrian. "Why make such a scene?"

He hesitated, and something flickered behind those stormy eyes, leaving me even more curious.

"Well?" I pressed when he didn’t say anything, my pulse quickening with a mix of exasperation and something like anticipation.

"Because..." Adrian's voice trailed off, and it was as if the words were just beyond his reach. He clenched his jaw and his fingers flexed at his sides, a small sign of his internal struggle that most might miss, but not me—not when I was this focused on him.

"Spit it out, Sterling!" My demand sliced through the charged silence, and I could almost see the cogs turning in his head as he wrestled with his thoughts.

"Look," he finally began, his tone shifting, softer now but no less compelling. The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. I was accustomed to his smug retorts, his infuriating superiority, but this hesitation, this vulnerability was alien.

It unnerved me, and yet I couldn't look away.

Adrian's jaw clenched again, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. "You should watch out for Professor Reynolds." His voice was back to being firm and intimidating, booming like thunder in the close quarters between us.

My heart thudded against my chest, betraying my cool exterior. Could I be so completely out of my mind and my brain so clouded by the alcohol that I was actually assuming Adrian was jealous of my interaction with Professor Alan?

"Why?" I scoffed, trying to maintain my composure. But the question lingered in the air, palpable and heavy with implication.

"He's not trustworthy. Since you're new to the university, I thought I should let you know," Adrian replied with a shrug.

"Or maybe you just enjoy sticking your nose where you're not concerned," I retorted, my chin lifting in defiance.

"Think whatever you want, Everhart," he countered through clenched teeth, his brows knitting together. "I just did what I thought was right. You should be thanking me for saving your ass."

"Saving my ass?" I huffed. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself, you don't have to worry about it," I replied indignantly, my voice rising in pitch.

This was ludicrous. Adrian Sterling, of all people, acting like some sort of overbearing protector? Who did he think he was?

"It didn't look like it," he argued, but there was an annoying edge to his tone that made me want to believe he was in fact jealous.

"You don't even know me. How would you know what I need? You're not—" The rest of my sentence was choked by the sudden closeness of our faces as Adrian took a step forward, his lips now just inches from mine. The tension crackled between us, an electric current that threatened to ignite at the slightest provocation.

"I don't need to know you," Adrian interjected, his voice low and husky, instantly sending shivers throughout my entire body, down to my core. "I can tell just by looking at you."

I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the urge to close the small gap between us.

This was wrong on so many levels.

This conversation shouldn’t even be happening. I shouldn’t be in a dark and empty hallway with Adrian Sterling towering over me, his lips so close to mine like this.

For a crazy, delusional second, I believed he was going to kiss me.

And to my surprise, I found myself seriously considering letting him.