"Of course." He opened up a folder and went through the papers. "I've heard a lot about you recently."
"Umm...yeah. I guess so."
He pulled a paper out of his folder. "Come here so I can show you what you need to do." He tapped the desk next to him.
"Okay." Why was he being weird? I needed to get to my next class. I could read the assignment later. I walked around the desk next to him and leaned down slightly so I could read the paper.
"So here's the assignment," he said and put his hand on the small of my back.
I felt frozen in place.Why is he touching me?
"All you need to do is write about a company that you think does an excellent job marketing their products."
"Okay." My voice sounded small. I wanted to move, but my body was frozen.He's just being nice. He's just trying to show me what I need to do.I took a deep breath.
"Simple really," he said. His hand was still on my back.
Why couldn't I seem to move?Get off of me.
"But it's not that much extra credit. If you're looking for something a little more, I think we can probably think of something." His hand slid down slightly, but it was still on my back.
"Professor McCarty." My voice still sounded small. "This is enough extra credit. Thank you. I need to get to my next class."
"Hold on, Penny. I think we can arrange something that will work for both of us. How about you meet me in my office during lunch today and we can discuss it?" His hand slid down onto my ass. "You want an A, don't you?"
"Stop." I was whispering. I could feel the sting of tears coming to my eyes. Why couldn't I move? Why wasn't he listening to me? "Stop," I said again.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Penny. I'll be gentle. I think we both know that you're more than willing to do this."
I finally willed my body to react and I did the first thing I could think of. I slapped him hard across the face and stepped away from him.
He grabbed my wrist hard so I couldn't flee. "I'm just trying to help you," he said.
"Help me? I don't need your help." I tried to take a step away from him, but his grip was strong. "What are you doing? You're my professor." I realized the irony from what I had just said.
Professor McCarty smiled. "And doesn't that make this all a little more exciting?"
"Let go of me." I pulled my arm as hard as I could away from him.What a pig.
He dropped my wrist. "I'll make it worth your time. I've worked at this university for years. I have more of a pull with other professors than James did."
"I'm going to report you to the dean." I wiped under my eyes where my tears had started to escape.
Professor McCarty laughed. "And you think Joe will believe you? You've already slept with at least one professor. No one will believe you, Penny. Joe definitely won't trust your word over mine. I'll tell him you came on to me. I know you already have two strikes. You'll be expelled."
"Fine, get me expelled." I ran over to the door and ran out of the classroom. I continued to run as fast as I could out of the building. It didn't matter that people were staring at me. I didn't care anymore.
I ran all the way back to my dorm, up the stairs, and into my room. I let my back slide down the closed door and wrapped my arms around my legs. After a few minutes the knees of my jeans were completely soaked with tears. I wasn't sure why I had come here. Everything was better when I was with James. But I was embarrassed. I told him I could handle this. I wanted to be strong.
Besides, one phone call had made me doubt him. I wasn't sure I deserved his love. And maybe those girls in the bathroom were right. Maybe he'd be better off without my love.
I didn't doubt him, though. The feeling had been fleeting. I trusted him with everything, with every part of me. Maybe he would be better off without my love, but that didn't mean he didn't want me. And I needed him right now. I needed his arms around me. I wanted him to tell me everything was going to beokay. I pulled out my phone and texted him: "Can you come get me? I'm at my dorm."
His response came in less than a minute. "Why aren't you in Stat? Are you okay?"
I wiped away my tears. "I'm okay. Please can you come?"
My phone buzzed immediately. "I'll be right there."
