Note/Trigger Warning: There is an attempted sexual assault towards the end with some threats and physical aggression as a parallel to what happens in Desire and Decorum.
“Shut Up! He really said that about you?” Annabelle asked in disbelief.
“Yep,” Anna answered flatly. “And I’m sure Ernest was sugarcoating the language to spare me. I can’t wait until this class is over and I never have to see him again…well at least not until law school.”
Annabelle cringed. “Yeah, that sucks for you. Glad I’m not going to law school… Sorry, probably not helpful.”
“Yeah, yeah, rub it in. Maybe some miracle will occur and he’ll retire or fuck off to somewhere else before I get there, but for now, I just need to keep my head down and get through this class.” Anna stopped at the row towards the back of the lecture hall where they used to sit. “Including remaining more inconspicuous back here. I don’t need to be accused of whoring around with all the teaching assistants again just because I talk to them, and I certainly don’t need to be any closer to Professor Asshole.” She probably said that last part loud enough for others to hear, but it was no secret. There weren’t many people who actually liked him.
The hour long class dragged on, and they received another paper back at the end. Anna knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid the professor completely, as he was handing back the front half of the alphabet, clearly so he’d personally have to deliver hers. They were all in alphabetical order, but hers was conveniently held to the back of the stack. The remainder of the class was filing out as her name was finally called.
Professor Richards face was unreadable as Anna approached. She avoided eye contact while she attempted to grab her paper out of his hands and run, but he didn’t let go. “Ms. Edgewater, I have some concerns about your performance in this class. Please see my notes, and then set up a time to meet with me during office hours.”
Anna had felt confident when she turned her paper in, but now she was afraid to look at her score. She hurried out of the lecture hall and out of the building, bracing herself and she turned the assignment over. “He gave me a D?!” she shrieked, startling another student passing by. There’s no way she could have done that bad. Professor Richards had to he sabotaging her for some twisted reason. She began to page through the comments just to see if there was some plausible explanation.
“Anna!” Ernest came jogging out and caught up with her. “What happened in there? You seemed upset.”
“Here, take a look.” She thrust the paper into his hands.
Ernest’s brow furrowed as he looked it over. “That Bastard. Even without reading this, I know the quality of work you are capable of, and there’s no way you would ever score this low. Let me look over this and score it against the rubric.”
“But what good would that do?” Anna lamented as she failed to keep a tear from rolling down her cheek. “It’s not like he’s going to listen to you.”
“Come here.” Ernest opened his arms and she willingly leaned against his chest as he wrapped her in his embrace. “I can let you know how I would have graded it, and maybe that will help you with some talking points when you discuss it will him.”
“I suppose that wouldn’t hurt. I could use some time to cool down first anyway, so I don’t burst into his office all emotional and make a fool out of myself. Thank you.” Anna stood on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I gotta run to my next class now, but I’ll text you later.”
Anna turned to walk away but Ernest grabbed her hand and pulled her back in. “Wait.” He snaked an arm around her waist and cupped her cheek, parting her lips with his tongue and kissing her deeply. “There. Now that’s a proper goodbye.”
~~~~~
By the end of the day, Anna was still all worked up. Dance had always been a source of stress relief for her, and sadly since she’d come to Harvard, she hadn’t kept up the discipline at all. She’d worked out and taken some fitness classes at the University gym from time to time, but it just wasn’t the same. Dance was her therapy, and to cut that out cold turkey after doing it several hours per day for years was taking more of a toll on her than she had realized. Until now, she’d had enough positive distractions to keep her happy, but now she knew what she needed to do.
Anna picked up her phone and scrolled through her contact list, not even hesitating to place the call. Much to her relief, there was an answer on the other end. “Hi Julia, its Anna, Anna Edgewater…Yeah I thought you would know, but it’s been awhile…I know it’s short notice, but would you happen to have some studio space available in an hour or so?…Thank you so much, I’ll see you soon.”
It was only a thirty minute train ride to Julia’s studio. Although she hadn’t been in a couple years, the place had been a second home to her from the time she was ten until she went away to college. Julia taught her everything she knew about dancing and had coached her and the rest of the company all the way to nationals every year. As she walked through the door, it felt like she had never been away. The sights, the smells – everything was just as Anna remembered it.
“Anna!” Julia welcomed her with a hug. The petite woman had her long gray hair wrapped up in the usual bun atop her head. “You are a sight for sore eyes. I haven’t seen you since-”
“Harry’s funeral.” Anna quickly interjected so Julia wouldn’t have to say it.
Julia frowed empathetically. “How are you holding up? I ran into your dad a while back at the grocery store, and he told me you had changed your mind and decided to go to law school.”
Anna sighed, “I know, you probably think I’m wasting all my potential.”
“Anna, you are immensely talented, there’s no question of that. Sometimes destiny guides us in a different direction than we thought we’d go, but that doesn’t mean dance can’t be a part of your life, even if it’s not the only thing in your life. You know, I will have an opening for an instructor to teach a couple classes a week when the next session starts. I’m sure your own courses are keeping you busy, but if your load isn’t too heavy next semester, I’d love to have you.”
Up until this point, Anna had been resigned to leave dance in her past. It had been so all consuming, she couldn’t fathom giving it anything less than her full attention or none at all, so she gave it up completely. Maybe this was what she needed. “Wow, I’m honored you’d trust me to teach your students. I will definitely consider it, but first let’s see if I still know how to dance. You might take back your offer after you see how far I’ve fallen.”
Julia chuckled. “I’m sure that’s not the case, but you did come her to dance. Go ahead, show me what you’ve got.”
~~~~~
Although Anna was a bit deconditioned and out of practice, dancing at Julia’s studio had improved her mood tremendously. She didn’t even care that she’d probably have blisters on her feet tomorrow. Ernest had also texted while Anna was on her way home asking if he could come over, and he was already waiting outside her door when she arrived, just as she suspected he would be.
“You were so excited to see me, you had to beat me home, huh?” Anna teased.
“Always.” Ernest placed his hands on her hips and greeted her with a kiss.
Anna wriggled out of his grasp. “Ugh, I’m all sweaty and gross. You should wait until I shower.” Anna unlocked the lobby door and led Ernest into the elevator.
As soon as the elevator shut, Ernest pushed Anna up against the wall, whispering in her ear, “No need to shower first if we are just going to get dirty again anyway.”
“Woah.” Anna giggled. “Who are you and what have you done with my polite and proper boyfriend?”
Ernest tucked a messy strand of hair behind her ear. “You seem to have an affect on me. Especially seeing you with your cheeks all rosy and your skin glowing.”
Anna shook her head. “Again that’s just sweat, but whatever turns your on.”
“You know what else turns me on?” Ernest slid his hand around to her backside, the heat from his palms seeping through the spandex fabric. “Seeing you in these leggings.”
The elevator stopped and the door opened before Anna could think of anything to say, which was good because she couldn’t decide if she if she wanted to give into his seduction, or comeback with a sarcastic remark. Once inside her apartment she could hardly shut the door before Ernest had her in his arms again. Her hair up in a messy bun and wearing Harry’s ratty, old, oversized Harvard sweatshirt over her leggings and tank top, she doubted she was anything special to look at. And yet Ernest looked at her like she was the most desirable woman on Earth. Suddenly she no longer cared if she was a mess, or smelled like dirty gym clothes.
“Okay, I give in,” Anna relented. “Do what you want with me.”
“Oh, I fully intend to,” he said, looking her over from head to toe. Despite his heated gaze, her whole body shivered. Without warning, Ernest scooped her up and set her on the counter. He peeled off her layers one at a time, discarding her sweatshirt, tank top, and sports bra on the floor before removing his own sweater. He knelt down on the floor between her legs, Anna shifting her hips as he undressed her bottom half in one smooth motion. He peppered kisses along her inner thigh. She sucked in a deep breath and gripped the edge of the counter, waiting in anticipation for his mouth the reach where she wanted it the most. Ernest looked at her through his eyelashes and smirked. “Waiting for something?”
“Hey, this was all your idea. Don’t be such a tease,” she scolded playfully, fisting her hands in his wavy hair and tugging him towards her. He eagerly traced his tongue through her folds and over her clit with no further encouragement needed.
“You taste so good,” Ernest moaned sending vibrations across her sensitive skin. He clamped his mouth on her again, Anna inching towards the edge of the counter to press herself tighter to him. Still flushed from her workout, the extra blood flow magnified the intensity. She knew he could push her over the edge at any moment, but she wasn’t ready for the incredible feeling to end, intent to ride the edge of her climax as long as she could handle.
“Come up here and kiss me,” Anna pleaded, and Ernest obliged. Their lips crashed together, Anna fumbling to unbutton his jeans as fast as she could. He pushed down his pants and boxer briefs, never breaking the kiss. She reached between them, guiding the tip of his cock past her slick entrance.
Ernest groaned and gripped her hips tightly as he buried himself deeper. Anna threw her head back, whimpering with every thrust as he hit the sweet spot inside her. She clamped her legs around his waist, securing the angle she needed and the feeling began to overtake her once again. He breaths came faster and faster until the floodgates opened, and Anna cried out as waves of pleasure rippled outwards from her core.
“Fuck, Anna. You are too sexy when you come.” He picked up his pace and as she rocked her hips to match his rhythm until he called out her name as he spilled inside her. Still panting, he lifted her off the counter and pointed her in the direction of the shower. “Okay dirty girl, let’s get cleaned up.”
~~~~~
The next day, Anna was ready to face professor Richards and plead her case. As expected, Ernest would have given her a much higher score on the paper, and not just because he liked her. She had all the required elements and near perfect execution. In his opinion she should have gotten an A. Armed with with all the evidence needed to make her a strong argument, she met at the professor’s office at their scheduled appointment time. Ernest had insisted it be during his office hours as well because he didn’t trust Richards. Anna would have liked to think she could handle him herself, but Ernest was right and she couldn’t put anything past the professor.
“Anna, come in.” His sleazy grin immediately put on her on edge. He closed the door behind her, furthering her anxiousness.
“I think I’d be more comfortable with the door open,” Anna admitted. “I’m feeling a little claustrophobic.”
“No need to worry, Anna. The discretion is truly for your benefit. Now have a seat.” Professor Richards pointed to a chair on the opposite side of the desk from his own, but instead of sitting on his own chair, he perched himself on the edge of the desk closest to her.
Anna got straight to the point of the meeting, not wanting to be around him a moment longer than necessary. “As you know, I’m not in agreement about the score you gave me on the last assignment. I reviewed the requirements and have listed out point by point how I met all of the criteria listed on rubric. If you look at that and also compare my previous work, It’s clear I should have gotten a much higher score.”
Professor Richards narrowed his eyes. “Do you typically have such little respect for authority? No student of mine is to question how I grade the assessments. Frankly, I’m worried you’ve been skating by this entire time because you’ve got my teaching assistants blinded by your charms.”
Anna seethed at the suggestion. “That’s not true at all! I’ve worked hard and have done all the required coursework. I absolutely understand the material.”
“Calm down, sweetheart. It’s only one part of your grade.” He put his hand on her shoulder and she promptly shrugged it off. The lingering feeling of his touch made her skin crawl. This was going about as bad as could be expected, and maybe it was time to cut her losses and run.
“I see that nothing constructive is coming out of this, so I think it’s best I just go.” Anna stood up and turned towards the door.
“Wait!” Professor Richards roughly grasped her hand and pulled her back towards him. “You are here because we are both concerned about your performance and I’m willing to assist you with some extra credit. If the way you have Ernest wrapped around your finger is any indication, you’ll have no trouble making up your grade with me.”
Anna’s stomach churned and she pulled her hand away. “If you are implying what I think you are, you can forget it. I’ll take a failing grade if I have to.”
Professor Richards rushed to get between her and the door, blocking her from leaving. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Anna. Most of the girls in this class would fuck me in an instant if I asked. Don’t tell me there’s not some part of you that wants me.”
She was both disgusted and terrified. “All I want right now is for you to let me go. Please move.”
“Are you going to make this difficult? It’s a good thing I like a challenge.” He closed the distance between them and gripped her hips hard enough that she couldn’t move.
“I’m going to ask you one more time to let me go, and then I’m going to scream. If you don’t want to cause a scene, just let me go.” Anna’s voice was calm, but inside she was shaking.
“You pretty little fool.” He clamped a hand over her mouth. “I always get what I want. Too bad now you won’t be getting what you want in return.”
Anna mustered all the courage she had, and bit down hard on the professor’s hand. He yelped up took his hand away but still had a hold on her. She squared her body to him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and kneed him as hard as she could in the groin. Her next step would have been to scream, but professor Richards cry was probably loud enough for the whole building to hear. He doubled over in pain, leaving her free to escape.
Ernest, Luke and Hamid all emerged from their offices to check out the commotion as she exited the professor’s. Ernest ran to Anna and hugged her securely. “Did he hurt you?”
“Not quite, but almost,” Anna managed to answer as tears welled up in her eyes.
“Can you two wait with her a minute?” Ernest asked Hamid and Luke who both agreed. He marched straight into professor Richards office, closing the door behind him.
~~~~~
“Have you come to apologize for what that bitch of yours did to me? Looks like I’m going to have to fail her out of the class now. Professor Richards sneered.”
Ernest walked around the side of the professor’s desk and lifted him off of the chair to his feet by his shirt collar. “No, I’m going to make sure you never get the chance to hurt Anna, or any other student again.” He took a swing at the professor and connected hard with his nose.
Professor Richards stumbled back into the wall and blood began to trickle out of his nose. “You’ve lost all credibility now that you’ve assaulted me. l’ll make certain your law career is over before it even begins.”
“That’s doubtful, but I dare you to try.” Ernest stormed out and slammed the door. He didn’t have to hit him, and maybe it was reckless to do so, but Ernest didn’t regret it one bit