Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Any similarities to the original characters or themes from the books or media franchise are used here for entertainment purposes only. All original elements to this story are mine. Please don't claim it for your own. Stealing ain't cool, m'kay?

Chapter 4. Angela Weber

"Oh, please!" Jessica cried in the quiet library. "Hamlet wasn't insane, Mike. The poor guy just lost his father…then, his mother hops in the sack with his uncle—gross—and he lost the love of his life before he could even express his true feelings for her."

"Shhh!" The elderly librarian hissed, her eyes narrow and full of annoyance.

"Yeah, I read the play, Jess," Mike countered, pushing his chair back onto its two back legs. "You don't think that drove him just a little crazy?"

Jess huffed in exasperation. "I guess I can understand how you might think he was in need of a little time in the psych ward… but his revenge was fuelled by grief. Not insanity."

I laughed as Jessica continued to scold Mike about the most common Hamlet debate. "To be or not to be," indeed, I thought,tapping my pencil on the pages of the book in front of me. I looked up at the clock and sighed. Eric was supposed to meet us fifteen minutes ago, and he was very rarely, if ever, late for anything.

"Hey! Earth to Angela," Ben said, waving his hand in front of my face. I smiled and looked over at him as he leaned back in his chair, mirroring Mike. I couldn't help but stare at him a little longer than I would anyone else, but made it a point to not get noticed doing so. I had been crushing on Ben since junior year in high school. I thought he may have at one point had a crush on me as well, but he never asked me out—and I sure as heck wasn't going to do it.

"Sorry. I was just wondering where Eric is. He's la—"

No sooner had the words started to leave my mouth, Eric came rushing in looking flushed. "Sorry...sorry," he said quickly, running his fingers through his black hair. "I got held up with Professor Swan."

There was a flash of movement to my right, and when I looked over I saw Mike looking at Jess with wide eyes. She started whispering sharply at him, poking his bicep to emphasize whatever it was that she was saying. When she caught me looking, Jess smiled sheepishly before fidgeting with a loose tendril of hair and burying her nose back in her book. She was acting very peculiar, and I couldn't figure out why.

I looked up at an incredibly flustered Eric as he dropped his books on the table and a few loose papers floated to the floor around his feet. "You all right?" I asked when he seemed to grow even more jittery.

"Oh, um..." he stammered as he picked up the papers around his feet. "Yeah. Professor Swan had asked me to meet with her after my last class."

"What for?" I asked, genuinely concerned for whatever had caused him to behave so strangely.

Eric flopped down in his chair and smiled. "She wants me to lead a study group. That's all." There was something in his voice that led me to believe he wasn't being entirely honest. We'd been friends since we were in middle school, so I could always tell when he was keeping things from me. The look in his eyes when they locked on mine told me he knew I was onto him.

I tried to read him like I was always able to do, but he suddenly dropped his gaze to the table, his cheeks reddening slightly as he tried to reorganize his loose papers. It took one look over at Jessica and Mike again as they whispered harshly to one another while nodding their heads toward Eric as if they knew something I didn't.

That's when it occurred to me that Mike had been called to Professor Swan's lecture room after the last class the night before. And Eric today.

I shook the beginnings of the absurd thoughts from my head and looked back down at the book in front of me. Though, try as I might, they haunted me,and I couldn't shake the feeling that something happened with both guys and Professor Swan.

"So, how are we going to attack this paper Professor Hardass wants us to write?" Ben inquired, letting his chair fall forward onto all four legs again before he looked over at me with a warm smile that made my knees weak—I suppose it was a good thing I was sitting down.

I didn't get the chance to analyze Eric's strange behaviour any further as we all delved into Shakespeare's work to prepare our papers. We sat around and discussed the assignment for a bit, each of us lending our thoughts to the project. Two hours later—when Mike started yawning—we each had pretty solid outlines for our papers and decided to call it a night.

"Call me when you make it home, okay?" Ben asked sweetly as I waited for him to climb into his car before I turned and headed for my own. See, it was stuff like that that made me wonder if he liked me. But, if he did, why hadn't he asked me out by now? Ugh! Why are men so confusing?!

As I walked through the parking lot, the sun setting just on the horizon and casting shades of pink and orange throughout the sky, I couldn't get my mind off the fact that Eric may have had some kind of encounter with Professor Swan...one that might not have been entirely consensual. It was the only way to explain his odd behaviour. Suddenly, I heard a hushed voice approaching and recognized the female behind it immediately.

"Where the hell are you?" Professor Swan hissed, pausing briefly. "What the hell do you mean you left? I told you I was staying late...in fact; you seemed more than accepting of it when we last spoke... Oh, you think this is funny? I'll show you funny when I see you, you smug son-of-a—" She stopped talking abruptly as she rounded the corner and came face-to-face with me.

"Miss Weber!" she exclaimed. Her fright soon dissipated as the person she was speaking to on her cell phone said something. "What? Are you...? No, I...wait..." Her mouth hung open in shock as she held the phone out in front of her. "He hung up on me. My truck broke down this morning and he was my ride home… And he just…hung up on me." She seemed incredulous that something like that was even possible.

Not knowing what to say, I whispered, "Oh?"

She flipped her phone closed and shook off her ire before forcing a smile on her face. "I'm sorry. You don't need to hear this. Have a good night, Miss Weber," she said before turning and starting to walk toward the sidewalk.

The words escaped my mouth before I realized it. "Do you need a ride?" It was after the offer was voiced that I found myself okay with it. Maybe I would be able to find out what happened with her and Eric.

She stopped dead in her tracks before turning back to me slowly. "That's so sweet of you to offer, but I can call a cab, really."

I shook my head. "Nonsense. Where do you live? I'll drive you. It's really not a problem." I offered her a genuine smile and she started toward me. We walked through the lot to my lone car mere yards away and climbed in.

Once she gave me her address, I drove through the city streets and tried to think of something to talk about. "So," I started lamely. "Eric tells me he's going to lead a study group for you."

Through my periphery, I saw her head snap toward me before she placed a hand on mine as it laid on the gear-shift. "I hope you don't feel put-out by my decision. It was between the two of you—"

"What? No," I said reassuringly, cutting her off in the process. "I think Eric's great. He's perfect for that sort of thing." The rest of the ride was quiet as I really didn't feel as though I had too much in common with her. Thankfully we weren't far from her house, so the awkward silence wouldn't last long.

Professor Swan unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to me as I pulled to a stop outside her house. "Thanks so much, Miss Weber. You have no idea what this means to me. Hopefully I can repay the favour. Soon."

"It was no problem, really. I only live two blocks away, actually," I said before she opened her door. "I'll, uh, see you in class on Friday."

"If not before." Her tone was both quiet and mysterious as she stepped out into the night.

I watched as she walked up the stairs to her three story condo, and waited for her to get inside. Once she was out of sight, I put my car into drive and was just stepping on the gas when I noticed her leather briefcase still on the floor of my passenger seat.

Knowing that were likely papers in there that needed the professor's critical eye and harsh comments—as Professor Swan was known for her own grading curve altogether—I shut my car off and leaned over to grab the satchel off the floor. I stepped out of the car, ran up to her door, and raised my hand to knock.

She didn't answer right away, though. I stood nervously, her briefcase handles clutched tightly in both hands, and continued to wait. Maybe she hadn't heard me. I lifted my hand again, and just as I was about to bring it down on the door, it swung open.

The woman who stood before me looked completely different than the one who stood before a classroom full of eager minds, pumping them full of knowledge. Her hair had been let down and was a long mess of mahogany waves that cascaded behind her shoulders, and she had exchanged her pencil skirt for a pair of grey shorts that showed off most of her lean legs and hugged every one of her curves. She had also exchanged her blouse for a loose sweater that hung off her left shoulder and showed off a sliver of her taught midriff.

"Miss Weber, please come in," she said happily, moving out of the way and opening the large glass-paned door further to allow me entrance.

I stepped through and held out her briefcase. "Thanks. I just came to drop this off, though. You forgot it in my car. I figured you probably needed it."

"Yes! I was just upstairs changing and I remembered leaving it. I do appreciate your bringing it up. Please come in. I was just about to make something to eat and have a glass of wine before grading some papers." She looked at me as she awaited my answer. "I feel terrible about giving Eric the responsibility of leading the study group while you're equally as capable. Maybe we could work something out. Shared responsibility, or something."

"That's really not necessary," I told her. While flattered that she felt the need to reassure me academically, I wanted her to know I really wasn't bothered.

"Please. Let's just discuss it."

Figuring there was no harm in hearing what she had to propose, I stepped into her foyer fully and allowed her to close the door. Professor Swan took her briefcase from me and led me through the hall. Her walls were adorned with beautiful canvas paintings, and there was a beautiful antique table at the end of the hall.

"This way," she announced, turning right when we reached the table, and headed into her living room. I chanced a look left before following her and saw the kitchen where two full wine glasses sat on the edge of the counter.

Weird.

Upon entering the living room, I noticed there was a fire burning, casting shadows and light along her walls and warming the room entirely. Above the mantle was another piece of art, and even more antique furniture completed the room.

"Your home is beautiful," I breathed.

"Thanks. Please, have a seat." Professor Swan gestured to the sofa in the centre of the open room. "Would you like a glass of wine?"

I cocked my head at her, wondering if she was asking to test my morality, or if she didn't really know my age. "I'm only nineteen," I informed her.

She merely smiled, waving a hand dismissively. "It's only wine. Have you never had wine before?"

"No...I mean, yes, I have. I just wasn't sure if you maybe didn't realize..." I was starting to ramble, and I could feel my cheeks begin to flush. "I have to drive, so, a glass of water would be just fine. Really." I still wasn't sure if she was testing me or not. I figured I'd be best to play it safe.

"You're sure?" I nodded, not wanting to say anything else until I could properly function. "I'll be right back then."

Professor Swan left the room and I remained seated, fidgeting nervously as I looked around the room. There didn't seem to be any photos in the room, which led me to believe that this was merely a formal sitting room, and not a family room. That or Professor Swan was a bachelorette with no immediate family.

After a few minutes, I heard Professor Swan speaking quietly. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but I found myself growing curious. I stood and followed her voice. It seemed to be a one-sided conversation, so I assumed she was on the phone with someone.

"I don't know about that...," she whispered. "No, it's not that I can't—in fact, I'm fairly confident in my ability to do what you're asking... What? How can you even think that?" Her tone seemed to turn from offended to sultry. "You know I'd do anything for you... All you need to do is ask..." She giggled lightly, and it was then that I realized Professor Swan did have someone in her life. My imagination got the best of me and I started visualizing what her beau might look like—or better yet, was it someone at Seattle U?

Her voice pulled me from my musings. "All right. I should get back to my company."

Soon she was back with two glasses—one wine goblet filled with a deep red wine, and the other a tall drinking glass with my water—and she handed me mine before sitting next to me, folding her legs up beneath her comfortably. I brought the glass to my lips and pulled some of the liquid into my mouth before I set the glass on one of the two coasters on the table...

Weird. Two full glasses of wine. Now, two coasters…

"So, Miss Weber, I do feel badly about this whole study group thing. I don't think Eric would mind sharing his responsibilities. Could you and he get together tomorrow and start planning?" She set her glass down and reached for her briefcase, leafing through it until she came back with a couple of papers. "This is what he and I have come up with so far."

I leaned forward until we were side-by-side, our thighs lightly brushing. The outline they had drawn up seemed solid, so I still wasn't sure why she thought they needed my help.

"I figure some of the girls might be more comfortable with a female leading the class, too. Sometimes a smart male can be quite intimidating. This way, everyone has someone to relate to," she spoke up, as though she could read my mind.

What she had to say made sense. I gave her a few ideas on study techniques that had helped me in the past as well as several I had heard about from friends. We implemented them into the outline before reclining again.

"You're really very smart," she told me, her eyes fixed on mine. There was something almost seductive in the way she stared, and it made me both nervous and excited. "You remind me a lot of myself when I was your age."

She twisted her body, bringing her legs back up onto the couch, and draped her arm along the back of the sofa. I took another sip of my water, and it took me a minute to realize that Professor Swan was playing with a tendril of my hair, and it was sending delicious—but confusing—shivers down my spine.

I started to think my earlier assumptions about her being involved with someone, and what I assumed to have happened with Eric, were wrong—that maybe she was interested in women.

"I should go," I said, even though my body wasn't entirely sure it wanted to.

"Oh? You don't have to, you know..." Her fingers continued to move through my hair and her eyes dropped to my lips briefly.

The air between us was charged, and my hands felt numb. Suddenly feeling nervous—and more and more confused by what was happening, I leaned forward and set my glass on the table before standing up. "No, really; I have to get home. I'll see you in class Friday."

Professor Swan followed me to the door and when I turned to face her, the spark in her eyes seemed to have diminishedslightly. Her usual confidence seemed to be replaced with something else entirely. It was almost as though she was disappointed.

But, about what?

"Goodnight, Miss Weber," she said softly before closing the door with me on the outside.

I stood there for a moment, completely lost in my confusion. Confusion for what seemed to be happening between us as we sat in her house. Confusion for what had made her personality do a complete one-eighty in mere seconds.

If there was one thing I hated more than anything, it was being confused.