So glad to hear so many of you are enjoying thing story. I honestly wasn't sure the type of reception it would get when I first started working on it. To answer the question yes it will be in Eric's POV. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far I greatly appreciate it. Especially Jesslarhea and Dardarbinx101 since I follow and read you both and have a high level of respect for you both. Elliesmeow thank you for your ever present support from the first chapter of my first story!
Getting back to his apartment Eric has wasted no time as he changed from professor clothes into a pair of basketball shorts and white muscle shirt and traded his shiny dress shoes for track shoes. Grabbing his wallet and keys he put them into his pocket before connecting his headphones to his phone, started his playlist and stretched before leaving his apartment closing the door behind him. Being on the third floor he didn't bother with the elevator as he jogged down the stairs and out of the front of the building. It was mid-August and still pretty hot but that just worked in body harder and caused him to sweat more so he didn't mind it so much.
When people asked how he handled being a young professor they always seemed surprised with his answer which was that he spent a lot of time working out and taught self-defense classes at the community center once a week which was why he didn't want to do it too often on campus. There had been two options strung in front of him a year ago and he had taken the education approach instead of going into law enforcement. Besides he found he was rather good at commanding attention and getting people to listen which did his students good. Though he was intimidating he still had students flock to his office hours and he had gotten good at tell who was getting what he was teaching and who wasn't. There were multiple ways to explain things and he had no problem doing that as long as he knew it was needed.
Turning a corner he jogged in place waiting for the walk signal before taking off again. After about an hour he had reached the front door of his apartment again. Turning on the oven he allowed it to preheat as he headed to the bathroom to shower. As he peeled off his sweat saturated clothes he drop tossed them into the over flowing hamper, yeah he would need to laundry over the weekend. Turning the water on cold he stepped in shivering for a moment before relaxing under it as the sweat was rinsed from his body before he started scrubbing his hair and body.
Despite the cold water his mind drifted to a dirty blonde sophomore girl who had intentionally made sure to get herself stuck in his head. Leaning his head against the wall of the shower he tried not to think of the passion and flash of anger in her eyes when she had called him out in class, or the sound of her voice as she had talked to him after no longer angry with. Though the worse mental image was her promise to see him tonight. The blood in his body moved south and he groaned as his body reacted in a way he really wished that it wouldn't lust not caring about things like ethics and morality. Would it matter if she were just another girl on campus and not in his class? He might considered it a little different then even if it was still wrong.
"You need to chill." He said looking down at his erection before turning under the cold water hitting his front and working to kill his building hard on. Wiping Tris from his mind he refused to think about her. Of course he mentally slapped himself realizing he had called her Tris even if it were in his mind, it wasn't so bad if he didn't say it out loud right? Turning off the water he dried himself off and wrapped the towel around his waist for the time being.
Moving back out into the kitchen he grabbed a box of frozen lasagna and opened it before placing it in the hot oven. Glancing at the time he still had about two hours before he had to be back on campus. Setting the timer he moved to his room to get dressed. Though he could probably wear slacks and a button up to show he wasn't there for the party but to make sure everyone stayed in line he didn't want to waste his work clothes on tonight where they would most likely get ruined with the smell of smoke from the bonfire, someone would probably drop a drink on him and the ground was still somewhat muddy from the rain this morning.
Grabbing a pair of briefs, jeans and a plan black t-shirt he got dressed before carrying his socks out into the living room with him. The problem was no matter what he wore due to his age and appearance students would still hit on him as they always did which always turned into an awkward situation, more for him and less for them since they were normally drunk and he was not. Turning on the TV he watched the news until the timer went off and he checked his food. Eating quickly he cleaned up and made sure he had his phone, wallet and keys before leaving his apartment for a night of torturous hell.
Pulling up to the path that lead to the clearing the school used for bonfires by the lake he got out and headed towards the usual area when he started helping Uriah and Lauren set things up. "Uriah you sure you're majoring in engineering and electrical?" He asked looking at the mess of wires attached to the sound system.
"Shut up Coulter! Where's that cute blond chick to tell you that's unethical or something?" Eric rolled his eyes but found himself a little annoyed at the fact that Uriah thought she was cute. Of course he thought Tris was cute, she was cute. Yeah tonight was going to be a problem.
"It's not unethical, it's true though maybe a bit mean." He said with a smirk as he helped Lauren who was working on throwing wooden pallets into the area the fire would be at. She glanced over at him and there was a slightly nervous look on her face.
"Have you seen Tobias today?" Eric was a little thrown off at the question since it was known by everyone that he and Tobias Eaton were less than friends. Eric might put on the façade of being an asshole but Tobias acted like a fucking angel when he was far worse than Eric appeared to be.
"No Lauren, I haven't seen your boyfriends but Max said he might be out tonight he had already left campus earlier." Lauren and Tobias had been dating since last year when they had met in the student teacher program where they shadowed professors at the school. Lauren was like a younger sister to Eric which was another reason he didn't like Tobias, he didn't trust him. "I'm sure everything's good Laur, if it's not just let me know and I'll put him on his ass." He said winking at her was she rolled her eyes with a laugh and shoved him.
By the time everything was set up it was an hour before sundown and students were beginning to arrive. Leaning against one of the trees on the outskirts of the clearing he watched everyone looking as if they were having fun. Many were holding cans, bottles or cups filled with alcohol and honestly Eric wouldn't mind drinking at the moment but he couldn't.
As his eyes scanned the crowd they landed on Tris who was standing with another girl about her age and height with coffee colored skin and they were laughing at something a group of guys said. Good seemed that Tris forgot about her idea to find and torment him tonight. He should look away but he couldn't help but take in the way her hair was braided around her head in a crown, the fact that her dress was sleeveless showing off a couple of tattoos and the length was far shorter than it should be showing inch after inch of luscious leg. Goddamn, Eric had to turn away as he moved to the cooler set up behind the DJ stand and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Thought you didn't come to these kind of things Coulter." There was a cold edge to the voice making it very clear the other man didn't want him here. Rolling his neck out of habit he felt it pop, he wasn't going to fight Tobias even if he really did want to at the moment if for nothing more than anything to do to relieve the tension building in his body.
"Max asked so here I am. Though you weren't at that meeting so I'm not surprised that you wouldn't know." Pulling the bottle to his lips he took a few gulps, "Lauren's been looking for you, I would suggest you go find her." Though his tone made it obvious it wasn't a suggestion. As the same moment Tris seemed to spot them through the fire light and waved before circling the bonfire towards them.
"You know Tris Prior?" Tobias asked him and Eric scowled slightly as he turned towards Tobias wondering how the newer professor knew her.
"She's a student in my class." Tris walked over to them smiling at him before her smile feel as she looked at Tobias and there was definitely something there as she frowned. Tobias looked a little smug and Eric was filled with the urge to hit him again. "Go find Lauren." He hissed at Tobias wanting the man to leave now since his presence seemed to be upsetting Tris.
"Hey M…Professor Coulter, told you that I'd see you tonight." There was a vibrant and lively smile on her face but her eyes turned cold as she looked at Tobias, "Always a pleasure Tobias, I think the Professor is right you should go find your girlfriend or another freshmen girl I guess the choice is yours."
Both men were completely caught off guard by her cold words and Eric felt anger rising in him at what Tris was suggesting. "You need to leave now." He growled out at Tobias his eyes narrowing, "And I suggest you talk to Lauren because if you don't I will." His hands closed balling into fists at his sides as Tobias looked from Tris then to Eric before finding it best to back off and leave.
"You want to explain what the hell that was?" He asked his tone still harsh as he turned to Tris and had to catch a breath at the way her make-up accented her features. The girl pulled her lip between her teeth as he looked at her as if realizing the position she placed herself into.
Opening her mouth she closed it before frowning slightly and trying again. "Tobias was a student teacher following one of my professors last semester. He would flirt with me and I made the mistake of doing it back but I wouldn't go out with him. When the class ended he asked me out for drinks and I figured if he wasn't my teacher anymore that was alright. I got a little drunk and he took me back to his place, he went to do something and his phone kept going off so I looked at it and they were texts from Lauren and I ran out the door. I haven't seen him since."
Taking her words in they were not helping with the anger burning through him. It also didn't help that she had just admitted he wasn't the first teacher she had a thing for. As much as he didn't want to think that the information hurt it oddly did, was he jealous of Tobias right now? No he really wasn't since the man was a piece of shit. A guy walked by with a plastic cup and Eric grabbed it from his hand, "Hey….nevermind." The intensity seemed to drain away from the man as he took in Eric's size and current stance.
Pulling the cup to his lips he drained the whole thing in about three gulps. Jack and coke, yep that was a college drink if there ever was one. "Pro…Eric are you alright?" Tris asked placing her hand on his arms and he moved it away.
"You're a student Beatrice, you don't get to call me by my first name." Taking the now empty cup he left her standing there needing to put some distance between them at the moment as he tossed the cup into a nearby trash can. Turning he saw Tobias dancing with a student and glanced over to the DJ stand where Lauren was watching with tears sliding down her face. As much as he watched to march up to the man and punch him hard he couldn't think straight and kick the hell out of him once he was on the ground he knew Lauren needed him more.
Pushing through the crowd he made it to the stand were Lauren was still standing frozen in shock as Tobias kissed the girl's neck. Wrapping an arm around Lauren she immediately turned into him pressing her face against his shirt her tears freely falling as sobs wracked her body. "Give me your phone." He said as calmly as he could. Lauren pulled it from her pocket and handed it to him.
Pulling up her messages her easily found Tobias' name and started a message, 'Dear asshole, it's over, don't call me, text me or even look at me. If I see you again I will not be held accountable for my actions. There will be no working it out and good luck keeping your job if Max ever finds out what you're doing. ~Lauren' He showed her the message and she gave a weak nod before he hit send and kissed her head.
Looking over Tris was standing there he eyes moving from Lauren over to Tobias. There was question in her eyes and Eric nodded her not having to voice what she was thinking. What happened next surprised the hell out of him but he watched as Tris walked right up to Tobias and punched him in the face. "You worthless fucking cheater! I never want to see you again! You gave my best friend crabs you piece of shit."
Eric had to put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing as Lauren seemed to laugh weakly in his arms. He tilted her chin a little so she would look at him, "You ready to go home?" She nodded and Eric realized he couldn't leave until the clearing was cleaned up but Tris walked back over about that time. "Do you mind taking her home? I've got to stay, work thing and all."
Tris looked surprised by his request before smiling a little, "Yeah I can take her home and maybe pick up some ice cream and chick flicks on the way home. No scratch that, kickass chick flicks, maybe even The Other Woman." He followed Tris to her car and put Lauren in the passenger seat.
"Hey Tris…thanks." The smile grew on her face and he realized the mistake he had just made but it was too late to take it back now.
"Don't worry about it that's what friends do Eric. Sorry Tobias is a worthless human being with no morals." Waving she pulled out of the lot and Eric headed back to the bonfire to see that Tobias was gone.