DISCLAIMER: ALL HUSH HUSH CHARACTERS BELONG TO BECCA FITZPATRICK

THIS CHAPTER: THE AFTERMATH OF 'WHAT'S MY NAME', SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT ACCORDING TO NORA'S INNER BITCH...

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CHAPTER 2

"TAKING ADVANTAGE"

High school serves as the perfect training ground for how to be a first class bitch. Think back to high school for just one second and remember every bad word, every harsh word, and every moment you wished you could do nothing more than disappear into the floor or curl up in a ball and die. High school prepared you to be the ultimate bitch to just about anyone. Having the man you are secretly irrevocably in love with call you by someone else's name tends to bring that ultimate inner bitch out to unleash on someone. It's obviously not in your best interest to take it out on the man you are hoping to win the heart of, no matter how much he deserves it (boy did he ever deserve it though!), so you settle for the next best things; the bitch that slept with him is the next logical choice.

I stomped off towards the library which, luckily, was easy to find on the large campus. Two computer searches later and I found the bitch's entire class schedule. Well, Dr. Dabria Greene was certainly a busy, busy little bee. Did she have lovers in all of her classes or was it just Patch? Sure Patch was an amazing man but was she the type to only keep one lover or a whole hive of them?

Dr. Green's next class was two hours long so I found myself looking into her as a person. She was young, so young in fact Patch and her could have been twins practically. She'd graduated from high school at fifteen and went on to achieve a Ph. D. by twenty-four. Now at twenty-five she was looking good by having an associate professorship and looking towards tenure. She was squeaky clean when it came to allegations of anything improper but that only raised my suspicions not lowered them, she was a little too clean. It was something to consider for the future. No one was ever that clean.

Dabria had a Facebook account... how naughty. Her relationship status was listed as "It's Complicated" (it must be complicated when you're exchanging grades for sex) and there were countless pictures of her with her students, male students mainly. She seemed to love being in pictures and she was in various stages of undress. It was nothing inappropriate mind you, but down to a bright red barely there bikini. There were three with Patch. He, however, was not tagged. Patch didn't believe in Facebook so... he didn't have one.

I scrolled through her various interest but they seemed run of the mill. I mean, who the hell actually puts "kittens" as a like? Okay, maybe a teen or something but a professor? She didn't even say "cats"! Her movie interests were mostly foreign films or religious (that's... interesting) and she didn't watch TV. Who doesn't watch any TV?

I sighed at the information and then looked at her professor page. She had office hours for the hour before her class and I realized I could... take advantage. That's what she had done taking advantage of Patch, two could play the same game. I felt positively devious as I printed out the three pictures of Patch and lists of some very important emails of hers. I could move things along a bit and possibly get her out of Patch's life. If it was meant to be then she could wait until he graduated to be with him or until she wasn't his instructor. If she couldn't deal with that then maybe I'd just have to convince her. That's what best friends are for... right?

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

Dabria's office was immaculate, cold and calculated in order to portray control, the only living thing was the vast amount of plants in there other than that it had an aura of death in there in my opinion. Maybe that was the scent of dying brain cells. She had waved me in with a confused look on her face before stepping out to use the bathroom. She was probably trying to figure out where she'd seen me before. It had to be difficult because if she recognized me it meant she'd been to Patch's dorm room. There were pictures of me on his wall and that would be the only possible place she could have seen me.

It made me angry to think she might have been in his room, probably in his bed. I knew Patch slept around, hell he had a reputation of being loose with his attentions going back to the start of puberty. He only had the most beautiful women though it seemed and that made my feelings seem less than. It was something I had begun to accept, I would have an unrequited love like in all those tragic romance novels I'd read over the years. The only difference was my story wouldn't end with a miracle change in his love. Maybe there would be someone else some day... maybe.

I listened for the sound of the Dr's stiletto heels clicking across the floor but I heard nothing except my vibrating phone. Patch had called twice since I'd stormed out and text me fifteen times. He probably realized I would come back when I was good and ready and there was nothing he could do about it so he would just have to wait. I touched a finger to the touch screen for a moment when his picture flashed across the device, alerting me to another call. I called it his, "I want in your panties" look. Too bad he didn't really want in my panties.

"I'm sorry but I only have a few minutes," Dabria said as she entered the room. She'd changed out of her spiked 'fuck-me' pumps and into more sensible flats. Her hair was down, out of the elegant bun, falling down her back in a curtain of blond that parted down each side of her oval face to fall below her elbows. Of course she was beautiful, she was almost angelic with her blond hair, sea blue eyes, creamy pale skin and willowy yet feminine figure. She was everything I was not.

"That's alright. I only have a few things to say," I murmured. She looked surprised by that. She was probably expecting some sort of academic questions only she could answer. She sat back in her chair and shut down her computer while I sat my phone on the desk. Hopefully Patch would try to call again.

"I... I've heard some troubling news," I began softly. "I thought I should report it to an appropriate channel."

"Should I notify the campus police?" she asked hesitantly. Professor Greene had a look of concern on her face but it slid away when I shook my head. "Well what is it Miss...?"

"Grey," I replied. "I've been told some disturbing news about a professor at this University."

"A professor? Well if it's about a colleague then perhaps I should refer you..." she trailed off. She was really trying to follow protocol but I saw that little twinge of curiosity. She was definitely someone who would love some dirt on her co-workers, the gleam in her eye that sparked was impossible to miss.

"There is a professor who is sleeping with their students," I spat in a voice laced with disgust and repulsion. "In exchange for grades no less!"

Dabria's face paled slightly more than it already was but she shook it off quickly. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion but she did nothing as if she was considering my words. She sat back and waited for me to continue. I met her gaze and sighed.

"Isn't that... what's the word, unethical?" I asked softly with a raised eyebrow giving her a direct hint at my knowledge.

"Well," she stuttered. "Well yes, of course it is. It would have to be reported to the campus police and be written up to go to the higher authorities on the University student issues board. I... can get that process started."

"That would be nice," I replied with an icy smile. As if he knew I was waiting for his call, the phone rang and Patch's picture appeared on the screen. Dabria's eyes darted down to my phone and froze. Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly. The cell continued to vibrate a little closer to her with his adorable "I want in your panties" look.

"I... uh..." she stuttered and tried to swallow thickly.

"Perhaps I should make this crystal clear," I began simply. "Stay the fuck away from Patch Cipriano. Give him the grade he deserves and then let him pass your class," I stood up and leaned over her desk, placing my palms flat against the surface locking my steel-gray eyes on hers with an pissed off glare. She shrunk back and slid weakly against her chair, her skin ashen white now.

"I... please..." she whispered.

"Do all that and I won't report it. Patch deserves better than that and how dare you take advantage of your position!" I bit out furiously. "Your reputation and career could end because of these allegations but then... at least your young. Trust me, I am ready to send off what I have on you to your boss."

"I... I understand," she nodded hastily. "I'll leave him alone. I've worked too hard to lose this, I would lose everything."

"As I expected," I said as I reached for my phone, sliding it in my pocket with a smile. "Well, I'll leave you to your next class and by the way, if I hear anything about your continued relationship with Patch, well let's just say your bosses won't only get the allegations. They'll get all those nice bikini pictures. A friend of mine is a whiz at Photo-shop." I grinned evilly at her, my cold gray eyes shooting ice.

She said nothing as I lifted my purse and turned towards the door, hopefully leaving her behind for good. Maybe I'd been a little premature and maybe I was just angry. Either way I didn't have any respect for someone who took advantage of situations like she was doing, even if it hadn't been Patch I would never have approved or been okay with what she was doing. It was unethical, inappropriate, and unacceptable. Patch didn't deserve a relationship like that or to be taken advantage of and I would do my best to protect him from women like her. If it wasn't going to be me it would at least be someone worthy of him.

"You're Nora," she said suddenly as I reached the doorway. "Patch has... talked about you."

"That's good. He's my best friend," I replied coolly.

"Sure... best friend," she sounded unconvinced. "Maybe I took advantage but he's a really great guy. You're uh... very lucky."

"Not that it's any of your business, but we're just friends," I said.

"Yes, and I'm a bodybuilder," she smirked and looked pointedly at me. "Well good luck Nora."

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

The door was unlocked to Patch's room but he was nowhere to be found. There wasn't even a note on the door or on my bags, which had been unpacked. I opened his dresser drawers and saw my clothes nestled next to his. Even my panties were arranged next to his boxers. Well the burgundy satin and lace pair were sitting on his dresser with a little post-it note attached.

When did you get these?

Oh, he was trying to be cute. Patch was well acquainted with the majority of my clothes but those had been a gift from Vee. Apparently my underclothes collection wasn't adventurous enough and I needed something more daring to get a man. Colorful or lacy undergarments were key or some such nonsense she'd insisted. Either way I understood the post it. If I forgave him then he wanted me to wear them.

I picked them up and stared at them for a moment before turning to look around the empty room. His math textbook was open on his desk surrounded by about fifty crumpled papers. I smoothed one out slowly and read his work. He really didn't understand trig did he?

I picked up a pencil and scribbled the answer quickly. He should be sleeping with his math professor. Unfortunately I seemed to recall Professor Johnson was a balding, heavy-set man. It wouldn't be the worst Patch had done most likely. He'd had some real sleazy experiences and I could only imagine the likes of the girls he'd shared them with. Although the professor would have been his first man.

I sat down on his bed and stared at the pictures on the wall. Patch always kept pictures close so he could remember all the good times. He hadn't wanted to go to college at all so when Avner made an issue of it, Patch took about a thousand photo's to keep him company. There were pictures of Patch as a kid with Rixon. Rixon was always clutching a raggedy teddy bear while Patch was usually staring off at something in all the images. I'd been told time and again it was usually me he was staring at but I'd been oblivious.

There were pictures of his parents, more of his Mom than Dad. Avner and Patch had such a strained relationship but then at least he had a Dad. It would be that time in a few months when I would probably skip out of college and visit Patch again. He was the only one who seemed to understand the anniversary of my parents' death hurt me a lot. So I would find him and he would chase the nightmare away as he had since I was five. Time may heal wounds but the scars still remain.

I smiled at the thought and then glanced down at the panties. I guess I could forgive him, maybe he'd still surprise me. I would demand an apology though. It was the least he could do. Damn him and his ability to make me forgive him for anything. I blame the "I'm going to do naughty things to you" look. He unleashed that once on me and he got in my panties on the first try. Hmmm... to be fourteen again with Patch's exploring fingers.

Well a shower never did anyone any harm. Maybe Patch would be back again by the time I was done.

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

I clutched the towel around my body tightly as I walked quickly towards Patch's room. The bathroom hadn't seemed that far when I headed there with one of Patch's huge gray towels. Now it seemed endless as I prayed none of the other students opened their doors and seen me. Whoever thought a shared bathroom in a co-ed dorm was a great idea is crazy. I was completely covered but no one had ever seen me undressed like this, except for Patch.

I opened his door and stepped in quickly, slamming the door securely behind me. Good, no one had seen me and now no one would. I sighed audibly in relief and then froze. There was a distinct smell of pizza and the sound of a pencil hitting the floor. Please, please, please let it be Patch.

I turned and found that yes, it was Patch. He was staring open-mouthed at me and it took me a second to realize he was staring at my legs. I glanced down and noticed a little stray water but it wasn't like there was a gigantic hair ball hanging off of them or something. What was wrong with him?

"Patch, are you okay?" I finally asked as he continued to focus like entranced for a few minutes more on my legs before swallowing loudly. He stood up slowly but his eyes lingered lower than usual. What was his problem?

"Um..." he stuttered as he took a few slow steps forward. I watched him warily as he approached but then... he did something completely UN-Patch-like. He tripped on a pair of sweatpants and fell into me, knocking me to the floor.

"Ow..." I groaned once the movement stopped. Patch was staring down at me with a look of shock and I followed his gaze to see what had caused his reaction, realizing something instantly. Shit... I was naked.

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