Hurt Me Like You Mean It [BL]-Chapter 22: The business department (1)

Lance woke up early the next morning, blinking at the ceiling for a moment before dragging himself out of bed. It was just past eight and he already regretted everything about the day.

He didn’t want to go to the university. He didn’t want to see that lecturer. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. But the man had emailed him repeatedly, and ignoring him wasn’t an option unless he wanted his GPA to die on the spot.

Getting it to 4.70 wasn’t easy and it was his final year, he wanted to keep it that way.

He showered quickly, dressed even quicker, and kept it simple. Hoodie, jeans and a white sneakers.

Nothing that would draw attention.

He checked himself on the mirror and exhaled.

This was fine. This was normal.

He headed into the kitchen and scooped two large portions of mac and cheese into a bowl before microwaving it.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, hopped up onto the counter, and opened his phone while waiting for the food to finish heating.

Another message from the lecturer.

A very passive-aggressive reminder not to ditch.

Lance groaned quietly. He really didn’t want to go.

The microwave beeped and he slid off the counter, grabbed the bowl, and inhaled the mac and cheese at record speed. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The train ride would take twenty to thirty minutes depending on delays, and he needed to get there early unless he wanted to deal with a lecture about punctuality on top of everything else.

He washed the bowl, grabbed his backpack, checked his keys twice, and headed for the door.

He locked up and made his way down the hallway and into the elevator.

Once he stepped out of the apartment building, the morning air hit him fully awake.

He adjusted the strap of his backpack and began the short walk toward the station.

It wasn’t far, five minutes at most, and the streets were still quiet at this hour.

He kept his head down, hoodie up, moving at an easy pace until the familiar structure of City Station came into view.

He headed up the ramp, tapped his card at the gate, and made his way to the platform.

A train was already pulling in.

Perfect timing.

He boarded, found a seat by the window, and let his shoulders drop a little.

The ride to San Francisco State University was straightforward, just a few stops, but it still felt too long for his liking.

It gave him too much time to think.

Too much time to dread the conversation waiting for him on campus.

He leaned his head against the glass and watched the city slide by, the morning sun catching on rooftops and power lines as the train rattled forward.

He closed his eyes briefly, already wishing the day was over.

He would get there, meet the man, pretend to be fine, sit through whatever lecture he was being dragged into... and leave as fast as it was humanly possible.

That was the plan, hopefully.

The train slowed to a stop at Daly City station.

Lance stood, adjusted his backpack, and stepped out onto the platform with the rest of the crowd.

He didn’t waste time, he headed straight toward the bus loop where the university shuttle usually waited.

A small group of students had already gathered there, waiting for the bus to arrive.

The shuttle pulled up a minute later, white and purple with SF State printed along the side. Lance boarded, found an empty seat near the window, and sat down.

He put his earbuds in but didn’t play anything. He just needed the illusion of isolation.

Later on, he was moved to play {Addicted, by Hayley Joelle}

Lance leaned his head against the cool glass.

He really didn’t want to do this.

When the shuttle finally rolled to a stop at the front of campus, students started filing out.

Lance followed them, stepping down onto the pavement in front of the Cesar Chavez Student Center.

The campus was already buzzing with activity, he frowned slightly and began walking.

Making his way to the business department.

The whole university might not know him, but it was a different case in the business department.

Lance headed down the hallway toward the Business Department, keeping his head low as he passed the usual early-morning crowds.

By the time he reached Professor Valentino’s office, he already knew the outcome before he tried the door.

Empty.

Lights off.

A note taped to the window: In Lecture.

He sighed through his nose.

Of course.

He turned and made his way toward the lecture hall instead, adjusting his backpack strap as he walked.

His stomach tightened the closer he got, not from fear, just that familiar irritation he’d been nursing for months.

He pushed open the door.

Instant silence.

Dozens of faces turned toward him at once. Lance froze for half a second, then clicked his tongue quietly and headed toward the back until a voice cut through the room.

"Lance Dixon.." Professor Valentino said without looking up from his laptop, "front row. There’s a special seat for you."

Lance stopped mid-step.

He stared at the professor.

The professor stared right back.

It wasn’t a request.

Lance’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t argue.

He walked down the steps to the very front, where the seats were the stiff, fixed-in-place kind, bolted down, the little desk panel folding up from the side.

He slid into the seat, the plastic creaking under him, and leaned back with a quiet exhale that came out more like a restrained hiss.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Valentino’s satisfied little nod.

Of course the man enjoyed this.

Lance rested his hands on the attached desk, shoulders tight, trying to ignore the whispering behind him and the way Valentino’s gaze kept flicking to him between slides.

It was going to be a long lecture.

Ten minutes before the end of class, Valentino finally set down the marker.

"Mr. Dixon.." he said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Stay after."

Of course.

Of course he would say this.

The rest of the class filed out, some casting pitying looks, others looking thrilled to see drama. When the door clicked shut, Valentino exhaled and leaned against his desk.

"You were supposed to come to my office an hour ago."