Second Chance Romance (11 page)

“Ugh!” She lashed out reaching for me with her nails and a catfight ensued. She grabbed a fistful of hair and I used my momentum to toss her to the ground. All those free self-defense classes paid off big time. When I got her hand free I pinned her hands above her head and sat on her chest. I was careful not to take part in the attack, I didn’t even want to deal with the self-defense mess.

I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and called the police. She spent the ten minutes it took them to get there thrashing and yelling profanities. Her trench coat rode up and I was right, she was wearing slutty panties with no pants.
And She had the nerve to call me a whore…

When the police arrived I explained everything that had happened, because neither of us owned the place they called Noah and he was already on his way. One of the cops seemed to be having a hard time not laughing the more I explained. Noah came through the door fifteen minutes later. He came straight to me, looking over the scratch marks on my arm that Carrie had given me during the scuffle. He asked me if I was okay and I told him I was fine. I explained that I didn’t hit her at all, which she tried to dispute, but she didn’t have a mark on her so there was no evidence to back up her story. Besides, I was here minding my own business when she barged in. He didn’t even try to stop me from pressing charges. I hoped it wouldn’t cause more issues for him at work.

I asked him if he knew about the tires, I assumed he had. Especially since Jackson brought the car back here, there was no way he could have driven it with flat tires.
Unless Carrie was lying…

He said Jackson told him last night, but he got new tires put on and was hoping it was a one-time thing and didn’t want me to worry. I wanted to be mad at him,
I really did,
but I couldn’t.

They arrested Carrie for assault and took her down to the precinct.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Noah asked.

“I’m positive. She just caught me off guard.”

“I’ll call and have the locks changed immediately.” He kissed my cheek before walking into the kitchen to call a locksmith. I knew I wasn’t going to make it to school on time, so I opted to miss my first class.

I called Ellie and told her what had happened. She had gone from southern belle to ghetto queen in all of five seconds. She was ready to “go beat her mother-fuckin’ ass.” Noah came back a couple minutes later and said the locksmith would be here within the hour. I made us some turkey sandwiches while we waited. I finished getting ready for school, thankful that I had the rest of the week off. Noah was trying to see if he could also get the rest of the week off so we could head upstate earlier than originally planned.

I gave him a quick kiss and left to collect my keys from Claire. I headed to the parking garage and as soon as I spotted my car I wanted to go back upstairs and smack him around. My car not only had new tires, it also had new rim’s… they were black and matched my car.
I wonder if he could help himself.
I called him and he swore it was all Jackson’s idea because they didn’t have my size tires in stock. They supposedly only had this pair of rim’s that would work and in Jackson’s words “they make it look bad-ass.” I hung up the phone with him and headed to the university.

I headed into the graduate studies department and checked my student mailbox. There were a couple flyers for study groups, a book that my friend Cecile had returned and an official looking letter. I opened the letter.

Ms. Julia J. Kline.

717 Purcell Place

Amityville, NY 11701

NOTICE OF DISIPLINARY MEETING

November 6, 2012

Dear Ms. Kline,

This letter is to inform you that you are hereby required to attend a disciplinary meeting on 11/16/12 at one o’clock in the afternoon. The meeting is to be held at the Center for Graduate Studies in meeting room 4.

During the meeting the question of disciplinary action against you in accordance with the universities policies disciplinary procedure will be considered with regard to the accusation of inappropriate contact and/or behavior with a faculty member.

The possible consequences arising from this meeting could possibly result in your dismissal from our MBA program.

You are entitled, if you wish, to be accompanied by an attorney.

Yours Sincerely,

Albert Chavez

Dean of Graduate Studies

Columbia University

Holy Shit!
This could not be happening. I reread the letter and pinched myself for good measure.
Yep, it was real…

I called Noah and tried my hardest not to cry. Crying was for the weak and I was
not
weak.

“How can they even do this? Don’t they need evidence?” I asked.

“You would think, but I’m not really sure how these things work. I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before.”

He went on to say because he got pulled away this morning he didn’t have a chance to finish his talk with Randall, but offered to reschedule over dinner. He reassured me over and over that everything would be fine.

Ahhh! I need to tell him…
He said would accompany me to the meeting, as my attorney. I hung up the phone and headed to my class, Noah texted as I was walking in. He said to meet him at Lola’s Bar & Grill after class and Randall would meet us there. I took my seat and prepared for the lecture.

“Julia, please see me after class.” I nodded in acknowledgement. The next hour was going to drag on forever. When we were dismissed I stopped at his desk.

“Hi.” He said shyly. He looked like a professor today, I stifled a laugh.

“Hi.” I replied. We hadn’t talked much since our lunch.

“So… I guess you got a letter too?” He asked.

“I just got it today. It wasn’t me, if that’s what you wanted to ask.”

“I know you wouldn’t do something like that. I’m just trying to figure out who would.”

“I have no idea, but I should probably get going since we don’t need to give them anything else to talk about.” I said, he nodded sadly.

“I miss you, Jules.” He whispered, standing and taking a step toward me. I couldn’t help myself, I stood on my tippy toes and lightly pecked his lips.

“I miss you too, Chase. It doesn’t change anything.” I turned and walked away. I hated seeing him hurt.
Great, how am I going to explain that to Noah?

I arrived at Lola’s and saw Noah and Randall sitting at a table towards the back, they were smiling and laughing. Randall looked like an older version of Jackson. When I approached the table they both stood. Randall introduced himself and kissed my hand and Noah pulled my chair out. They filled me on what they had discussed before my arrival. Randall asked me of any possible motive that someone would have and a list of people that I suspected could be responsible. I said the only people I could think of would have been Reid or Carrie, but I could probably rule Reid out after the stint last night. Randall said anyone was fair game at this point. I asked Noah if he could get me a drink from the bar so I could have a minute with Randall. I didn’t want him to embarrass himself by calling the university when the claims weren’t entirely false.

“Randall, I really appreciate what you’re doing for me. Before you call I need to clarify something first. I did have a relationship with Chase Mitchell, it was before he was a professor. We have conducted nothing more than a teacher-student relationship since before the beginning of the semester. I haven’t told Noah yet.” I said, ashamed.

“How long did the relationship last?” 

“A little over a year and a half. We broke up because he wanted to be closer to his family. He was gone for a couple months, then he ended up getting hired as a professor and came back. We haven’t been romantically involved since, I swear. When I registered the spot just said TBD, to be determined. I had no idea he was going to be teaching one of my classes until I got the schedule. I work my ass off just as hard for his class as I do any other.” I emphasized.

“This could cause a problem if it goes to a hearing. I’ll see what I can do, but you need to tell Noah.” I agreed. Noah returned with my drink and I thanked him, more enthusiastically than necessary.

Randall said he would call the dean of the university tomorrow, and would keep us posted. He spoke with Noah a little more about Carrie being a possible suspect. He was nice and had a great sense of humor. He had me in stitches when he quoted Betty White “Why do people say to grow a pair of balls? Balls are weak and sensitive. They should say grow a vagina, those things can take a pounding.” Noah spat some of his drink out and started coughing. Before leaving he handed Noah the keys to the estate. He told him that he had made him his own set and for us to go up whenever we wanted. Laughter really is the best medicine, but I was dreading going home with Noah.

I parked next to his Jeep in the parking garage and we walked hand in hand up to the condo. He said that he had to be in court at ten tomorrow but that we could leave for upstate after that. I packed a bag and he did the same.

“Noah, I need to talk to you about something. I think you’re going to be upset with me and I’d rather do it here incase you want me to leave.”

“I never want you to leave, what is it?”

“I had a relationship with Chase Mitchell, the professor. The same one they are accusing me of sleeping with for better grades.” He stared at me in silence.
Hurt was all over his face. “I guess I’ll be going.” I said walking toward the front door. My greatest fear was now a reality.
I fucked up!

“Why are you leaving?” He asked following closely behind me.

“I knew this would happen.” I started crying.

“Jules, I’m just shocked that’s all. I wasn’t expecting you to tell me that.”

I went on to explain our relationship and that I really didn’t know he would be the one teaching the class. I needed it to graduate so I couldn’t drop it. I even told him about the kiss earlier. He looked hurt but took it at face value, it meant nothing. It was a goodbye.