Everyone gazed at Billy, whose eyes were riveted on him. He quickly felt the attention he was receiving and faced a bright red blush due to embarrassment.
Austin, Annie, and Evelyn's mouths fell wide open in disbelief. Billy was known to do unexpected things, but this was on an entirely different plane. Austin seemed frozen to a statue.
Overwhelmed by shame, Billy slumped back into his chair with his hands pressed against his face. The rest of the class only stared at him as though he was some kind of anomaly. Who wouldn't be shocked?
"Ahem!" Amy cleared her throat, refocusing the attention of the students back on her. "It appears the students attending this institution are quite. passionate," she commented, her pointed stare briefly crossing with Billy's. Her voice had not grown lighter or softer.
"My name is Amy Anderson, and if we're done with compliments, I'd like to begin my class now," she added, continuing her lecture without so much as a minute's delay.
"Hey, are you nuts? The whole class kept quiet because of you!" Austin hissed angrily to Billy. Normally, he would have yelled, but being in class worked to Billy's advantage.
"No," Billy said, finally uncovering his face. "I got so excited I just yelled it out when I saw her," he explained, leaving Austin, Annie, and Evelyn stunned.
"So, that angel? Our professor Amy Anderson is her?" Evelyn asked low but excited.
"You didn't remember her face all the time. And you're sure it's her now?" Annie questioned skeptically.
"For all these months, her face has been etched in my mind. But now, I'm certain—it's her. She's the one who saved me," Billy confirmed confidently.
"What kind of reunion is this, though? Do you have to create chaos in class?" Austin asked.
"Oh, sorry about that," Billy said, a sheepish grin that only made his embarrassment worse.
As Amy taught the class, Billy's thoughts went every which way, all centering on her. He was not listening for a lecture, but for Amy herself.
"Will she ever remember me? Did I just ruin my first impression by yelling like that? How should I approach her after class? She seems strict now, but back then, she felt so kind and soft. Maybe that's just because I only saw her for a few seconds that night," Billy thought, his mind fully engrossed in analyzing everything about Amy. His eyes were focused on her, trying to fill the emptiness between his vision and now.
"Billy," some one called softly, yet he paid no attention.
" Billy!" The voice came a second time, louder, yet still Billy did not respond.
" Billy Scott!" This time, it was a scream that brought him out of his daze. He blinked, then turned to see Austin glaring at him, angry.
The class had already ended, and students were leaving the room. Amy was nowhere to be seen.
"Are you sitting there daydreaming with your eyes wide open?" Austin asked annoyed.
"Where is Professor Amy?" Billy asked, scanning the room.
"She left ages ago. She's probably still in the hallways," Annie said casually.
"No problem, Annie," Billy said as he quickly grabbed his bag and rushed towards the exit to catch her.
"Idiot, wait!" Austin yelled out, but Billy continued down the hall. Austin reached for his own bag, and just as he was going to take off after him, someone yelped.
"My keychain is gone! Guys!" Evelyn cried, looking worried, ducking down to check under the desks.
As Evelyn now asked with obvious distress, looking around, changing her gaze between Annie and Austin, "Can you help me look for it? I think I lost it here somewhere."
IN HALLWAY: Celeb Winters, having just finished his class, strolled to the classroom, humming tune as he sipped his coffee. As he strolled down the corridor, where his sharp eyes caught sight of Amy Anderson entering her next classroom.
Amy had been the talk of the university-youngest to be made a professor, exceptionally brilliant, and undeniably beautiful. All the rumors seemed true, considering how many male students couldn't help but steal glances in her direction.
"Miss Anderson," Celeb suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Turning his gaze, he saw Billy running toward Amy down the hallway. Amy stopped in her tracks and turned to see who was calling her.
"Why is Billy running like that?" Celeb wondered, deciding to stay in the corner and observe. After all, this situation could very well concern his job.
"Miss Anderson," Billy finally managed to say as he came to a halt in front of her, panting and catching his breath.
"You're the one who yelled in my class earlier, right?" Amy asked, her tone firm and her expression slightly skeptical.
After some minutes.
They walked down the hall together: Austin, Evelyn, and Annie. Evelyn at last found her keychain and held it aloft in triumph. Now, their concern was for Billy, but all of them had a gnawing feeling about what he might be up to.
"What's he going to do this time? He always pulls something," Austin muttered in exasperation.
"Come on, Austin. He's probably just trying to say thank you and build some rapport," Evelyn said, trying to reassure him.
"Sure, but it's Billy. When did he ever do something normal like that?" Annie countered.
As they approached the main hallway, they noticed a growing crowd of students gathering ahead. The group seemed stunned, whispering to one another.
"What's going on there?" Evelyn asked, curiosity etched into her face as they rushed forward to see what all the commotion was about.
Suddenly, a slap echoed loudly through the hall, echoing off the walls. The crowd was momentarily silent, and Austin pushed through the throngs of students to get a better view of what he was seeing. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
Amy Anderson had just slapped Billy across the face.
The hallway was silent, save the whispers that erupted there like wildfire. Evelyn and Annie caught up, gasping in amazement at the scene.
On the other side of the hallway, Celeb was frozen in his tracks. The coffee cup slipped through his fingers and clattered onto the floor. He stared there through the lens of shock, simply stunned by what had just happened.
"I never signed up for this shit," he said under his breath.