Rogue still couldn't say what it was exactly that had made her agree to take the job as a model for the art class. It had been something about Steve, really, the way that even at their first meeting, he made her feel safe. She'd never even considered such a thing before, but she'd read that trying new things and venturing outside your comfort zone could be good ways with getting back into the world after losing a loved one, so she'd jumped at the chance. And it had gone really well, until...
The things that student had said. The way he'd looked at her, for a few classes now, and the way he'd made her feel. The looks she'd been able to brush aside, but when he'd openly commented on things during and after class as she'd been getting into her robe to get dressed... She'd felt frightened and dirty, and those had never before been things she'd associated with art, or with anything to do even remotely with Steve.
It was only because Steve had assured her that the student wouldn't be back that she'd even considered returning to the class. She didn't know what had transpired between them, but she trusted the man who had become her friend, and so she hurried through the halls, her steps mostly silent because of the rugs that had been put down to keep people from sliding about as they tracked in water; it had been a veritable monsoon since early morning, and she shook her umbrella as she walked to loosen some of the raindrops that clung to it.
Rogue didn't expect to find the door closed - she was a few minutes early, yes, but the door was usually open and inviting when she arrived. Switching her umbrella to the other hand, she reached out to the handle -- and froze when she caught the sound of Steve's voice saying that student's name. Her breath caught in her throat as she listened to the speech that seemed to stretch on for hours. Tears filled her eyes and she had to tilt her head back to keep them from falling.
"Damnit, Steve," she whispered to no one, blinking back those treacherous tears and hoping that no one noticed the redness of her eyes or the watery look in them. She waited until the speech had ended and silence stretched behind the door before giving a quick knock and peeking inside. "Hey, teach, you ready for me?" she asked in her normal, bright southern drawl, giving him a warm smile that might have held a little more affection than she'd ever previously allowed.
no subject
The things that student had said. The way he'd looked at her, for a few classes now, and the way he'd made her feel. The looks she'd been able to brush aside, but when he'd openly commented on things during and after class as she'd been getting into her robe to get dressed... She'd felt frightened and dirty, and those had never before been things she'd associated with art, or with anything to do even remotely with Steve.
It was only because Steve had assured her that the student wouldn't be back that she'd even considered returning to the class. She didn't know what had transpired between them, but she trusted the man who had become her friend, and so she hurried through the halls, her steps mostly silent because of the rugs that had been put down to keep people from sliding about as they tracked in water; it had been a veritable monsoon since early morning, and she shook her umbrella as she walked to loosen some of the raindrops that clung to it.
Rogue didn't expect to find the door closed - she was a few minutes early, yes, but the door was usually open and inviting when she arrived. Switching her umbrella to the other hand, she reached out to the handle -- and froze when she caught the sound of Steve's voice saying that student's name. Her breath caught in her throat as she listened to the speech that seemed to stretch on for hours. Tears filled her eyes and she had to tilt her head back to keep them from falling.
"Damnit, Steve," she whispered to no one, blinking back those treacherous tears and hoping that no one noticed the redness of her eyes or the watery look in them. She waited until the speech had ended and silence stretched behind the door before giving a quick knock and peeking inside. "Hey, teach, you ready for me?" she asked in her normal, bright southern drawl, giving him a warm smile that might have held a little more affection than she'd ever previously allowed.