Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Demarcus
"Erica, you got a minute?" I knocked on her office door.
For the last couple of weeks I have made sure I'm in class on time and not a minute later. Also, I've been attending study hall just to be around her and I don't even need any extra help.
Another thing I actually don't mind doing her assignments.
"Yes, I do. Come in," She smiled.
I took my backpack off and sat in the chair out front of her desk.
"What's going on?" She turned away from her computer and looked at me, removing her glasses.
I swear I'm in one of those dream sequences that happens in the movies. You know when everything the "hot" chick does in slow motion.
After I finished drooling like a dog in heat. I got the courage to ask her what I came in here for.
"Umm— with our essay coming up about what Dr. King's speech means to us. I was wondering have been to the park yet?"
I took several field trips to the park in grade school. I should be a tour guide by now. There is no better man for the job.
"Actually, I haven't had the chance to go yet. It's on my list I've just been so busy." She sighed.
Perfect.
"Well, I been going for years. I wouldn't mind showing you around. You know for research purposes. Just like a mini field trip without the rest of the class."
I had to make it school-related. If I didn't she would probably think I'm a stalker or some shit.
"You know, If you're not busy or anything like that," I added, nervously rubbing the back of my neck as I waited for her answer.
She looked down at the Rolex on her wrist. I haven't seen too many women wearing Rolexes unless they date rappers.
Damn.
"Actually, I will take you up on that offer! Let me just shut down everything in here. Meet me outside?"
"Yeah, that's cool." I cheesed way too damn hard. I didn't realize it till it was too late.
I grabbed my backpack and walked out of her office. Before I went outside I had to stop at the vending machine. When I'm nervous food always calms down. All in all, I'm just trying to figure out why I'm all out of character like this.
Smh. Its just a crush.
As I posted up on the brick column outside. A few people I've seen around campus greeted me with head nods. Mostly the freshman sprinkled in some of my classes. Basically, I'm the big homie.
"Are you ready?" Erica asked me.
"Yeah,"
"My car is right there." She pointed to the 2019 grey Maserati Levante parked in the reserved spot.
I always had a love for cars. I can name any model from any year in my sight.
Didn't expect a woman with such grace to be driving a car like this. I'm actually turned on by it a little bit. This woman is the true definition of a boss.
"Cool, I'll go get my car and I'll pull up and you can follow me."
"Alright." She smiled so sweetly.
"So, if you don't mind me asking... what is Erica like outside of the classroom?" I asked her as she and I sat down on a bench.
"There's not much to Erica outside of the classroom." She shrugged with a smile. "I love what I do and the feeling I get after class is over. Knowing that you guys leave different from when you came in."
"I must say you are one of the best professor's I had. Come on, there's gotta be more to you than that. I know the obvious... you're married." I glanced at her ring.
I bet they can see that shit from space. Sheesh.
"Well, yes.... I am married." She replied flatly.
"If you don't mind me intruding....How long you been married?"
"1989.... so technically almost half my life. My 18th birthday he proposed to me. We got married shortly after though I wanted wait."
I couldn't imagine being married that young. I was focused in on football and trying date as many girls as I possibly could.
"That's a long time."
"Tell me about it." She laughed.
"Let me ask you this: If you weren't a teacher what would you be doing? What is Erica's dream job?"
This isn't because I have a slight crush on her. This is just me. I always liked learning about what makes a person. That's rare with people my age. They always think talking to the OG's is boring. I love it. I learn a lot.
"It's silly, I probably shouldn't tell you." She giggled.
"Nah, go ahead. We all have dreams."
"I wanted to be a traveling food critic. I love to travel and I love food. So I thought why not get paid for both."
"What happened?"
"Life," She laughed. "My mother pretty much ruled my life decisions. She made it clear I was going to college and I was going to be a wife. Basically that's what I did."
That's wild.
"That's tough. Eventually, you fell in love with teaching at some point right?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. I remember how much the professor's I had were a huge help in my development when I was a student so I wanted to return the favor."
I nodded. "I'm gonna change it up. I'm gonna put the spotlight on me. What do you want to know about me? Anything."
"Where in the world did you get your charm from? It is very seldom I see someone around your age using chivalry. You're such a gentlemen."
"I was brought up that way. I would occasionally see my dad, but I was raised by my mother and my grandma. By the age of 7 I was opening doors for the women at church, carrying groceries, cutting grass."
Jamal always calls me soft. As if we weren't raised the same way. That's why he can never keep a girl cause he doesn't understand women. His sensitive side is non-existent.
"Kudos to them. If you don't mind me asking... Are they still around?"
I sighed. I don't think I'll ever be fully over this. "Nah, they got into a car accident a few years ago."
"I am so sorry to hear that. Forgive me for even asking."
"No, you don't have to apologize you didn't know." I smiled slightly. "It's cool."
"So, Mr. Atlanta is there any good soul food spots around here? I've been dying to find one."
"Yeah, I got one in mind. They got the best fried chicken."
"You lead and I'll follow." She stood up and put her purse on her shoulder.
Man, what is it about this woman? That's got me feeling butterflies like I'm a teenage girl.
I smack my head repeatedly to get any unjust thoughts I had in my head about her. After all she is a married woman.
••••••••••••
"Damn, where you been? We been waiting for you for like 2 hours." Jamal questioned as I sat next to him.
Thursday nights we hit up Magic City. It's not even the best one in the city. Back in the day before we were old enough to get in, it was. I'm kinda tired off this same old routine anyway. After rappers mention it in their songs everybody gotta flock to it. It's not even all that forreal.
All the years we been coming here I think I see every dancers ass.
My boys love it though.
"My bad, I had a late dinner with someone." I smiled in my head just thinking about today. Couldn't let Jamal see me blushing. He'll clown me more than he already does.
"With who? You ain't tell me you been messing with somebody? I thought I was your bro?" He started to get defensive like he tells me everything all of a sudden.
"Nigga, relax," I laughed. "It's not like that. Remember I told you about my African American Studies Professor?"
"The bad one?"
"Yeah, the bad one." I laughed, shaking my head.
"I been cool with one my professor's before but he was a nigga. We went to the bar and all that. I never had no women professor's that was as bad as you say she is." He dapped me up. "You smooth for that, Cuz."
"It ain't nothing smooth about it. I'm just being nice. She's not from here so I showed her the city, that's it."
"She's married isn't she?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah,"
"You know that ain't never stopped me." He shrugged as If it was normal for him to be sleeping with somebody else's wife. He's slept with two married woman and/or might still be. I never know what this nigga be on sometimes.
"Yeah, I know. I'm not like you. I told you stop messing with married women anyway. The next one you mess husband gonna pull up on you." I joked.
"Yeah, I'll knock his ass out!" He flexed his arm.
"I believe you."
I'm lying. I can imagine him running scared like a lil bitch.
"Y'all want a dance?" One of the strippers stood in front of us.
"Yeah and bring the rest of your girls over here too. One for each my niggas!" Jamal said.
The stripper does a bat signal for all of them to come in our section.
Before I knew it, it was women everywhere with their clothes off. The stripper chosen for me is giving it her all. I'm barely paying any attention to her. My mind is stuck on Erica. Her smile on a constant loop in my brain.
"Demarcus?" Mal snapped me out of my thoughts with his fingers.
"Yeah?"
"Man, will you loosen up. You got all that ass in your face! Have fun." He now had two dancers dancing for him.
I grabbed the bottle of Hennessy and drunk it straight from the bottle. If I'm gonna get through this nice I gotta be drunk. The club is played out for me. I rather be in house just on some chill shit.