Offlimits, Professor! - Chapter 30

ZOE'S POV I stood in front of my dorm room mirror, adjusting my graduation cap for the tenth time. The black gown felt strange and formal, but underneath it I was wearing the blue dress Leo had complimented me on months ago. Today felt like the perfect day to wear it again. It's been three months. Three long, wonderful, secret months of stolen glances during lessons, hidden text messages, and late-night phone calls when no one could hear us. But today, all of that would change. Today, I would graduate. And today, Leo and I could finally be together openly.

My phone buzzed with a text from him: " Break a leg today, graduate. I'm so proud of you." I smiled and typed back: "See you after the ceremony. We have some celebrating to do." "Zoe!" Kai's voice called from the hallway. "Your chariot awaits!" I grabbed my purse and headed out to find Kai waiting with his camera, looking handsome in a button-down shirt and tie. "There she is," he said, snapping a photo. "The star of the day." "Kai, you didn't have to come to my graduation." "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world.

Besides, someone has to document this historic day." We drove to campus and stopped at the main auditorium, where families and faculty were already gathering. The spring air was perfect, warm but not too hot, with a gentle breeze that made everything feel magical. "So," Kai said as we walked, "are you nervous about your big day today?" "Terrified," I admitted. "But also excited." "Good for you. You deserve to be happy, Zoe. And Professor Mercer... well, he's not so bad once you get to know him." I looked at Kai in surprise.

"When did you get to know him?" "Last week, when he tracked me down to thank me for helping you get that video taken down. We had coffee. He's actually pretty cool." "You had coffee with Leo?" "He wanted to make sure I knew how much your friendship means to you. And he wanted to thank me for being there for you when things got complicated." My heart melted a little more. Even in our secret relationship, Leo had been thinking about the people who mattered to me. We reached the auditorium, and I could see my classmates gathering in the staging area.

Faculty members were lined up in their ceremonial robes, and I spotted Leo immediately. He looked distinguished and handsome in his academic regalia, and when our eyes met across the crowd, he smiled. "Go get 'em, tiger," Kai said, giving me a hug. "I'll be in the audience cheering you on." I joined my fellow graduates, and we filed into the auditorium. The ceremony was everything a graduation should be speeches about bright futures, the turning of tassels, the throwing of caps in the air. When they called my name, I walked across the stage with my head held high.