Page 65 of The Addict

The professor nodded. “Noah, huh? And your last name...?”

I nervously rubbed the back of my neck.

“Hansen. Noah Hansen.”

The once quiet room filled with an uproar of mumbles and whispering. I couldn’t blame them. The Hansen’s, a wealthy family as they are, always sent their children to expensive private schools to get the best training possible.

But this was a normal college. A basic bitch college. Nothing special about it.

Again, another Damian idea, as he sought to punish me.

“Quiet it down!” Rad boomed. The class went dead the moment his mouth opened.

“It is quite the pleasure to have a Hansen in my classroom,” Rad announced to the rest of the students as well as to me. “Although it has never happened before. I presume that it will be quite the experience for me as well as all of you,” He looked at me from the corner of his eye. “But, we shall not treat him any differently, right class?”

A chorus of, “Right, Professor Rad,” filled the room.

Oh my god, I thought. He’s trained them like dogs.

“Tell us a little about yourself, Noah.” Rad invited me to introduce myself, taking up his seat back in the front of the room.

I was left standing alone in the middle of the class, all eyes on me. I nervously glanced to the ground. I was never one for crowds.

“Uh, well, you already know my name...” I murmured, fiddling with the inside of my jacket pocket. “There’s nothing really...interesting about me...”

The professor shrugged. “Well, how old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“So, you’re young, and new to the college experience. Am I right?” he asked, crossing his arms.

I nodded.

“Okay, well I suppose I should let you sit down. Don’t want to scare you away on your first day ever. What seat would you prefer?” He gestured to the classroom of students.

I tried to avoid looking into some of the other students’ envious eyes as I skimmed the room’s layout. A hand sprang into the air before I could move, and my eyes followed its direction instinctively.

“Good morning, Mr. Hansen.” The young blonde woman with her hand in the air perked up. All eyes went to her. She seemed to revel in the attention, smiling to all of the onlookers graciously. I was just glad that for the moment, the spotlight was no longer on me.

“My name is Chelsea Simmons.” She batted her eyelashes, which were smothered with mascara, giving the illusion that they were almost two inches long. She patted the empty seat beside her. “You can sit by me, if you’d like.”

And in just an instant all of those faces and eyes had turned back to me.

I heard Professor Rad clap his hands. “That is very nice of you Ms. Simmons. Noah, since there are no other offers–”

“SIT BY ME!”

“N-No, t-t-this seat isn’t taken!”

“Hey man, you’re cool over here too.”

“Ooh, please sit over here, sexy.”

Half of the class was standing up, shouting at me. I heard the professor sigh and mutter something along the lines of, “So much for equals.”

The loud smack of a ruler meeting wood caused the class to again regain silence. Professor Rad cleared his throat and pointed to the young blonde by the name of Chelsea. “You will sit there, Mr. Hansen. End of discussion.”

I took my seat hastily, despite the loud groans of disapproval throughout the room. The Chelsea girl seemed pleased.