Chapter 3: The One Night Stand

The night had been a blur of excitement and nervous energy. Emily had spent the day exploring the campus, attending orientation events, and getting to know her fellow freshmen. As the sun began to set, she and her new friends had decided to celebrate the start of their college journey with a night out at a local bar. Coop, her psychology professor, had been on her mind all day. She had caught him glancing at her a few times during class, and she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest whenever their eyes met. As she sipped her drink and laughed with her friends, she spotted Coop walking towards them. He was even more imposing in person, his broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes commanding attention. Emily felt a surge of excitement as he approached their table, his confident stride eating up the distance. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. Emily's friends exchanged a nervous glance, but they quickly made room for him at the table. As they chatted and laughed together, Emily found herself feeling more and more at ease in Coop's presence. He was easy to talk to, and his sense of humor was infectious. Before she knew it, the bar was closing, and Coop was suggesting they grab a nightcap at his place. Emily hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should be going to a strange man's apartment. But Coop's charming smile and reassuring words put her at ease, and she agreed to go. As they walked to his car, Emily felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. She was aware that Coop was her professor, and that this was probably a bad idea. But she pushed the thought aside, telling herself she was an adult and could make her own decisions. The drive to his apartment was a blur, and before she knew it, they were standing in his living room, laughing and joking together. Coop poured her a glass of wine, and they sat down on the couch, their legs touching. As the night wore on, Emily found herself getting more and more caught up in the moment. She was aware that she was attracted to Coop, and that he seemed to be attracted to her too. Before she knew it, they were kissing, their lips meeting in a passionate and intense kiss. The rest of the night was a blur, but Emily remembered the feeling of Coop's hands on her skin, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the world. She was aware that she was crossing a line, that this was a bad idea. But she couldn't help herself, and she let herself get swept up in the moment. The next morning, Emily woke up with a start, her head pounding and her mouth dry. She looked around, disoriented, and saw that she was in Coop's bed. She was alone, but there was a note on the bedside table. "Good morning, beautiful," it read. "I hope you slept well. I'll talk to you soon." Emily's heart sank as she realized what had happened. She had slept with her professor, and she had no idea what the consequences would be. She felt a wave of regret wash over her, and she knew that she had to get out of there as quickly as possible. She quickly got dressed and made her way back to her dorm, her mind racing with thoughts of what had happened. She knew that she had to talk to Coop, but she was scared of what he might say. As she walked into her room, Rachel and Matt looked up at her, concern etched on their faces. "Hey, Em, where have you been?" Rachel asked, eyeing her suspiciously. Emily took a deep breath, unsure of how to explain the previous night's events. She knew that she had made a mistake, and she wasn't sure how to fix it.