Estelle sat nervously in Professor Thorne’s office, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. The week of detention had been manageable so far—mostly silent, with Celeste assigning tasks and offering only the occasional glance or curt remark. But today, Estelle knew she had to break the news about Friday, and she had a sinking feeling that Celeste wouldn’t take it well.
The air in the office felt heavy as usual, thick with the tension that always seemed to settle between them. Celeste sat behind her desk, her eyes focused on a stack of papers in front of her, as if waiting for Estelle to speak.
Finally, Estelle cleared her throat. “Professor Thorne, I need to talk to you about Friday.”
Celeste didn’t look up, her eyes still on the papers. “What about Friday, Miss Brooks?”
Estelle bit her lip, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I… I won’t be able to attend detention that day.”
Celeste’s hand froze on the paper, her head slowly lifting as she finally looked at Estelle. Her expression was calm, but the sharpness in her eyes made Estelle’s stomach flip.
“What do you mean you can’t attend?” Celeste’s voice was cool, almost too calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
Estelle swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “I have something important that I need to take care of on Friday. It’s a personal matter.”
Celeste leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Estelle’s. “A personal matter, Miss Brooks? And what exactly is this ‘important’ matter that takes precedence over your punishment?”
Estelle felt her face heat up under Celeste’s gaze, her nerves getting the best of her. She didn’t want to tell Celeste the truth—that she had been accepted into Miss Scarlett’s prestigious law firm and had a meeting scheduled with her on Friday. She knew how possessive Celeste could be about her students, and telling her about Scarlett’s firm would only make things more complicated.
“I… I’d rather not say,” Estelle mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Celeste’s expression darkened, and she sat up straighter, her posture stiffening. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension as Celeste’s gaze bore into Estelle, her blue eyes sharp and unforgiving.
“You’d rather not say,” Celeste repeated, her voice icy. “Miss Brooks, when you are assigned detention, you don’t get to decide which days are convenient for you. You’ve already crossed several lines, and now you expect me to simply allow you to skip out on your punishment without giving a valid reason?”
Estelle’s heart pounded in her chest, her hands twisting in her lap. “It’s not that I don’t want to serve the detention,” she said quickly. “It’s just that this… this is really important. I promise I’ll make up for the missed time.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed, her anger barely contained beneath her calm exterior. She stood up from her desk, slowly walking around to stand in front of Estelle. Her presence loomed over her, and Estelle’s pulse quickened as she tried to hold her ground.
“And what,” Celeste said, her voice dangerously soft, “could possibly be so important that you would defy me?”
Estelle looked away, biting her lip. “It’s just… personal.”
Celeste’s hand tightened on the edge of her desk, her eyes flashing with frustration. “Personal?” she hissed. “You’ve been given a responsibility to complete this punishment, Miss Brooks. And you’re deliberately withholding information from me. Is this about something—or someone—else?”
Estelle’s stomach twisted, and she could feel the weight of Celeste’s fury pressing down on her. She opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it, knowing that revealing her new internship would only provoke Celeste more. The last thing she needed was another confrontation over something that was her decision and hers alone.
“I don’t think it’s relevant,” Estelle muttered, trying to hold her composure.
Celeste’s lips pressed into a thin line, her expression cold and furious. She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. “Not relevant? You stand before me asking to skip a day of detention, refusing to explain why, and you expect me to believe this isn’t relevant?”
Estelle’s breath hitched, her nerves starting to fray. “Professor, I promise it’s nothing that will interfere with my studies or my responsibilities here. I just… I can’t be here on Friday.”
Celeste’s jaw tightened, and she was now standing just inches away from Estelle, her eyes locked on her like a predator stalking its prey. The tension between them was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings.
“If you refuse to tell me the reason,” Celeste said softly, her voice deceptively calm, “then don’t expect leniency from me, Miss Brooks. This is a formal punishment, and you don’t get to pick and choose when it suits you. You are expected to be here, and if you aren’t—there will be consequences.”
Estelle’s heart raced, her mind scrambling for a response. She couldn’t tell Celeste about Miss Scarlett’s firm. Not yet. But she also couldn’t back down from this opportunity.
“I understand,” Estelle said finally, her voice shaking slightly. “I’ll accept whatever consequences you decide, but I can’t change my plans for Friday.”
Celeste’s eyes narrowed, and for a long moment, they stood there in silence, the tension between them threatening to explode.
“Very well,” Celeste said at last, her voice cold. “But remember this, Miss Brooks—defiance has its cost.”
Estelle nodded, her throat tight, as she quickly grabbed her bag and turned to leave the office. As she walked out, her heart was pounding in her chest, and the weight of Celeste’s words hung heavily over her.
She had stood her ground, but at what cost?
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