I was consumed by panic as I looked at Kenzie who was in my bed. My heart felt like it was going to fall out of my chest. Flashes of the future raced through my mind: I'd lose my job, get sued by Kenzie's parents, end up in jail, get raped in jail, and when I leave jail I'd have nothing, no one, and I'll be scarred as a sexual predator for the rest of my life. Fuck, I couldn't believe it! Kenzie came into my bed as I was sleeping and...and...it was hardly by any means consensual sex! I was seething with all these thoughts stirring in my head.
"Kenzie, why are you in my bed?!"
"Well, I heard you making noises and I thought you were having a bad dream so..."
"So WHAT?! You don't just climb into bed with your professor!"
"Whoa! What is up your ass?! Once I climbed in you settled down almost immediately." She seemed proud of this fact, her eyes scanned me up and down as I stood there with my hands on my hips in my pajamas.
"Oh, you've
got
to be kidding, Kenzie." I immediately crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I am going to be in so much trouble, I can't friggen believe this is happening."
"What are you talking about, Dr. Lockhart? What trouble? What's happening??" Her expression changed from smug to slight confusion.
"Uhhhh, HELLO? Kenzie, you're in my bed!!" I couldn't believe her, it was certainly not the time to act coy with me. I was furious and terrified. What was she playing at?
"Yeah. So? I've slept in lots of girls' beds. I know when I have nightmares my roommate will climb into bed with me..." Was she seriously trying to justify what she did? Taking advantage of me after a horrible event and then treating it like it's no big deal!
"I don't CARE how many girl's you've slept with, or if you and your roommate fuck every night!! I'm your PROFESSOR and this is absolutely horrible. I'm going to lose my job!"
"Fucking my roommate?! Haha! What are you talking about? I've never fucked my roommate. We just cuddle that's all!!" She was looking at me like I had three heads for making such an absurd accusation.
My head was now pounding with frustration and confusion and perhaps a hit of delirium. Cuddling? Wha-? Kenzie was really acting like she had no idea what I was talking about, or at least she had no idea why I was freaking out.
I stood there, arms still folded looking at her, examining her expression. That smugness had disappeared and now her darling face appeared merciful and empathetic.
"Dr. Lockhart, what is it?" At this point she sat all the way up on her haunches. She was wearing an old t-shirt of mine and her leggings still from the previous day.
She's not naked...in my dream she was naked...how did she get my shirt?
As if she was reading my mind, Kenzie looked down and tugged at the shirt. "Oh, I found this in your laundry room and figured it would be okay to sleep in. Sorry, I should've asked." I was so confused. What the hell was going on?
"So, you went into my laundry room, put on my shirt, heard me and you thought I was having a nightmare?" It wasn't an actual question, I was only trying to puzzle together the events that happened last night.
"Yes." She nodded her head, still sitting upright on her haunches. She looked absolutely angelic in the morning. I couldn't help but notice her subtle yet adorable bags under her eyes, her eyeliner had smudged a bit but she still looked marvelous. The corners of her mouth crooked upwards as she smiled at me. My rage diminished rapidly, I couldn't stay angry forever looking at this gorgeous figure in front of me.
"And then you came in to my room and climbed into my bed." Still putting the pieces together.
Kenzie nodded this time, expecting me to recount all of the details, but she could see I was struggling to find all the missing pieces.
"I climbed into your bed and you settled down instantly. I told you everything was going to be okay and you sighed and went back to sleep."
"That's it? That's all you said?" I clearly had remembered her saying a few other things, or in my dream. I was still so confused, I still needed clarification.
"Yep. You were out like a baby. Good thing too! Your tossing and turning would've kept me up all night!" Kenzie said matter-of-factly.
"And that was all that happened? We just...slept?" Now seeking confirmation that my worst nightmare was in fact not really happening.
"Uhh, yes? Haha! Oh my god, Dr. Lockhart! Do you think we had sex??" She made it sound like that idea was so ridiculous. My feelings were kind of hurt by her tone, but I think I was more embarrassed that she had finally figured out why I was fretting earlier.
"Well, what was I supposed to think by waking up next to you? I mean, I told you to sleep on the couch! There are boundaries, you know." It was hard to remain professional and composed. I felt silly and embarrassed. Most of all, my pride was hurt a little bit.
Was it so hard for her to believe, so inconceivable, that it could've happened?
I didn't understand why she was acting like it was such a ridiculous idea. I felt a slight pain in my chest, probably from the huge blow my pride just took.