Bad Professor (An Alpha Male Bad Boy Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

as
many encouraging things. Have you even read his edits?" Jasmine asked.
    "Why?
All they'll tell me is that I suck at the only career I've ever wanted," I
said.
    "That's
not true." Lexi pried my hands off my face and smiled brightly, “You used
to want to be a writer. Like the woman who wrote that series we all obsessed
over in high school."
    "Don't
be silly." I sat up and looked over Jasmine's shoulder. "That was
high school. This is the real world and journalism is a more-respected
profession."
    "Come
on," Lexi sighed. "You used to be such a great storyteller. I still
have nightmares about that three eyes story you told us around the
campfire."
    "Ooh,"
Jasmine gave a delighted shiver. "He could watch you even when his back
was turned. Creepy awesome."
    "What
does that say?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.
    Jasmine
held up Professor Bauer's comment and read, "Very poetic, but distracts
from the point."
    "See,
I'm a total failure," I flopped back again.
    Lexi
snatched up the article. "He's complimenting you. Word choice, creative
details, poetic images, and excellent storytelling. You just went over the word
limit and buried the lead."
    My
groan turned into a growl. "So he thinks I'm flowery and frivolous. He
doesn't even know me!"
    "Is
that what's bothering you?" Lexi asked. She sat down on the pink trunk
directly across from me. "You're bothered because he got the wrong
impression from your assignment?"
    Jasmine
sat up, her blue eyes sparkling. "What are you going to do, confront him
during office hours? Step right up to that handsome face and tell him exactly
how wrong he is about you?"
    I
stood up and paced around my friend's cluttered dorm room. "I'm not some
dreamy poet or some fairytale writer. I want him to take me seriously." I
snatched up my coat and book bag.
    Jasmine
clapped her hands. "Yeah, go to his office and make him take a good, long
look at you. Here, I'll do your hair."
    I
swatted her away. "This doesn't have anything to do with how attractive
Ford, I mean, Professor Bauer is. He needs to know that I take my work
seriously and I intend to be an excellent journalist. He can't scare me off or
steer me towards some other career."
    "Maybe
he's just trying to provoke you," Lexi said.
    Jasmine
clapped again. "And now he's waiting for you to come into his office
breathing fire so he can tame you."
    "That's
it," I cried. "I'm confiscating your paperbacks. You have got romance
on the brain." I scooped up an armful of novels with ripped-bodice
heroines and bare-chested heroes.
    "Might
want to leave those here if you're going for a serious vibe," Lexi said.
    I
dumped the books on the pink trunk and left in a huff, despite my friend's
good-natured laughter. They didn't understand the pressure I felt. I had
carefully and practically selected my chosen career because journalism kept me
firmly rooted in real life. To have anyone, including Professor Bauer, point
out that I was more like my creative, free-spirited mother turned my core to
ice. I didn't want to resemble her in any way.
    Thinking
of her wild, long curls, I carefully tamed my hair into a low ponytail. The
journalism professor all had offices on the top floor of Thompson Hall and I ran
up the steps two at a time. I took a moment to smooth down my pink sweater and
catch my breath. Then, I knocked on Professor Bauer's office door and tapped my
foot fast on the hallway floor.
    "Clarity,
I'm not surprised." Ford checked his watch. "Actually, I am. Office
hours are almost over. I thought you'd be here right away, ready to tear into
me for your D+. As it is now, I was just getting ready to leave."
    I
shoved him aside and marched into his office. "Office hours are set,
school policy, and I still have time. This is your office?"
    The
narrow, attic room was dominated on one side by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Straight
ahead, a lancet window let in sunlight dappled by the ivy still clinging to the
outside of the limestone building.
    "What's
wrong with my