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Attempted Blackmail: Part 7

🎶B-U-S-T-E-D you are BUSTED!🎶 What will happen to Annie and Thomas now that someone knows?

Bianca stares dumbfounded at both of us entangled in Thomas's bathroom. She almost dropped her phone.

Thomas resignedly pulls away from me but doesn't let me go entirely. "What are you doing here, Bianca?"

She scoffs. "I think the bigger question is, how the hell did someone like Annie snag the hottest professor in school? That like, doesn't make any sense!"

"Well, being confused is your typical state of being, so no one here is surprised..." I can't help but mutter.

Bianca glares at me as Thomas reaches for his phone. "If you're not out of my house in the next 10 seconds, I'm calling the police."

She snaps out of her shock and waves her phone at his face. "Tsk, tsk. I don't think you wanna do that, professor. I have proof that you've been very, very naughty. If you don't do exactly what I say, I'm sending this proof to every single member of the school board, and then posting it to social media and selling it to the tabloids. I'll ruin both of you."

Sure enough, on her phone screen is a picture of Thomas and I locked in our kiss. Slightly blurry, but there's no doubt it's us. "Bianca-"

"Save it, Annie. I've already won." She begins pacing the hall in front of us. "You know, this actually explains a lot. Why you always have such good grades, why you seem to be on his good side, and why he backed you up at your probation hearing a while back."

"Really? I have good grades because I study, which I know is a foreign word to you. What gave you the impression I was on his good side until now, the glares?" At this, Thomas hides a grin. "And he backed me up then because I worked hard to prove myself. Everyone saw that."

Bianca just rolls her eyes. "Sure, Annie. Whatever makes you sound like the sweet little innocent angel everyone thinks you are."

Thomas releases me and steps toward her. "I won't say it again, Bianca. I will call the police. Get. Out." She smirks and backs away toward the foyer. "Yeah yeah, okay. But you both better be ready to give me exactly what I want, or everyone finds out about this." And with her annoying little sashay, she struts out the front door.

I collapse against the sink. "I can't believe Bianca's the one who caught us. Of all the-"

"I know. But it was only a matter of time until someone did." Thomas speaks quietly as he returns to stand in front of me. His shoulders are tensed up. I fiddle with my sleeve. "So... what do we do now?"

He bites the inside of his cheek in thought. "... I don't know. Just go about your business as usual for now. Avoid her if you can."

I nod in understanding and silently offer a hug. He quickly accepts, and we both just hold each other, wondering to ourselves if this will work out somehow. Maybe she's bluffing, or she'll get drunk and accidentally delete the photo, or... I don't know. Wishful thinking. After a few minutes, we kiss goodbye and I hesitantly head back to campus.

****************

Addison is visiting her mom this weekend, so our dorm room is quiet and lonely on this Sunday morning. I dont want to bother her, so I lie with my thoughts until she returns. When she does and sees me sulking in my bed, she throws herself next to me and squeezes my hand. Her wordless way of asking me what's wrong without rushing me.

"Ads, we've got a problem.... Bianca knows." Her brow furrows. "Knows about... wait, you and-?" I nod. She curses under her breath. "Then... what does she have planned?"

"For now, she's just holding it over our heads in the hopes to use it as blackmail. Long term, I don't know."

"Well, you're not going to let her blackmail you, are you?" I shake my head. "No, of course not. And neither will Thomas. But if word gets out..." My best friend wraps me in a tight hug at the look of worry on my face.

Whatever happens from here, at least I've got a good support system. I just hope he does, too.

*****************

The next day, Monday morning classes seem to go in slow motion. Thomas's class being my last of the day does not help ease my nerves in the slightest. But even as his class begins, I still have seen no sign of Bianca all day. It's like a jumpscare waiting to happen. But even as class goes on with Thomas and I giving nothing more than quick glances, no word from the she-devil.

Until she corners me after class right outside the classroom.

"Hello, new favorite servant. I hope you're ready to get pampering, because I am so ready to be pam-" "Bianca, whatever you're trying to do, it's not working on me. I'm not letting you blackmail either one of us." I nudge her away from where she had me pinned to the wall.

She tsks. "Oh, but you have no choice. You're getting me a coffee or you're getting a public humiliation."

"And you're minding your business or you're getting a probation, Ms. Stone." Thomas emerges from the classroom behind us. Her grin turns downright ominous as she turns toward him. "Professor Hunt, I'm so glad you could join us! You remember our deal this morning, right?"

Deal? I look between them. Thomas has his usual stern look on his face and seems completely unperturbed. "I remember. You keep that knowledge to yourself and I'll vouch for you in your academic probation hearing tomorrow." I blink. He made a deal with her to vouch for her in a hearing!?

Bianca seems to sense my shock and turns that ominous grin toward me. "Hear that, nerd? Hunt is gonna vouch for me and give me exactly what I want. So keep up. Now I'll take a venti espresso with-"

"The deal is between us, Ms. Stone. I recommend you leave Annie out of it." Thomas's voice is icy. She twists her mouth as if in thought and stares me down. Then her grin returns. "Alright, fine. I changed my mind about coffee anyways. But Annie, once this hearing is over tomorrow and everyone knows I'm Hunt's favorite student, I've got plans for you. Find me then."

As she saunters off, I turn toward Thomas with wide eyes. His hands are in white knuckling fists, but he doesn't look at me. He swallows and says under his breath, "Go back to your dorm, Annie." Then he, too, is gone.

****************

Addison and I are discussing what happened in our room when there's a knock at the door. In preparation for it being my current worst nightmare, Addison answers it. She steps back in shock. "Professor Hunt?"

"I'm assuming your friend already knows?" Thomas points at Addison. "Yes, she does, come on in." I assure him, standing as he awkwardly walks into our dorm.

He glances around the room as I carefully approach him, then give his hands a squeeze. Thomas looks cool and collected, but his hands are clammy. "We need to talk about what happened with Bianca."

I nod and look at Addison, who's already tiptoeing to our door. "Ms. Sinclair, please do not tell anyone I was here." She promises she won't and gives us our privacy.

"I know you have questions-" "A few. What deal did you make with Bianca, did you let her blackmail you? Where was she today? What's this about a hearing-?" Thomas cups my face in his hands. "Just... sit down, please. I'll explain."

We move over to sit on my bed. Which would normally excite the heck out of me, but right now all I feel is apprehension. He takes a deep breath. "Bianca cornered me at my car this morning. She made several threats at blackmail which I normally wouldn't bat an eye at, but when she started threatening you... I couldn't let her. We struck a deal that she could skip classes today with full credit and I would vouch for her in her probation hearing tomorrow morning. So long as she left you alone. Which I thought she would until I caught her this afternoon. I should have known she would go back on her word, but I was worried that something would happen to you."

I listen without getting frustrated as much as I can. I appreciate him looking out for me, but we can't give her what she wants, no matter what's at stake. I tell him as much. "Just come to the hearing tomorrow, I'll figure something out."

I give myself a minute to consider his words. Then I look him in the eyes. "I'll support you whatever you decide." His thumb idly brushes my knuckles. "Are you sure? I'm not the only one who's going to be affected by this. Your reputation is at stake, too." I smile sadly at him. "No matter what, we both have to face the consequences. As long as we're in this together, I can handle it."

Thomas returns my smile and wraps me in a tight hug. I rub his back and rest my chin on his shoulder. Despite the fact that he's willing to stand by me through all of this, I still have a pit in my stomach. "Do you.. regret this at all? Would you still want to be with me, knowing what you know now?"

Thomas pulls back and cups my face again. "Absolutely. No questions, no hesitation." I snort, "Okay, but you did hesitate at first." He doesn't laugh, though. Instead, he looks at me with this sad determination. "I once told you that I let my career ruin my first chance at love. I'm not letting regret win again. This situation with Bianca is.. unfortunate. But it definitely does not outweigh being with you, Annie. I wouldn't give up my time with you for anything."

The man in front of becomes blurry as my eyes grow watery. He wipes away the tears before they fall, and then our lips meet. The kiss is bittersweet, with all the uncertainty and fear of what our future together holds, but also the tenderness and joy that we get to be in this moment now. And now is all that matters. If this is to be my last moment with him before one or both of our careers are ruined, then I can live with that. I'll be here, with him, and continue to kiss him like it might be the last time I ever get to.

****************

It's a cold Tuesday in November. The assembly gathering together for the hearing is a relatively small one, and we all pack neatly into the room. Addison, Ethan and I take our place in the observer's section with a handful of other students. I feel better being situated between both of them, but not much.

The faculty takes their place on the stand, Thomas among them. Professor Llewellyn sits by him, shooting me an almost imperceptible wink. Thinking nothing more of it than Llewellyn being Llewellyn, we all turn our attention to Professor Priya Singh as she takes the podium. Bianca takes one of the stands in front of her, almost proudly.

"It seems that all relevant parties are here. Let's begin. Ms. Stone, which member of the faculty have you procured to vouch on your behalf?"

Oh, she is absolutely proud to be standing there. I can see the proverbial peacock feathers fanning out. "An esteemed colleague of yours, Professor Thomas Hunt!"

Priya seems a touch surprised as she addresses him. "Hunt, do you agree to speak for Ms. Stone?"

"I am here to speak about the issue at hand, namely whether Ms. Stone deserves expulsion, academic probation, or a simple warning." Bianca doesn't hide her grin as she watches him take the stand opposite her. "From the beginning, Ms. Stone has always been brimming with ambition, cunning, and self-confidence." She literally puffs out her chest. So this is his decision, huh...

"... And it's this exact reason she should be put on academic probation."

The silence in the room is resounding as he pauses for effect. Priya watches in interest as Bianca's glossy red lips drop open.

"Ms. Stone represents these attributes that could be considered positive, but she takes them to the extreme, past the point of recklessness. She can't see the potential consequences of her actions, and what's more, she doesn't care. Some people might argue that she will fit in seamlessly into the industry because of these qualities. However, she is certainly not the type of student I would want to mentor."

Bianca waves her phone at him. "Oh, and we know what type of student you do like to mentor, don't we, Professor?" She threatens. "Ms. Stone! Decorum, please." Priya shushes her.

Thomas waits for the go-ahead to continue. "Furthermore, Ms. Stone doesn't know how to work with others. Hollywood is all about making connections, but she only knows how to alienate others and ride her father's coattails."

Bianca roars. "That's it, you're doing DOWN, Hunt!" She begins furiously scrolling through her phone.

"You want further evidence of her questionable character? Look no further than what she's doing right now. She's trying to blackmail me into vouching for her today.

By exposing my relationship... with Anneka Sinclair."

My own gasp is audible with almost everyone else's in the assembly. Murmurs ripple through, and almost every eye is on me. Addison squeezes my hand. I shrink under the scrutiny, but Thomas stands tall.

Bianca is blubbering by the time Priya gets the room to settle. "... I think we've heard enough. Blackmail is a very serious offense, Ms. Stone. But taking everything into account, the board will put you on probation for now. But make no mistake, you are on very thin ice. Another display like this one, and we will not hesitate to expel you. No matter who you're related to."

I can almost hear Bianca simmering from here. "You will be taking remedial lessons with myself to make up for your lacking grades, and believe me, I will not go easy on you. Otherwise..." Priya's attention is turned to Thomas and me. "The two of you will be dealt with later. For now, meeting adjourned."

Everyone begins filing out of the room, all kinds of looks being directed my way. Bianca is shoving her phone at everyone passing by. "Look, this is them! It's disgusting! Isn't this like, illegal??" No one is really paying her any mind, though, surprisingly enough. Addison and Ethan link arms with me and drag me outside before she sees me.

"Are you okay? That got pretty rough in there." Ethan moves a strand of my hair that got tangled in my braid. I shrug. "I'll be fine. Have to get used to publicity anyways, right?" He chuckles. "As your agent, the saying goes 'any publicity is good publicity', but as your friend..."

I squeeze his arm. "I know. But I'll be okay." We walk a bit from the building before we spot Thomas under a tree, hands in his pockets and his eyes off in the distance.

"So." I say as we approach, my friends releasing me to get closer to him. "So." He returns.

"Everyone knows now..." I shrug awkwardly. My face is burning hot in the chilly weather. He chuckles. "Maybe not everyone, but they will soon. Who knows what inane hashtag Jenni will come up with." We all laugh.

"And... you're okay?" I approach him a little closer. He reaches for my hand. "Nervous, I'll admit. But relieved it's out on my own terms. On our own terms."

I smile. "Agreed. So what happens from here?"

He takes a deep breath. "I assume I'll be hearing from Priya soon about our own hearing. I'm not clear on whether or not this is necessarily illegal, but it is most certainly against University bylaws. Who knows what the consequences will be."

I bite my lip nervously. Ethan interjects, "If I may, I can help read the terms and see what we're working with here. But you two better come up with one hell of a love story."

I blush at that word again, and Thomas squeezes my hand tighter. "Already on it."

(Disclaimer: The original story, places, names, some dialogue, and all characters except for Annie and Llewellyn belong to Pixelberry from their game Hollywood U: Rising Stars. Thank you for reading!)

#writing #annie sinclair oc #hollywood u #hollywood u rewrite #hollywood u: rising stars #thomas hunt

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