Let go and relax with a celebrity guest

Looking at Professor Katz standing at the head of the classroom yapping about some topic I couldn’t care less about, I thought things might be a bit more interesting if the class was being taught by someone more easy on the eyes … a celebrity perhaps. Maybe, a popular singer telling us all about how she draws inspiration to craft her songs. Inspiration drawn from me of course. Someone like Ariana Grande. Not the current looking version, but the circa 2017 version when she was one of the hottest women out there.

I allowed myself a small smirk as I pictured that distinctly curvy figure at the front of the class. As if in a trance, I closed my eyes and imagined the scene — and when I opened them, Professor Katz was no more. Instead, in his place, there she was. Ariana Grande, looking completely like she had circa 2017, with dark skin and a full face, standing confidently at the blackboard with a dazzling smile. She began to lecture us about how her songwriting process involved intricate, personal experiences with people from all walks of life. I was stunned. Not only had I somehow replaced Professor Katz with just a thought, but I had done so with someone who did not even exist at the present time. I had plucked this version of Ariana Grande out of the past and no one around me appeared to find any of it odd. Were there any limits to my powers?

The answer to that question appeared to be in the negative as every pair of eyes in the room, including mine, were focused solely on Ariana, completely captivated by her presence. Justin was practically drooling onto his notebook. The room erupted into laughter when she would crack a joke, but the second she started speaking again, it was dead quiet as the students listened intently to her words.

Towards the end of her lecture, Ariana turned towards me with an appreciative smile. "And lastly," she said, pointing straight at me, "James has always been a significant source of inspiration for my music. They say inspiration often comes in the shower, and I’ll say some of my best songs have definitely come to me while James and I are showering together. He has been my muse on numerous occasions.”

I gulped at this revelation. Yet, as I should have expected by now, no one else seemed shocked by the statement. Instead, the entire class nodded along approvingly, pupils scribbling notes as they hung on her every word. It was as if this were completely ordinary; just another college lecture from past tense Ariana Grande about how she had been inspired to write music gold while showering with me. No big deal. This was getting more insane and intoxicating by the minute.

I almost lost the thread of Ariana’s commentary as she cited examples of lyrics from her songs that were inspired by me, referencing moments and interactions that I had no memory of. But to the class, it was gospel.

"In fact, one of my most popular songs, '34+35,' is about moments James and I have spent together," Ariana continued, her eyes crinkling with humor as my cheeks flushed a brilliant red, "I won't go into all the details – because they aren’t really appropriate for a history class lecture - but if you just listen to the lyrics, you can use your imagination on that one."

The classroom erupted into laughter at her sly remark, but I remained still in silent shock. How was this possible? One moment ago, I was wondering whether or not I could actually change my reality - now Ariana Grande was standing before me, attributing her chart topping hits to fictional sexual scenarios between us. ‘34+35’ was literally a song about Ariana pleading to have sex with her significant other. With lyrics such as “Can you stay up all night?/Fuck me ‘till the daylight.” And it concludes with Ariana readily explaining the song’s title, proclaiming: “Means I wanna 69 with you.”

In this reality had I had sex with Ariana Grande? Had we sixty-nined?

Even as I grappled with this absurdity, I realized that despite my incredulity, none of the other students seemed taken aback at all. As I turned to look at Justin, he just shot me a smile knowingly before returning his gaze back to Ariana. There was no denial, no doubt in his eyes. He was not alone. As far as everyone sitting in this lecture hall was concerned, it was completely plausible that I had showered and slept with Ariana Grande. If anyone did have any doubt, here she was pointing it out to the entire class as casually as discussing the weather. And yet, I had no memories of any of it. Reality warping changed history for everyone but me. No matter the change, I would always remain a constant in the midst of complete nonsense.

"Alright, now to wrap things up," Ariana began, sauntering over to her desk to relax against it, "For your assignment this week, I want you all to analyze one of my songs. You can choose anything from my catalogue that you’d like. Consider what may have inspired me in the lyrics and overall mood of the piece."

The class burst into collective conversation as Ariana lifted her bag onto the desk and started gathering her things. Students around me quickly began discussing which song they would choose for their analysis; some even started humming catchy tunes under their breaths.

And then there was Rachel Thomas, a studious brunette who always sat at the back of the room. She raised her hand high above her head, her eyes sparkling with an eager question. Ariana paused in her packing and looked at her curiously.

"Yes, Rachel?" she asked.

Rachel stood up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and adjusting the glasses perched on her cute, freckle-specked nose. Her gaze was fixed on Ariana with a curiosity that was shared by everyone else in the room. The anticipation was almost palpable.

"Yes," she said, clearing her throat awkwardly before continuing. "Professor Grande, I have a question about the song 'Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart.' The lyrics seem to be about unrequited love and longing for someone who is with someone else. Many have speculated about this, but I wonder, can we safely assume that this song too is inspired by James?"

A collective gasp echoed around the room as all eyes turned towards me. Likewise, Ariana’s face broke into an appreciative smile at Rachel's question. It was surprising how much knowledge she had about Ariana's songs; but then again she was attending a class taught by a pop idol. Why wouldn’t she. I on the other hand had never heard of the song. It certainly wasn’t one of Ariana Grande’s top hits.

"That's an interesting question," Ariana responded, pulling on her jacket and patting down her ponytail. She cast a quick glance at me; her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and amusement that sent shivers down my spine.

She turned back to Rachel, her smile widening a bit more before she spoke. “I suppose I could provide a bit of clarification on that point. That song was indeed inspired by feelings of unrequited love — heartfelt sentiments from a time when James, your dear fellow student here, was oblivious to my affections.”

The classroom filled with gasps and whispers, all eyes darting between Ariana and me. Just as before, it wasn’t so much shock as it was intrigue. Even Rachel, normally composed and methodical in her thinking, looked as excited as I’d ever seen her.

I felt my cheeks heat up even more under the growing scrutiny. My mind raced with questions. How had my reality changed? There was a time when Ariana Grande had unrequited feelings for me?

“Now, don’t ask me about the ‘someone else’ part of the song,” Ariana added quickly, holding up a playful finger of caution. It elicited a round of chuckles from my classmates, and even I couldn’t help but smile at her easy-going attitude. Ariana had completely transformed a boring history class into an unpredictable and entertaining lecture - although on that note, I did suddenly wonder what had become of poor Professor Katz. Did he no longer exist in this world? Had I erased him from existence?

Ariana quickly brought my attention back to her however as she continued: “Let’s not dig too deep into who that other person in James’s life was. The two of them deserve some privacy.” Rachel nodded in agreement. I on the other hand wanted to know! Who else had I had been with in this reality that had left Ariana Grande, of all people, crying for ‘just a little bit of my heart’. But now was not the time to ask.

The lecture wrapped up soon after that bombshell revelation. Ariana thanked everyone for their attention and winked at me. “James, can you stay behind for a moment?”

“Look’s like you’re in trouble dude,” Justin mocked from my side with a friendly punch to my arm. He then added with a smirk: “You are one lucky motherfucker. I’ll wait for you outside.” He then picked up his things and followed the other students out of the room.

As I made my way toward the front, it occurred to me that no one was crowding Ariana begging for her autograph. In fact no one was hounding her at all. Instead she just exchanged pleasantries with some of the students as they left, as any normal professor would have done. And that was the thing, as far as everyone else was concerned it was completely normal for a star like Ariana Grande to be teaching this class. It was nothing overly special to them - even if it was clear from their reactions during the lecture itself that they were all fully cognizant of who she was.

As i nervously approached Ariana she gave me a very friendly smile. “Sup James,” she smirked, eyes twinkling as if she’d just shared a funny secret. I just stared, lost in how incredibly hot this girl was. Her tone then changed to a more serious one: “I just wanted to make sure you were okay? You seemed somewhere else today.” Her voice was now soft yet dripping with concern; it was disconcerting.

“Yeah,” I replied, attempting to sound more assured than I actually felt. “Just… trying to absorb all of the information you gave us today.”

She giggled at that, clasping her hands together on her slim waist, her head and trademark ponytail tilting slightly to one side as she regarded me warmly. “Well, don’t stress yourself out too much. Writing songs can be complex, but so is life and we just have to find our own rhythm. Besides, you know most of this material anyway being you were with me when much of it happened. I’m sure you’ll do fine on your assignment.”

I held back another gulp and **** a nod instead, trying to offer her a smile, albeit a shaky one. She seemed convinced enough as she returned it with her own radiant grin.

“Anyway," she said changing tones again while she finished packing up her lecture materials, “Normally this would be the time that I drag you back to your dorm room and fuck your brains out, but unfortunately I have to leave right away. I’m performing at the Garden tonight, so I have to hop a plane to New York. I hope you’ll forgive me James.”

I almost fell over at her **** bluntness but managed to stammer out: “Of course I forgive you,” feeling ridiculous for saying it but unable to stop myself. I just wasn’t sure whether it would be appropriate to offer condolences for her having to miss a presumably hot and steamy session with me of all people. The absurdity of the entire situation was starting to really make itself apparent and I had no idea what to say or do next. It was like being in a dream, only far more vivid and surreal. Had I really experienced multiple intense sexual encounters with Ariana Grande? Apparently, according to this reality, yes. But having not actually lived through any of it, I had no recollection of those moments.

I thought that I could just use my powers to make Ariana stay and come with me to my dorm room, but for whatever reason the possibility of having her “fuck my brains out” was too much for me at the moment.

“Thank you James,” Ariana said with a smile, taking on an almost playful quality as she started towards the lecture hall’s exit. For a moment, she paused at the door before turning around and moving swiftly back towards me. Before I could even react, Ariana pressed herself up against me, one hand cradling my face while the other braced against my chest. She stood on her tip-toes, her lips meeting mine with startling intensity. Her tongue finding its way into my mouth engaging with my own.

She tasted of strawberry lip balm and a hint of coffee. Her kiss was passionate and lingering, leaving me stunned and frozen in place. When she finally pulled away she winked at me again, her grin so wide it seemed to light up her entire face.

“You know James,” she said as she parted from me and headed toward the lecture hall door, “one of these days you should join me on my tour jet. After all this time, you and I still haven’t joined the Mile High Club together and that’s just inexcusable.”

With that tantalizing invitation dangling in the air, she sashayed out of the lecture hall with a final wave and toss of her hair and left me standing there. My mind felt like a twisted pretzel as it tried to follow the reality in which Ariana Grande was eager to fuck me, we'd supposedly had an incredibly erotic history together, and she had no qualms with writing and singing about it all to the masses. And no one, absolutely no one, thought any of it was anything but completely normal.

My world had become an open playground where I could make anything I wanted a reality. The question was did I really have the courage to take things further.