How to Hate Your Crush - My Teacher is the Devil

Towards the end of the last school year, close to exam season, our biology teacher announced her marriage. She was very dear to us, so of course we were all quite saddened when she said she was going to resign. However, she wanted to make sure we were left in the care of someone who was good enough for us. She told us about our future teacher – her replacement. According to her, he would be an extremely nice man, funny and close to her age (early twenties). I, for one, did not think much of it. I was barely listening, but I still had high hopes since this teacher was so wonderful to us. When the new school year began, I realized that she must have been lying. She could only be lying. Sure, the man was handsome and had a cool and calm air to him. Yet, that was pretty much it. No good qualities, no nurturing nature – just a charismatic tease. At least that is what I thought of him in the beginning. For the first couple of months, I found this new teacher extremely annoying, flirting with all the girls – both students and teachers. He was way too arrogant and always trying to get everyone’s attention. Just plain annoying. Withal, my feelings for him soon changed. Behind the arrogant, always-flirting, aggravating farce, I suddenly saw someone completely different. I knew there was someone sweet and caring… no matter how deep within he hides it – a kind and protective man who had conquered my heart. In the past, I thought I had fallen in love several times, but after falling for him, I learned that what I felt for the others was nothing close to real love. He was the first one to make my heart pound, I feel empty when he is not around, and I feel like crying whenever he flirts with someone else. Even though he is eight years older than I am, and any kind of relationship between us is strictly forbidden, I can finally admit to myself that I love him. His name is Alec Brady. He flirts with every single girl in school and has even caused one boy to blush. Most female students and teachers follow him around like swarms of bees and squeal whenever he glances at them. My shy nature, however, prevents me to do so, thus I am invisible to him. Mr. Brady hardly ever looks at me and I am probably the only girl in this school he does not flirt with. I wonder why… Am I too ugly? Annoying? Or is it because I am too shy? For whatever reason it is, it hurts. Being given zero attention by the man I love hurts, especially since he is the first man I have truly fallen in love with. However, I cannot blame him. I know others find it hard to communicate with me, as I am the shiest girl in class – and my quietness can be quite annoying. I am just a plain, quiet girl, sitting at the back of Mr. Brady’s classroom, observing him dreamily. I never attempt to approach him, and I try to be the first one to leave the room because I get too nervous whenever I am alone with him. My name is Ellison Bloom – or Ellie for short – and I am in love with my Biology teacher.