FORBIDDEN SEDUCTION

A STRANGER IN THE CLASSROOM

KAELANA

Monday mornings always felt cruel, but today was worse.

As soon as I stepped into Windsor Heights Academy, my stomach was in knots. June had called me twice that morning, wanting to gossip about the party, but I ignored every call.

What could I even say? That I kissed a stranger so recklessly, so shamelessly? That I still felt the touch of his lips on mine?

Goodness, I was such a mess.

Adjusting my blazer around myself, I concentrated on keeping my face down and counting my steps trying to ignore all the whispers.

“It's probably possible no one saw that right? I mean there were so many people there,” I thought, trying to console myself, but seriously, who was I kidding?

I quickly turned away my thoughts as I hurried to maths class. We had been informed over the spring break that we would be having a new teacher and I didn't want to go late to the first class.

When I arrived, the teacher hadn't come so I slid into my usual spot, about 4 rows from the front. June sat 2 rows ahead, typing furiously on her phone, probably texting me about the party again. James was nowhere in sight, which was a relief, and Jackson Sullivan, the school’s golden boy and my crush, was across the room, leaned back in his chair with a lazy smirk as he chatted with a friend.

Everything was normal until the maths teacher arrived.

I saw him first. Dark tousled hair, sharp gray eyes, tall and broad in a blue button-up shirt and dark trousers. He adjusted his sleeves as he strode to the desk.

Oh my Goodness.

Everything moved in slow motion as he lifted his eyes up meeting mine.

Unlike me, he was better at handling ‘situations like this’. There was a look of recognition, after that, nothing.

"Good morning students," he began smoothly. "I’m Ryan Blake. I’ll be your math instructor for the year."

“OMG, he's so hot,” I heard a voice say. Emily, the class bully and the younger sister of the cheerleading president, Aubrey.

More murmurs resounded but I was no longer paying attention. A visual image of him kissing me replayed in my head.

I subconsciously shut my eyes, wetting my lips when suddenly I felt a sharp prick on my elbow. My eyes snapped open and I was face to face with Mr. Ryan Blake.

"Seems to me like you're not interested in maths class, are you?"

“Y-yes sir, I'm sorry sir,” I apologized.

“Hmm, let's continue,” Ryan said, walking back to write on the board.

"Kaelana," someone whispered, pulling me from the haze I was in. June had turned in her seat, watching me with narrowed eyes.

“What is wrong with you?” she mouthed.

I merely shook my head and brought out my writing materials to take down notes.

For the first time ever, I was angry that maths class had to be allocated two periods. As soon as the bell rang, I shot up from my seat in a hurry to leave.

But suddenly, Emily and her friends burst out laughing. I only spared them a glance thinking they were pranking someone again.

As I made to leave, someone pulled my skirt and muttered, “Oh my God… she stained herself.”

Laughter exploded all around her. I glanced back towards the front and Mr Ryan was staring straight at me.

Confused, I tugged my skirt a bit to see it and there it was. Period stains. “But I wasn't on my period,” I whispered confusedly.

Just then, Emily sneaked a peek of the fake blood liquid she was holding. She must've done it before I sat down there.

Humiliated, I bolted out of the class, laughter echoing behind me.

My vision blurred with tears as I found the nearest empty stall and locked myself in, letting the tears fall in waves.

I didn't know how long I stayed there but June found me and she slipped a pack of wipes from under the door.

“I'll be waiting for you outside,” she said and then I heard retreating footsteps. There was only so much I could do about the stain, finally I stepped out into an empty space.

I approached the tap to wash my hands and face when suddenly, the door opened. Assuming it was June, I didn't bother to check until he was within the view of the mirror.

James.

"Are you in a hurry, sweetheart?" He mused, trudging ahead slowly while I inched back with each step he took.

“Not now, James,” I said, looking around for something I could use to save myself in case he made any silly move.

"Come on," he taunted, stepping forward. "You put on quite the show. You looked real cute running out like that."

“Move!” I ordered, reaching out to push him but he caught my hand, pulling me to himself.

"You’re always so bossy," he mused. "Maybe that’s why no one sticks around."

"James," I yelled, pointing a finger at him.

"You should be grateful I’m even looking at you after that little mess," he sneered. "Who else would want a girl like you?"

"I would,” came an all too familiar voice. It was Jackson Sullivan.

He stood at the door, arms crossed as he stared at us.

“Stay out of this, Sullivan. You don’t…" James didn't get to finish before Jackson intercepted him, took my hand and pulled me to himself.

Jackson Sullivan was actually touching me. Holding my hand. My crush, out-of-my-league Jackson, just pulled me away like I was someone important.

"I’d walk away if I were you," Jackson said calmly.

James fumed for a long while, before letting go of me. "This isn’t over sweetheart. We'll see soon enough."

As soon as he was out of sight, I let out a breath of relief.

"Are you okay?" Jackson asked softly.

I couldn't believe he was truly here, holding my hand.

"...Yeah," I muttered.

“Good. Because I think I just made you my problem,” He said, with a small smile on his face as he took me along with him out of the washroom.

As we walked through the hallway, Ryan Blake was coming from the opposite direction. He was glaring at me, more specifically, at the point where Jackson and my hand met.