Till Eternity (teacherxstudent)

Chapter 6: Caught in a Trance

The next morning I went to school as if nothing had happened. The fever was completely gone, though my cheeks remained flushed. I had already gone through the stack of papers Mr. Jones handed me yesterday, so there was no way I was going to miss any more days of school. However, one thought floated in my mind since the day before – one annoying, dark-haired and hazel-eyed thought. It increased as I walked behind the same two girls on my way to school, overhearing their starry eyed gossip on Mr. Jones – or, more precisely, his looks. This got me thinking.

I spent the entire science class staring at him, trying to figure out what all these girls meant. I squinted and twisted my head, trying to figure it out, but once the images of yesterday – his face pressed close to mine, his broad chest as he carried mine – it all became clear. My face burned and I laid it on the table, feeling the cool wood on my flaming cheeks. Unconsciously, my eyes were pulled towards the teacher pacing in the front of the room. I guess I can kind of see what they mean… His young face is quite handsome, with a perfectly-shaped profile and chiseled features. I kind of hated him for this. What a waste of good looks. It is also true that there is no comparing his strong build with that of these undeveloped teenage boys, so it is no wonder that they fall forgotten from all the gossip around our teacher. Overall, he appeared almost like a Greek statue in a way that complimented his cool personality. It disgusts me how perfect he is.

I am also amazed that, despite seeing him every single day in middle school, I never did so much as notice the color of his eyes or the gleam within them. Maybe my age is to blame, or maybe the girls’ gossip is just getting to my head and I have fallen into the same delusional spell they are under. Yeah, that has got to be it.

I shook my head, trying to break away from this hormonal curse, but was startled back into looking at sorcerer. He was standing right next to me and, by the smug look on his face, he had noticed me staring.

Mr. Jones then placed both fists on his hips and pretended to scold me, “Eyes on the book, Deborah.”

His sudden sternness caught me by surprise and I jumped in my seat. Everyone laughed and I recoiled. Only then did I notice his lingering finger on my textbook. It left a note on the page as he walked away.

Meet me on the rooftop garden after school.

I paralyzed at the sight of it. Staring back and forth from the note to him, there was no mistaking that I did no paying attention for the remaining hour of class-time. I did, however, notice his growing smirk throughout that time.

He cannot possibly expect me to willingly be alone with him, right? Not after what he did three years ago. But my curiosity was killing me. And, somehow, after the realizing I did during this morning’s class, I could not keep my mind off of him. Do not get me wrong, it is not like I would ever fall for him! Nor could I ever openly sway after him like the rest of the girls do. I cringe at the sight of it. Whenever Mr. Jones walks past the hallway, he is followed by cooing doves and squealing hens. He surely is a hormone magnet.

Yet, despite all the model-like popular girls chasing him, what is his fixation with me? Or perhaps he does the same with all other students and I’m just too fixed on myself that I cannot see it. Perhaps it is all just a game to him, to see how many hearts he can sway in one school, and that is why he came back – because there was one heart he could not conquer back then. I shook my head, careful so that the Algebra teacher would not notice. What am I even thinking? I have been reading too much fiction.

Up until that moment I had my mind set on not going. It is probably just an excuse for him to harass me again. If he wants to speak to me, he can perfectly meet me someplace with people – lots of them, preferably.

But my curiosity was killing me. It felt like I would be missing an opportunity of a lifetime if I did not go. Still, once the bell rang, I followed the current out the doorways and into the fresh air. I’m doing the right thing, right? I looked back at the building that saved me from my isolation at home. At that moment, an image of him crossed my mind and my eyes dragged themselves upwards. They fixed on the rooftop fence where a shadow seemed to lurk with its hands in its pockets.

My legs moved on their own. My mind was fixed on the opposite direction, but my feet took me towards the place that had red sirens going off in my heart. I, who hated gym and pretended to be sick every single class, found myself running into the building, up the stairs, and out the door to the rooftop. The bright beam of light reflecting through the clouds onto lingering raindrops blinded me. I raised a hand above my eyes and the shadow I had seen from the courtyard emerged from within the light.

“You’re late.” it said as I blinked my eyes and regained my vision.

“How did you know I’d come?” I eyed him sideways, keeping a distance as he approached me.

Mr. Jones shrugged. “I had a feeling.”

Silence whooshed through the garden, trickling my skin in a shiver. As I kept stepping backwards with every step he took forward, Mr. Jones finally gave up and leaned against a flowerbed. He stared deep into my eyes until I could not help it but look away.

“What did you want to talk about?” I tried to sound impatient, but my volume and insecurity prevented me from sounding anything but aggressive.

“I have something to ask you.” He took a step towards me, but this time my curiosity kept me in place. My head tilted just slightly as I waited for him to speak.

“I noticed you gawking at me in class.” I was caught off-guard by the blunt remark. Mr. Jones smirked. “Have you perhaps taken an interest in me?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him. “Is that why you called me up here? If so, I’ll be leaving now.”

A hand clasped onto my wrist and I turned around to face a grinning face. He looked amused and I blushed at his insinuation.

“Hmm… Your actions and your blushing cheeks don’t seem to agree.” he chuckled and I glared in response.

“Not even a little bit?” Mr. Jones cupped my chin and stared into my eyes with a teasing grin. This deepened the redness of my face, which in turn increased his amusement.

“No way!” I finally said, pushing his chest. But I was not strong enough to make him budge.

“Then what would you do if I kissed you right now?” My eyes widened while his softened and drew closer.

I awoke from my trance as soon as his lips were nearly on mine.

“Stop.” I said as firmly as I could.

But he pulled me closer. I shut my eyes tightly. My face was burning and I felt the cool drips forming in the corners of my eyes. My eyes then shot open as a kiss was planted on my cheek.

Mr. Jones burst into laughter. “You really are the cutest, Deborah.”

Huh?

I paralyzed and Mr. Jones wiped the threatening tears from my cheeks. “Don’t worry,” he said with a reassuring smile, “I won’t kiss you.” He then grinned and brought his lips close to my ear to whisper, “Not just yet.”