It was ten minutes till Professor Rolf's lesson, and so she sat at one of the computers doing personality quizzes. It was her favourite past time.
"Fahmeen?" She turned towards the voice and it was Emilio, the boy she's been crushing on for the past year. He was leaning against the chair next to her and smiled. She couldn't help the smile back, it was infectious near him. Nor could she help the hideous butterflies in her stomach.
"Yes?"
"You alright?"
"Uh huh." It was hard to form coherent sentences around him.
"I just wanted to tell you that Ms. Wilson wants to see you at 3 o clock."
"Ok. Thanks for telling me." She smiled, he smiled back.
"No problem. See you later."
"Bye." She turned back to her screen and her smile refused to leave her face. She bit her lip to suppress it. Fat fail.
"Morning everyone." She heard the professor call out. He sounded moody and when she turned to see him walk up to the classroom which was next to the desk she sat at, she could see his face. He looked moody. Like he wanted to say a whole lot more. The quick glance towards her was cold. His light green eyes looked slightly darker. Woah, she didn't expect that.
He wore a long coat, its collar still stood up around his neck. His glasses hung on his shirt, and no tie today. He walked behind her chair and proceeded to unlock the door for the class to get in. Fahmeen stood, grabbed her belongings and followed the students inside. Passing him at the door was odd. He'd watch her get up from the computer but ignore her as she'd walk past. She took her seat and so did he after allowing the door to close, rather loud behind him.
He sat down with a heavy sigh and pulled his coat off. A ginger haired girl called Harriet, a girl Fahmeen particularly disliked, raised her hand.
"Erm sir? I've forgotten my book." She used her sickly sweet voice, the one for when she failed to complete whatever task she needed to do and so tried her angelic charms to compensate for it. Rolf looked at her,
"Huh." He said and leaned back in his chair. He drummed his fingers on the wooden desk and continued,
"I think I particularly remember asking you to not forget your plays. Did I not?" Some students looked around nervously, some at Harriet with slightly widened eyes. They'd never seen him so ticked off.
"Yeah you did but-"
"No buts." He cut her off and stood up. With a sigh, he put on his glasses and picked up his copy.
"I don't share, remember?" Fahmeen saw him look at her then. And he kept his eyes on her when he said,
"Ever."
....
Harriet had to buddy up with another student and unfortunately for Fahmeen it was her as she always sat on her own. Rolf seemed to note her lack of enthusiasm for her new reading partner and it made her nervous that he now knew that. He avoided her gaze for the rest of the lesson.
She wasn't given any parts to read and Harriet was given plenty to read. But she refused to allow him to get to her. After all, maybe this was all in her head? She hadn't even done anything wrong. He's probably just having a bad day.
"Please don't forget your books next lesson? You may go now."
Rolf sat at his desk, a polite smile on his face as he watched his class prepare to departure. Fahmeen had some work she wanted him to check but after this morning, she was second guessing asking him anything. She didn't realise she was still at her desk until she heard him speak.
"Fahmeen? The lesson's over." He chuckled, slightly shaking his head.
"I'm not that good of company." He was shuffling around some papers.
"Oh. Right, before I forget. I have something for you." This piqued his interest, and he got up and approached her desk. He leaned against the desk in front of hers and crossed his arms.
"What is it?" One eyebrow furrowed in question.
"I have a question I'd like you to mark?" She assessed his reaction, and when he pulled out a chair, she relaxed.
"No problem. Let me have a look." He reached for the paper and inspected it. After a quick one over, a smile ghosted his lips.
"This sounds good." He looked up at her.
"Really good." This made her smile, to have someone appreciate her work made her so happy.
"Thank you. I have to admit. I'm a sucker for tragic romances so this was particularly easy for me." She gave him a one sided smile and looked back at the paper in his hand.
"Your style of writing is unique, Fahmeen. I'm impressed. I look forward to receiving more of these." His voice was low as he said the last sentence. She only realised just how close his face had gotten, he was leaning in and both their eyes were going back and forth to each other.
"I look forward to writing more." As he looked down at her lips, she involuntarily bit it and stood up for some space.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Taking her bag, she pushed her seat in and he followed her to the door. She knew his eyes were still on her. She heard his footsteps retreat to his desk and he sat down. She opened the door and left after hearing his long, heavy sigh.
He was so close, leaning into her. The professor had to come down a little. Fahmeen found herself wedged between the classroom door and him, again.
"You don't get it do you?" He inhaled deep, sighing and looking into her eyes. His one arm beside her head, on the wall.
"What you do to me." The touch of his hands slowly hold her waist, the intensity of his green eyes. She didn't want it to stop. She's never felt desired before, never wanted before like this. The hand around her went up her body, softly tracing everything on the way till it held her face.
So close. She smelt the decadent scent of him and could almost lose herself. She was leaning in because the gentle strokes of his fingers against her cheeks were soothing. His breath on her face, hot. The allure of his eyes too much. Rolf came closer, and this would be her first kiss.
"I find you so..." His eyes slowly closing.
But he never finished his sentence as lips approached hers for a kiss. The first.
"Fahmeen wake up!"
A dream. All but a dream.
She sulked for a few seconds, face down on her pillow.
That dream ended too soon.
...
"So, prom. You going?"
"No-." Fahmeen looked at Georgia's face and saw a pout made to change hearts.
"Okay I'll think about it."
"Promise you'll think about it?" She nodded yes though her mind was conflicted.
"We have the entire year left for you to think about it."
"Exactly, so why are we talking about it now?"
"Because? It's the final year. Every day can't go to waste, you know? We're getting closer to the end. And we only get one prom." She couldn't disagree, this was the last year before university.
"Truer words haven't been spoken, your highness."
"Ugh. Can you imagine if I was crowned prom queen?" Georgia shuddered.
She was an enemy to the popular girls, an ex popular girl so naturally Georgia was a threat. And what a cruel prank it'd be to throw her into the spotlight on one of the best days of her life. Her withdrawal from the it crowd seriously downgraded her social status and she preferred isolation. Until she found Fahmeen. One talk led to another and here they were. Arm in arm through the hallways of the school, envious glances from brain dead yet socially superior girls.
"Girls." Professor Rolf stood in front of them. His tie was bright red and he wore a crisp, white shirt. So hot, Fahmeen thought. Her feelings towards her teacher were now becoming loose inside of her mind especially since that dream.
"Sir." Georgia said and Fahmeen just smiled at him because his one was so dang infectious.
"What is it with you British kids? Just call me Rolf, or professor if you must." He laughed.
Kids? Is that how he sees me?
She couldn't help the disappointment wash over her and he looked concerned. It was a sign she presumed, to stop any feelings towards him before it got too far. Georgia felt more and more like a third wheel and wished to interrogate her friend on such a weird moment.
"Er let's go out for lunch Fahmeen. I'm starving." Georgia was pulling her away already. Fahmeen gave him a smile as if to assure him nothing changed between them.
She was just a child to him, she couldn't blame him because of the power dynamic and all.
"I'll see you in class?" The professor said, his eyes searching hers wanting to know the cause of her sudden mood change.
"Yes. See you in class, professor." She replied, nervously glancing at the person who walked past them. She allowed Georgia to pull her away.
Food would at least make things better.
For now.