I hadn't thought about Sierra Riley in a long time. She had been a student of mine in my sophomore geology class and my senior physics class. She was the prettiest girl in both. She also knew how to dress to attract men and seemed to be with the most popular boys. Nothing seemed to have changed when four years after she graduated, she walked into my classroom right after school let out, except at twenty-two, she was even more gorgeous.
"Hi, Mr. Shepherd," She said, smiling. She was wearing a green and white floral print and her light brown hair slightly shorter than she had worn it in high school, just below her shoulders. The dress revealed a fair amount of cleavage, which I remembered she had never been shy about showing.
"Sierra," I said, standing up and smiling, extending my hand, "Good to see you!"
"It's nice to see you too," She smiled, taking it.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I stopped by to ask Mr. Gardner if he'd recommend me as a substitute, either here or somewhere else, and," she grinned, "Yours wouldn't hurt either."
"I'll certainly consider it," I said, "On one condition."
"Ok," she said, "Name it."
"Join me for a drink?"
"Sure." She smiled.
I had a few things to finish up, so I asked her to meet me at my favorite little Mexican restaurant/bar, El Pollo Amistoso, which translated to the friendly chicken. They made a great margarita, and the chips and salsa were top-notch. Sierra was sitting at the bar munching on some when I got there.
"Should I order some margaritas?" I asked.
"I already did." As if on cue, the bartender arrived with the drinks.
We both took our drinks, and I held mine up, "Congratulations on your graduation!" We clinked glasses.
"Thanks," she said, beaming, "BS in geology and geophysics from UW."
I was genuinely surprised. Sierra was an A student both times I had her in class, but she may have been the first geology student to get a degree in the field. "Wow!" I said, "I'm impressed."
"I worked my ass off, but I have you to thank for the direction."
"I would never have guessed you'd follow that path," I said, "Your grades were excellent, you asked good questions, but I had no idea."
"Because I'm a girl?" She said playfully.
"Nope." I replied, "Because you were one of my students. I'm nearly positive you are the only one to get their degree in the field. So what do you want to do with it?"
"Probably research, but I'm considering an MS, so I think I want to substitute teach for a while to give myself some time to decide and also to look for a job in the area if I don't move on. I want to see more girls get into science, though, so teaching appeals to me."
"I'm impressed again," I smiled, "I enjoy it when girls in my classes are interested in science."
"Well, Mr. Shepherd, you inspired me, and I also had a giant crush on you." She grinned.
That I wasn't all that surprised by as I had sensed it at the time, she always sat right up front, which was unusual for girls in her social circle, and she wasn't shy with casually flirting with me. "I'm flattered. I certainly noticed you in a non-teacherly sort of way." I laughed. "By the way, call me Chuck."
"Yeah, well, I teased you a lot, I made sure my cleavage was always showing, and I smiled at you a lot, Chuck." She smiled using my first name.
I looked at her with mock scorn.
"Hey, I was seventeen the last time I had you for class, and you're an attractive man!"
"Thank you, Sierra. I'm flattered, but you're gorgeous."
"Thanks," She smiled.
There was a question I always wanted to ask her but never thought I'd have the opportunity, and I was questioning myself on whether I should ask it. If I was wrong, I was likely to get a drink dumped on my head. Having almost finished my margarita, I was feeling brave and decided to ask.
"I can't believe I'm even asking this, Sierra, but what the hell? A few times in my class, did you...", She interrupted before I could finish.
"Flash you by letting you see up my skirt?" She grinned.
I grinned back, "That answers it. I always wondered if I was hallucinating, and of course, I couldn't look too close!"
"Sorry," she smiled, "I was bad, and no, you weren't wrong. When I would do that to you, I wasn't wearing panties. I knew you saw me because you always blushed. I guess I'm lucky you weren't a total creep!"
I laughed, "I suppose so, I tried not to think about it too much, but you did make me wonder if all my female students shaved down there."
"Oh my God!" she said, grinning, "How completely inappropriate was I?"