A full two days had passed before Ana could finally go back to school. She hadn't wanted to admit it to herself, but Mr. Smith was cute...very very cute, and suddenly, Ana was looking forward to the prospect of another school day. It was weird. Before meeting him, she had detested the absolute idea of school. Now it wasn't so bad after all!
The first two periods dragged their tails in the muddy ground. Having Mr. Smith last period increased Ana's impatience with each passing moment. She caught herself third period.
I can't afford to be daydreaming about a teacher, no matter how cute he is or how sexy his accent is
, she reminded herself, finally buckling down and paying attention in class. By fifth period Ana was in full study mode, organizing her notes and finishing homework with pinpoint precision.
Homework was for school. Studying was for home. This system worked with perfect results for Ana, but it required intense worth ethic each day in school. AP classes weren't called "Advanced Placement" for nothing. By the time seventh period rolled around, Ana's hair had wilted in a glossy brown puddle of frizz and her cheeks were flushed from stress.
Ana had washed the handkerchief twice and ironed it to perfection when she presented it to Mr. Smith before class. She smiled at him, a little shyly.
"Here's your handkerchief, Mr. Smith." She flashed him an extra wide smile, hoping to cover up her thumping heart.
James turned around from his computer and gawped. Ana, the pale-faced sick girl from Monday, had been transformed into a gorgeous sex kitten. Her hair, with little frizzy tendrils from the heat and flushed cheeks reminded him of someone just stepping out of a passionate quickie.
Ana hoped there wasn't spinach left in her teeth from lunch. Mr. Smith was staring a lot at her face, and her smile wobbled a little.
James shook his head suddenly like a mad dog and looked at the ground, trying to regain a little amount of composure. Speaking to the floor, he replied,
"I thought I said you could keep the handkerchief." He pulled his eyes off the crack in the cheap plastic tiling to wink at her.
The effect on her was profound. All he did was open his mouth with that lovely rich accent spilling out. All he did was close one eye and open it, but Ana immediately flushed pink.
"I'll just keep it then." she muttered, and shuffled away awkwardly. Right now she hated herself for not thinking up something witty. Why did she have so much trouble talking to him? Why did he make her feel so self-conscious, so...out of control?
I'm not sure if I like this
, she thought. Ana tried to calm down, opening her notes and doodling before the bell rang. It was no use. As the students filed in, her face turned redder and redder until Ana was sure she must look like a tomato.
James wondered if he'd stepped over the line by winking at her. She refused to meet his eyes the entire class, and when he'd called on her for answers, she'd mumbled to her desk. The people around her ended up repeating her answers for her. He hoped he hadn't freaked her out. James Smith definitely wanted to get to know Ana more.
While the class worked on a mini lab assignment, James logged onto Ana's grade system. Checking her classes, his eyes bugged out. Four AP classes? He moved to her averages, and his jaw dropped. Straight A's. Impossible, yet here it was before his very eyes. Damn. He checked again, just to make sure his eyes weren't failing him. Ana...was this country's future. With brains like that, she deserved to go to Princeton and lead the world.
He felt guilty. Even as a college graduate, she was out of his league. James had breezed through life as the son of a rich English family. Girls, money, he'd had it all, until his parents died in a car accident when he was 17. And according to their will, he was not to inherit the money until he was at least 25 or older and happily married. So James was shipped off to America to live with his uncle. He never lost his British accent, despite being bullied for it nonstop. Surviving in America had hardened him. No longer the playboy, James had not been in a serious relationship since his parents died. That's not to say he hadn't been tempted. Women seemed to throw themselves at him, but they were all just looking to use him. He could tell with one look at their heavily make-up'd faces and long fake nails. But Ana was different. She was younger, purer, natural, gorgeous and smart. All the qualities he admired in a girl.
James stopped himself.
What the hell am I doing?
He felt like smacking himself.
She's a goddamn high school student, MY student, and here I am, getting off on her. I'm completely and absolutely pathetic.
