Note: If you want to skip the long seduction, go right from THREE MONTHS AGO to BACK TO THE PRESENT.
*****
When she went into her room to change, she left the door ajar. The full length mirror on the inside of the door reflected the image of a teenage girl's bedroom - pink walls, frilly bed spread, and clothes strewn about the floor. Kylie's back was to the mirror as she picked up the clothes and threw them in a corner...then, with no warning, she shimmied out of her tight jeans and stood up - in just her little t-shirt, short socks and yellow panties.
"Shit! I can't be watching this!" I said, and turned my head towards the window. How the hell had I gotten myself into this mess? Alone with my beautiful student in her house, with the image of her tight little panty clad ass burning into my brain.
THREE MONTHS AGO, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:
As the bell rang to end 3rd period, I waved and said goodbye to my students, picked up my laptop and left the chem lab to go next door. After 3 periods of chemistry, I always looked forward to my 4th period astronomy class. Lots more interesting, plenty of awesome pictures and topics - and as an elective class, the students tended to really enjoy the subject.
As I greeted the new class, I noticed it was the usual mix of students; a third I knew from previous classes, a third I hadn't met yet, and a third football players I was in the middle of coaching (a few thinking Coach would let 'em skate through the class...like they hadn't learned anything from practice). High fives to a bunch of the guys, greetings to all and quick jokes or convos to the students I knew, a couple of giggling shoulder hugs and everyone sits and it's time to start.
I like to wow 'em on the first day, so I quickly set the stage by explaining how stars form, turn off the lights, and start the show. Half an hour later, the music fades away, and I slowly turn the lights back on. Half the class cheers, half breaks into excited conversations with their neighbors...and a handful in the back blearily look around as they try to wake up. Cool...my new intro video went over well.
"Welcome to Astronomy! We're gonna have a lot of fun this year, but we're gonna get a lot of work done too. I promise, at the end of this class, you will be able to overdo it and bore everyone at a party...my wife says I'm an expert at it!" General laughter, more talking, and the students get up to walk around the room and pick up papers and books. During this time, I walk around from table to table saying hi to everyone, start learning their names or make a little small talk with those I know. As I turn to the next table of students, I'm hit with a mini bear hug from the side, and the bright "Hi Mr. Fish!" that came with it.
"Kylie! Where's your twin?" I say, as she untangles from me and looks up. This is a running joke we've had for a year...Kylie and Shannon are former students of mine, best friends, field hockey teammates, and so nearly joined at the hip I started calling them Siamese twins. If they HAD been joined, it would have been a complicated arrangement - where Shannon was a tall, willowy blond goddess, Kylie was petite and slim - barely over 5 feet and trying to stay above 90 lbs. Sweet heart shaped face, brown hair cascading down her pale neck and shoulders, and blue eyes that beamed with excitement at the world. Kylie was a heart breaker.
Her pretty face falls into a pout. "With Mrs. Starky" she says. "She has to make up her American History class from freshmen year, or she won't graduate. I tried to get her to do it this summer...but you know Shannon and the beach." Actually, I DON'T know about Shannon and the beach...I had learned a long time ago to avoid any wayward thoughts about my students, and I had worked particularly hard with these two. Friendly, open, enjoy each other's company - but clamp down like a vise when my brain tries to wander.
"Well, we'll have to make sure you don't get lonely in here without your sis" I joke, but then start to clam up when she replies "Oh, I can't be lonely...you're here!" with a pretty smile. I smile back, mumble something about her being sweet, and wander to the next table.
As the end of the period approaches, I sit 'em all down and tell them my tutoring schedule. Nothing after school because of football practice, but I'm in my room everyday before school for an hour and at lunch...just walk in anytime. The bell rings, and like a thundering herd they're out for lunch, excited to get time off and go hang with their friends. I work in my room during lunch, then go back next door to teach my final chem class. The last class of the day is my prep...no students...so I usually use it to get things ready for tomorrow and then leave early for practice.
As I walk by the field hockey team, Kylie and Shannon run over to say hi. Kylie is busting her friend for having to repeat a class, and telling how much fun she's going to miss in astronomy. I back her up for a second, then try to be serious about how much work we'll have to do...but she just laughs, reaches out and gives me a playful shove, then blows a raspberry at me as they both turn and run back to their practice. As the pony tails run away, I can't help but notice her cute little butt swinging in her hockey skirt, her perfect legs...HEY! STOP IT! Sweet, innocent teen doesn't need her 40 year old teacher leering at her...the vise clamps down and I'm off to practice myself. Nothing to worry about, just be cool.
The next couple of days go smoothly. On Friday, Kylie and Shannon come by for a visit at lunch. As they feast on their carrots and celery sticks, we talk about our summers and how it feels to finally be seniors. Shannon looks around conspiratorially, leans in, and quietly says "You know...Kylie has a boyyyyfriennnnd". Smiling, she looks over at her victim, who's not only blushing from her face, but from her ears...and even her upper chest that could be seen above her blouse. Unbidden, the question of how far down that blush reaches comes to my mind...HEY! CUT IT OUT!
"Well, finally!" I say. "There've been a bunch of guys buzzing around you all last year, and I don't remember you hanging out with any of them."
"Oh, she's hung out with a couple" Shannon says with a mischievous grin.
"Shanna, STOP!" Kylie cried, slapping her friend on the arm. Turning to me with a calmer expression, she said "She's just jealous."
"Jealous?! I told you he's a jerk. Hell, everyone told you he was a jerk...Mr. Fish will tell you he's a jerk. Tell her Coach, tell her he's a jerk."
Time to bow out of this conversation. I stand up to start getting ready for next period, and say over my shoulder "How do I know if he's a jerk - I don't know who he is."
"Yes you do," Kylie says. "At least, he knows you. It's Jake Willis."
Jake Willis...yep, I do know him. He came out for football a few years back. At least, he was there for a couple of weeks. Bigger and older than most of his classmates (he'd been held back twice before getting to high school), he liked to shove people around. But, like most bullies, he preferred the smaller, weaker, the ones who won't fight back...and you don't find many of those on a football team. Lazy and mean, he had finally dropped out of school a couple of years ago, not to be heard from since. Until now.
"Yeah. He's a jerk." I said...and immediately regret it. Kylie's eyes fill with tears, she stands up and looks at us, then stumbles out of the room. Shannon and I look at each other, she shrugs and takes off after her with an "I got it" thrown over her shoulder. Great job Coach. Take a sweet person and kick 'em when they're down.
Monday, when Kylie comes into 3rd period and sits down, she finds a small white envelope on her desk with the words 'Open in private' across the front. I should have known better - she of course immediately tears it open and pulls out a note - along with two tickets. Her eyes get big when she sees the tickets - up front to the right, 10 rows back, to see Of Monsters and Men - her favorite band. All the note said was:
