The end of the school day was imminent.
I looked nervously at the clock, sweat rolling down my temple as the hands moved towards 2:50. My best friend, Christina, gently nudged at me. "What are you so nervous for?" she whispered into my ear. "Detention with Mr. Holmberg can't be that bad. I know today is your birthday and all but... just look at him."
As if in perfect synchronization, we both turned our attention to our English teacher.
Mr. Holmberg certainly was gorgeous. His strong jaw line, blue eyes, and brunette hair set him apart from all the other mundane teachers at Cranston Academy. He was the youngest teacher the Academy had ever hired and the girls (as well as the older female staff) were more than grateful for his presence.
Except for me. He fucking gave me a detention! All because he caught me texting during one of his lectures. Now I have to spend the afternoon of my 18th birthday in this dull classroom. The mere thought of it made me too angry to even look at him. I looked back over at Christina who was making a weird dick-in-mouth hand motion to me. I rolled my eyes and tried to hold back a chuckle.
Christina was really something else. Despite her really obscene personality, she was stunningly beautiful. Her deep set eyes and button nose made all the other girls in our class envy her. She literally looked like an angel. Yet, I knew she was anything but.
I was startled out of my thoughts by the sound of the bell. Everyone hurriedly packed up their things as Mr. Holmberg tried to talk over the noise. "Make sure you guys read Act 5, Scene 2 of Othello. A modern-translation of it will be due at start of tomorrow's class!" The whole class let out a "ughhh" in unison. Christina kissed my forehead quickly and wished me luck with a little wink.
I could feel Mr. Holmberg's eyes on me but I just didn't want to look up. The sounds of Mary Jane's scurrying across the floor finally faded until it was silent. I slowly looked up to see Mr. Holmberg sitting at his big mahogany desk.
"Do you know why you are here, Sheri?"
My throat grew dry as I responded, "be-be-be... because I was not paying attention to your lecture."
He got up to close the door and pulled a shade over it.
"And why weren't you paying attention to it?"
I felt really embarrassed but this whole interrogation was starting to irritate me. Clearly I did not listen to his lecture because it was boring. What did he expect me to say? That I was sorry for not letting the torture be prolonged? The thought of me even saying something like that to him made me want to laugh. I surprised myself when a giggle erupted from my mouth.
Mr. Holmberg walked right over to my desk and pulled a chair up. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing more but his face remained completely serious. "You know... I don't understand you Sheri." He shook his head and licked at his lips. I watched and gazed at how full and pink they were. Something within me stirred. I knew this feeling and I knew where it would take me. I just wasn't sure if I was ready for that.
He ran his fingers through his hair and then placed them onto my desk. "You are one of my best students. I was willing to even write a college recommendation for you. But at the rate you're going, I don't think I can do that anymore."