STOLEN
My name is Gemma, I am 16 years old and this is my story.
When I first saw him, I never thought it could escalate into what it did. At first, it was just a crush, just a stupid, dreamy crush. But then...it didn't take long for me to realise that he wanted me too.
"Com'on Gem! We'll be late!" My best friend Mandy calls out to me. I made an effort to keep up with her speed walking towards the school gates, "Ok!" I giggle, "Will you relax! We're only later by ten minutes!" Mandy over reacted to easily over the most silliest things like being late for school, I could think of worse trouble. "And it takes another ten minutes to get into the actual school!"
I roll my eyes as she runs ahead of me, reaching the gate effetely. "So? The worse they can do is tell us not to do it again. Jeeze."
"Oh, like you'd know."
"Yeah, I would." I snap back, passing her through the gate. We walk fast into the school grounds and within a few seconds the bell went off and all the pupils in the school ground began rushing into their form classes in huge groups. Mandy raced desperately over to the door of the Geography block, pulling it open for me to walk in. "Thanks." I smiled at her as we both walk through. All our class mates rush into our form room, me and Mandy follow from behind.
Our other two mates, Josh and Max stand outside of the door waiting for us both. "Hey!" I breathe exhaustedly. Josh grins down at me, his long black hair brushing down his face, his eyes a deep green, too intense for my liking. "Why so worn out?" He asks, his grin widening. I giggle nervously. Josh always knew how to make me feel nervous even though I didn't like him in that way. "We got here only ten minutes later and Mandy here decided to sprint our way into the school." I let out a huge gust of breath. Max stands beside Josh, drinking my words in and then bursting out in laughter at Mandy. "Really, Mand'?" Max laughs. I laugh along with him as Josh continues to grin down at me, amused. Mandy scowls at the three of us, crossing her arms over her chest, "Well, I can't help it that she got up late! God sake!"
"You gotta admit, Mandy, you do over exaggerate a bit." I comment. She scowls at me and me alone this time, "Whatever." She mutters. Then before the conversation can escalate into anything else our teacher walks out to see what is taking us so long to come in and sit down. "Hello girls? Josh? Max? You coming in?" Mr Husk, our Form Tutor stands by the door, smiling down at the four of us politely. I nod and smile back in response, entering the class room. He nods and me, appreciating my politeness. Josh and Max follow from behind me as Mandy enters with a slump and stroppy walk a few feet behind the three of us.
Sir begins the morning with a lousy Maths quiz which I always hate doing, Maths never has been one of my best strengths in school. He always tells us it is fun and very good for our brains but I'd love to know what planet he is on. But then again, I can understand is enthusiasm on education as he gets paid to talk us into learning. I can't say I blame him. I sit in my chair, on the third row, just doodling in my exercise book. God please let this lesson be over soon, I'm absolute dying for extreme boredom! I'm screaming desperately in my head, hoping for the hours of school today, to just fly by. Mr Husk eventually comes to the end of the quiz and tells us all to pack up for the bell. I let out a appreciative breath and hook my bag over my shoulder.
Josh walks from the front row where he sits and makes his way quickly over to me. His expression seem eager as he approaches me. "Hey, Um I was wondering..." He begins. "Are you free on Wednesday?"
"Um, I don't know yet. Why?"
"Oh, because me, Max and Kayla are all going cinemas to see Maleficent." Kayla was my science partner in my science class, we were quite close mates and Josh and Max met her through me. The idea got my excitement racing, it had made my day. "Oh, ok then! Sounds great! I'll see if I'm not busy. I don't think I am, so hopefully I'll see you there."
"Great." He grins. The bell suddenly goes off and everyone is barging out of the class room all at once. Just by seeming excited myself I have risen Josh's hopes up in being able to go to the Cinemas with him and the others. Part of me felt bad that Mandy apparently wasn't invited which I couldn't imagine why.
Geography, Room G06...one of my worst subjects EVER! Are you kidding me? Monday morning, and I have Geography first? Great lesson to wake up to, not. As I enter the class room the first thing I notice is the my teacher's absence. Mandy is next to me, ranting on about Max who keeps annoying her lately. She's asking me for advice and if I would find it just as annoying, I just continue to agree with everything she is saying when really I'm not listening to a single word. I'm too muffled about where our teacher has got to. The class room is empty, the teacher or T.A or any type of adult in sight to supervise us at all which I noted as quite strange. Maybe our teacher was late.
It took the whole of our class to sit down and settle until our teacher, Miss Carter would arrive...Except Miss Carter didn't arrive. Someone else did. "Hello class! Settle down, please! Settle down!" His hair is long and blonde with tendrils drooping down over his eyes. He holds a seductive smile and is much tanned. He takes wide strides over to his desk...well...Miss Carter's desk. He holds a register paper in his hend with a red pen attached. The whole class immediately shuts up with all their individual conversations, all their attention drawing towards him. I suddenly realise I am staring at him, really staring as all the other girls in the room are. Am I gazing at him?
I glance over at Mandy who seems totally drunk into his presence. He clears his throat and puts the red pen to the register paper. "Ok, I'm Mr MacFarlane. Miss Carter is going to be away for a few weeks so in the mean time I am just covering." Whoa, they chose a hot teacher to JUST cover, didn't they? I give a sigh, unaware of my gazing. I give a quick look around the room; all the girls seem totally, completely into him. Whoa, this is new. "Why is she off sir?" I look over my shoulder, one of the most naughtiest boys in our Form, Dylan is yelling out the question, leaning backwards mid-air in his chair. I glance back up at sir, waiting for his answer. He gives a disapproving expression to Dylan's manners. "Firstly, if you could not shout out..."
"Sorry, Sir." Dylan apologizes. Sir smiles amusingly at him, "That's ok. Miss Carter is off because she was involved in a car accident on Saturday and she is recovering in Hospital." Dylan nods with a appreciative smile. Mr MacFarlane clears his throat once more and begins the register, calling all our names one by one. Once he gets to me, number eight, my heart stops and I can't make out why. I don't seem to realise my own feelings. "Gemma?" He peers over to me, glaring seductively at me. My heart skips a beat and he smiles.
"Here." I finally answer and let a deep breath as he moves onto the second person. I think for a moment, hold on but he looked straight at me as if he knew exactly who I was and I could see the register paper didn't have our photo's printed on it, just our names so how did he know which one of us was Gemma Toombs? My stomach flips. Once he comes to the end of the register he begins to set us our work for the lesson. He explains how we are expected to title all the countries on this sheet of this map and colour it in our own choose of colours. He begins describing all the different countries we can guess from and place them where we think they are on the map.
He shoots threw a list of countries as examples and when he reaches Australia he says it with so much care, each syllable of the name pronounced so nicely as if he's got all the time in the world to talk about it. He doesn't give me a second look which I am deeply grateful for as I am fully aware of my heart stopping if he does. How can I cope with him teaching me for the next few weeks? I won't be able to take anything in except for his hot looks. He lets us begin and starts giving out the sheet with the map on it. He passes me and slips the sheet into me hand carefully, shooting me a soft smile, his eyes bright blue. I find myself staring up at him, making him freeze there for a second. I immediately snap out of it and look down at the work sheet he has slipped into my hand. He soon walks onwards, carrying on passing the other sheets to everyone else in the class.
It doesn't take me long to finish the work, I feel an expert at this today when usually I end up sleeping throughout the entire lesson. Once the lesson is over and the bell has gone I find my work done and completed. I glance around the room, examining everyone else's work, comparing it to my own. Is mine good enough? I smile down at my finished work proudly and stand up to pack all my stuff up. Everyone walks out in a rush to get to our next lesson which is English. Mandy lingers by the class room door waiting for me. I ignore her in the mean time as I slowly walk over to Mr MacFarlane's desk, well again, Miss Carter's desk. He looks up at me as he sits there marking a load of other class's exams.
"Yes, Gemma?" I hold my work out to him and in a swift movement he takes it from me, "Thank you, Gemma. I will be sure to mark this." His words send shivers down my spine. I smile shyly at him, glancing down at my knotted fingers. "Thanks sir." I turn shakily and walk towards the classroom door where Mandy stands waiting for me, her arms crossed over her chest. "God, take your time why don't you!?" She scowls. I glance over my shoulder at Mr MacFarlane, I can feel his eyes on my back and I am right. He sits at Miss Carter's desk, his eyes drinking me in. Mandy walks out into the corridor, letting me out of the classroom. "Sorry." I apologise. Part of me isn't sorry at all. She's just arrogant.
"Oh my god. Did you see how fit he was!" Mandy begins clapping excitedly, grinning at me like a puppy. I feel my insides twist in embarrassment, I hope she doesn't notice. "Yeah, I know." I murmur. I don't want to exaggerate as she does, she might start thinking I have a crush...which is kinda true.
For the rest of the day the hours flew by as I would hope. As I began to pack up at the end of my last lesson, which was Art. When the bell went me and Mandy rushed out in hurry, desperate to get home and out of this building of hell but as I was just about to exit the school gates after Mandy, Mr MacFarlane stood there. I no. I suddenly stopped to a halt, he stood leaning against the gate, smiling down at me. His eyes was drinking me in slowly. "Well, hello Gemma. I marked your work earlier..." Wow, that voice. "...I have to say, it was brilliant! Geography must be one of your strengths." I suddenly lost the ability to speak, Mandy stood outside of the gates, waiting for me to hurry up, bouncing on her tip toes impatiently. "Oh, err...thanks Sir. I didn't think I was very good at it really."
"No way, it was outstanding. Well done, Gemma. I'll see you again tomorrow."
"See ya, Sir..." I murmur with a soft smile. I quickly pass him before I faint and Mandy squeals in excitement, "O, M, G! You are kidding!"
"What?"
"You so like him!" Oh no...
"No way! I hate him!" I yell as we walk down the road away from the school building. "Right, coz that is why you like at him as if you're about to faint." I feel my stomach turn over at his description of my behaviour around him, "What? No!"
"Oh, yes! You so fancy him! God...I don't blame ya."
"I don't fancy him...and anyway, you can't take your eyes off him."
"God...do ya blame me? God, he's fit! He must be like twenty something to be so good looking." She chimes.
"Yeah...charming." I mutter, rolling my eyes at her.
When I got home I headed up straight to my room, aware of all the course work and homework I had to get done for tomorrow. Jeeze, how did all my teachers expect me to get all this done in just one night? It seemed impossible! That's when I noticed it...Mr MacFarlane, he didn't set us any work to go home with. No course work, tasks, homework...nothing! Wow, that was great but all the same, very weird! I shook my head, dismissing the thought. He's just a cover teacher, maybe he's not allowed or doesn't need to, maybe it's just Miss Carter's job to set us any kind of work. I forgot about it and turned to the number of papers spreaded out on my bed. What to do. Art coursework...Maths homework, English home essay? God, there was loads! I exhaled deeply, wiping my forehead as I let my school bag drop to the floor beside my bed. Right, better get started.
"Gemma! Dinner, darling!" My mum called from downstairs. I suppose I need to eat before I can make a start on any of it. I made my way downstairs and into the dining room where Mum and Dad waited. "Hey, darling! Sorry, dinner was a bit late." I smiled over at Mum, "That's ok." Dad set his newspaper down on the table beside his plate at shot me a curious eye, "So, anything happen at school? Learnt anything new?" I sit down and pick up my folk to make a start on my food, giving my day some thought. Should I tell them about Mr MacFarlane. Considering everything else I did today seems pretty boring and the usual I decide to tell them, "Well, we've got this cover teacher, covering for Miss Carter in Geography for the next few weeks."
"Really?" Dad said, chewing his fish as I made a start on cutting mine. Mum smiled as she swallowed the first bit of her fish down, "What is he like? Is he good at teaching all of you?" I shrugged, "He's alright. He was really pleased with my work today, surprisingly." Dad glanced at me in surprise then, "Geography?" he asked. I nodded, "Yeah, I hate Geography and the work I did today was apparently... 'Outstanding'" I impressioned of Mr MacFarlane's own words. "Well, that's brilliant, Gemma! Well done! I'm so proud of you!" Mum exclaimed, giving a little clap with her hands. I smiled shyly over to her, "Thanks." Dad smiled proudly, "Me too. Well done, Gem."
"Mum?" I ask.
"Yes, darling?"
"I was wondering...Josh at school today, asked me if I could go to the cinemas on Saturday with him, Max and Kayla."
Mum swallowed another bit of her fish down and glanced across the table to Dad, silently requesting his permission. He gave it some carefully thought, looking down at his half empty plate. "Yes, I suppose that's ok. As long as all your school work is done."
I nod, "Yes. I promise."
"Well then, of course." He answers with a fair smile along with Mum. I smile at the both of them in response. Josh will be pleased.
When we all finished dinner Mum begun the washing up as Dad went back to reading his paper and I dashed back upstairs to get started on all my school work I had to get finished by tomorrow. Thankfully, I flew through all the work easily, knowing exactly what I was doing and knowing all my keywords for the English essay, especially, hopefully Miss Charles, my English teacher gives me a good grade for this essay. I don't work on this work for nothing!
The next morning, I woke up incredibly lousy. I glance across my bedroom, searching for my school bag, I can see my school work I finished last night is all ready and in my school bag. Thank god I remembered to put it in. I get up quickly, cleaned, dressed and supply my lip gloss. I give a hurried sigh and pick my bag up, ready to get going. Mum and Dad are downstairs together, in the front room watching the news. I quietly poke my head threw the door and say a soft goodbye, they both smile in response and wave, "See you later on tonight, darling!" Mum gets up and gives me a tight hug. Dad turns back to watching the news on the TV. I sigh and walk out, locking the front door from behind me.
I catch the bus after a three minute wait and meet Mandy once I arrive at the school. Once I am off the bus I spot Mandy leaning against the corner of the bank just before the turning of the School building. "Hey!" She smiles and gives me a hug. "Hey..." I yawn, tired. "Whoa, you sound naked." I nod, agreeing. "Yep. Very."
"Did you go to bed late, last night?"
I shake my head, "No, I went about ten, I was working hard on my coursework, I think it must of knocked it out of me." I give another yawn, covering my mouth, my eyes drawling. Mandy gives a amused laugh, "I only got through two pieces of mine, got another three to go."
"You should have made sure it was ALL completely, Mandy! Now you've probably got another load to be handed today."
"Oh...what the hell. It's ok, I'll get it done."
"Yeah, you say that..." I mumble, rubbing my eyes. "You look completely out of it Gem! You sure you're JUST tired?" I nod, "Yeah. I just worked so hard last night on all that work."
"You don't take a break..." She grins.
"You don't STOP taking a break." I snap back at hair, irritated. She groans and scowls at me in response. "Whatever." She mutters.
As usual we make our way into Form and then rush to Maths for our first lesson of the day. It then struck me halfway through Maths that I have Geography today, third lesson after break. Oh no, Mr MacFarlane. I am convinced I will soon faint one done, one way or another. Mandy sits next to me in Maths on the second row from the front, she gives me a painful nudge in the elbow and look at her in response. She gestures her forehead up to the classroom clock. I glance up at it, oh great...five minutes of adding decimals to go. Kill me now...
Once the lesson is over I pack up in a hurry, desperate to get out of my most hated subject in the world. You're obviously gonna hate what you're not good at in life and Maths is one of mine! Mandy follows me out and we walk down the Maths corridor to Joshua's and Max's Maths class to wait for them. They finally come out and join us for break. The four of us hang out round the outside of the canteen, round the back, leaning against the brick wall, and Josh and Max laying on the grass opposite me and Mandy. Josh sits leaned up on his elbow, chatting about the cinemas on Saturday. "Oh, that reminds me, Gemma...Are you allowed to come?" I then grin at his question, "Oh, yeah! I forgot to tell you, yes I'm allowed to come as long as all my work is done."
"So that's a yes?" Max asks, leaning up on his elbows as Josh is. Mandy glances at us all in confusion. I nod, "Yes, definitely."
"Wait a minute? Why wasn't I invited!?" Mandy exclaims, horrified. "You didn't tell me about this!" I bite my lip in regret and look away from her mad expression. Max sighs and looks at her straight in the eye, "Because maybe we didn't want you to come." He shrugs. Wow, that's hurtful. Josh's eyes narrow over to me; I shrug in and mouth 'I dunno' in response. He smiles and watches Mandy's reaction. Max purses his lips into a thin line, watching her. She picks up her bag and turns away in a strop, "Fine. I won't be where I'm not wanted, thank you." She shouts back at us, walking around the corner of the canteen building. I give out a heavy breath, "There was no need to be like that." I look down at Max. He just gives a thoughtless shrug, "So? She's like it with all of us!"
"It doesn't matter! You can't be like that!" I yell back, leaving the two of them alone, laying together on the grass. Once I walk back onto the main school grounds I hear the bell go. Oh, crap...Geography. I rush over into the Geography block, desperate to get in and sit down before I consider fainting. Once I'm the classroom, I'm the first one in and there he sits at Miss Carter's desk...Mr MacFarlane. His hair blonde, his eyes bright blue, skin tanned and most importantly that seductive smile. He glances over at me, his eyes meeting mine. He smiles seductively as always. "Hello, Gemma. How are you today?"
"Great." I smile, turning to find my seat.
"Um, Gemma. Could you come here a second?" He asks, his voice almost a slight whisper. I set my bag down beside my desk and walk over to him at Miss Carter's desk. His eyes never leave me, drinking me in as I approach him. "Yes, Sir?" I swallow, my finger knotting in front of me, nervously. He sighs and rubs the nape of his neck. "I was wondering about calling your parents tonight...tell them how well you seem to be doing in Geography. Maybe I could give you extra classes."
"What? But I'm rubbish at Geography."
He shakes his head with a grin, "I'm afraid you're wrong Miss Toombs...it's a strength of yours."
"Really? You sure?"
"Oh yes..." He murmurs and takes my knotted fingers, running his fingers over my knuckles. My breath hitches, "Sir..." I begin. He suddenly snaps back into reality, noticing everyone coming into the classroom. He pulls away from me and gestures for me to sit down. Whoa, that was weird. What the hell was that all about? He doesn't mess about and getting us all started on the work. Today's task is to name all different types of animals in Australia and label the right ones with the right names. I only got two wrong which was not so bad. Mr MacFarlane came over to me to correct it as he passed my desk. "Here, Gemma..." He takes my pen swiftly out of my hand and swaps two of my answers around, correcting me. "Now, that's right." He whispers in my ear, his breath hitting my neck. I bite my lip nervously. He sneakily brushes my hair behind my ear. I breathe deeply and look up at him in confusion. He smiles down at me, his face only inches from mine. He finally pulls away, considering everyone else in the classroom might notice.
Notice what I don't know...is he trying to tell me something here?
When the class is over and everyone makes their way out of the classroom, as usual Mandy waits for me by the door as I pack up. We both exit the class room and I glance over my shoulder, remembering to wave goodbye to Sir. He smiles at me in response, waving.
"Gemma? Gemma, darling?" My mum is waving her hand in front of my face, trying to gain my attention. I suddenly snap out of it, looking up at her, "Sorry, what?" I blink. "You ok, darling?" She asks. "Yeah, just tired. Got load of homework to get done." I mumble, rubbing my eyes tiredly. She holds her hand out for the next plate. We are both in the kitchen washing up after dinner, we've just had shepherds' pie and Dad has walked back into the front room to catch up with his Football on the TV. "You look tired..." She agrees as she scrubs the second plate I have handed her. "Yep." I mutter, spraying the kitchen counter with Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner spray.
"It's ok, darling. I'll do that later."She reassures me but I ignore her, carrying on. "No, it will make me feel better." She gives up and let's me get on with it. "Very well." She sighs, turning back to the dish that she is currently scrubbing in the sink. I head back up to my room once Mum and I have finished and I make a start on my second lot of coursework I was handed today. Jeeze, can my life get any more harder? Mind you, there is worse.
Wednesday, May 17th.
4:00pm. After school Geography classes with Mr MacFarlane. He had rung up my parents, telling them how well I was doing in Geography. Dad was so proud of me and Mr MacFarlane had to reassure him that I would get set extra work. Great, not. Mr MacFarlane told me about how he had politely corrected me in class the yesterday, switching my answers around on the different types of animals' sheet. "Sir?"
"Yes?" He glances up at me through his long lashes, his blonde tendrils drooping over his eyes. "Why did you do that yesterday?"
"Do what?" He smiled seductively.
"When you corrected me, you brushed my hair behind my ear."
"Oh." He whispered, looking down at the extra work he was currently talking to me about. "I just like your hair like that. That's all." He whispered, smiling at me. He reached out and did it again, tucking it behind my ear. He lowered his hand down to my jaw, his finger types slowly brushing along my skin until they reached my chin, "And this..." He whispered, brushing his thumb along my bottom lip. "You don't need lip gloss, Gemma. You're naturally beautiful." My breath hitched at his touch. He's not pulling away. Please, before I collapse. He swallowed and leaned forward, never taking his eyes off me. His fingers lowered to my neck, savouring my skin, my scent. I sighed. He noticed, his eyes narrowing. His face becomes only inches from mine.
Suddenly a student bursts into the room, he quickly pulls away from me, his hand retreating back into his lap. "Sir!?" The student exclaimed in emergency. "Yes, Scarlette?"
"I can't make this work out..." She began explaining her problem, going on and on about some other issue with another teacher along with it and he began to explain to her and instructed her how to work around her problem. She nodded with a infectious smile, taking all his information in carefully. "Thank you, sir. Thanks for your help." He smiled. "That's ok. Any time." With that she ran quickly out of the class room, in a hurry to finish her course work. I look back at him, my mind completely baffled with confusion. He peered over at me and reached out for me again, twirling my hair around his finger tip. "That was close." He whispered. I breathed shakily, "Yeah." I agreed automatically. What the hell are you doing Gemma!? This is wrong?
He looked at me then, his eyes drinking into me as they always do. "Um, I better get going." I snap out of it, gathering my things, turning away from his touch. He seemed broken by my rejection. Although I hated doing it myself. I hated turning away from him. He knew I had to go so he let me gather my things and stand from my chair. He walked over to the class room door, blocking me in before I can get out. "Well, I'll see you next time Gemma." He murmurs leaning down and quickly kissing me on the forehead. I gasp at the contact of his lips on my skin. He immediately notices and looks at me straight in the eyes. I'm asking him for the real thing, the questioned portrayed in my eyes. He slowly leans down, his breath hitting my lips. My breath hitches. His lips catch mine, possessing me. I breathe into his mouth, shocked. He deepens the kiss, claiming my lips. His fingers trail down to my waist. I suddenly pull away, shocked. "I'm sorry. I can't believe that..."
"No, I'm sorry." He interrupts, brushing his hand through his hair.
"Um...Can I go now?" I ask, really shaken. He nods nervously, letting me out of the room, holding the door open. He suddenly grabs my arm, I glance over my shoulder, looking up at him. "You won't say anything? Will you?" I shake my head, "No." I whisper.