I turn the page of my science textbook and begin to absorb its context. As a straight A student, I can't be distracted by anything besides school work. My notebook is almost completely filled with short form information about electricity and magnetism. With the big test coming up, I need to be prepared. The school bell rings and I pull a piece of paper out of my bag. The classroom door opened and a strange albino man walked in.

"Hello, I'm the AWESOME Mr. Beilschmidt," He wrote his name messily on the chalk board "I'm taking over for Mr. Oxenstierna."

He turned to the class with a bright smile, though it fealt like he was looking straight as me.

Actually, he was looking at me.

"I'd like to start this class by getting to know all of your names," Mr. Beilschmidt sat on his desk

Since I'm sitting in the front row only a couple of students introduced themselves before me.

I'm re-reading my notes when a classmate pokes me.

"Whats your name?" Mr. Beilschmidt asks me kindly.

"I'm Mattie..." I feel shy around him.

Mr. Beilschmidt leaned towards me, "Sorry what was that?"

"M..Mattie." I feel embarrassed having to repeat myself. He only smiles brighter.

"I'll call you Birdie, It's a fitting name." He smiles cheekily.

My cheeks burn and he turns to hear the rest of the students names.

He's an attractive teacher...

Wait, what am I thinking?! I have to focus on school work.

Mr. Beilschmidt sits back on his desk and crosses his legs, "Everyone turn to page 47 and take notes on electricity caused by lightning."

I need no further instructions and begin at once, I need to get good grades.

Lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge between the electrically charged regions within clouds or between a cloud and the surface of a planet.

Kuma, my older brother, says I'll get noticed if I get good grades. And getting noticed is a major priority for me.

The charged regions within the atmosphere temporarily equalize themselves through a lightning flash, commonly referred to as-

A hand grasps my shoulder.

I nearly jump out of my seat when I realize Mr. Beilschmidt is standing over me.

"You ok Birdie? He turns to make eye contact with me, taking his hand off my shoulder.

"I'm fine," My face is burning up "Thank you."

Something about him makes me embarrassed.

"You seem like a promising student," He skims over my notes, "And a cute one too."

My face must be really red.

Mr. Beilschmidt laughs, "Kesese, I'm just teasing you," He pokes my cheek.

"Alright class," He stands at the front of the class "I've decided were going to do an AWESOME project, like a science fair."

The class murmurs excitedly, science fairs mean not learning and just creating a 'scientific' model.

"Each of you will make a poster regarding a scientific subject and the best posters will go up on the wall.

I know I have to make the best poster, and I will.

"Your time to shine." Mr. Beilschmidt whispers to me.

"Hi Elizaveta," I greet the head librarian kindly "Which section has the grade 12 level books?"

"Hi Mattie," she turns to me with a smile, "Section E should have all the books about science and such."

"Thank you."

The library had finished renovation a week ago and now all the books are in new places.

I turn around and almost walk into Mr. Edelstein, the music teacher.

"Sorry sir, I didn't-"

"Watch where you're going." He fumes as he storms off, arms full with music books.

I sigh, some of the teacher's are really strange, and I can't stop thinking about Mr. Beilschmidt.

As I walk through each isle, I feel overwhelmed by all the books.

Maybe later I'll check out books by famous Canadian authors... I always thought they wrote the best stories.

I find section E on the back wall at the far end of the library, the number of educational books is amazing.

The science books are on the top shelf, which touches the ceiling.

I take a step-stool and use it to get eye to eye with the science books.

There's a lot of books to choose from.

"Advanced Chemistry"," Medicinal Plants", "Biology/Life Sciences", etc.

Then, I noticed a book I knew would impress Mr. Beilschmidt.

"The Life of the Average Bird"

I reach for the book when suddenly the stool wobbles and I begin to loose my balance.

I slip and feel myself falling, I shut my eyes and brace for impact.

Then...

Nothing.

I don't hit the ground.

I open my eyes to see Mr. Beilschmidt's red eyes looking back at me.

"Birdie, are you ok?!" He asks, he seems really concerned for my safety. Then again he IS a teacher.

Though Mr. Beilschmidt HAD caught me... I hadn't gotten hurt thanks to him.

"I'm ok," He helps me stand up "You didn't have to catch me."

He frowns, as if the idea was unacceptable "I couldn't let mein Birdie get hurt."

He grabs the life of a bird book and hands it to me, "Now you owe me."

"I do...?" I look into his eyes and see that he's serious.

"How do I pay you back?"

Mr. Beilschmidt touched my hair gently, brushing his fingers through it, and then...

Then...

He pulled his face close to mine and our lips connected like magnets. His lips are feather-soft. I could feel my heart pounding like crazy.

When he let go of me, of our embrace, I could still feel his lips on mine. A feathery kiss.

"Now were even," Mr. Beilschmidt breathed "And call me Gil from now on."

I don't want to loose the taste of him on my lips so I just nod.

Gil smiled at me, "See you next class. And remember, this is our little secret."