"That's all for today, guys. Finish up the problems that we were working on and we'll small group next class to check them."
Olivia sat down her pencil and closed her Chemistry textbook; some degraded General Education requirement was the only reason that she'd taken the class.
She wrinkled her nose as she tried not to let her eyes wander toward the front of the now, mostly empty, classroom. The room was one of the smallest in the building, and she could practically feel the eyes of Mr. Grant, the teacher's assistant, on her. Mrs. Zummo, her professor had already bolted the room, usually the first to leave the room. Olivia knew why Mr. Grant hung back. He was nearly transparent in his intentions.
"Olivia,"
his deep voice called, beckoning her to close the space between them.
"Yes, Mr. Grant?"
Olivia asked innocently, again averting her eyes from the handsome man. He chuckled.
"You're not going to look at me?"
He asked this as he was attempting to crane his neck in order to catch her lowered gaze.
"No,"
said Olivia stiffly, not letting her eyes raise.
"And why not?"
He pressed, his voice revealing how amused he was.
"I see the way you look at me,"
Olivia muttered this, her mouth nearly closed as she prayed for her heart to quit thumping and her legs to quit rubbing together in their cross.
"Come again?"
His voice was genuinely concerned, he took a step closer.
"Can you repeat that?"
Olivia sighed heavily and flicked her eyes up toward him sharply. He grinned broadly as she finally surveyed him; his pale blue button up, rolled to his elbows, and his crisp black dress pants, he looked just short of perfect. Olivia bit her lip unwillingly and attempted to calm herself.
"I see the way you look at me!"
Mr. Grant nodded, as if Olivia had just cleared up something he'd been trying to work out in his head.
"How do I look at you, Olivia?"
Olivia's breath caught in her throat as she clutched the edge of her desk, rooted in her spot.
"It's when you don't think I notice… In the middle of class or when we're in small groups…"
"Yes, but how do I look at you?"
Olivia watched him approach her desk, it wasn't until he was almost to her that she replied.
"Like… You want me."
He smiled the side smile that Olivia had begun to associate with him only.
"Well I notice things too, Olivia… You watch me just like I watch you… But you're better at it. I've only caught you once. And… You're trying not to be turned on by me. But you are."
Olivia almost rolled her eyes, but she could hardly concentrate; he was so close.
"So do you?"
Olivia pressed, raising an eyebrow as Mr. Grant moved to sit on the table top of her desk.
"Maybe."
She smiled in satisfaction. "Ok."
"Does me wanting you warrant a date?"
"On campus? We can't."
He grinned, Olivia felt her heart flutter.
"Luckily we have other places we can go. Into the city maybe. What do you think?"
Olivia bit her lip again, almost in disbelief that this was actually happening.
"I think it's a good idea… But only under one condition…"
He leaned back on elbow, posing for her.
"Shoot."
"You tell me your first name."
He rolled his eyes, mocking Olivia.
"Fitzgerald."
Now it was Olivia's turn to chuckle, but she stopped abruptly as Fitzgerald raised an eyebrow at her.
"I think I should call you Fitz… Then maybe I won't giggle every time I say your name."
"Fitz. I like it. No one calls me Fitz."
Olivia smiled sweetly.
"Okay, Fitz. It's a date."
xxx