Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Antonio is 23, so the age difference is 6 years and one month. It's not that big of an age difference for these types of relationships.

I made a cover image for this story! Yay!

The difference between Antonio and Lovina's narration will be mainly be how they describe things. Antonio doesn't describe things very well. Lovina might end up going overboard to constipate for Antonio's lack of description.

Chapter 2

Antonio

I couldn't be late! It was the first day of classes. I'm lucky to have this job! People just out of Teaching College don't just get jobs, especially here! There were too many teachers to begin with. Practically the only way you can get a teaching job is if you're a music teacher or you want to work for a French School Board. Even then, music teachers were getting fired due to budget cuts. I can't believe how lucky I am that I get to teach chemistry. Originally I was going to teach music (I could play a guitar which means that was good enough for the principal) but something happened to the old chemistry teacher, he had a heart attack, he's not dead, I swear! The doctor told him to take the semester off. Since I was the newbie and I have a bachelor's in chemistry (and when I was in my placement I was working with science teachers), I had the most flexible schedule. I still had to teach a music class but I got to teach some science too! Now I had to show them just how much I appreciated this and not be late! Damn bus system. (I had student loans to pay off. I don't have the money to pay for gas and insurance.)

I ran to the school. Good thing there weren't too many students already here. Oh. This was my first day teaching. Alone. No supervising teachers. Just me alone in a classroom with a bunch of teenagers. Alone. I hope I do well. I hope they like me. What if they don't like me? What if I'm terrible? What if I forget everything! I know the first day isn't anything more than explaining the syllabus. But I can screw up! Oh there are multiple ways I can screw up. I'm going to mispronounce students' names. I'm going to write… how do I start the class? No, Antonio calm down. You are going to do fine. You've practiced this with Maria and Françoise and Maria's littler sister Luise. They are said you were good. There's no need to worry. Plus, if anything goes wrong looked at Luise! She's in my first class!

Fran texted me on my phone telling me good luck. Fran and I have been best friends since we were three. She knew me well and she knew that I was nervous. This was my dream job since those young years. I worked most my life to end up teaching. It was finally going to happen. I couldn't believe it.

I sat at the desk. I didn't get my own classroom. I had to borrow others classrooms. My first period was 10th grade general science. And as expected Luise, Maria's little sister, was the first to arrive. She was also the granddaughter of the principal. Maybe being friends with his granddaughter helped me get the job.

"Mister Fernandez," she said. She was respectful.

"Hi Luise," I said smiling at her.

"Do you need any help with anything?" she asked. Maria did warn me that she was a teacher's pet. I don't mind. If I needed help, Luise would be a good person to turn too. She's responsible and a good student.

I shook my head and chuckled. "I'm over prepared today."

Luise nodded before going to sit down at a desk in the front row. I had a feeling she would do that.

Since class hasn't started and wouldn't until fifteen minutes, I decided to go on my phone. I was looking through my texts to see if I missed any new ones. I didn't. But I sort of wanted to reread a couple of texts I sent yesterday. I had met this girl at the bar on Saturday. It was funny. When Maria dared me to use my chemistry degree to pick up a girl, I never thought I would do it! Well, I didn't really do what she told me. I kind of aborted the chemistry angle and went for a more natural angle. She was... is really cute. The way she was failing at acting aloof but was blushing so red it she looked like a cherry. So, cute. The reason I went up to her was for probably one of the most perverted reasons. The first thing I saw was her butt. It's nice. Very nice. She has nice hips and legs. I wonder what those legs can do. I'll have to wait for that of course. Maria makes fun of me for liking to wait for sex in relationships. From experience, I know, I think it's better to wait and have a romantic connection with a person. Françoise agrees with me. Maria tells us that we are sissy romantics. I don't care what she calls me. That's what I prefer. So, I wonder if this date tomorrow night will go well. I wonder if we are going to have many dates. I wonder if we'll start a relationship. I like being in a relationship and she'll be perhaps my most beautiful girlfriend. Perhaps she could be the one. We could get marry. Okay, I'm thinking ahead of myself. I've just started my dream career and I'm pretty poor at the moment. But I do know a few people my age getting married, so it's not out of the question. But I haven't experience our first date yet. What if she's not the same girl as she was at the bar? What if I don't like her as much as I did? What if we don't connect again? So many bad possibilities. Then again, there are so many good possibilities too.

I put away my phone. I've memorized the restaurant and the time I told Lovina. She was going to meet me there. I told her I could pick her up but she insisted that we meet at the restaurant. I went along with it.

Before I knew it was time to start class. Okay, Antonio, you can do this. You can do this.

So, I did it! Yay! I started with a hello and who I was. I went to the attendance. Only one person had missed the first day of class. Some girl named Feliciana Vargas. She'll have to sit with Luise next class. That was the only empty seat. Then I explained the syllabus. We had time to spare so the students got to talk with each other. First class, success. Good.

Second class, also success. It was Grade 12 chemistry. This was going to be my favourite class. I felt comfortable in that class. I felt like my childhood dream had come true in that class. This is was so exciting!

The rest of the day went well. And so did the next day. I'm so happy everything went so well! Life was going perfectly. All my hard work was finally paying off!

"What about this?" Fran said picking a shirt.

"Too dorky," Maria said on my bed messily eating popcorn. Fran put the shirt back but not before looking digusted at Maria's eating habits.

My friends in a nutshell.

"Why can't I wear this?" I asked. I didn't see anything wrong with my teacher clothes. It look proper.

"You need to be 30% cooler," Maria said.

Fran gave her a look. "You need to stop watching so much My Little Pony."

"Rainbow Dash is my spirit animal!" Maria yelled shocked and threw some popcorn at her.

Fran shook her head and went back to my closet.

"So what's wrong with my clothes?" I asked.

"You look like a teacher," Maria told me. There was a problem with that? "She's a student. What student wants to date a man who looks like one of her Profs?" Lovina did look young. Must have just turned 19 and wanted to celebrate Frosh week. "She doesn't want to be reminded of school. You need to be awesome for this girl if she's as pretty as you say."

"She's gorgeous!" I replied.

Maria rolled her eyes.

Fran came up to me with a new shirt. She looked at Maria. Maria gave her the thumbs up. It was a white button up shirt. She then gave me a blue blazer (since when do I own that?) and some jeans. I changed.

"Maybe he should just go shirtless," Maria laughed. "I'm sure she's jump your bone then."

"Antonio does have a nice body," Fran commented. I blushed. Two heterosexual girls were complementing me. It doesn't matter if I think of Fran as a sister and Maria as just a friend, a complement was a complement.

I finished changing and looked at my two friends. They nodded together. I was ready for this date.

"Don't forget, make sure she talks about herself," Maria told me.

"I've been on first dates before," I told her.

"Your last first date was ages ago!" Maria complained. I don't think seven months was ages ago. We broke up four months ago. Wow, it's been four months since I've had sex. Why was that the first thing I thought about? It was a nice breakup (as nice as a breakup can be). I didn't mind it when it ended. I haven't reliased that it has been four months.

"Complement her," Fran added. I nodded.

"Pay for her fucking meal. Don't be a cheap asshole," Maria told me. Well, I already told her that I was paying, so that wasn't a problem.

"Be a gentleman," Fran added. I nodded again.

"Don't be touchy feely, it's too much for a first date," Maria groaned.

"Don't tell her that you love her. Remember the last time that happen?" Didn't end well.

"Don't eat with your mouth open. That's fucking disgusting!"

"Sit up straight and listen to her when she talks."

"Don't stare at her breast. Eyes are safe. Maybe lips."

"Unless she wants it, don't act like a pervert."

"Order water, drinks at restaurant are expensive as fuck."

"Do not mention your ex-girlfriends."

"Don't tell her that you want to settle down. That's too much for a student." They had a lot of rules. I hope I remember all of them.

"Don't forget to smile."

"Antonio won't need any help with that one."

"Don't order anything too messy. You don't want to stain your clothes." Too many rules. My brain was over-heating.

"Be romantic, but not too romantic."

"What's wrong with romance?"

"Too pushy."

"Antonio, be as romantic as you want. What Maria really means, don't be a pervert. Which we already told you."

"I mean don't be clingy." Mayday! Mayday! Brain meltdown!

"Can I go?" I asked. Fran and Maria were going to start arguing any second. I didn't want to see that. Plus, I had a bus to take and a date to have.

Fran and Maria looked at each other and sighed. "Good luck," they both said at the same time.

I smiled and went for my door. "Let yourselves out… don't eat all my food." Maria looked at me like an angel. She was far from an angel.

I was on time. It was six o'clock and I was in front of the restaurant. Lovina wasn't here yet. I wonder why she's late. This is why I should have picked her up. What if I'm being stood up! No, calm down Antonio. She's just a little late. Maybe her bus is late. Give it some time. You just spend two days of teaching and it all went well! You can do it Antonio. Just remember what Fran and Maria told you… what did they tell me again? Smile. Don't act pervy. Um… I forget the others. Should I text them asking for a new list?! What do I do? I forget the does and don'ts they told me. Their girls! They know girls more than I do! Lovina is gorgeous! I want they date to go well! Oh.

"Hey."

Lovina did come. She looked as beautiful as I remembered her being. She was wearing this pink dress. It suited her and made her look so cute. She had a matching headband in her dark brown hair. It looked wavy. She looked beautiful. I have a date with a beautiful girl. This was the start of a great year.

"Hi," I told her remembering to smile. Look handsome. You have to look good enough for this girl.

We stood there in silence. What do I say? Was starter conversation on the list of things I don't remember Fran and Maria telling me? Oh, I don't want to screw this up.

"Should we go in?" Lovina asked.

I chuckled. "Yeah."

We walked in. I told the hostess "Table for two, please." She quickly got us a seat. I'm glad I picked a restaurant without too many people. We could eat right away. Or at least faster than a restaurant where there was a wait.

We had a table for two a little out of the way. Romantic. Wait did Maria say something about not being too romantic? I forget.

Lovina went straight for her menu. What do I say?

"You look nice," I told her.

I couldn't see her from behind her menu but I had a feeling she was blushing by the way she was clutching her menu.

"So do you."

"Thank you." Do I add anything? What do I add? Do I talk about the weather? No, that's stupid. Oh, the food! Yes, the food! "The fish looks good."

"Yeah," she responded. "I'm thinking about having the halibut."

"Good choice." Good choice? Who says that?

The waitress thankful came for our drinks. Lovina ordered water. I was so close to ordering a sangria. But maybe that's that not manly enough for a first date. It did look expansive too. I was paying for two too. But instead I ordered water. I'm proud of myself. I'm not usually this strong against temptation. I'm very surprised I didn't cave in.

"Are you ordering the halibut?" I asked her.

"Probably." She wasn't adding too much to the conversation. Does this mean I have to add to the conversation? What do I tell her?

"Been here before?" I asked.

"Where?"

"The restaurant."

"Oh," she said blushing. By this point she had the menu down. I could look at her now. She was very beautiful. "Once with my nonno and my siblings."

"Siblings?" Fran or was it Maria that told me to get her talking about herself? I hope they told me that.

"I have two younger one."

Did she just stop the conversation there? Don't people usually say more about their siblings? "Both younger? I have an older sister, Carmen."

Lovina played with her menu a little before talking again. "My youngest sibling is my brother Sandro and then there's Feli, my sister."

The waitress gave us our waters and asked if we were ready to order. Lovina said yes and we ordered.

"So, what are your siblings like?" So far that was a safe topic.

"Sandro is girl crazy. He's just hitting puberty, so I guess it's expected. He's said he's already had three girlfriends but I don't know if you can really call middle school dating dating."

"I don't think it is," I added. Listen to her Fran (?) told me.

"Whatever, he's crazy and is going to be such a Casanova wanna be soon. It's going to be hard from protecting his heart from breaking." So, she's a protective big sister.

"Is your sister crazy about guys?"

"She's a lesbian."

Oh. "So, is she girl crazy like your brother?" Lovina was blushing and shaking her head. "I'm not sure. She talks girls with Sandro and I'm usually not there. She's not out to our parents yet, so, she doesn't talk about her crushes as openly as Sandro. Our parents are church goers."

"So, our mine. But they wouldn't have a problem if I turned out gay… not that I am. I like girls."

I actually got a laugh out of Lovina. "My parents aren't homophobic or anything, it's just different when it's your own kid or little sister." She sighed. "She's out to her school and no one seems to bully her, which she got lucky. She's this super nice and lovable girl, so people will love her no matter what. I'm still worried someone will bully her for it and I'm not there to protect her." That's so cute. "She can stand up for herself but…"

"You don't want her to need too."

Lovina blushed and looked at me before nodding. It was so cute. She was so cute.

"I watch TV and look at the internet. People still get killed over their sexuality. I don't want that to happen to my sweet little sister." Lovina was holding the chair still looking so nervously cute. "I have a gay friend who was beat up for being gay. That day really got to him. No matter how big his talk is, he can't go up to some guy and I try to flirt with them. I see how much trouble it is for him. If that happens to Feli it will break my heart."

As cute as this conversation is making Lovina, I think I need to change the subject. "What are your worries about your little brother?"

"Just that some bitch will use his craziness and abuse and use him," she told me.

I nodded. "You care a lot for your siblings."

"We're close. Always have been. It's how our parents and nonno raised us."

I nodded before taking a drink of my water. "I'm not as close to my sister as I want to be. She lives far away and she barely calls or email or text."

"Sorry."

"It's not as bad as I made it. She does contact." Well, the last time I think I talked to Carmen was two months ago. That was a long time ago. "I have a little sister replacement with Fran."

"Fran?"

"She's been my best friend since we were three. We are more like siblings when Carm and I." No, don't talk about yourself! Fran or Maria told you not too! I screwed up.

"Your best friend is a girl?" Lovina asked.

I nodded. "My two closest friends are girls. Fran and Maria. I have guy friends like Matthias. We sometimes hang out and watch sports together. Usually Maria comes a long and Matthias brings Berwald."

"Oh." Lovina twisted her hair. Cute. "My friends are girls, other than the gay one I told you about. I don't have this best friend that I've been friends since I was three. But Emma and I have been friends since the seventh grade." So, she doesn't hang out with straight guys. Why do I feel a little relieved? Girls and guys can be friends without any romantic feelings. Fran, Maria and I were proof of that. Stop being a hypocrite Antonio.

"Most people don't have that kind of childhood friend, so don't worry." She nodded. "Fran and I got lucky."

"But you still don't have that close of a relationship with your sister. Personally, I'll take my siblings over a childhood friendship." She values family. Mentally checking it. I hope I don't forget this like I forgot the list Fran and Maria told me.

"It's nice that you care about your siblings that much." I had to mention that.

She blushed. She blushes a lot. I don't mind, it makes her look so cute.

She nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem. It's refreshing."

There was a little bit of an awkward silence. Not a bad awkward silence. Just a transition silence.

"What about your parents?" Lovina asked.

"My mom's an engineer and my dad works in H.R. at for the factory. That's where they met… What about your parents?" Odd, I haven't had that question in a while.

"My dad works for the elementary school board." Oh. I originally wanted to be an elementary school teacher. That was until I met my chemistry teacher in high school. He inspired me to pursue high school. Still disappointed I don't get to hang out with little kids all day. I'm a kid person. Which was a plus with a lot of my ex-girlfriends. I didn't say any of this to Lovina. I remember Maria telling that it wasn't cool that I was a teacher and maybe Lovina would think that she's dating her prof. I'll eventually tell her. Just not on the first date. Probably when or if (probably when because this date is going well so far) tell her, it'll be after we get to know each other even more and we are serious. "My mother owns a bakery… I'm not telling you which bakery. Yet." Yet sounded promising. "Nonno is a partner at a firm."

Our dinners came soon. As soon as our food came, we ate or talked about the food. My chicken was a little over cooked but nothing to worry about. It was just a little dry. Lovina's meal was apparently delicious. She ate it quickly.

I like how she pretended like she wasn't blushing or when she blushed she tried to hide it. She did it a lot. I'm hoping that's a good sign.

Before I knew it I was paying for the meals. I love it that the machines now had a tip percentage option. I hate calculating tips. Like this it was simple and I didn't have to carry cash around.

Too my surprise, Lovina didn't get up right away. She had been in the middle of a story about how her friend Allie got kicked out of summer camp because she refused to get out of her Woman Wonder costume. It was pretty funny.

"Okay, I have one about my friend Maria," I started. "This is before I knew her. She was in high school and she used to carry around this little chick with her everywhere. She had stolen it from the science class. During math class it started chirping and it jumped out of her pocket and ran to the teacher. When the teacher picked it up, it peed on in her hands. Maria actually told the chick good job. She hated the teacher. Maria got a month's worth of detention."

"That doesn't beat the time Allie forced us to that comic con rip off." I nodded. "None of us wanted to go but Allie has this way of making her do things we don't want too. Anyway, Allie told us that we had to cosplay and Feliks refused to be anything but the main cast from My Little Pony. So, we went to comic con as ponies." I laughed. "There's six of us… seven counting Lucia's little brother."

"I only know Rainbow Dash because she's Maria's favourite."

"I have no idea which one I was. All I know was that I was white and purple and had a horn and Emil was a dragon." I laughed. "It was embarrassing because both Feliks and Allie had to put pictures up on Facebook!"

"I bet you made a cute pony."

She blushed furiously. "Yeah… well… it was still embarrassing. My relatives from Italy saw it and commented on it."

"Did you have fun at least?"

"I liked the Supernatural area and bought a Dean poster." Oh. I think I know who that is. He's the pretty one. The shorter one.

"You watch Supernatural?"

She nodded. "Violence, darkness, angels, demons and brotherly love. What more can I ask for? Do you watch the show?"

"Not really. I've seen a couple of episodes when it first came out. I just never got in to it."

"Retry, its gets really good. The angels are awesome. And Crowley!"

"Maybe that could be my next show. Fran is forcing me to watch Sex in the City."

"Feli has been buggy me to watch that with her. I'll probably invite my friends over to watch it with us. Feliks has bragged about the show over and over again and will watch it again and again. I got him into Supernatural. It's only fair I watch his show." She didn't look excited for it.

"It's not a bad show. It's not my favourite but it's good," I told her.

"I'm probably going to cave in to Feli at one point. You can only say no to her puppy eyes for so long."

I chuckled. "I can't say no generally. I don't know. I'm just that type of person."

"Has Fran forced you to watch other girly shows?"

"I've watched way too many girly shows and romcoms thanks to her. She loves that kind of stuff. I've also been shopping with her more times than I can remember. I hate it but I go anyway."

"How can you hate shopping? It's one of the best pass times out there?"

"I'm not a shopping kind of guy."

"Your lost. Clothes are fantastic. The only reason I watch Project Runway is for the fashion. Same with Gossip Girl."

"You'll love Sex in the City. They have this obsession with shoes that I just don't get."

"Shoes are important." Yeah, they are. Especially during the winter months.

"But to have a closet full? Isn't that going overboard?"

"A closet full?" Lovina said dreamily. I really don't get shoe fetishes.

"Yeah."

She sighed. "I must watch that show now." I chuckled. Suddenly, Lovina looked surprised. She got her phone out. "It's this late? Oh sorry, I have to go."

"Let me walk you to your bus stop."

She smiled. She took her bag and we walked out.

The night was cool but also warm. There was a slight breeze and the moon hung high in the sky. What a clear night. Perfect.

"I had a nice time tonight," I told her. She tried to hide her blush. "Do you want to do this again?"

"I don't see why not." Cute answer.

"I have your number, so text me when you're free." She still wasn't looking at me but she nodded. "Or I'll text you when I'm free." She nodded again.

"This is my stop."

I'm glad I walked her here. She would be alone. A beautiful young woman in the city, alone. Dangerous.

"So, would you like dinner again or something else?"

"I don't care." I smiled. I was getting another date with her. Yes! This was going so well. "My bus is coming."

I nodded. "See you soon," I said before kissing her cheek. She looked at me surprised. She was like a deer in head lights. Cute.

Lovina didn't say anything. She got her bus pass, waved good bye and ran to in the bus. I waved back. So far this week was going so perfectly.