After that, I ran home. I just ran, as fast as I could. I didn't know what to do, what to think, what to feel. I had just kissed my teacher for god sake! How wrong could it get? I should be ashamed of myself. I want to talk to someone, anyone but as if I can tell someone I've kissed my teacher! He can chucked in Jail...the key thrown away! I'd become the biggest gossip around school! My friends would probably hate me for being so disgusting. I'm 16 for heaven sakes, I should be falling for a boy my own age...not some teacher, some adult! My brain...it was battling with my heart...what was I meant to do?

I rushed in through the front door, determined for my Mum or Dad not to see my panicked expression. Mum and Dad were luckily sitting in the front room, watching telly. Well, at least Dad was. Mum was next to him on the sofa, talking on the phone about something to do with her Job that she had to do tomorrow. Neither of them noticed my clattering as I entered through the front door. I hurried upstairs and locked my bedroom door, backing up against it, collapsing to the floor. I pulled my knees up to my chest, hugging myself. What have I done? More like, what has HE done!? Maybe I should call Mandy, tell her maybe...no. She's too mouthy, she's bound to say something. I could call Josh, but then again I know how he feels towards me and he'll go mad. I shook the entire thought of it off, forgot everything about it. I may have a crush on my Geography cover teacher but I never thought he'd kiss me...that he would feel the same. This is wrong and I have to stop it from escalating. My parents will find out, they will go ballistic! But then the other half of me says I want this to escalate, that I don't care, that I...I love him? No, this is so wrong.

I sitting in a classroom...

Just me, only me...

I know this room...the smell...

He enters the room, his eyes catching mine...

He knows me and I him...

It can't be like this...but I can't take control...

I'm trapped, he's got me where he wants me...

His hand reaches out for me...

He's coming closer to me...I am stuck in this chair...

My muscles are incapable of moving...I can't run!

I want to be here with him but my brain tells me I can't...

He hand touches my shoulder...gliding down my arm...

Please...please don't touch me...I can't think...

I can smell his sweet scent on him...it only makes me want him more...

His lips are at my ear, his breath hitting my neck...

The hairs on my skin stand...please leave me...

"Shh..." He calms me, his words hushing my thoughts...

No, no, no, no, NO!

"Argh!" I gasp, sitting up in bed. Just a dream...it was just a dream. I glance over to my clock, sitting on the bed side table. 3:38 am. My window is wide open, did I open it last night? I must have. A huge rush of cold air is blowing into my room, making the hairs on my skin stand up. The curtains are blowing wildly, mid-air. I sigh and stand up from the bed and walk over to shut it close. The curtains finally lower and the cold in my room lingers for a few minutes. I wrap my arms around my body, hugging myself, rubbing my arms hurriedly...so cold...so cold. I should get back to sleep, I will be naked tomorrow but half of me is now too scared to drift off into another deep nightmare. Instead I quietly tip toe downstairs to get a cup of water from the kitchen. The house is dead quiet as I hope. When I reach the kitchen and turn the light off I arm startled by a tall dark figure standing at the kitchen counter by the microwave, his back turned to me. I let out a startled gasp and immediately cover my mouth, realising it must be Dad. He turns in shock, his hand on his stomach, "Oh my god, Gem. You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"I could say the same to you!" I exclaim quietly, aware Mum must be fast asleep upstairs.

Dad let's out a relieved breath, wiping his forehead, "What are you doing up at this time?"

"I had a nightmare and wanted to get a glass of water." I say softly, walking over to the kitchen counter beside him, reaching out for a glass from the sink and turning the tap on. "Well, just remember your mother is upstairs."

"Yes, I was already considering that. Why are you down here?"

"None of your concern. Now go to bed, Gem." He whispers, turning away from me and drinking down a cup of tea he has previously made. "I'm your daughter...that makes it my concern."

"I couldn't sleep and I felt sick, ok? Now bed!" He speaks a little louder, pointing to the kitchen door. I sigh and take my glass of water with me, turning the tap off. "Fine."

Wednesday, I sit in the canteen for my lunch. I got chips and beans with Mandy and Josh. Max left early, he had only bought a sandwich, he said he wasn't very hungry but I was sure he was lying to get out of the canteen. Mandy had shot him a dirty look as he left. Josh and I laughed as the two of them started bickering like an old married couple. "You and him suite." Josh nudges her in the shoulder once he is gone. I roll my eyes at him, "You think everyone suites, Josh." He glares across the table at me, grinning deviously. "Yes, maybe you and I will be the same one day."

"Yeah...you wish."

"Yeah, I do."

Again, I roll my eyes at him, setting my head in my hands. Typical Josh, being him. As I look up from Mandy and Josh to glance around the canteen for a moment I catch a glimpse of someone. Oh no. Mr MacFarlane. He walks through the crowd of people trying to get their food from the cafeteria counter. As he walks passed me, he glances in my directed, his eyes meeting mine. Oh god. He gives me a wary smile, his eyes studying me carefully. Once he has passed me and he is out of the canteen I let out a relieved breath. "You ok?" Josh asks. I nod, my fingers all knotted. "Y-yeah..." I stammer. "I-I...F-fine."

"You look like you've seen a ghost, Gem." Mandy shoots me a worried look, finishing her food. I push my plate away. "I'm fine." I repeat with a forced smile. "You don't look fine." Josh says, reaching out for my knotted fingers. I pull away from him, avoiding his touch. "I'm fine! Really!" I exclaim in anger, standing up from the table and walking away. "Gemma!? Gemma! Wait!" Mandy yells after me. My inside twist and turn. Their gonna feel suspicious, I shouldn't have lashed out like that, I have to stay calm! Act cool, Gemma! Go with the flow. But then, I have forgotten. I have my Geography after school classes to still attend to, especially tonight. Great! How can I deal with this? It's all too weird! I am out of the canteen building, stomping through a huge crowd who are rushing over to see some fight that is going on. Suddenly Max run up to me, setting his hand on my shoulder. I gasp at his sudden appearance.

"Wh-?" I begin. "Hey, Gem!" He smiles.

"Where did you come from?"

"I've just been doing extra homework." He murmurs, Max is so bad at lying. I give him a 'tell me where you really were' sort of expression. He sighs and glances to his left and right, checking for anyone who might be listening in. "Ok, I've actually been hiding round the back of the school...practising."

"Practising? Practising what?"

"My speech to ask Mandy out..." He whispers, his head hanging in shame. I let out a amused laugh, "You're joking!?" I double check, making sure he isn't trying to have a laugh with me. "No. For real." He keeps his voice low, his eyes on the ground, afraid to look me in the eye. I set my hand on his shoulder, "Hey. Max. Don't be ashamed. It's a great idea." I reassure him. His eyes look up from the ground to meet mine then, the corners of his lips curling up. "Really?" I nod, "Really."

"Where is she and Josh anyway?"

"Oh, in the canteen." I remove my hand from his shoulder, stepping back. "You best go and ask her now."

"You think?"

"Max, if you don't do it now, you'll never get the chance. Trust me and go!"

"Ok." I breaths nervously, straightening himself up. As he begins to walk, I gently grab his arm, "Oh, by the way. When did you decide you liked her that way? I thought you hated each other."

"I thought it seemed obvious to you and Josh. You were both constantly teasing us anyway."

"I know, but...we were joking. We didn't actually think that..." I trail off. He laughs, "Well, now you know!" He grins. "I best go ask her." He pulls away from me, walking towards the canteen. "See ya in class!" He yells back over to me. I wave goodbye to him, "Yeah. See you then!"

After school, extra Geography classes. Oh no.

I push the class room door open, battling to prepare myself to see him. He's not in the class room, but I step in anyway, shutting the door from behind me and walking over to Miss Carter's desk. I glance at all the paper work he's been previously marking passed the few days. I notice that he has set aside my extra Geography class work next to it, in a separate pile. I quickly read a couple of lines of the work he has set me for today. The work seems very interesting and quite fun, not boring as my other teachers would have prepared it. Then suddenly I hear cool breath hot my skin, making the hairs on my neck stand up, just like in my nightmare last night. "Want to help?" A soft voice whispers in my ear. I gasp and quickly turn around. Mr MacFarlane stands from behind me, his hands hanging at his side, his face young and tanned skin as usual. I struggle to search for words. "Uh...what?" I manage. He chuckles, walking around me to reach his desk. "Want to help me with the paper work?" He repeats his question, standing at his desk, his eyes set on all his paper work. "Ok then." I whisper for some unknown reason, as if I should be worried someone can hear us. He looks at me then, noticing my unnecessary whispering as do I. His eyes make my insides shake, I quickly look away from him. "You didn't tell anyone did you?" I hear him ask softly. I know what he's talking about, shamefully. I shake my head slowly, still looking away from him.

I hear him sigh and step away from his desk, stepping closer to me. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself."

"How old are you?" I ask, ignoring his explanation. A moments passes before he finally answers, "Twenty-four." he murmurs. I nod, swallowing hard. "Ok." He studies me carefully and finally I look up, meeting his eyes. "Neither could I." I whisper. He gives me a confused look, "You couldn't what?"

"I couldn't help myself either."

His lips part then, trying to portray his words but nothing comes. What am I saying? I can't do this! No, this is wrong! He breaths, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just...I saw you and I..." His words fail him, his eyes meeting mine again. I think for a moment. Is this what I want? I don't know what I want anymore. "Can you do that again?" I ask, looking down at my now knotted, shaking fingers, shying away. He looks at me confused for a moment, unsure of what I mean by saying that. "Kiss me." He looks down at me for a long moment then, I know he wants to. He inhales calmly, pursing his lips. He slowly reaches out for me, running his thumb along my cheek. He steps closer to me, closing the distance between our bodies. His breath hits my lips as he draws his face closer to mine. My breathing becomes heavy as his lips come closer to mine. Then suddenly his lips catch mine. The kiss is soft, sweet and addictive. I kiss back, his lips working on mine, my hands hanging at my side. I find myself wanting more, my body intense, my stomach flipping over and over. My hands reach up to his hair, clinging him to me. I gasp against his lips as he deepens the kiss. His hands fall to my waist, pulling me against him. I breathe against his lips and eventually pull away. "Um...I should help you with that paper work." I say softly, glancing at the classroom door. He smiles happily down at me, slowly retreating his hands away from my waist. He brushing the back of his hand along my cheek, trailing from my eye to my chin.

"Yeah." He agrees. I sigh and pull away form his touch, letting him snapback into reality. "Yes, right paper work." He says, sounding cool and natural. He hands me a pile of sheets. "You can mark those" He smiles at me as I take them. I smile in response, his eyes drinking me in as ever. I choose a chair to sit in and begin to mark. Before my pen touches the paper, I feel his hand suddenly clasp around my wrist. He pulls my pen out of my hand and hands me a red instead. "School policy." He whispers in my ear, brushing my hear behind it as he does. I bite my lip nervously.