Bending the Rules

By: BrendaBites

Kate looked up at Ana, her eyes as wide as Ana felt hers go. "Did Mr. Grey just buy you lunch?"

Jose frowned, "Kate. Stop."

Ana bit her lip, not knowing what to say, was that what teachers in this school did? She tried to control her cheeks from going any redder, or her tummy from doing those weird flips. "I uh-"

"Don't listen to her. Kate is a journalist at heart, and she likes to spice things up by making them sound more than they are-"

Kate controlled herself, "Oh no," she said seriously. "If I add anymore spice to a story that includes Mr. Grey, then I'm going to need much more than just this water bottle to cool off."
Jose rolled his eyes, "She's a bit dramatic too."

"I see," Ana laughed nervously. "It's just a sandwich. It slipped that I haven't ate, I must look like a mess who can't afford food."

Kate shook her head, "Mr. Grey could care less about his students. He's all do your work and don't irritate me. He is one fine piece of ass but-"

"Kate," Jose scowled.

Kate raised her hands up in surrender, "Sorry, what I meant was- Mr. Grey is fairly attractive, but he does miss one thing. And that is a nice personality. He's a big pain, I transferred out of his class. I think there's still room, if you want to go talk to your counselor now."

"Kate is still mad at him for giving her a C on her essay," Jose explained.

"It was A plus material," Kate argued, pointing a well manicured finger at Jose. "Grey is just bitter about ... Actually I'm still working on figuring out why someone like him can be so moody. People as handsome as him, should not be allowed to be miserable."

"Maybe it's because teenage girls swoon all over him, and he's getting sick of it," Jose shrugged.

Ana tried not to feel offended by that. He had given her a sandwich, and a granola bar she had wanted, but she wasn't swooning over him. Sure he was handsome, but it was mostly just a treat to her eyes, she wasn't actually going to think anything of it. She was years younger than him, and way out of his league. She shouldn't even be thinking about those things.

"You gonna eat that?" Kate asked, eyeing the sandwich.

"I'm really not hungry," Ana said uneasily. She picked up the granola bar in her hand and ripped the wrapper open.

"I'll take that off your hands," hands reached from behind her and picked up the sub. Ana forced herself to let it go. "Scoot over Rodriguez," the same voice said, taking the small space beside Ana.

"Jack," Kate sighed. "What do you want?"
"I came to sit with my friend," Jack replied coldly, as he wrapped an arm over Ana's shoulder.

Ana stiffened, he was way too close for her liking "Um.."

"Go away Hyde," Jose grunted.

Jack had already made himself comfortable, with his backpack on the table and his head leaning against Ana. "Kate, unwarp the sandwich for me will you."
"No," Kate scoffed. She began to eat her lunch, ignoring Jack completely. "So Ana, made any nice friends beside me and Jose?"

"Right here doll face," Jack said to Kate as he unwrapped his sandwich.

Ana bit her lip, wishing she'd just have taken the damn thing. Mr. Grey had bought it for her, not so some guy could swoop in and eat it himself.

"Jack is nice," well he was when he wasn't taking my lunch.

Jack smiled, "See?"

"You're just took her food," Kate scolded. "Without asking."

"She wasn't going to eat it," Jack argued. "But whatever. I'll make it up to you Ana. How about I take you out to eat, you choose where, tomorrow after school?"

Like a date? she wanted to ask, but of course it wasn't like a date. He wouldn't have asked so casually if it was. "I'm not sure- Kate what are you doing after school tomorrow? Maybe it would be fun if we all go together," she looked at Jose for an answer too, but he was glaring at his lunch.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Kate's a prude. I meant for us to go together, just me and you. Get to know each other better."

Kate laughed, "Jack, she isn't like your usual girls. Beside don't you think Elizabeth will get mad if you're taking another girl out on a date." She looked at Ana and staged whispered, "Elizabeth is his girlfriend. Jack here, doesn't have the best reputation."

Ana looked at Jack and unwrapped his arm from her shoulders.

"Elizabeth and I, are long over. Honestly," he looked at Ana. "I've never even cheated."

Ana raised her eyebrows, not really believing him but not caring enough to respond to it.

"Kate," Jack huffed, "You make me sound like a douche. Tell her I haven't cheated."

Kate flipped her hair back with a flick of her fingers, "Okay, he hasn't cheated. As far as we know."

"Though what can you expect from Jack Hyde," Jose said accusingly.

"He is a total ladies man," Kate said. "How many girls have you had this month Jack?"

"Shut up," Jack laughed. "Sure I've had a few girlfriends but I don't think calling me a ladies man can insult me."

Ana quietly began to eat her granola bar, not paying attention to how they kept going back and forth.

"So what do you say Ana?" Jack asked. "You and me after school tomorrow?"

Ana, tried to answer Jack, but with a mouth full of granola, she ended up just staring at him.

"Great," Jack smiled, obviously not caring what her answer would be, or maybe too self confident that he assumed she'd say yes. "I'll see you then." With a quick kiss on the cheek, and a wink, Jack smiled charmingly and stood up to leave, taking along the sandwich that had been meant for Ana.

"She didn't say yes asshole," Jose said after him, but Jack didn't seem to hear.

"Don't tell me you actually want to go out with him," Kate frowned.

Ana struggled to swallow the food in her mouth and coughed. "I didn't say anything!"

"I'll clear things up with him," Jose assured her, "I have him tomorrow in the morning."

"Unless, you want to go," Kate added.

Ana took another small bite of her granola bar. She could go with him, it wasn't like she had anything better to do. "Uhm.. I think I'll just let him know myself."

"If you want to go out somewhere, Kate and I can always take you," Jose said, trying to be nonchalant. "You don't have to resort to creeps like Hyde," he said, only half teasing.

"I'll keep that in mind," Ana laughed softly.

The rest of the lunch was spent with just the three of them talking about silly things. Ana realized Kate and her had more things in common than she would have guessed, so when she offered to walk Ana to her next class, she happily agreed.

The bell rang and everyone walked slowly away from the lunch room, but Kate pulled Ana along quickly. "The key is to walk fast and before the halls get too crowd."

Ana nodded, remembering how she had been late the day before.

"You said your class was upstairs right?" Kate pulled her into one of the downstairs halls. "Not a lot of people use the stairs in this building. It'll be quicker this way."

They both walked through the halls and were in front of Ana's next class in no time.

"See? With minutes to spare," Kate smiled.

Ana laughed, "Yeah, thanks. Even the teacher isn't here."

Kate waved her off, "Should have known you had Mrs. Garcia now. She's probably running across the parking lot now. She's a nice teacher, always late though since she goes out for lunch. Next time you can walk me to my class to waste time, but I'll see you 'till then. Bye," she gave Ana a quick hug and turned to rush to her class.

Ana tried to keep her eyes from looking down the hall. She knew his class was down that way. She wondered what he would say the next time she saw him.

"Anastasia, what a surprise, you're early to a class," a voice said, startling her.

She didn't have to look in the direction of the voice to know it was him.

"Oh. Mr. Grey," she stuttered. "I -"

He was standing by a door where Ana assumed was a break room. "Maybe you could take the same efforts to make it to my class on time as well."

One time, she was late. .

"Maybe," Ana replied, not really thinking. "Thanks for the sandwich by the way," she added.

Mr. Grey nodded, "It's not healthy to skip meals Anastasia."

"There may be something about it not being healthy to be scolded at by intimidating English teachers, but I'm not sure," Ana mumbled.

"I'll look into that," he responded with a ghost of a smile.

Ana, surprised by the way he didn't get offended, smiled back.

He seemed to get himself together again and cleared his throat, "I'll see you tomorrow then. You might want to bring some of the work I gave you so I can start grading what you have."

Without another word, Mr. Grey began to walk down to his room, leaving Ana with a stomach full of butterflys.

Being attracted to your intimidating English teacher, is definetly not healthy.

X x X

Christian walked back to his room, trying not to look back.

It seemed that her face brightened up with just a small smile. How could that student possibly be having a rough time, like Flynn had warned him? Did she have an eating disorder? Was that why Ana didn't want to eat at lunch? It bugged him that he knew nothing about Ana. No, what really bugged him was that he cared so much.

She was just another student, not something he should dwell on.

When he reached his class, he saw another group of girls, all waiting for his door to open. Once they noticed him, they all stood a little taller, and put on their best smiles. None were as real or as bright as Anas.

Christian wanted to slap himself, he really had to stop thinking things like that. He ran a hand through his hair and reached for the keys in his pocket. It took him a while to get in, but he hurried when the girls tried to get closer from impatience.

It wasn't when he was already back at his desk, that he saw he had a text message.

Lunch after work tomorrow? Let me know soon.

It was from Elena, and even though the idea didn't appeal to him, he decided to go along with it. He didn't have much to do, not since he had caught up with his school work, and a distraction could be nice.

He send a message asking where they would meet, just in time before the second bell rang.