Te Amo?

Chapter 26

The bell rang and everyone shifted to fifth period. It had been a good day for Cesca so far, the pupils weren't too challenging minus the odd sarcastic comment about her appearance which she quickly brushed off. She had a good feeling about this school, potential oozed out of most of the students here though they were reluctant to move forward on any level academically. Cesca though believed that her teaching methods could bring out the best in her pupils, she wasn't the strict 'get on with your work' kind of teacher she was laid back, friendly, patient and firm when she needed to be. Jonah had, had a good day too, school wasn't designed to bring excitement to people but it did for Jonah, having not been in a school since primary years he thrived for the freedom and the opportunity to socialise, the only set back was that he was far more academically developed than his peers as well as a whole lot more mature, truth be told he was more a man than a boy but he could cope with that.

Cesca watched as the year thirteen's flooded into her classroom, she greeted them and instructed them to choose their seats, reminding them that they would have to remain there for the whole year. All of them opted to sit as far away from the front as possible, all except Ronan Burley who sat on the desk in front of Cesca. She noticed him watching her, his jaw wide open, she shot him an uneasy smile and he gathered himself together and looked away.

Jonah was busily looking for his next class; it wasn't the first time today that he had got lost, it was very different to the comforts of learning at the dining table at home yet so much more enjoyable. He arrived outside of what he assumed to be his last lesson. He knocked on the door and walked in.

"Sorr…" his voice trailed off as he noticed the woman standing at the front of the classroom, his being filled with a mixture of emotions, the love he felt towards her made his heart ache, the confusion about not knowing why she was here, the fear of not knowing whether he could control himself whilst having to face her everyday. Half of him wanted to walk straight back out again, he understood this wasn't going to be an easy situation for either of them, especially after the day before. Cesca's eyes met Jonah's, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"Jonah." She gasped underneath her breath, quickly she composed herself, she knew exactly what this meant. Her gaze towards Jonah changed to one based around coldness… blank.

"You're late, sit down please." Cesca told him, her tone different to what he was familiar with. They both quickly realised that the only seat available was the one beside Ronan, at the front. Dread filled his being as he walked towards his seat and sat down. Cesca's mind went blank as she stood at the front of the class.

"Are you alright Miss?" Ronan asked.

Cesca snapped out of her daydream and nodded before setting the class their work. She reluctantly sat down at her desk, aware that they were only centimetres apart. She tried to concentrate of marking but that was impossible. This was all one huge mess, she couldn't forget when she had him around and needed him so badly yet now they couldn't even be together.

She was scared of knowing that she wouldn't be able to control her feelings, not when they had already developed and been acknowledged. She knew that he would be feeling the same, above everything they loved each other and love is impossible to deny, she knew that. Love is an unexplainable force, an unavoidable force that would attempt to drag the two of them back together but that couldn't happen.

Every word she said yesterday she had meant but it seemed irrelevant now, it no longer mattered, she had to face him everyday and she knew that seeing him that often let alone at all would make her feelings and the need, the want to be with him that much stronger.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a continuous sound. She looked forwards and realized that it was Jonah, banging his pen against the side of the table staring down at the pieces of uncompleted work. Without thinking Cesca's hand reached over and held his still.

"Jonah, try to concentrate." Cesca said to him, she let go of his hand. "Do you need a hand?" she asked him, trying to remain professional. If his work wasn't completed that would mean she would have to spend more time with him. He nodded in reply and she pulled up a chair besides him, she began to explain the task quietly, her musical voice causing goose bumps to overcome his body. On impulse he reached his hand underneath the table and took her hand into his own, intertwining her fingers with his, her eyes widened and she let out a short gasp but still made no effort to detach her hand from his. In fact she stopped talking and looked into his eyes, she longed to be with him but understood that she shouldn't, especially not now; it was immoral, not allowed.

She continued explaining the work to him stroking the back of his hand lightly. He detached his hand from hers and allowed her to continue explaining the work to him. Was she aware of their situation or was she dealing herself a deck of dodgy cards? That was the question.