"...and she's new to the district, so allow her some time to adjust to how we work," Principal Fulton spoke as Yasmin walked into the lounge. "Ah, here she is now. Everyone, I'd like to introduce Ms. Yasmin Khan, our new English teacher."

Yaz smiled awkwardly, giving a small wave to her new coworkers. She was new to teaching A-levels, so she was nervous that they might judge her ability. Fulton led her eyes around the room as she introduced the other staff.

"Right here is our other English teacher, Mr. Mark Thesing," the man before her shook her hand in his own, nodding his head in greeting.

"And here we have Mrs. Heather Ulrich, teaching History," Yaz tuned the principal's voice out. She didn't mean to, but her nerves were drowning out the world and filling her ears with her heartbeat.

She steadied her breathing as other teachers came forward to shake her hand. The school was on the smaller side, but had more teachers than she'd expected. She should've remembered how many there were from her interviews and small briefings. Her heart began to race as she worried that she'd already made a bad impression on her new peers.

"Hi there!" a bright voice drew Yaz from her head. Before her stood hazel eyes and a short, blonde bob accompanied by a wide smile. It surprised her when her breath caught in her throat. Was she really this easily mesmerized? She pushed her blatant attraction away so she could give her own smile back to the woman.

"This is Ms. Jemma Smith, Chemistry. Though, I think she's beaten me to the punch in her introduction." Principal Fulton chuckled while Ms. Smith took Yaz's hand and shook it enthusiastically.

"Please, call me Jem. Jemma sounds too sticky in your mouth, if I may say so," Jem let Yaz's hand drop and the new teacher tried to focus back on greeting everyone.

She just couldn't fathom how quickly she'd become enraptured by Jem. What was it about her that made Yaz's breath hitch and knees falter? The way her voice caressed her cheeks as it made its way toward her ears? Her face, graced with delicate cheekbones and soft, pink lips?

Or was it her figure, light and smooth as if sculpted from paper clay?

You're getting carried away, Yasmin. You just met this woman.

Still, she couldn't help the heat that rushed between her thighs. Fuck.

"Right," Principal Fulton stepped back from the group. "Now that we've all properly met, you're free to finish your lunches. Ms. Khan, if you'd stay behind?"

"Yasmin is fine, thanks."

"Alright. Yasmin, then." Fulton smiled and waited for the rest of the teachers to leave the room.

Yaz gave another wave to her colleagues and tried to maintain composure when Jem turned around to flash a grin her way before walking down the hall.

"Now, I'm sure you've read through the paperwork I gave you during our last meeting?"

"Yep!"

"Great. I just have a few more forms to give you, but they're mainly just procedure. You don't need to follow them like they're a bible." They laughed and exited the teacher's lounge.

They chatted about first day preparations for a few minutes before Principal Fulton released Yaz to settle in her classroom. She'd come by a few weeks earlier to set up the room how she liked, and found it nice to organize in the quiet. Still, she welcomed the looming chaos that would inevitably overwhelm her. The students would walk in talking loudly with their peers about what they did over the holiday, and would struggle to settle while Yaz introduced herself to them. They'd be reintroduced to her when they attend the assembly on the second day. They would scrutinize her as she guided them through the themes of Shakespeare's Othello or Byron's Darkness.

The thought of failing to impress and entertain her students gave Yaz a light head.

"It'll be fine, Yasmin." she reassured herself. All she had to do was repeat it like a mantra, and she'd be good.

It'll be okay.

"What'll be fine?"

Yaz jumped out of her seat. Ms. Smith had appeared suddenly, catching her off guard.

"Oh, Ms. Smith!" She tried to calm her heart. "I'm just trying to give myself a pep talk before the morning comes." she smiled.

"Please, just call me Jem," perfect, white teeth requested. "And don't worry about first day jitters! I'm positive you'll be brilliant."

Yaz blushed. She hadn't been prepared to see the blonde woman again, and the longer she looked at her the more beautiful she was.

"Thanks, Jem, I appreciate it."

"No problem. I used to be you, so I know it can be hard to get used to a new school. Especially on top of getting to know new coworkers! Figured I'd give you a jumpstart." Jem beamed.

Yaz turned another shade darker and hoped that her new colleague hadn't noticed. She was hardly keeping it together, and adding a pretty woman to the mix didn't help. It took nearly kicking herself to keep her mind from drifting to unsavory places.

It was nice to get a closer look at Jem, though. She wouldn't admit it, but Yaz had definitely started developing a work crush already. How could she not? Jem leant against the wall by Yaz's desk so casually, it was as if she'd practiced. The sleeves of her white undershirt were rolled up, showing off toned forearms. She wondered what those arms would feel like wrapped around her. What they'd look like pinned against a wall, glistening under a sheen of sweat...

"Yasmin?"

"What?" Yaz squeaked. Busted.

"I said," Jem smirked as her eyes slid up and down Yaz's body, not trying at all to be subtle. "There's a staff party at the bar downtown on Friday. I'm sure you'd hear about it eventually, but might as well let you know earlier rather than later. It's kind of our beginning-of-the-year tradition, to wind down after the first week." she laughed.

"Oh! I, uh, yeah. Thanks." Yaz nearly choked out. She felt like a stupid teen, why was talking to Jem such a hard task? "Oh, and Yaz is just fine. That's what my friends call me, anyway."

"Cool. Right, I'll see you later, Yaz."

"See you." she gave a wave.

You're really not being very subtle, Yaz. Calm the fuck down.

Her work week passed by quickly, and before she knew it, it was Friday. The first days had been fine, she hadn't embarrassed herself in front of her students, and they seemed to be enjoying her curriculum. It had been a bit chaotic, but that was to be expected.

The bell rang to signal the end of the learning day. Yaz sighed, happy to let the stress of it go. That night, she would be able to unwind.

A cacophony of chatter greeted Yaz when she opened the door to the Silver Goose. Her eyes roamed the heads of strangers, searching for her coworkers.

"Yasmin! Over here." She heard her fellow English teacher, Mark, shout from her left.

Relief flooded her, she was glad to find them so quickly. It was a nightmare to wander a bar looking for your peers. Among them she spotted Jem, and tried not to stare at the suit she was wearing.

It fit her loosely, bunching a bit around her elbows and edging just slightly past her wrists. Her blazer was grey, but underneath it held a striped blue blouse. The fabric of the blouse moved as Jem laughed along to a joke one of her colleagues made. Yaz took a gulp and quickly moved her eyes away from her chest.

"Yaz! Hi!" the shimmering hazel eyes met her own and searched her face for a response. "How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks. And yourself?" Yaz was aware she seemed on edge, but she couldn't help feeling like a schoolgirl again. A schoolgirl with a silly crush on someone she had no chance with, someone she was sure didn't even like women.

Then why is she checking me out?

Jem's eyes roamed the curve of Yaz's hips, sending a pulse straight to her core.

Jem cleared her throat, "Pretty good myself. Had some problem students today, but I suppose that's why we're here." she gestured to the crowded bar with a laugh. Yaz had yet to sit down, and the only open spot was right next to Jem.

Just my luck, she thought to herself, scooching into the booth next to her colleague.

"Do you want a drink?" Jem offered, flashing the menu at Yaz.

"No, thanks. I'm not big on alcohol, kind of my religious upbringing sticking around." she chuckled.

"Oh, okay. Cool," Jem breathed. "Well, I guess that means more for me!"

The women laughed together and fell into a lull as they listened to the chatter of their peers. Heather, the History teacher, was going on about a drunken prank her brother had pulled on her the weekend prior. Apparently, she was not a fan of the cold, especially if he'd opened all of the windows in her sitting room.

Yaz was painfully aware of the warm touch of Jem's thigh against hers, and tried not to let it distract her from a laid-back night with her coworkers. Even when she adjusted next to her, she bit her lip and tried to keep her eyes from wandering. Really, Yaz was just glad that Jem couldn't see the heat that her touch sent all through her body.

Drinks came and went for what was probably an hour or so; Yaz hadn't been paying close attention to the time. She had, however, been paying very close attention to the movement of Jem's hands when she spoke. They waved gently in the space above the table, mapping out past and hypothetical scenarios. When at rest on her lap, her fingers tapped along to the beat of the music playing over the bar's speakers.

Jem's slender fingers lay comfortably together on top of her thighs, and Yaz's eyes traced their lengths as she drifted further from conversation.

She let her minder wander, and let herself imagine those hands doing things she wouldn't dare say out loud. Jem's long, tender fingers tracing circles over Yaz's...No.

Yaz stood up a bit shakily, taking in a sharp breath.

"Excuse me, please. I just need a bit of fresh air," she nearly whispered.

"You alright, Yaz?" Jem touched her wrist in question.

"Yep!" she squeaked, turning to walk away. "M'fine."

The warmth of Jem's fingers lingered as Yaz made her way outside. She let the cool breeze embrace her and found a bench to sit on. The calm night air contrasted greatly with the volume and crowded atmosphere inside. Her hands played with her necklace, an attempt to distract her from overthinking.

Why did Jem make her feel so flustered? She berated herself, she was acting like such a kid.

I'm an adult, for fuck's sake.

"Yaz?"

"Oh, fuck!" She jumped. She hadn't intended to yell, but the woman standing before her had been causing this whole mess in her head. "Sorry, you scared me."

Yaz sat back down, breathing deep and trying to settle her nerves.

"No kidding," Jem laughed. "Are you sure you're okay? You seemed a little wobbly, you didn't have a drink, did you?"

Yaz sighed, "No, I've only had water. I'm fine, really. You can go back inside and have fun, I didn't want to be a downer. Thanks, though."

Really, Yaz? Self-pity? She winced at how insecure she must have seemed.

"Who said I wouldn't be having fun out here?" Jem smiled, nudging her side lightly. Yaz perked up a bit, glad that at least her coworker didn't think she was an idiot.

"Well, I'm hardly Heather," she chuckled. "I don't have a life like that. I don't have those stories to tell."

"Tell me one."

"What?"

"A story. Tell me one of yours. Tell me about yourself. Who's 'Yasmin Khan'?"

Yaz cleared her throat. She hadn't expected Jem to stay outside, and she was even less prepared to suddenly tell her about herself. She started to tell her about where she grew up, laughing at a memory of chasing Sonya with a pair of scissors when they were in primary school.

They talked about their childhoods for a while, reminiscing about old best friends and little secrets they thought were special. It was nice for Yaz to be able to relieve the stress that she'd been holding. She rolled her shoulders, trying to alleviate some of the tension.

She froze when Jem planted a hand on either side of her neck and began massaging her skin.

"Oh, sorry. Is this okay?" she asked Yaz, receiving a nod in response.

She relaxed into the movements of Jem's hands, allowing the woman to take away her stressful thoughts. Despite her attempts not to, she still imagined her hands trailing down her spine to unzip her dress. Those deft, deceivingly strong fingers marking a path toward Yaz's core and sending electric shocks to every pressure point.

Her mouth set free an involuntary mix between a moan and a sigh. Jem stopped what she was doing to check on her new friend.

"I can stop if you want, it's totally-"

"No, it's okay, sorry. I'm just a little tired, I think." Yaz spat out a poor excuse and prayed to any god above that she had not just made a larger fool of herself. She feigned a yawn to try and hide the noise she'd made.

Instead of continuing to massage, Jem turned Yaz to face her. She hadn't told a complete lie, she was feeling tired. But, staring into her colleague's eyes set something in her alight and she could feel a burning in the pit of her stomach.

She opened her mouth to speak, to fill the silence that she felt creeping up on them, but her attempt was stopped by Jem's lips.

Yaz melted into the warmth that had been planted on her body, molding herself into the shape that Jem's hands wanted her to form. Another moan escaped, but this time she didn't try to conceal it. She was easily pliable under strong fingers and let them push and pull whichever ways they chose.

Her lips welcomed an eager tongue that fought with her own. All sounds of the city had subsided. All there was were two bodies, emanating passion and boldness on a bench outside of a bar.

It hardly crossed her mind that they were still outside. That is, until chilled wind swept past her shoulders and she shivered.

"Shit," Yaz gasped as she pulled away from Jem. "Shit, sorry, you're probably tipsy. That was inappropriate. Sorry, again."

"No, Yaz, it's fine, I'm-" Jem hiccuped, then slumped back onto the bench guiltily. She was a bit more intoxicated than she'd intended to be.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Yaz sighed and helped her stand up, suddenly aware of how off-balance she had become.

She cursed herself for letting that happen. Jem wasn't sober, it wasn't fair for her to have let her do that.

She wasn't thinking clearly, Yaz reasoned. She wouldn't have done that normally.

They made their way back to their table. When they received a couple of pointed glances from some coworkers, Yaz realized that some of their makeup must have smudged. She did her best to conceal her humiliation. This wasn't what she'd wanted to happen on her first night out with people she'd be spending the next chapter of her teaching career with.

Having gathered all of her things, Yaz turned to Mark.

"Does Jem have a ride home? Should I call a cab or something?" she felt like a lost dog, asking such simple questions.

Mark told her that, no, she had come with the other science teachers. He then added, "Maybe you should give her a lift," with a playful smirk.

"What?"

He just gave a shrug and waved goodbye, leaving Yaz flustered and red.

"What was that?" Jem walked to Yaz's side.

"It was nothing," she gave a small smile. "Come on, I'll give you a lift home."

Jem nodded and linked her elbow with Yaz's. She wasn't stumbling, but she definitely wasn't fit to be driving or getting herself home.

When they made it onto the main road, Yaz let herself relax. Thankfully, Jem wasn't severely intoxicated. She was able to give directions to her flat. Conveniently, it was a short drive from her colleague's.

"Hey, Yaz?" Jem asked when she'd grabbed her things from the car's passenger seat. She met eyes with the dark-haired woman. "Do you want to come in?"

Yaz drew in a sharp breath. As much as that was tempting, she knew better. Plus, she'd only known Jem a week.

"Nah, you get some rest. I'll see you on Monday, though!" she smiled and watched as Jem walked through the building's dim doors.

Upon getting home, Yaz kicked off her shoes and fell back onto her bed. What the fuck was that?

She had just gone out to socialize with new friends, with no intention to do anything stupid. But, she'd made out with a woman she had met not even a week previously. Worse, she made out with a drunk woman she barely knew. She scolded herself for that, knowing she could have easily turned her down sooner and diffused the situation.

But it felt so nice. Their lips pressed together had been almost perfect. Why did she have to fuck that up? In any other situation, maybe she would have gone up with Jem.

But not tonight. Not when she had had a little too much to drink. Not when Yaz would ultimately regret it and feel mortified every time she walked into the school.

"Oh, god," she groaned. Her coworkers knew, didn't they? They hadn't exactly been discreet, and she'd made the poor choice of wearing a red lip shade.

Flipping the light on in her bathroom, she assessed the damage. Thankfully, her makeup hadn't made a complete mess. Still, there were pink marks around her lips and a small smear down her chin. She quickly removed it, wanting just to forget that it'd ever happened.

It was all she could do to hope that, when Monday came, she wouldn't have to relive this embarrassment.

Of course, forgetting was easier said than done.

"Have a good weekend?" Heather asked with a smirk on Monday morning.

God-fucking-damnit.

"Yeah, do anything fun?" Mark chimed in.

"Not really, no. Mostly just prep for this week." she answered with a tight smile and reddened face.

She busied herself making a mug of tea, hoping she could pretend that nothing had happened between herself and Jem. Hoping that Mark and Heather would drop the subject and leave her be.

Similar conversations occurred over the next few days and weeks. She'd walk into the staff room, check to see that Jem wasn't in, and make her tea in silence. Sometimes, if she did see Jem, she'd immediately walk out.

She knew that her colleagues noticed. She knew they teased, but they were just having fun. Some students seemed to have caught onto the chatter, too. There were words flung around about something happening between Ms. Khan and Ms. Smith. But really, nothing was there.

They caught each other's gazes in the hallway between classes, but Yaz tried her best to avoid staring. Even when Jem wore one of her suits under her coat.

God, those suits.

No, she couldn't be distracted by that. She just needed to focus on her teaching and ignore the little rumors that passed her ears.

Each new day, though, that proved a bit harder.

"G'morning!" smiling eyes startled her.

Yaz kept her eyes on her hands while stirring in her sugar. Why was Jem making this so hard? It wasn't fair. She was so beautiful, just looking at her made Yaz dizzy.

She steadied her breathing and returned the greeting. How was a woman she'd known for a month making her act like a nervous 15 year-old? And why was she already feeling a rush between her legs?

Not fair.

"Listen, can we talk?"

Fuck.

Yaz lifted her face to see Jem waiting for an answer.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Here we go.

Jem led her out of the staff room and into a nearby cupboard, to give them some privacy. Yaz saw her coworkers give a little laugh, and silently cursed them. They really weren't helping the situation.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk-"

Once again, Jem interrupted Yaz with her lips.

She pulled away quickly this time.

"Wait, Jem. We barely know each other."

"I know, it's just...god, you're gorgeous."

"I know you were a little tipsy that Friday. I'm sorry I let that happen, you really don't need to do this." she furrowed her eyebrows. All of this was so confusing, she couldn't tell if she wanted to keep kissing Jem or if she wanted to run away.

Jem shook her head.

"Yaz, I want this. I know we've just met, I know it's maybe too much. But, what's the fun in life if you don't throw caution to the wind sometimes?" her breathing was heavy, and her eyes flicked between Yaz's eyes and lips.

The ground beneath Yaz seemed to start to give way. She couldn't really comprehend what was happening. She'd never felt something so strong for anyone before.

Her logic fought with her wants and caused a flurry in her head.

"I want it too, Jem. But, are you sure? I feel like a kid," she chuckled.

"I know, I do too. I don't know how to act around you, Yaz," Jem rasped.

They were quiet for a bit, hot breaths filling the air around them and doing nothing to quell the arousal building in the pit of Yaz's stomach.

"When I see you in the halls, all I want to do…" Jem trailed off, instead choosing to show Yaz what she was saying.

Her hands pushed Yaz against the back wall of the cupboard. Her wrists were pinned on either side of her head while Jem's mouth met her own. She let out a soft moan, trying her best to keep quiet.

Her hands raked through Jem's blonde hair, holding on as if she would slip away if she let go.

"Wait, wait," Yaz gasped. "Should we really be doing this? Here, in a cupboard?" she laughed.

"Well, unless you want me to take you into the open…"

She shook her head and brought Jem's lips back to her.

Jem's hand made its way toward the hem of Yaz's blouse. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't protest. Being there, in that moment, felt so good. Almost perfect.

She pulled the shirt out from under Yaz's trousers. The contact of her cool hand to hot skin sparked in the air. Another noise left their mouths, a hum to unify their bodies.

Fingers snaked up to her breasts, wasting no time in freeing them from the bra and pinching a stiffened nipple. Jem squeezed and flicked around it, drawing needy breaths from Yaz's throat.

In turn, Yaz reached for the braces connected to Jem's own trousers. She slipped her hand into her underwear, feeling the slick heat that she'd hoped for.

"Shit," Jem breathed. She smiled against Yaz's lips and brought their bodies closer together, giving her partner an easier reach.

Yaz slid her fingers up and down Jem's hot folds. She felt so good, so smooth and fitting and beautiful.

Both of them edged closer and closer to climax, exchanging body heat and purrs for each other.

The only things in existence in that moment were two women indulging themselves in the arousal of the other's body. Not an abandoned mop leaning against the wall. Not the cleaning supplies threatening to fall off of shelves.

Not even the hustle of students arriving to start their school day.

Oh, fuck.

Or, maybe those students did exist, and they were on the other side of the unlocked door behind Jem.

Yaz's rhythm had faltered, but Jem had moved her mouth to her nipples and her hand to her clit. She struggled to keep in a shout as she was brought over the edge, legs trembling and hips bucking.

"Jem," she strained. "How are we going to get out of this?" she was smiling, but truly she was terrified of being found out.

They did their best to fix themselves up quickly before Jem took a look through the door.

"Okay, I'll go first and you can wait a bit."

She turned around and planted another kiss on Yaz's lips.

"But don't think I'm done with you," she husked. Her lowered voice caused Yaz's stomach to flip and heart to race.

She slipped through the door, making sure to check for students or their fellow staff. Throwing a wink behind her, she slinked to her classroom, doing her best to straighten her shirt out before she walked in.

Yaz took a moment to breathe. Wow, she thought. Of all things, she hadn't expected that to happen this morning.

Her mind was elsewhere for the rest of the day. She was far away from herself and her teaching, running on autopilot while her thoughts were filled with Jem's soft moans.

She couldn't wait to continue where they'd left off.