Chapter Nine

Aidan turned around. True enough, Jake was pretending to be interested in his food when he saw Aidan look his way. Aidan grinned when Jake winked at him and showed him a thumbs-up. "Yep, that's Jake," Aidan replied, turning around to face her again, his grin still evident on his face.

Danielle had watched the both of them while Aidan turned around to look at his friend. She saw Jake give Aidan a wink and a thumbs-up, no doubt trying to encourage him. She couldn't help but stifle a laugh, which she quickly hid when Aidan turned back around and tell her about Jake. She listened with interest as he recounted his relationship with Jake right from the day they were born to the present. Inwardly, Danielle wished that she had a friend just like Jake. 'You did. Only she died centuries ago,' her mind answered her unspoken wish. That's right. She used to have a childhood friend, Sarah.

"So, tell me more about you," Aidan asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

Despite her deep thinking, Danielle had heard his question. A hint of a smile lifted the sides of her lips up into a curve. "Are you trying to pick me up?"

Taken aback by her straightforwardness, Aidan let his shock show, only to see Danielle bursting into fits of laughter.

Danielle had initially intended for her question to waylay his thoughts about her personal life, but his response from her question amused her so much that she burst out in laughter. She couldn't control it any longer. She had initially expected him to deny his intentions, but instead, he was shocked to hear her ask him of his intentions. Gathering the last of her wits, Danielle tried her best to stop laughing and look up at him. He had a grin on his face, gazing down gently at her, not one bit insulted or offended by her laughter.

"I'm sorry," Danielle stated. "I didn't mean to laugh at you, it was just that your expression on your face was…"

"Comical," Aidan finished for her, his grin still in place. As soon as he recovered from his shock, he heard bells ringing in the air and realized that it was Danielle's laughter.

"Yes, that was the word I was looking for," Danielle admitted wryly. "Now about my question…"

Noah had dropped Natalie off at her nursery place in the morning before he sped off for work. He by passed Danny's Pizza Parlour and waved at the boys. He wasn't working as a delivery boy today. He was going to be a stand in teacher for the day and if they were happy with his performance today, they might offer to keep him for the week. He had come across this job opportunity when a teacher from the school ordered pizza and he had overheard her saying that they were looking for stand ins. He had went up to her and asked if he could be considered as a candidate. He gave them his qualifications and his contact number and before he knew it, he got the job. Determined to keep the job for at least the week, Noah had taken extra care to dress up today. He rummaged through his wardrobe, along with the help of Natalie, and put on his best outfit. Parking his bike at the parking lot of the school, Noah got down and killed the engine. Taking off his helmet, he noticed people were still streaming in. Feeling oddly misplaced, Noah walked towards the entrance of the school, well aware that he was being stared at, as the voices around him dropped to whispers.

Danielle went to class earlier than usual in a good mood. She had had an enjoyable time chatting with Aidan, or rather, she had a wonderful time coercing him to tell her of his intentions. He had, to her surprise, owned up that he indeed found her intriguing and wanted to get to know her better. She had laughed at his honesty then again, for she never expected him to be honest with her. She had encountered many times when a guy would lie just so to impress her, but of course, she wasn't impressed. In fact, she had put them down within seconds of their lie.

Her classmates started to stroll into the class, ignoring her presence. She was used to that kind of treatment. Afterall, she didn't strive to be popular or to be accepted, her mission was to protect mankind, although she didn't know why she had to save people who don't give a damn about her existence. Shrugging, Danielle continued to work on completing her assignment. She hadn't been able to complete it as she spent the time in the cafeteria talking to Aidan. While she was working on her work, she overheard one of the girls in the school talking about this new guy, who according to their standards, were the most handsome looking male they've ever been across. 'Well,' Danielle thought. 'With the kind of experience you've had, you could well be trusted on your judgment of 'handsome men'.' Smiling to herself, Danielle concentrated on her work, tuning the rest of the class out.

Minutes later, the bell rang, but Danielle was so immersed with her work that she was oblivious to it. Suddenly, the class fell silent, a circumstance that was unusual for her class. Aware that of the awkward silence, Danielle looked up, and for once in her life, words failed her. Standing in the front of the class behind the teachers' table, was the pizza delivery guy. Behind her, she heard one of the girls whispered 'That's him!'. He was the new guy? He didn't look like a student to her, in fact, Danielle thought he was dressed more like a teacher. Which didn't really make sense. He was a pizza delivery boy, and an extremely rude one at that. He couldn't be a teacher. It just didn't make sense.

Noah had reported to the office in the morning and told that there was a change of plans. They needed his help for the rest of the week as one of the teachers had a terrible accident and would be required to be hospitalized and well rested for at least a week. Now instead of replacing one teacher, Noah had to take on the responsibility of two subjects. Glad that he didn't have to worry about impressing the teachers so they'll keep them, Noah walked to his first class with a light heart. The moment he stepped into the classroom, silence fell. He could hear the sound of his boots colliding with the concrete floor as he made his way towards the teacher's table. He placed the duty roaster down on the table, slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants and surveyed the class. Then, he spotted a familiar face. That girl from his pizza delivery. 'What was her name?' Noah tried to put a name to her face but he just couldn't. He could see that she had remembered him from that day as well, and Noah was sure that she had a bad impression on him, for she had the most incredulous look on her face and she was gaping at him. In order to hide that smile that spread across his face, Noah bent down and took the register in his hands, circled the table and sat on the edge of it, with his right leg dangling off the floor.

"I'm Noah Westland," Noah started, looking around the class, vaguely aware that half the female population in the class were trying to flirt with their eyes. "I'm here to replace Mr. Fredman."

"Permanently?" one of the girls asked, as she leaned forward such that her breasts were almost sitting on the table.

Amused that they were trying to seduce him, Noah gently replied. "No. Just for the week. So I'll be taking you guys for his class, as well as Mrs. Glory's class. She's had an accident yesterday and wouldn't be able to attend school for the week."

He paused for a moment, surveying the class once more as he waited for any questions or objections, the latter, he expected from that girl who still hasn't stopped gaping at him. This time, Noah couldn't control himself. He allowed his gaze to stop at her and smiled. Her mouth widened into a gasp that he couldn't hear, but she was obviously outraged that he smiled at her. Careful not to linger at her long enough for the rest of the class to notice, he started to open the register, ticking the names as he recited them out, taking their attendance. Then he saw the name. Danielle. Somehow, the name seemed familiar.

"Danielle," he recited, looking up to see whom the name belonged to. It had felt good to say the name, as if he had been saying the name for centuries now. He looked around the class, waiting for a 'yes' or a hand to shoot up in the air. But there was none. Undaunted, he repeated the name again. There was no response again.

"She's not here?" Noah asked the class, slightly disappointed that he didn't manage to see whom the name belonged to.

"She is," the girl named Nicole answered.

"Then why doesn't she acknowledge her name when I recited it," Noah asked calmly, watching the expressions on their faces.

"She craves attention, that's why," Nicole answered once more. "She always likes to be the apple of the teacher's eye and the center of attention."

"No I do not!" Danielle spurted out indignantly. She turned towards Nicole and gave her a glare. She had been trying to avoid answering to her name because she didn't want that man to know her name, if he already hasn't. But since he didn't expose her, he must not have remembered her name.

"So, you're Danielle," Noah drawled out, bringing her attention to him. He watched as she snapped her head around to stare at him, blue fires trying to burn holes through him. "Why didn't you answer when I called?"

Danielle continued staring at him, still refusing to answer his question. What was she supposed to say? Because I didn't want you to know my name? That would only lead to another question, why. She watched him tick her name before closing the register. He looked at her meaningfully before he got up and went to the board and write an essay question.

"This is your assignment for this lesson. You are to complete this and hand it in to me when the bell rings," Noah said, relaying Mr. Fredman's instructions out to them. Then he turned to Danielle. "Danielle, I would like to speak to you outside of the class. Now." He made sure that his voice did not leave her any space for arguments, as he looked at her and quirked his eyebrow towards the door.

Danielle tried to ignore him as she took out a piece of paper and pretended to be engrossed in copying the question down on paper. But everytime she looked up, she saw him look at her, waiting for her to comply. He didn't reiterate his question again, but merely stood at the table, watching her, waiting for her to obey. Apparently, so was the entire class. They all looked at her, waiting for her to get up and comply. Sighing, Danielle finally gave in. She got up and walked out.

Noah made sure that the class bowed their heads over their paper and returned to their work before he walked out of the class. He saw her waiting outside, with her arms crossed, staring at him with blue fire in her eyes. He stopped, standing just a few feet away from her and crossed his arms, staring at her. She looked like a warrior, with her eyes blazing with fury, her luscious lips tightly pursed, her arms crossed protectively in front of her chest, her hair tied at the nape of her neck. She might just very well kill me if I were to hand her a weapon this instant, Noah mused, waiting for her to speak.