CB and Lainey share some stolen moments in his classroom despite being interrupted several times.

~.~

"You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long?"

~ Alanis Morissette, "Head Over Feet" (1995)

~.~

She leans against the doorframe of his classroom after the final bell and crosses her arms over her chest. He's busy grading papers at his desk.

She watches him for a few fleeting seconds, noticing how the afternoon sunlight shining in through the windows reflects off his brown hair. The way his expression looks so calculated and focused on the task at hand. The way his long fingers grip the pen in his right hand.

He's so handsome, she tells herself. And he's all mine.

She can hardly believe it's only been several hours since she realized how deeply she felt for him. It's as if she's kept those feelings locked away for months, ever since Valentine's Day. She's always known in her heart that something just wasn't right in her relationship with Barry, and now she finally has her answer. He's been right here all along.

And the way he kissed her and touched her while they were in the janitor's closet during lunch… her mind is still amazed by how glorious his lips and hands felt against her skin. She hopes it's only a preview of the many spoils yet to come.

"You're drooling, Lewis." The smile etches across his face, but he doesn't look up from the papers he's grading.

She rolls her eyes and walks toward him. She leans down and embraces him from behind, placing a single kiss to his right cheek.

"I missed you," she whispers, burying her head in his neck, and he reaches up, hugging her arms tenderly.

"I missed you too." He turns his head and kisses her sweetly on the side of her head.

"Lots of papers to grade today?"

"Just a few." He pivots in his chair, pulling her sideways into his lap, and she wraps her arms around his shoulders. "Nothing that can't wait 'til later, though."

"Ugh, you still reek of that gross vomit dust," she observes, wrinkling her nose at him. Ever since the closet incident earlier that day, she's had enough of that smell to last a lifetime.

"Sorry. Yeah, definitely taking a shower when I get home," he says and nuzzles her nose.

"I'd very much like to see that… or join you for that matter." She gives him a seductive grin, running her forefinger over his jawline.

"Don't give me ideas, Miss Lewis." His eyes glow with a certain glint of mischief. "I may have to take you up on them."

"Oh, I have ideas all right, Mr. Brown." She leans down to brush her lips across his. "Many, many ideas..."

He groans as their lips meet and pulls her closer, his hands pressing against the small of her back. Her hands run up his neck to cup the sides of his face, and she loves the way his afternoon scruff tickles her fingers as she goes. She takes over this time, tracing his bottom lip and slipping her tongue into his mouth. He tastes like coffee and mint, and she relishes in every passing second their lips are joined together.

Someone loudly clears their throat behind them.

"I hope this isn't a bad time."

It's a female voice she doesn't quite recognize. A very angry female voice.

Lainey quickly dismounts him, and CB stands up from his chair, surprised.

"Oh, uh… Paloma!" His eyes dart back and forth from her to Lainey. "What a nice surprise! You know Lainey Lewis, our, um, music teacher?"

"Hi." Lainey half-smiles at her, waving.

"Charmed, I'm sure," Paloma says furiously, giving Lainey a glare of death, and crosses her arms over her chest. "CB, what the hell is going on here?"

CB's face has turned beet-red. Lainey can't help but to suppress a giggle behind her hand.

"Uh, Miss Lewis, would you mind leaving us for a few minutes?"

"Of course, it's nice to meet you… Paloma, is it?" Lainey walks toward her and offers her an outstretched hand.

Paloma stares at her hand and then back up at her face, unperturbed. Lainey can feel the proverbial daggers flying from Paloma's brown eyes straight into her heart.

"No? Okay, well, I'll leave you to it." She grits her teeth at CB and exits the room, but decides to listen in on their conversation.

She waits just outside his classroom with her back to the wall.

"Paloma, let me explain," she hears him begin.

"Save it, CB," Paloma spats at him. "That's the famous Lainey, huh? The girl you had a crush on?"

"Yes, but-"

"You told me you were over her! That you two were just friends! How stupid do you think I am?"

"I'm sorry, Paloma, but things have changed between us recently and I-"

"How could you do this to me? I thought you were different. I thought you were one of the good guys!"

"I am. It's just-"

"You asshole!"

Lainey curiously peeks her head inside the classroom, only to see the blur of Paloma's hand as it smacks right across CB's left cheek. Her mouth falls open in shock.

"And you!" Paloma turns her attention to Lainey, narrowing her eyes.

Lainey immediately feels her hackles stand on end.

"I hope you're happy, you… you homewrecker!"

Paloma storms out of the room, and Lainey watches her race down the hall toward the entrance, barreling past anyone who gets in her way.

Lainey yells after her, puffing up her chest, "Yeah, well, serves you right for… yeah, I got nothing."

She throws up her hands and sighs, hurrying back into the room to attend to CB. He's sitting on the edge of his desk with his right hand clutching his cheek.

"A simple 'bitch' would've sufficed. But homewrecker?" She scoffs and rushes over to him. "I'm so sorry, CB. Does it hurt? Do you need ice? Need me to kick her ass for you?"

She smiles and lifts up on her toes, pressing a healing kiss to his cheek.

"No, there's no need." He chuckles. "It hurts, but… it was totally worth it."

"Why? She seemed super pissed. You know those environmental types. She'll probably slash my tires on the way out and claim it was some protest against fossil fuels or something."

"Lainey," he says softly and reaches down to slip his hand into hers. "It was worth it because now I've got all I've ever wanted."

He brings her hand to his lips and places a sweet kiss across her knuckles, never taking his eyes off her.

She forgets to breathe; she's completely at a loss for words. She's always known he's felt this way about her, ever since the Titanic experiment. He's just never come out and actually said it until now.

"I want you too," she finally manages to put her own feelings into words.

He pulls her to him, and they kiss slowly and tenderly, lips gliding over lips. Her fingers rake into his hair, and she feels her heart blooming with everlasting love for the man whose lips are now worshipping hers. It's the most exhilarating feeling on Earth.

"Well, I guess that solves the mystery as to why you two have been acting strangely all day," Wilma suddenly makes her presence known.

They quickly pull apart, and Lainey wipes her lips with the back of her hand. She inwardly screams at the universe for interrupting them for the upteenth time today.

"Oh, please don't stop on my account," Wilma says, holding up her hands, a shit-eating grin on her face. "Just wanted to see why Paloma stormed outta here like a bat outta hell… and now, I can definitely see why."

"Well, I just told her I found someone else." CB gives Lainey a sweet smile and winks at her. She mirrors his grin, feeling the blush in her cheeks.

"It's about damn time if you ask me," Wilma says and turns to leave. "Well, I've got lab materials to set up for tomorrow, so I'll let you two get back to it."

"Thanks, Wilma!" CB calls after her.

Lainey turns back to him, settling in between his legs, and rests her hands on her shoulders. He wraps his arms around her waist.

"Now, where were we?" he asks, staring up at her as if she's the most beautiful woman on the planet.

She leans her head down.

"Right about…" She stops right above his lips, sensing something's just not right, and rolls her eyes. "Wilma, do you mind?"

"Sorry, I'll just be leaving now." Wilma peeks her head back in the classroom, but she doesn't leave.

"Wilma!" He yells in frustration.

"Ugh, fine! Really going this time," Wilma relents, shrugging, and ducks her head out of the classroom.

Satisfied that Wilma has truly left, Lainey sighs.

"Great. Now the whole school will know about us tomorrow."

"I don't care. I want the whole world to know." He slinks his arms tighter around her waist. He's got that look in his eyes again as if the rest of the world has faded away and there's only the two of them.

She doesn't know what to say. Her heart sings at his words, and she can feel the utter elation radiating off every fiber of his being.

"Come to my place tonight. I want to cook you dinner," he says sweetly.

"I'd love to, but… I really should talk to Barry first." She bites her lip, hoping he'll understand.

Now that he's dealt with Paloma, it's her turn to handle the Barry situation. She doesn't want to go any further with CB until she's had a chance to break things off with him.

"I guess you're right." He looks slightly disappointed. "What are you going to say to him?"

"Not sure, but I'll think of something." She lets out a long sigh.

"He's really gonna hate my guts after this," he laments.

"Better hope the JTP doesn't find out."

"Oh, I'm shaking in my boots."

"You should be. They can be rather protective of Barry." She giggles, but then she sobers, tears forming in her eyes. "I just don't want to hurt him, you know? We've had so much history, and I've broken his heart so many times..."

"You know, Lainey, if you want to hold off for a while, we can wait…"

"NO!" She grabs both sides of his face, looking into his eyes. "No more waiting. I want you, CB. Besides, you've waited for me long enough."

"I'd wait a lifetime for you if I had to." His eyes sparkle as he speaks.

She closes her eyes. He always knows just the right words to say, and she knows he means every word.

"You're too good for me," she tells him, opening her eyes, and shakes her head.

"I am." He laughs. "But you're perfect for me."

"Please stop saying such romantic things." She slaps him lightly on the shoulder. "It's quite nauseating."

"You love it and you know it." He kisses her on the tip of her nose.

She rolls her eyes, smiling coyly at him. "Maybe, I do."

They then share a sweet, lingering kiss.

"Uh, I really hate to go, but I have marching band practice in five minutes." She pulls back after several seconds of liplock, glancing at the clock. "See you tomorrow?"

"Can't wait, Miss Lewis." He grins.

She moves to leave, but he pulls her back by her right hand.

"Lainey?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you… for taking a chance on me." He looks down at his hand holding hers and then back up at her face.

"No problem. It's something I should've done a long time ago." And she means it with all of her heart. She hates the fact that she's kept him waiting this long. She hopes to make up for all that heartache soon enough.

He smiles and nods. He's biting his lower lip in that adorable little way she's always loved. She squeezes his hand, slowly letting their fingers unwind as she leaves.

She crosses the hall to her classroom, knowing she's not taking a chance on him at all. She's truly found the one for her.

~.~

*sighs dreamily* I love writing them as a couple. Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading! ~ Dazzy xxoo