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Chapter: 7

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The classroom was quiet, the entire class bent over their desks, working diligently on their assignments. All but Angela. She had her notebook open but she wasn't working. Ever since the encounter in the library with her secret crush, her unrequited love, her wonderful perfect adorable little Alice, she had found it difficult to concentrate on mundane things like schoolwork. Instead she had her notebook flipped to the back and she was busy doodling lovehearts and little sketches of Alice.

Until someone cleared her throat behind her.

"Miss Webber?"

Angela jumped slightly. Miss Cullen had been strolling the classroom and now she was standing behind Angela, noticing the lovelorn doodles with warm brown eyes and a soft smile of remonstrance gentled. She leaned slightly and kept her voice quiet.

"This is english class," she said. "Not art."

Angela blushed and flipped the notebook back to her work.

"S-sorry, Miss Cullen," she stuttered.

Miss Cullen smiled and touched her shoulder to let her know it was okay and then she continued her stroll through the classroom. Angela eyes flickered up and she happened to noticed how round the woman's hips were under her slim beige skirt before turning her eyes back to her notebook.

Alice was sitting next to her and had looked up but she didn't know what happened.

"Hey," she whispered. "What were you drawing?"

Angela blushed even more and wrapped her arm protectively around her notebook. "Nothing…"

"Come on," Alice grin-whispered. "Let me see."

Angela smiled but she shook her head as if it was no big deal. She didn't want Alice to know how much she liked her. That would only make it feel worse.

"It's alright," she said. "It's nothing."

Alice's smile slipped a little, as if maybe she could guess. Angela glanced at her once or twice, marveling as she always did at how cute the other girl was. Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach and she spoke without really knowing what she was going to say.

"Hey," she whispered. "Were you, um… busy tonight?"

"Not really, just gonna hang out with Leah. Why?"

Angela shrugged awkwardly, glancing about to make sure no one noticed before leaning a little closer. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to study together. We still have that assignment we haven't done. It's not due till Friday, but…"

Alice was already reluctant. Angela didn't know if it was because of the assignment or because of her but she immediately decided to backpedal a bit.

"I just thought we should get it over with, you know?"

Alice shrugged non-committally. "Yeah, I guess."

"We don't have to if you don't want," Angela offered.

"No, no, you're right," Alice said, switching into a smile when she noticed the low-note in Angela's voice. "Best to get it over with. I'll meet you in the dorm after I'm done with Leah, okay?"

Angela nodded, not sure if she should be excited. Bella was sitting on Alice's other side and she had heard most of the conversation. She gave Angela a sympathetic smile and Angela lowered her eyes to her notebook.

—

That night Angela found herself studying alone with Bella. Nobody had seen Alice since she went to see Leah. Angela had texted once but she didn't want to seem needy. Now she sighed heavily.

"Guess Alice is having fun with Leah," she said.

Bella had been concentrating on her work. Now she looked up. They were sitting on Bella's bed and Angela was gazing sadly across the room at Alice's bed, as if she had pictured a night of studying over there instead of here.

"Guess so," Bella said.

"Do you think they're dating?" Angela asked. "Or are they just…?"

Bella snorted a small chuckle. "Alice doesn't really date."

"Yeah," Angela said vaguely.

Bella looked at her for a minute. She had hardly done any of her assignment and she had seemed really down lately. They'd only known each other for a few weeks but they had become pretty good friends. Bella even called her by her nickname sometimes.

"You okay, Ange?" she asked.

Angela realized she must've been acting weird and she didn't want Bella to worry. "Yeah," she said, "I'm fine, I just don't really feel like studying right now. Actually, I think I might go to bed. I'm kind of tired. I'll get the assignment finished tomorrow."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, sorry," Angela said, already gathering up her books. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Bella nodded. Angela flashed her a don't-worry-about-me smile and then she hopped off the bed and went back to her room.

She set her books on the dresser and opened the top drawer, where she kept her secret treasure, the portrait of Alice. She took it out from under her folded clothes and gazed at it for a little bit. Usually she'd place a little kiss on it, as if to reaffirm her unrequited devotion, but this time she only folded it and put it back.

—

Soon it was Friday and Angela still hadn't done her assignment. She felt ashamed but she just hadn't felt like it. She sat through class with the nerves gnawing at her stomach and she hoped she'd be able to slip out after the class was over.

The bell rang and Angela quickly gathered her books. Miss Cullen was sitting at her desk. She had been watching Angela for a few days and she had noticed the girl seemed a little down lately. She had also noticed that she hadn't handed in her assignment yet and she called to her as the class was filing out.

"Miss Webber?"

Angela gulped and wandered over to the desk, clutching her books at her chest. Miss Cullen was swiveled slightly in her office chair and she had her legs crossed, the slategray fabric of her skirt stretched tightly around her full thighs. Angela glanced quickly and quickly lifted her eyes back to the teacher's face.

"Um, yes?"

"Your assignment," said Miss Cullen. "I don't think you've handed yours in yet."

"Actually, I, um…haven't done it."

Miss Cullen raised her eyebrows. She was wearing gold rimmed glasses and she looked really beautiful this morning. Angela blushed and looked down guiltily. It was the first time she had ever been behind in her schoolwork and she really liked Miss Cullen so it felt awful to disappoint her.

"I see," said Miss Cullen. "Well, what's the problem?"

"Um, nothing really, just…"

Angela didn't know what to say. She shrugged awkwardly. She really didn't have any excuse and she had never been good at lying. So she decided to tell the truth.

"I'm just a little depressed lately," she admitted.

Miss Cullen smiled and recrossed her legs, shifting slightly in her chair. In her professional looking skirtsuit she almost looked like a psychiatrist.

"May I ask why?" she inquired.

Angela looked down sadly. "Alice doesn't like me."

"I thought you two were good friends?"

"We are, and I really like her, but…she doesn't like me the same way."

Angela was blushing, so embarrassed. Miss Cullen smiled and cleared her throat, adjusting her glasses as if to hide the smile. As if she had heard all the excuses before but this one might've been the cutest.

"I see," she said. "Well, that's very unfortunate, but it's not really an excuse for not doing your homework."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"I'll give you till Monday, is that understood?"

"Yes," Angela said, already feeling a tremendous weight lifting from her chest. "Thank you, Miss Cullen."

"You're welcome," Miss Cullen said, and then she stood up and placed a hand on Angela's shoulder, giving it a small caress. "And try to cheer up, okay? You're a bright, beautiful, amazing young woman. You'll find someone to love you soon enough."

Angela felt something flutter through her body. She blinked bashfully and blushed. Her shoulder was tingling where the teacher touched it.

"T-thanks," she stuttered.

Miss Cullen gave her a warm smile and a final caress. Angela was still hugging her books to her chest and now she backed away from the hand and toward the door. She turned around and she glanced once over her shoulder before disappearing out into the corridor.

—

Alice was free that night and Angela finally had her chance to study together. They were sitting on Alice's bed, just the two of them, but she found herself even more distracted than ever. There was a silly smile floating about her face and she was hardly even listening to Alice.

"Leah's so awesome," Alice was saying. "I was staring at her so much during cheer practice that I almost knocked myself out with a baton."

"Mmm," Angela murmured.

Alice had been focused on the notebook in her lap but now she looked up at Angela's distracted tone. Her brow puckered; she wasn't used to being ignored.

"You okay, Ange?" she asked. "You seem a little distracted."

Angela looked up, as if only just now realizing Alice was talking to her. "Hmm? Oh, I'm okay," she said. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

Angela blushed. She was thinking about caramel colored hair and pretty glasses and sleek skirtsuits and womanly perfume. Alice blinked at her curiously, cute as always, but Angela just shook her head.

"Nothing," she said, and then she bent to her notebook, determined to get the assignment done for Miss Cullen.

—

There was an English class early Monday morning and Miss Cullen looked up from her desk as the girls began to file in. Her eyes met Angela's, almost as if they had been looking for each other, and Angela blushed, cute and awkward in her blouse and navy blue miniskirt. They both smiled behind their glasses and the girl approached the desk to hand over her overdue assignment.

"Here's the assignment," she said. "Thanks for the extension."

"You're welcome, Miss Webber," said Miss Cullen, taking the sheet of paper. Angela shivered as their fingers brushed and the teacher smiled. "And in the future," she added, "if you ever need help with homework, you come directly to me. I'd be happy to help in any way that I can."

"Okay," Angela said, nodding happily. She glanced at the class as the other girls were taking their seats. Bella and Jessica were arguing over who gets to sit next to Alice but Angela didn't really mind. She turned back to Miss Cullen shyly. "So, um…when's the next assignment?" she asked, looking forward to being tutored.

Miss Cullen smiled and rose from her desk, smoothing her skirt over her hips before reaching to caress Angela's shoulder as she had done before.

"Soon," she said. "Now why don't you sit down and we can get the class started?"

Angela nodded, blushing and tingling, and went to take her seat. Miss Cullen had turned to the whiteboard and Angela spent a long time gazing wistfully at the taut fabric stretched across the seat of the older woman's skirt.

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AN: Just a quick little chapter, mostly so I can say Happy Holidays quickly. So, um…Happy Holidays, lol. ;)