Evan's heart seemed to beat a bit faster just by the mere presence of his Sociology teacher. With that in mind, it was hard for the flustered teen to resist the urge to continuously pound a fisted hand into his chest until the beating went back to it's original pace.

"So boys, everything going according to plan?" Edge questioned as he took a small sip of his beverage.

"Well, I didn't expect that kind of impression..."

"I did."

Giving the younger boy a sideways glare, John continued where he had previously left off. "Like I said, didn't really think someone would do such a thing really, but I guess given the circumstances..."

"What are you talking about?" Evan threw his arms in the air dramatically. "What circumstances? You both holding out on me or something?"

Giving Evan an amused smile, Edge proceeded to ruffle the juniors black strands., which didn't seem to help Evan's heart racing problems, instead it went a little faster at their current proximity. "How about we sit and talk for awhile, I'll even buy you guys a little something from the stands."

Evan opened his mouth to, kindly, decline but it seemed that John had other idea's. "Get me a sub of any kind and I'm soooo in!" Did Evan ever tell you how much he sometimes wished he could smack John and get away with it? No? Well he did.

Looking at the youngest of the group Edge rose a brow, that in it's own words asked 'And you?' Evan sighed at this, he wouldn't be able to get out of this one, he didn't want to do anything that would upset Edge... "I guess, just sweet and sour chicken from that Chinese place over there."

"Alright, find us a seat and we'll be ready to mingle in a bit." With a twitch of his lips towards the two boys he went off to his assigned stands to get the boys what they had pacifically asked for. Evan watched him as he went, his eyes roaming the body that clothes seemed to just cling to in all the right places.

"Hey, stop staring at the teachers ass and sit down already."

Evan flustered at the accusation. "I wasn't! I was looking around him! The walls here are very enticing!" John rolled his eyes which just made Evan all the more red in the face. "I'm serious!" With a quirk of John's brow Evan was sent over the red river of embarrassment. "Your so mean."

John chuckled at his, forever dubbed, tomato of a friend. He could never help but poke fun at his friends, especially when he knew the special weakness of the other~ Hey, if you know something juicy why not exploit it?

After moments of senseless babel from the two high schooler's, (mostly at Evan's expense.) Edge had finally returned with their food.

"It's official, your my favorite teacher EVER!" John quickly snapped a bite of his sub hungrily, relishing in it's delicious taste.

Evan took small tentative bites of his chicken, feeling awkward around the man who's making his mind go into shambles and his heart speed up at an annoyingly fast pace, and also a bit guilty for letting him spend money on food he didn't necessarily need. After a few moments of poking at his food, and listening to John and Edge carry on a conversation, Evan had remembered the questions he wished to ask. "So are we gonna talk about what happened earlier? Because I'm still stumped."

The two other occupants at the table gave Evan a glance before they looked at each other. Edge gave John a reassuring nod, confusing the poor ebony haired boy even more.

"Do you know the reason why that lady acted the way she did?" John ask, generally curious as he turned to get a better look at his best friend.

"Not really, I guess, I just took her for a bitc- very mean lady." Evan quickly corrected himself which seemed to amuse the all to laid back off duty teacher.

"She wasn't angry at us." Evan rose a brow at John's certainty. "She was mad at someone else, but instead of taking out her frustrations in a different way, she took it out on us and possibly others."

With a roll of his eyes Evan retorted. "And this disproves she's a mean lady why?"

"I'm not saying I approve of what she's doing, but I can understand that she's going through a rough time, or did. It's hard to be nice 24/7 especially when your hurting inside." Evan's body tensed as he saw that sympathetic look in his friends eyes that seemed to be directed towards him. "I can tell she must have gotten out of relationship with a man, and seeing the way she acted towards us...well he must have left her for another man. Which would explain why she was so hostile about "us""

"How..." Evan bit his lip in thought. "How can you tell?"

"Her stance." Was John's simple answer. "Please don't ask me how I can tell." He interrupted Evan before he could even open his mouth to ask just that. "A person's stance tells me a story, that's the only way I can explain it. Some people like to call it a weird gift I have."

"A gift huh? Like being psychic or something? Dude can you tell my future!" Pushing away from his chair, Evan took a proud stance in from of his bewildered friend.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking a stance, duh."

Edge couldn't contain his laughter, this young man was just to much for him to bear. "You're something else Evan." He complimented as best he could.

Evan blushed, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Thanks?" Forcing himself to not look at the elder, his eyes darted around. They stopped as they reached a clock that ticked away mindlessly. It was getting late... "Well, it was fun, but we gotta go."

"What? Why?" John pestered, the fun was just getting started, and now Evan wanted to leave all of a sudden?

"We still gotta do our project remember?" Crossing his arms Evan gave the other a look that he didn't voice 'Just drop it. Let's go.'

"We can always do it tomorrow man, no need to hurry." John could easily see the anxiety that Evan was trying to conceal. And maybe, just maybe, if he pushed the subject just a bit, he could finally get some answers to his friends constant unusual behavior. Though he already had a small hunch as to just exactly the reason's why...

"Um...I can't." Smooth. "I have this, thing, concerning my family tomorrow..."

John looked up, his narrowed eyes connected with Evan's shaky soft blue iris's. "Why didn't you tell me earlier you had something to do tomorrow. If I'd of know that I wouldn't be wasting your time."

Body jolting in surprise, Evan shifted from right foot to left, no one ever cared enough to push him so hard into confessing, and because of that he didn't know whither to be flattered, or pissed off. "Sorry, it just slipped my mind." This just made John all the more suspicious. "Ok come on man you've been acting strange since day one, is something going on? At school? ….Home?"

Evan slammed his fists down onto the table, having enough of John's persistent questions. "It's none of your damn business! I already told you I'll tell you when I'm ready didn't I!" Time seemed to freeze as realization of his whereabouts finally dawned on him. He wasn't in some confined room with just him and John, he was in a mall, SURROUNDED by people, people who just love listening in on others conversations. John stared at him guiltily, he didn't mean to push his friend this far, he just wished Evan would just confine in him, maybe he could help protect him from whatever plagued his everyday routine.

The youngest of the group didn't know what to do, all eyes seemed to be on him and he had no idea of what to say or how to fix such a situation. He hugged himself close, nervousness creeping, that is, until he felt a warm comforting hand envelope his shoulder. Looking up he stared into the smiling face of his beloved teacher, Edge.

"Hey, Johnny I'm gonna borrow your friend here for a moment k?" John just nodded solemnly, just watching as his best friend and best teacher walked away from site, for the time being.

Even stared downward, just staring at the floor with an almost fascinated look but was far from such an emotion. "Hey don't look so glum." Edge comforted as he patted his student on the back for support. "So what if you blew up back there, from your sort of attitude I would have guessed you were the type who didn't care about the ideas of others." Even puffed out his cheeks to form a pout of a sort. "I DON'T care." Edge chuckled a bit at the tough guy facade the other insisted on holding up.

"Alright, alright I understand. But I hope you don't start being to hard on John, from what I see you've got a true friend there, one that's dedicated on looking out for you." Even frowned slightly, not really keen on the idea of being 'protected'. "I can take care of myself..." Edge's smile never left his lips. "Yeah, we can all take care of ourselves every once in awhile, but, it does feel nice knowing you have someone to fall back on, someone to be by your side, ya know?" Evan nodded, the man's words ringing true even in his own ears.

A small comforting silence enveloped both man and teen as they walked along side by side. "Yeah...You're right. It's just...kinda hard to get used to I guess. I never had someone my own age care about me so much." Evan was stopped in his tracks, being pulled in a certain direction he now faced Edge, looking up he gave his teacher a questioning look. "Ya know, you remind me of myself sometimes kid." The kid comment seemed to have earned him a disapproving pout. "But if you ever need some friendly advice or if anythings bothering you that you can't seem to tell another of your own age group, you can always come to me, ok?" Evan paused, thinking it over, wondering if he could just so easily trust the blond before him, but as Edge looked down upon him with those sparkling green eyes, he just couldn't seem to say no to such an offer. "Alright, but no more calling me kid again got that teach?"

"Sure, on one condition. Stop falling asleep in my class." Evan chuckled softly but stopped once he saw that charming smile his teacher was directing his way, a smile that was meant just for him. He didn't know what to do, and he couldn't seem to just STOP staring! His cheeks began to burn with an intense blush, tearing his eyes away from his teacher he took to staring down at the floor once more. His knees felt weak, and he forced them not to buckle.

Edge gave his student a puzzling look before shrugging it off entirely and patting him on the shoulder in amusement. "Well it's best we get back to John, you both got a project to finish."

"Yeah, yeah." Evan's heart fluttered obnoxiously at the touch. Seriously out of all the people in the entire school, the entire earths friggen population, why, just why, did he have to develop a crush on a teacher! And strangely enough this crush just seemed to keep on developing. Rubbing his temple, Evan wondered if he would have the ability to grow out of it.

John sighed as he swirled the ice in his cup with his none flexible straw. It's been awhile since Edge left with Evan, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't worried. So to say the least, when he saw them both approaching a wave a relief rippled through his body.

Taking a moment to study the teen next to the man he concluded that his friend seemed to be in a better mood then before, he seemed to actually be calmer... And if that bright blush on his face was any indication, something very interesting must have happened between the two.

"Hey what took ya?" John asked once both Evan and Edge reached within an ear shot range. "And why does he look like a ripe tomato?" Evan didn't seem to like that accusation as John found himself being lashed out at, but this time with a lighter mood being set. John smiled at his friend before hugging him close. "Come on man I was just curious, it's never every day you see your bestie blush like one of those anime high school girls."

"Oh can it will ya!" Evan thrashed around in his friends arm's, which just seemed to make the buzzed cut teen hug him tighter and coo as his face seemed to blaze. "If you get any brighter you'll turn into one of those glow babies."

Edge crossed his arm's watching as John and Evan made a scene in the middle of mall. It was a funny site that was for sure, very uplifting might he add. "Well boy's I best be heading out. Papers to grade, boring teacher stuff ya know?"

"Awww already?" John all but whined before finally accepting his teachers departure. Shaking the man's hand he said his own goodbyes.

Then, it was Evan's turn. The poor teen was reluctant to shake Edge's hand as John did, Edge just touching his back sent his heart racing, what would skin to skin contact do? Not wanting to show the kind hearted man any sort of rudeness, he held out his hand. The elders larder calloused hand slipped into his oh so nicely. The rough skin felt nice against his smooth, and for a moment Evan found himself just memorizing the curves and dips of his palm. "Um, yeah, see ya later." Quickly he snatched his hand away and settled with giving the blond a small shy smile.

Smiling back, Edge turned on heels and left without another word. Even's blushed seemed to return as he watched his teacher walk away so smoothly, he just looked so cool striding away like he owned the place. Silently, he wondered if the man was doing such a thing on purpose.

"Pfft...You look like a tomato again," Aaaaand now the moment's ruined. "Damn you John..."

The night went on, the project ended with, a man this time, very much unwilling to sell two teenaged boys a wedding band, but still wanting a job to go to everyday, he showed them around. Because of this Evan still gave the man a hard time, John tried his best to contain him, but once Evan was set lose their was just no use.

So there Evan was, laying on his soft mattress, staring up at his plain white ceiling, just thinking about that dazzling smile Edge sent his way. The man was just so beautiful and perfect in every way, something Evan thought impossible to gain but there it was today, staring him right in the eyes.

Evan's never been in love before, and he was starting to wonder if this is what it felt like. Blushing lightly he growled at such a pathetic emotion, nobody knew what love was, and Evan refused to believe that he himself could fall so deeply into such a useless emotion. From the evidence with his parents, he suspected their was no such thing as love! Yet...Edge seemed to make him feel something similar to the subject of, love.

Blushing madly he griped his pillow from under him and proceeded to smother himself with it. i'I fucking hate crushes!'/i

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Authors notes

Hey everyone! I know it's been awhile since I've posted a chapter! I'm sorry about that but I'm in my last year of high school and I've been just trying to get through it, and I've been looking up collages and stuff and it's just been a bit hectic. I'll try to get a rhythm again with postin updates on this story but if I can't I hope you guys will be patient with me! Thanks so far! And I hope you enjoy this chapter.