A/N: I don't have that much to say. Surprise Surprise! Lol. :D

I'm sorry I didn't get this out last week; I had kind of an unfocused week so this was honestly last on my mind until I got home each day. Anyway, thank you sooooooo much for your reviews. :D

I've been fixing this chapter since last week and honestly, I'm getting sick of it, so I have to post or I am going to drive myself insane. :D I almost kind of hate it.

Oh, you know the preview from the last chapter and how I said that you might hate me? Well, I kept writing and I hated the idea I had, so I scratched it. So what I thought you might hate me for isn't in the chapter anymore. :D

BUT, something similar will happen, I just realized it didn't work and it was too early for something (to the effect that I had) to happen.

Oh yeah, I wrote these Thanks last week at like 4 in the morning (all except JommyIS4everand funnechick and chocolateelephantz), so if I sound delirious, it's probably because I was. I usually write them when I'm almost done with the chapter (to kind of give me extra inspiration), and last week I thought I was done, but obviously I wasn't. Sorry!

Disclaimer: I do not own Langston Hughes nor do I own his essay, "Theme For English B" (but I do love it :D). Oh and I don't own the movie, School of Rock, either. And, I don't own Paris Hilton (Thank Goodness…BARF!). I personally can't stand her, but I couldn't think of anyone else, so yeah…:D

THANKS:

Carlz02: LOL! Don't stop. :D It's Tommy; I think a lot of the stuff people make him say mean more than whatever is at face value. :D The Winker? Yeah, his winks were okay, nothing like Tommy's. WOW!? Really? That's so awesome! Thank you for "heart"ing this story. You get another convo between the two of them in this chapter too, but it's a little different. :D

scrubslover: He couldn't help it; not after her comment. They are more alike than I think they like to admit sometimes. :D I wholeheartedly believe Tommy is metro. I can't help it, I just do. He's too good-looking not to be. Lol. ;D The intensity is deepening, but if they aren't careful it could slip between their fingers. I thought about them kissing, but that thought soon passed a split second later. That would have been too easy. And I am not easy! Not usually. :D I like previews!

Camsma: Thank you! I like when they interact too. It is a funny thing. I agree, you can't make Jomminess right away; totally takes the fun out of it cause they are such unique characters. Although I think that, I do think that they should STAY together once it happens. Breaking them up always makes me sad. :[ Lol. :D You're not crazy; it makes it more realistic.

up14: Yay for the last chapter rocking. :D I am updating now!

love2burn4tim: Thank you for loving the post! Aww…I don't mean to, it just happens! I look forward to that in every story! Flirting is their forte (for now :D). I'm updating now!

ihearttq: Yay for WOW! I don't think this chapter will have the same WOW-ness, but maybe the next one when you see our pair outside of school altogether (check the preview!). I'm posting!

charley07: YAY for a new chapter! I had to put Darius as principal. He fits that stereotype very well. Kissing in the third chapter? What?! It could've happened, but there would have been repercussions. So I'll wait. I can't wait for whatever you do next! Thank you for adoring this! I still sometimes wonder how I am going to write this out, but I have an idea. :D

101ISFAN: MORE is here now!

cecapo3610: Speechless? Shut up! Wait, that doesn't work. :D YAY! I can't believe that. That's awesome! Honestly, I thought the last chapter was nice, but thank you for thinking it was amazing. :D

Sixte3n Candl3s: Lol. It's okay. I'm slow sometimes too. :D Okay, I edited the prologue, but the very first chapter I think I'm just going to leave it the same way, not that I don't appreciate the feedback. No offense taken, of course. Tommy is metro, I swear! Lol. Lip gloss? Really? And I thought I paid pretty decent attention to his lips. Man, I'll have to check that out. :D Oh that line?! Yeah, I was a bit apprehensive writing that in since it's so early, but then I realized I had to get that out there; so that Jude knew what she was getting herself into, you know? Typos? Well, I edit it every chapter on my own and I read it out loud and everything (which gets me curious stares :D), so I'm sorry. It's usually late when I do it. But at least it was good. And something I just realized (which shows how slow I am), you have a nickname like Nine. You're SIX! I LOVE IT! Lol. Its 2am, sorry for my outbursts. :D

love4jommy: Thank you for loving it! A true gift? Wow! I think I'm blushing now. :D Lol. Tommy going after Sadie? Sexy Sadie? Nope. Not her. I don't think I actually said it specifically, but I have Sadie around the same age as she is on the show; she is technically a sophomore in college as Jude is a senior in high school now. Tommy is older. That's all I'll say. :D Tommy does belong with Jude, but who gets in the way of that is always in question (which is pretty much the biggest topic touched in this chapter! And some subsequent ones as well. :D). I am posting and I will try and keep up the good work! Thanks!

JommyIS4ever: Thank you for loving it! I will definitely keep it going. Your more is here now. :D

funnechick: Aww! Thanks! I agree, but I'm also into the whole "love is love" kind of thing. However, I don't really know how you define love, it's just this thing. This thing that we love to love. :D I would never condone a child being with an adult (but those lines are always blurred when someone is 17 and the other is 18 or whatever…so I don't know). Anyway, thank you for loving this. :D AHAHAHA! You're making me blush! That's awesome! I'm updating now and I hope you like it!

chocolateelephantz: Thanks! That's Tommy for you. :D Thanks for loving it! Yeah, almost. Karma? Nope. It's…well, the other one. :D LOL. Scared? Sorry! Thanks for loving this!

I hope you guys like this chapter!

A/N: at the bottom (It's another preview!) :D

R&R or R&L please.

THANKS MUCHO!!

"After School":

Jamie's eyes widened incredibly. "My my, Harrison," he commented, playfully pushing his best friend. "You are changing before my very eyes. This could be good."

Jude stopped at the intersection as the light turned red. "I hope so. I really hope so," she whispered into the air. She had hope. And she hoped that that was enough.

Don't Stand So Close To Me

Chapter 4

"One Page"

Her legs were crossed underneath her desk, her elbows perched on the edge with her chin neatly held up by her hands. She gazed out into the room, her eyes on the carpet, her focus somewhere else altogether.

She was tired, her eyes showing her lack of sleep. Because of him. And their conversation.

She was now sitting in class with a sore neck and a mind that was completely frazzled. All from one sentence.

"My favorite curse word is fuck."

She remembered the feeling of his warm breath on her exposed skin and she shuddered. She licked her lips, remembering the way his had looked. How warm they seemed in the cold. How much she had wanted it. Too much in fact. And it scared her.

This is so not the time, Jude, she thought.

She had entered the class timidly once she noticed he was already there. But he never looked at her. It was as if he was avoiding her altogether and it made her extremely nervous.

The class was abuzz with noise, talking about how their classes went the day before and what they might be expected to do in Mr. Quincy's class.

His back was to her. Again. His eyes on the white wall in front of him. His fingers lazily tracing the top of his Starbucks cup. Completely out of character for him, he didn't know how to approach the situation anymore. Everything about the day before was what he had wanted, but for some reason, he had a hankering that it was wrong. Bad timing wrong. He felt it was as if he blinked and it would all be gone in a second. Someone would snatch up what he had worked so hard for.

The bell silenced his thoughts. He turned in his chair and faced the room, placing his arms at his side; the green in his shirt contrasting with the black leather he sat on. It became silent instantly. Then the door opened and slammed shut, a burst of cold air sweeping through.

He glanced to his left and saw her walk in. The class turned its focus on the new inhabitant. She sauntered to the front of the room, her tan legs reflecting the light from the ceiling. She handed him a blue piece of paper and waited patiently, albeit excited.

He took it from her and scanned the scrap of paper for any important information, realizing it was schedule. A new schedule. On the left side was an old schedule and on the right, the revised one. He checked fifth period and saw his name on the right side of the piece of paper.

She was a new student.

He nodded silently and pointed behind her to a desk. He handed her the piece of paper, which she took graciously. She turned and sashayed to the appointed desk.

Trying as hard as he might, he couldn't look away. Try being the operative word.

He cleared his throat loudly and the class turned its focus back to the front of the room.

"Come to me after class for a syllabus."

In her seat, she leaned to the side, smiling, and nodded. He returned the gesture as professionally as possible, but he was having a hard time being professional.

She sat back in her chair and her smile turned into a smirk. This should be fun, she thought. Karma is going to be so proud.

When the door slammed shut, her eyes gazed up. He had turned around and was facing the class, but there was someone else there. A girl.

Jude focused on the sight in front of her and had almost been unfazed. Almost.

The air was different now and Jude was anything but happy.

She noticed his eyes following the student back to her seat as she walked. Jude had a feeling she wasn't the only one. But she hoped she was.

As he spoke to the new student, Jude also noticed something in her eyes. Jude felt her entire body heat as if someone had lit a fire underneath her chair. The feeling was something she rarely experienced. She didn't have a word for it. Then she saw the student smile. And Jude knew exactly what it was.

Jealousy.

She was jealous of her.

She noted each movement in front of her as deliberate. Just something else getting in the way of what she truly wanted. But she wasn't going down without a fight.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, but it didn't help. She was still feeling that thing. She refused to give it its common name for fear something would come of it. Something she didn't want to deal with.

He smiled innocently at the class as they awaited instruction. Again.

"We're going to go over a few things today. Mostly what you will be doing in this class and you will also receive your first assignment."

The class nodded simultaneously.

But she didn't.

Whoop-dee-friggin' do! Jude thought.

She stared at him and wondered how stupid she could be for actually thinking what had happened the day before was special. She thought about how wrong she had been. Replaceable by some chick. By her. And it had barely been 24 hours. How special was that?

But she wanted to believe she was special. That their conversation was something out of the ordinary. That he didn't do things like that with any girl that walked by. So she kept quiet and pretended everything was okay. For now.

He quickly got out of his chair, the fabric of his shirt taut against his chest, and walked to the middle of the classroom.

He leaned against his desk, the muscles in his forearms glistening in the fluorescent light. "Now on to my least favorite subject."

The class stared at him, waiting in baited breath.

"Me."

Jude's eyes sparkled. Despite how she felt at that moment, she had hoped there would be a question and answer session on the man she had been thinking about all day. Or rather three weeks.

So had someone else.

A perfectly manicured hand shot up in the middle of the room, taking the initiative to get started. The class' attention turned over to a desk in the very center of the far wall.

He stared at her, wondering what she was thinking. Obviously, it was about him.

"Yes," he responded, his eyes sparkling hungrily.

"I have a few questions for you."

He nodded slightly. "Go ahead, Miss Kane."

She cleared her throat and continued. "Where do you live? How old are you? And are you single?"

His eyes stopped sparkling as he stared at her intently, taken aback by how forward she had been. Something he loved in all his women. But something was off. Miss Kane wasn't his woman. She wasn't her.

He cleared his throat as Jude silently awaited his answers.

"I live in Toronto. Albeit, I used to live in New York where I did some student-teaching. I am in my 20's and I am a bachelor," he responded methodically, thinking about every word he said.

Jude carefully took in each answer to Miss Kane's questions. She would need the information for later. If there ever was a later.

She scoffed, completely annoyed with his answers. "Could you be anymore vague?"

He simply smiled. "I believe I can be, Miss Kane."

She didn't reply, instead sulked in her seat as Jude smiled widely. Although he had not disproven any of her worries, watching the pair argue was an enjoyment she hadn't had in awhile. Her worries lessened for the time being.

Then the same hand shot up again. And her worries came back full force.

"Yes?" he replied, somewhat frustrated at her attempts at something. He wasn't quite sure what. But he had a feeling it involved him.

"You know the old saying, those who can't do, teach?"

He smiled again. Innocently this time and decided to lighten the mood. "Actually it's, those who can't do, teach and those that can't teach... teach gym."

A few of the students laughed at his comment. Jude included. He smirked as he noticed her laugh from the corner of his eye. He was grateful some of them had caught on to his little joke. That she had been one of them. Miss Kane was not one of them.

Her eyebrows scrunched together tightly and she tilted her head to one side, as if the direction of her head was going to make all the difference. "Really? I could have sworn-"

Trying to keep his laughter in check, Tom shook her head and smirked wider. "No, you were right the first time, Miss Kane."

"Oh," she replied, unfazed by her lack of cinema knowledge. To her that was unimportant. Knowing where Paris Hilton was clubbing that night? Well, that was important.

Jude rolled her eyes as she watched the pair go back and forth. She knew it was wrong to stereotype people, but honestly, some of them did a pretty damn good job not to make people think otherwise.

"Then why do you teach? Because you can?" Chastity asked, continuing Miss Kane's thought process.

Jude closely thought about Chastity's question. It was something she hadn't wondered, but when posed with the question, it became apparent she did want to know the answer.

Whywas he here? she thought.

Again, Tom shook his head, but there was no smirk. His face was serious this time. "It has nothing to do with my ability to teach. It has to do with my love of teaching."

The class stared in wonder. Standing before them was a teacher that actually wanted to be there. That was a first for many in their public education.

Jude was taken aback. She had never pegged him as someone who loved to teach. Maybe she was right. He really was an enigma.

Tom smirked again. "Alright," he said, pushing himself off of his desk. He stood in front of his desk with his arms folded in front of his chest. "Are there anymore questions?"

He scanned the room intently, waiting for someone to raise their hand.

Then one rose

One adorned with black nail polish and a star ring.

His breath caught in his throat again. Just like the day before. It was déjà vu. She really was as beautiful as he remembered.

"Miss Harrison?" he weakly answered, quickly turning his back and reaching for his Starbucks.

She smiled at the sight in front of her. He was unnerved. All because of her. She slowly put her hand down and waited until he turned around.

He took a large sip and looked directly at her desk, never her face. The price he had to pay to keep himself in check. To keep himself from ravishing her in front of 33 other students.

She took a deep breath and continued. "Now we know you love teaching, but do you have any other loves?"

She had been given a glimpse of a man she desperately wanted to know more about and when given the opportunity, she was going to take it. For all that it was worth.

She had asked the one question he silently dared any of them to ask. Yet it came from her. It had to be a sign. At least he took it that way.

He looked up from her desk and gazed into her eyes. They mirrored exactly as he was feeling. She was determined. Determined to push forward with whatever they had started.

He, like her, took a deep breath. He placed his cup next to him on his desk and looked at her again. As if she was the only one in the room.

"There are only two things in this world that I love to do, but I can't tell you the other one. I'd have to show you," he responded slowly. It took everything in him to say those words. Words that meant the world to him.

She smiled, her eyes reflecting something else now. "I bet I'll find out the other soon enough," she muttered to herself.

Tom's eyes widened. She was not as quiet as she thought she had been. But he was the only one who clearly heard her. "Excuse me?" he asked as the class watched.

"Nothing," Jude whispered, having been caught, her face began to flush. She roughly clenched her jaw, trying to keep herself from muttering any more embarrassing thoughts.

She internally scolded herself again as she sat in front of him, this time her eyes were open.

He smirked and looked away from her, towards the class. He was glad that he wasn't the one with those thoughts. "Well, if those are the only questions as of now, any others that you may inquire can be asked at another time. Right now I'd like to go over a mandatory task in this class."

A collective groan echoed through the class room and he smiled wickedly. He pulled a pile of papers off his desk and handed them to a student who reluctantly passed them out. The papers held the same information that Tom was announcing to the class.

"Starting next month, there will an Advanced Composition workshop held monthly. The workshop will be held during one week, but there will be four days for you to choose from. It is mandatory you attend at least one of the days during the specified week. You can attend more than one, but one is all that is required."

The class nodded in understanding. She, however, was mentally making plans to attend each and every workshop, if it meant more Quincy time.

"If you do not attend, it will severely upset your grade in this class."

The class feverishly wrote down his extra comments as they pertained to the workshop.

"The workshop will be held from Monday to Thursday since I do have a life and would like to get out of school at a timely manner on Fridays as I would think the same would go for you guys."

A few students smiled, thankful their teacher understood that they were still in high school and wanted to have some fun.

"If-" Tom started as a hand shot up again.

"Yes, Miss Kane?" he responded, biting his bottom lip to keep himself from saying anything inappropriate.

Jude smirked at his frustration, but it was his biting that was the force behind her smirk. She wanted to see it more often.

"What if we have other stuff to do?" Miss Kane asked, the end of her pen between her lips, almost taunting him with something she thought he wanted.

He almost smiled at the sight, but realized she wasn't the one he wanted to see like that. "As I was about to say, if you have prior obligations, let me know and we will arrange something that can be worked out."

The class stayed silent. It was as if they were too afraid to ask what was on their minds and Tom was determined to break them of that habit, at least by the end of the year.

"Are there any other questions?" he pushed.

"What's the alternative?" Chastity asked, raising her hand slightly.

"That would be left up to the said individual and myself."

Chastity nodded and wrote his comment on the sheet in front of her.

Jude began to rack her mind for ideas that would get her more Quincy time, in any fashion, but she came up empty. She reminded herself to think of something before the workshops started the following month.

Noticing no one else was going to speak up; he began his first official lesson. "Now on the really important stuff, writing."

Another groan sounded through the room and he still smiled. Sometimes he just loved to torment his students. Even if it was just a little.

He planned on tormenting one student more than the rest, however.

He took a stack of paper off of his desk and handed it, this time, to the student sitting next to Jude. She took the stack and went around the classroom handing them out. Once everyone had the assignment, he continued.

"This is an essay by Langston Hughes. It is called 'Theme for English B.' I am going to read this and then tell you what to do with it."

"The instructor said,

Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you---
Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me---we two---you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York too.) Me---who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white---
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That's American.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me---
although you're older---and white---
and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.

1951"

"Now for your instructions, the author says, The instructor said, Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you--Then, it will be true."

The class stayed silent, looking at him to give further instructions.

"That's what I want you to do." He leaned against his desk again, waiting for any sign of understanding.

"Which is...?" a boy sitting next to Jude asked.

Tom turned his head and replied, "Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you--Then, it will be true."

"I don't get it," Miss Kane responded, shaking her head.

Figures, Jude thought.

"Me either," Chastity agreed.

The class stared at Mr. Quincy, waiting for him to tell them the real instructions, but he didn't. He repeated once more, "Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you--Then, it will be true."

Jude sat in her chair, wondering if she was the only one who understood him. Understood his instructions.

"He wants us to Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you--Then, it will be true."

"But that's a part of the essay, not an instruction," the boy on Jude's right retorted.

"No, it is the instruction," Jude responded. "Hughes was told the same thing by his instructor. His essay is his one page. The thing he was told to write."

Some understanding spread throughout the room. "So we write whatever we want?" Chastity asked.

"Yeah, the things we write will be true to us, even if they aren't true to someone else," Jude said, looking at her classmate. "It's ours. It's what we make of it."

Tom smiled widely, silently thankful that she of all people understood him. Even if it was just some writing instructions. "Well said, Miss Harrison," he commented.

She blushed as his penetrating gaze rendered her speechless.

Getting up off his desk and beginning to walk around it, Quincy left the class with one final statement.

"By the way, your one page is due tomorrow."

He threw himself into his seat roughly as the class suddenly burst with noise. He faced his favorite white wall and stared ahead, taking sips of his coffee every few minutes.

She stared at the back of his chair, trying to burn holes into it. Anything to get him to stop moving from ignoring her one second to praising her the next. Anything to get his attention.

But it wasn't hers to have.

It was someone else's.

Miss Kane got out of her seat and walked up to Tom's desk. Though it wasn't after-class, she thought she'd try her charm on him now. She lightly cleared her throat and he slowly looked away from the wall in front of him, to the student next to him, who was waiting patiently.

He smiled widely, never letting it reach his eyes as he tried to hide his annoyance. He wasn't in the mood to make any enemies this early in the school year. "What can I do for you?"

Jude looked at the clock absent-mindedly. Five more minutes and she could get out the hell that was the sight in front of her.

Miss Kane and Tom. Together. Talking. Flirting. Without abandon.

It was disgusting. She felt like a hypocrite though. Jude wished it was her instead of Miss Kane talking with Tom. Which meant it would look just as bad as what she was currently seeing.

Miss Kane took the syllabus Mr. Quincy had handed it her. It took a bit of prowess to get him to open up, to her dismay. Whatever she thought had been a cake-walk had turned into a triple lutz. Something she had barely mastered. Even after her ten years of figure-skating training.

He sat in front of her feigning interest and she knew it. But she felt that with time, energy, and a little elbow grease, she would make him interested. She was determined.

But she wasn't the only one.

Jude had had enough of watching the pair. She, like Tom had done yesterday, got up and took action.

Jude threw all of her possessions into her bag and picked it up by their double handles. She walked up to his desk, a foot away, and interrupted the conversation. She couldn't hold the hurt and anger in any more. "Can I ask you a question?"she asked, her question directed at Tom as she stared at him. Her eyes bore into the side of his skull as she looked at him. He turned his head once he heard her voice and smiled. "Alone," she added, her jaw clenching.

Tom thought he could feel something radiating from Jude. Something he couldn't put his finger on. He looked away from her, almost afraid of holding her gaze for too long. "Sure, I'll see you tomorrow, Eden." Eden reluctantly smiled at Tom, before glancing at Jude.

"Yep, I will see you tomorrow," Eden answered as Jude stared at her, determined to stand her ground. She looked away and smiled at her teacher just as the bell sounded. "Goodbye, Mr. Quincy."

Eden walked towards her desk and picked up her things before heading through the throngs of students trying to exit the classroom. Jude watched her leave and turned around. She was thankful no words were exchanged between herself and Eden. She had almost felt the need to give her a piece of her mind. Not a smart move in such an early relationship.

Tom internally smirked at the exchange he had seen between the pair, but it didn't read anything more into than a girlish crush, if that. Although he knew only one stood a chance.

Jude kept her jaw clenched as the students filed out the class and Tom stared at her.

He got out his chair and came around to the front of his desk to lean on it as he watched his students leave.

He smiled widely, noticing the classroom was thinning in its numbers. It was only a matter of time before they were by themselves. "Okay, what can I do for you, Miss Harrison?" he asked, trying to be professional. Again. And like the last time, it didn't work. Jude continued to gaze at him. "Are you trying to repay me?" he added, smirking widely.

Jude furrowed her eyebrows. Excuse me?!, she thought.

"What?"she asked, never feigning her emotions.

Tom seemed oblivious. He continued to smirk, his eyes shining as he saw the last student leave. The door banged shut and Tom's voice spoke in a casual tone. "You know, I saved you from attack of the cheerleader yesterday, you saved me today…"

Jude scoffed and angrily rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever."

She didn't understand how he could try to be funny when she was anything but happy. And it showed.

"Um, okay," Tom commented, furrowing his eyebrows. He was taken aback at her change in persona, when earlier she seemed completely fine.

Jude silently stood, seething. He looked at her apprehensive. He usually couldn't read people well, but in this instance, he had a feeling she was mad. At him. Very mad at him.

"I-" Jude started, feeling the need to say what was on her mind. Not that she usually had a problem with that.

"Are you mad?" he asked. He needed to know. Plain and simple.

"Wow, someone's as good a people reader as they are an English teacher," she responded sardonically.

He let the semi-insult pass because he wanted to know what was wrong. "Jude, did I do something wrong?" he asked, almost pleading with her.

She looked into his eyes and suddenly, the feelings she had lessened extremely. She couldn't look at him. His gaze made her weak. "I-I-can't do this," she stuttered. She tightened her grip on her bag and began to turn away. "Never mind."

"Jude," he sounded, as he reached out for her arm. He pulled on her forearm and she stopped instantly, his touch making her lose her breath. He was usually against touching his students, but he had Jude pegged as more than just his student when he read her name three weeks prior. "What is it?"

She turned and faced him, her voice unsteady. She wanted to be strong, but with him touching her, it was so hard. Harder than she thought. "I thought that yesterday was-I can't-I need to know if you do this with every student?"

His eyes widened and he let go of her arm, her face slightly frowning from the absence. "What?!"

He couldn't comprehend her thoughts or where they were coming from.

"Is this a repeat-" she tried again. She wanted to know. She needed to know if she wasn't the only one.

"I get it," he responded, placing a hand out in front of him to stop her. "And no. I don't. I mean I've skirted the issue and have been close, but I've never followed through. I haven't. Ever."

He hadn't. She was his first. His only, if he could help it.

She gazed at him, trying to read whether or not he was being truthful. "Really?" she asked skeptically.

"Really," he confirmed. He sighed slightly and shook his head. "I don't get where this is coming from?"

Jude's eyes widened, her attitude making an instant appearance. Had he not seen what she had? What more was there to say? "You don't get where this is coming from?" she asked him, her voice loud.

Tom slightly chuckled then stopped once he saw she didn't find it funny. "I-I-I don't," he responded. He then thought about the day's class and it immediately hit him. "Jude, is this about Eden?"

Jude rolled her eyes. "And the Nobel Prize goes to…" she replied sardonically.

Tom slightly scoffed. "Jude, you have to understand. I'm like that with every woman."

Jude's eyebrows rose and Tom cringed. He hadn't meant for it to come out like that. "Oh. I see," she replied shortly, turning to leave once more.

He grabbed her arm and she stopped again. She looked over her shoulder at him. "No, not like that. I'm overly flirtatious. I know. I can't help it. But I don't mean it. Not to everyone," he responded lowly, his eyes reflecting his seriousness.

"Do you mean it to me?" she asked him honestly.

"Yeah. I do," he replied, nodding. "I mean it to you."

Jude let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her body relaxed in Tom's grasp. Finally. Some sort of in your face response. One she had been waiting for. One that proved she wasn't a delusional 18-year-old. "Okay. I just thought that you-"

He roughly shook his head, cutting her off. He needed her to know that it wasn't about anyone else. Only her. "Jude, I wasn't thinking about her."

"You weren't?" she asked, hesitantly.

"No. I was thinking about you, Girl," he confessed, his eyes bright.

Every time he opened his mouth, she fell more into-was it love? Or just adoration? She didn't have an answer for that, but she hoped in time she would, without hesitance, be able to answer what it was that they had going on. If it was real. And what it meant.

Right now she knew it meant the world. To her. And she hoped to him.

"Oh," she whispered. "And I thought that yesterday-" she lightly chuckled.

"Yesterday was everything you thought it was. And more," he responded, trying to prove to her that everything she had experienced the 24 hours prior was real. That it couldn't be denied.

Jude nodded. It was the only she could do with Tom still holding on her arm.

"But like I said. We have to keep this quiet," he reminded her, smiling widely.

"Okay," she agreed.

"And when it's right, we'll let it get loud," he added, his eyes glistening at his insinuations.

She bit her bottom lip, trying to withhold a smirk, but her eyes gave her away. Tommy's smirk widened as he saw her bit her lip. It was a gorgeous sight. "Okay, so…"

"So…" he commented, waiting for her to strike.

"When are you gonna show me what your favorite thing to do is?" she asked, her head tilted to the side, biting on her bottom lip even more.

Tommy grinned widely. "Someone's a little eager."

"That I am," she agreed. "I just hope it's as good as I think it will be," she whispered seductively.

Tommy coughed loudly, choking on his breath. "Um, it's not what you think it is," he said, shaking his head. Jude blushed vividly, embarrassed that her thoughts were not in the same place as his. "My mind's not always there. Just most of the time," he shrugged nonchalantly.

"Oh," she said, her face burning even more.

"You could probably say that's a third love," he responded, smiling. "But I promise, Jude. I want-" he started, his grip on Jude's arm tightening to prove his point.

The door opened suddenly and Tom dropped her arm expectantly. The pair looked at the door as the boy that had earlier sat next to Jude came in and let the door slam. "Mr. Quincy, can you answer a question about tonight's assignment?"

"Yes, I can," Tom responded, staring at the boy and not at Jude.

Jude nodded subconsciously, seeing that her time with Tom had been cut short. They had to keep up appearances and she didn't want to show anymore insecurities by being mad that he had chose to spend time with someone else. She knew he wasn't his choice, he was obligated as he was a teacher first and foremost. Her teacher. But despite that fact, she wanted more. And she was going to do everything in her power to get more.

"Okay. I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Quincy."

Yes you will, he thought.

"I will see you tomorrow, Miss Harrison," he said, smiling wide. "Bye."

"Thanks. Goodbye," she said as she walked to the door to leave the room. She looked over her shoulder one last time. He was leaning against his desk with the student standing next to him, pointing to something on a paper. He looked up briefly noticing she was still there. She took one breath and winked. From where she stood, she noticed his face heat, his body showing signs of it being uncomfortable. She smiled wickedly at the sight, opened the door, and walked out, leaving Tom to pull himself back together before his student noticed he wasn't paying attention anymore.

A/N: Preview

Chapter Five

"Writing For You"

She sat on her bed with her iBook on her lap, waiting for inspiration to strike. Nothing.

She closed her eyes and thought of him. He was the one who had started it. Started it all.

It was then that she knew what to do.

She was going to write about him.

-+-+-+-+-+-

He threw his head back on the black leather couch, letting the sounds penetrate his skull. It was a daily routine.

School. Her. Home. This.

And it was only the second day.

One day, they would all coincide, some events happening in place of others, but nothing was ever going to take this one pleasure away from him. Not even her.

His sanity.