The next morning, a Tuesday, I was much unprepared for school. I'd forgotten two notebooks for class, the rough draft of an important essay, my homework, and my lunch money. The only good thing about it all was me being held in Bradley's arms, outside the A.P.U.S.H. room.

"I don't want to go…" I mumbled.

"It's ok Lona," he replied, kissing the top of my blonde head softly. He looked down at me and I looked up into his blue eyes, with his tan skin and beach boy curly blonde hair – the kind you'd see in a California TV show. "I'm taking you out Saturday, remember? Just look forward to that."

"I am looking forward to it," I replied with a smile. He smiled back and leaned down to kiss me, but a rude cough interrupted him. I glanced over to see Mr. Michaelis in the doorway, his arms crossed and a cold look in his eyes.

"No public displays of affection in the hallways," he said to us sternly.

"Sorry…" I mumbled. I waved goodbye to Bradley before pushing past Mr. Michaelis and entering the room. I sat down at my seat and looked around; all the other girls in the classroom were gawking at Mr. Michaelis as he walked in and shut the door.

He turned back to us, a stack of yellow paper in his hand. "I am Mr. Michaelis," he began and moved down the aisles to pass out the papers. "But I do not mind if you address me as Mr. Sebastian either. Whatever you deem appropriate is fine by me. Before we begin I have prepared a pop quiz to see just who understands the material."

I grabbed the stack of papers, grabbed one for myself and then passed the stack to the person behind me. We'd been in school only a few months and I still didn't know everyone's name. I had a terrible memory for names – but not for A.P.U.S.H. Looking down at my quiz, I smiled. I knew the answers to all twenty multiple questions – It would be a piece of cake.

And it was. Even with the clueless substitute teaching us I had a gut feeling that I'd aced the quiz. I got out of my seat and walked over to his desk, then set my quiz down. He looked up from his book and smiled at me. I glared then walked back to my seat. I know smiling back would have been appropriate, but the eerie feeling I'd had yesterday overcame me again as I sat back down.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my math worksheet. Since we had time after the quiz I decided to use my time wisely and get the homework done. Even still, I didn't understand any of it. I hated math, oh so much.

f(x) = 9x – 5, g(x) = 7x + 2. Find:

44.) (f + g) (x)

WHAT! What was it asking me? I didn't understand – even with the notes in front of me.

"Are you having trouble?"

I glanced up. Mr. Sebastian was standing above me, peering over my shoulder. "Yeah…kinda…" I mumbled in response.

"Would you like to stay after school so I could help you?"

"Sure…." I mumbled and looked away.

And unfortunately, my mother had agreed to it after I'd texted her with the question. She replied with: "Math is your downfall. You need all the help you can get, so stay as long as you need to." I think "as long as I need to" would be forever. And spending forever with Mr. Sebastian would make me uncomfortable.

Sitting in at my desk alone in his classroom, I scratched my head in frustration. I still didn't understand. And my Advanced Algebra teacher had left an hour ago so I couldn't go to him for help now…

"No, you do it like this…"

And he was behind me once again. Standing over my shoulder and he took my hand in his and showed me the correct way to solve the problem. "Do you understand now?" He asked.

"…not a clue," I sighed. I think teaching me math would be impossible.

He sighed as well. "Neither do I."

"But you said ~"

"I said I could help you, but now specifically with this," he interrupted. I turned and looked at him, my heart immediately beginning to thump in my chest. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Uh no – I'm ok."

"Then here," he responded and handed me a worksheet. "How about getting a head start on tomorrow's assignment?" I took it from him, and then watched as he rolled up his chair to my desk and began to explain tomorrow's lesson and the work – and as usually I took it all in. Like a sponge, I soaked up all the information he told me. Maybe because his voice was so enchanting that I couldn't be distracted by anything else.

"Look at the time. An hour has passed us by already," he said and closed the pocket watch in his hand. "Is there anything you would like to drink?"

"Water, please," I replied. He nodded and left the room. Maria was probably so jealous that I was alone with Mr. Sebastian and not her. But knowing her, she would get detention just so she could be alone with him. And most likely flirt with him. But flirting with older teachers was inappropriate; Mr. Sebastian had to be what? 26? 27? I was only 17; he was ten years older than me at the least.

"Here you are," he said, interrupting my thoughts as he walked back into the room. He set the cold bottle of water down on my desk.

"Thank you," I mumbled, watching as he retook his seat and stared at me.

"Do you need help with anything else?"

"N ~" The sound of a text message interrupted me. I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked it.

WHERE R U? IM WAITING OUTSIDE.

It was from my mom. COMING, I replied and sent the message. "My mom's waiting outside," I said to him and stood up. "I've got to go."

"Very well. It was a pleasure being with you," he responded. There was something wicked in his eyes.

"Yeah…you too…" I mumbled, grabbing my water and heading out the door.

That next day, sitting in his class again, I was thinking about how this morning had been worse than the last. I'd forgotten my book for class and was so unorganized – and that wasn't me at all. Just the week before everything had been fine.

"Psst…" Maria whispered from my right side.

I looked over to see a folded piece of notebook paper in her hand. I glanced up at Mr. Sebastian who was busily writing on the white board, before taking Maria's note and cautiously opening it.

How'd it go last night?

She'd written in pink pen. I sighed and began to write back to her. I mean, of course nothing happened, just a student studying with a teacher. That's all it was…right?

"Ms. Lona…"

I froze. Slowly glancing up I saw Mr. Sebastian staring down at me. I hadn't even heard him come across the room. And now everyone was staring at me – making my face heat up. I glanced over at the new boy, Ciel, who had an amused smirk on his face. And then I noticed the black fingernails he had….

"Would you like to share that note with the class?" Mr. Sebastian asked me.

"No…" I replied in embarrassment.

"Well then," he replied. "Tonight you will be serving detention with me."

"…alright," I mumbled and immediately the overwhelming fear of this man corrupted me.