Cat and mouse. Teacher and student. That's how others will see us. That's why I must keep my kitchen-secret guarded and locked away. Pretend it never happened, but keep it at the forefront of all things. I never see Edward in the morning on my way to first period, but when I walk through the doors from the parking lot he's there. Gray polo and jeans. Shiny shoes. Wild hair. I wither away into the crowd, slowing my walk so I may watch him in the office a little longer. He surrenders papers to Mrs. Cope, that cow as she smiles at him and watches him a little longer as he turns away. The office door opens and he's falling into line with the students as we file into our learning center. I call his name in my mind. Call for him to wait for me. Call for him to follow me to my car because I want to show him something. That something would be at my house. In my kitchen.
And he looks behind him. I pretend he hears my thoughts, but he doesn't see me. Other students tell him good morning. Tyler, the catcher, walks past, catching Edward's attention and holding it briefly. They smile. Edward pats him on the shoulder once before Tyler continues. I nearly stop at his beauty. His nerd beauty. It's all mine.
His eyes find me. Knowing. Gentle. Secret. His mouth turns up with slight. I take steps again. Breath in and out. My backpack is heavy. My feet are heavier. My heart is light. My mind, full. I am no longer my own. I belong to the past, belong to what happened yesterday all over again. His fingers on my cheek. His lips on my forehead while the rain pattered onto the earth and windows. Beauty carved into the moment we touched for the briefest of seconds. I crave it again. To tell him such a thing so plainly is too bold. I grin and tuck my chin to my collarbone. Coy, yet hard to reign. I manage my way past as he stares. I look back once. Only once. A flutter of lashes at his slack stance, though he still watches knowing he can't come after me. I turn and smile fully at the white tile below.