Emily's POV

I basically ran into the school. The hallways were dwindling and wet with rain. I was going to be late, I knew it. Speed walking down the long corridor, I noticed Ms. Hastings coming towards me. She passed one, two, three students silently; then, I made very brief eye contact with her and it caused her to smile and say good morning.

"Morning." I almost forgot to reply. She was gone just as soon as she had come. She had been wearing a black pea coat that came to her knees and dark sunglasses. I wondered how she could see in the poorly lit hallway.

I shook my head from the thought and slammed my locker, nearly catching my finger, and sprinted to math.

I was late, as expected. My teacher barely acknowledged it and I slipped into my seat. My thoughts quickly wandered back to Ms. Hastings. Wait, didn't she have a class right now? She was heading in the wrong direction. Clearly she was late as well being that she still had her coat on. Her students are probably having a blast in the empty classroom. I felt a pang of jealousy; her first mod class gets an extra five minutes with her for announcements. I didn't even know why – she was my teacher, there is an uncrossable line between us. I can't even be friends with her. I guess my attraction to her was because I saw an older me in her and wanted to get closer to her.

No.

I can't have these thoughts. I'd be stupid to go there; she's simply interesting, that's all.

That's all.

I was sitting in English before I knew it. Ms. Hastings jumped into the lesson the second the bell rang. She gave us a prompt that she wanted us to answer in partners. Paige turned around and wiggled her eyebrows at me.

I laughed in my head at her foolishness while Ms. Hastings extended her hand to me to give me the prompt. I looked up to her eyes as I took it, smiling slightly. God she was tall.

I kept one eye on her as she continued to pass out the prompt to each group. As she finished someone asked for some paper. She went over to a white cart on wheels and as she bent down to get paper her hip bumped into the cart, pushing it out of reach. She leaned forward to grab the paper and laughed, saying,

"I need whiskers. I don't know the size of my own hips."

I can't even tell you how hard I needed to bite my cheek to keep from laughing because no one else found it amusing.

Spencer's POV

Some of my students in the front row were talking to me about their interests. What they thought they would study in college, what sports they play, their families.

It's moments like these that make you think.

Breathe in.

I'll learn about each and every one of them. Learn to love them, care for them.

Breathe out.

And then say goodbye. Forever.

That's my job as a teacher.

It's really hard to teach seniors. They graduate and they're gone. You won't see them walking the hallways next year. You won't hear if they ever accomplished their goals.

You have to stay detached; that's the key. But it's so hard. Some are so endearing. Some are good talkers. Some share the same interests as you. I can't help but get attached sometimes.

I looked back at the raven haired girl and she was looking over the prompt with furrowed eyebrows. The girl in front of her turned around and tapped on her desk to get Emily's attention. It was clear they were friends. I blatantly stared at them as they conversed.

I choked a little when Emily made eye contact with me. Her eyes bore into mine and studied me. I quickly averted my eyes to the floor in front of me and my mind blanked.

I decided to just wait it out. She would forget that I had been staring. I was just doing my job; watching them, making sure they were on task.

At least that's what I told myself.

What could I say? She was attractive. I would never go there, however. Not only was she my student, but I would never go for someone younger than me. Sometimes, though, I can't help my hormones. Damn lust; I was so lonely.

Emily's POV

As the bell rang, I hung back and slowly packed up my things. Paige turned around to wait for me but quickly got the notion that I was staying behind and left. I waited for the last student to leave before approaching her. She was busy shuffling through papers. As I got closer she looked up at me and smiled.

"What can I do for you, Emily?"

Can I just say she is great at keeping eye contact. I tried so hard to look right back in her eyes, but her dark brown stare was too intense.

"I was just wondering if this was ok?" I placed my assignment in front of her. She sped-read through it using her finger to guide her. The sun caught her ring and the glare hit me right in the eye. I looked down and my eyes widened at the gorgeous diamond ring that just so happened to be on her ring finger. I cringed. Of course she would be married. Another reason for me not to fall.

Avoid falling. I repeat, avoid falling at all costs.

"This is great. You write very well." She looked back up at me and my mind blanked. I smiled and thanked her, trying to cover up my blush. She wrote me a pass to my next class and I left.

Books crashed to the floor and disgruntled mumbles hit my ears. Ali hastily pulled all of her notebooks together. I noticed her calculator was in parts on the floor and the batteries rolled right to my feet. I rolled the two batteries in my palm as I approached her.

"These yours?"

"Oh! Emily. Thanks." She took them and quickly put them back into her graphing calculator.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask you, a couple of us are hanging out after soccer practice today. Wanna come?" She gave me her famous cheeky smile. My heart fluttered against my own will, and I agreed to going. It wasn't all that often that they included me in such plans. Something about it felt off, but I can't really deny her soft blue eyes. I look into them and see an endless wishing well.

Paige slid into the seat across from me at lunch. She looked at me, and then down at her food and made a face.

"This schools idea of vegetarian food is really disgusting."

I chuckled at her struggle and unzipped my lunchbox. All around me conversations faded in and out. Glancing around, I spotted Ali and her friends, and also Ms. Hastings with a few other English teachers. More conversations. In depth, unlike Paige and I. We were silent eaters.

"Why don't you bring your lunch?"

"Come on, Em. Don't you know me at all? I don't wake up early enough."

I shook my head smiling, and delved into my sandwich. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Ms. Hastings leaving the cafeteria. She looked at me and carried on her way. Back at her table, Mrs. Vanderwaal and Mr. Campbell talked excitedly. There was still a tray with food on it at Ms. Hastings seat; she must be coming back.

While I watched Ms. Hastings, I felt that I was being watched. Turning back to Ali's table, she smiled when she caught my eye and winked.

My sandwich needed a little more love, I thought. I finished quickly, threw my trash away, and chatted with Paige.

As soccer practice ended, the girls gathered around their cars to decide on a meeting place. I followed, almost like an outsider, waiting for their decision.

We made our way to Ali's house, of course. She had a large, fully furnished basement. They already had an assortment of snacks and pizza was on the way. Everyone sat down in a circle and many smaller conversations were filling the room. I sat there silently, checking my phone every now and then for a distraction. Eventually, Ali quieted everyone and commanded attention. She looked me right in the eye and smiled.

"Let's talk about everyone's first kiss."

My heart clenched. I felt heat rise to my cheeks and brainstormed about what I should say. It shouldn't be a hard thing; you just say the facts. Still, I felt the need to swallow every other second; nervous habit. I briefly wondered again why I was invited.

When it got to be my turn, I didn't know what to say and so I shook my head. Everyone quickly interpreted that as I haven't had my first kiss yet, and moved on to the next person.

When Ali's turn came up I held my breath. I almost didn't want to hear her answer; I almost wished she would admit she had never had her first kiss. It would make sense to me, she had never dated anyone. I held my hopes too high though.

"Andrew was giving me a ride home one night, and he kissed me in his truck right before I got out." Ali's smile was cheeky.

Everyone cooed and told her he was really cute, and not a bad first kiss.

"Yea well, he was high, so…" Ali shrugged, "It doesn't really count. I don't think he remembers it anyway."

For whatever reason, knowing he was high made me feel a little better. However, my stomach still felt sick.

"Besides," Ali continued, "A kiss is a kiss. Me and Samara do it all the time." She looked over at Samara, who was laughing partly embarrassed, and partly wondering why Ali had brought it up.

"Right, Samara?" Ali pressed, nudging the other girl.

"Yea, totally." Samara agreed.

"Like, watch." Ali put a hand on Samara's shoulder and turned her. They were all smiles and Samara couldn't seem to hold it together. As Ali would lean in, Samara would look away. Constant giggles. Finally, they were only a breath away from kissing each other. They got serious for a second, and then Samara busted out laughing, preventing the kiss once again.

I watched the scene like I was watching a movie. My mouth was slightly ajar, and I couldn't pull myself together.

Finally, Ali's and Samara's lips connected, and the kiss was over as soon as it started. Fire exploded in my stomach and confusion filled my body. It hurt. And I hated it.

It wasn't exactly jealousy filling my veins. It was almost false hope. She was straight. But to see her kiss another girl, no matter how briefly, sent so many mixed emotions through me. Confusion.

She looked at me again and I tried my best to look natural. I wasn't sure if I looked bewildered or if I looked bored. Nothing on her face indicated a problem, and I assumed I looked normal.

Was she playing me? Why was I invited here?

AN: Hello again. Hope you continue to like the story line as much as I do. To the two guests, thank you so much for taking the time to review! And to chxndelier, I know what you mean ;) lol. Thanks to everyone who followed and favorited! I have high hopes for this story Until next time.