I know that I said that I don't put pairings close to one another but I actually wrote this back in December when I was home with COVID. I have been so busy with work and moving that I honestly have not had much free time to write (probably won't until late March). But I am still active on Instagram and I still have plenty more ideas so stay tuned!

This story takes place within The Teacher universe but is not "canon" to the universe. In this chapter Helia and Flora are together earlier than when they get together in The Teacher (the story really wouldn't work if the timeline was the same since Helia and Flora only had a few weeks left of school before graduation).

Again, I wrote this when I had COVID so sorry if there are any mistakes. I tried to go back and fix them but there are probably a few that I missed.

Flora and Helia- The Substitute

"Flora!"

Flora turned around as she exited her French class to see Aisha running down the hall to greet her. If it weren't for Aisha's athletic prowess, Flora would have questioned how Aisha got to the Foreign Language Hall from the Math hallway so quickly. What was the rush? Also, Aisha never came this way as she had Physical Education next and that was downstairs in the gym, and the Foreign Language hallway was not on the way to the gym.

"Flora..." Aisha huffed as she caught up with Flora, "math..."

"What about math?" Flora asked as she adjusted her backpack on her shoulders and made her way to her history class with Aisha following behind her.

"We have a substitute in math class."

"Okay?" Flora giggled, "And you needed to run to tell me this because…? Oh no, did Avalon leave a pop quiz or something?"

Aisha shook her head, "Oh Avalon, or should I say the district, gave us something really nice."

Flora and Aisha turned into the English hallway where Mr. Saladin was standing outside of his classroom door greeting the students who walked into his classroom. Flora looked at him and smiled and he gave her a small smile back. They had started their secret relationship a few weeks ago and seeing him and his smile always made her body tingle.

"Okay, I'll tell you," Aisha smiled, "the substitute is a total smoke show!"

Flora turned to Aisha, not hearing what she said as she was too busy looking at Helia.

"What?"

"I said that the substitute for Avalon's class is hot! It was so hard to concentrate."

"Oh," Flora unenthusiastically replied, "okay."

"Seriously?" Aisha laughed, "I tell you about a super-hot substitute and you aren't even remotely interested? It is times like these where I really wish that Stella was here."

Why would she be? Flora had Helia and to Flora, Helia was the hottest thing since, well, since forever. He was also kind, smart, passionate, and being great in bed didn't hurt either. Flora couldn't even fathom being interested in another man.

"Sorry, Aisha," Flora smiled, "just thinking."

"About?"

As Flora and Aisha walked past Helia's room, Flora felt a hand brush hers as she walked by. She bit down on her lower lip as she could feel the rosy blush rush to her cheeks. Every touch from Helia, no matter how small, sent Flora into a frenzy.

"Oh, I forgot," Aisha whispered, "you have the biggest crush on Mr. Saladin."

Flora snapped her head to look at Aisha, "I do not!"

"So now I have your attention." Aisha giggled.

Flora looked back at Helia to see him covering his mouth with his hand, holding back a laugh. She knew that Helia had heard Aisha.

"Mr. Saladin is our teacher, Aisha."

"So? That still doesn't mean that you have the biggest crush on him."

"Even if I did, which I don't, it's not like anything would ever come out of it. So, don't make a scandal where there isn't one. Rumors spread quickly at Magix High. And I don't know why you are talking about a hot teacher when you actually have a boyfriend."

"It doesn't mean that I can't look and enjoy the hottie at the front of the class," Aisha waved her hand dismissively, "and even if you did have a crush on Mr. Saladin, I think that it will all change come third period."


Aisha was right, Flora had to admit that the substitute in her Advanced Calculus class was...attractive. He was no Helia, but Flora couldn't complain.

Mr. Price. Mr. Samuel Price was tall and had wavy brown hair that framed his tan-colored face beautifully. He was the living embodiment of tall, dark, and handsome. His eyes were a striking gold color, flecked with specks of teal, not that Flora was looking that closely. It was just hard not to catch his eye when he was teaching at the front of the class, another thing that made him intriguing.

Usually, substitutes were given some activity plan by the regular teacher that the students could work independently on without guidance, but Mr. Price immediately took the board after taking attendance. Not that Flora minded, math was one of her more difficult subjects but a subject that she would need going forward so she was happy with any instruction that she could get. And Mr. Price was good. Quite good actually.

"...any questions?" Mr. Price smiled as he set down the dry-erase marker, "Let me know if your regular teacher taught it to you differently. I don't want to confuse you more than you might already be."

Flora looked around the class and saw that nearly everyone was talking amongst themselves or on their phone; a usual occurrence for when a substitute came. Raising her hand, she gulped as she prepared to share her question.

Mr. Price's eyes caught Flora's raised hand and he smiled, "Yes...um..."

"Flora," she smiled as she lowered her hand, "Flora Cortez."

"Yes, Ms. Cortez, your question?"

Flora's mind went blank momentarily as she heard someone who wasn't Helia call her Ms. Cortez. The problem was that it also sounded good coming from Mr. Price's mouth.

"If it isn't too much trouble, could you please go over the third step? I became a little lost after that step. I'm sorry."

Mr. Price smiled as he uncapped the dark blue dry-erase marker again, "No need to apologize, so..." Mr. Price looked out to the class and sighed, "I think that you are the only one paying attention."

"Most people see a sub and they check out. I wouldn't take it personally, Mr. Price."

"How about this? I know that I am not your regular teacher but if you want to stop in here after class, I can go over everything. I am sure that you have other work that you might want to get started on or finish."

Flora nodded and closed her math textbook and put it in her backpack beside her desk. She supposed that she could get started on her French or History homework, but the book that Helia had given her was calling her name. Flora had spent the remaining free time of her night before when not doing homework helping her mother with budgeting now that they were now a one-income family.

"Things Fall Apart?"

Flora looked at the cover of her book and then up to Mr. Price.

"A friend suggested it for me to read," Flora replied.

"Is it any good?" Mr. Price asked. "I haven't had much time to read for pleasure or really at all. Most of my time has been dedicated to numbers more than the written word."

"I have enjoyed it thus far." Flora answered, "And reading has taken over much of my free time when I am not focusing on my science work."

Flora was not about to tell Mr. Price that she had spent more time reading this year than any other time in her life thanks to a certain English teacher. Flora loved to read but Flora loved Helia even more, and Helia loved to read.

"Science?"

"I hope to be a doctor someday."

"Seeing as you were the only one to pay attention in class today," Mr. Price crossed his arms and smiled, "I suspect that we will all be calling you Dr. Cortez in no time."

Flora gave Mr. Price a smile. She always appreciated words of encouragement, no matter who those words came from. She had only known the man for a few minutes and yet, he had already shown an interest in her studies and her likes.

"I apologize," Mr. Price remarked, "I have taken up enough of your time; I will leave you to your reading. Will I see you after school today?"

"I will be there."


It was Flora's favorite part of the day. It was her fifth class of the day and the time of day when she would see Helia. Ever since they began seeing one another in a manner that far passed the realm of an appropriate student-teacher relationship, Flora has found concentrating in class to be a little more difficult. Instead of focusing intently on the lesson, Flora focused on Helia's smile, his body as he walked along the columns of desks, and the smooth quality of his voice.

"I want you all to break off into groups and discuss Ellison's connection to race and Marxist ideals within the novel. Remember to think critically and use evidence to back up your connections and claims."

Flora looked around the room to see that everyone had begun to gather into small groups already. Thankfully, Flora had a friend in Stella and therefore, a reliable partner for moments like this. Flora didn't enjoy new situations and thus, was happy that Stella was always there.

"Hey, Stella," Flora greeted as Stella appeared to be running towards her, "I was thinking that we take a look at-"

"Flora!" Stella exclaimed as she slammed down her book on the desk next to Flora's before moving the desk closer to Flora. "Tell me why I had to hear from Nova who was told by Brandon who was told by Mirta who was told by Aisha that you have a substitute in your calc class?"

"Because you aren't in calculus and a substitute isn't really anything to notify anyone about."

"Um, yes, it is, Flora." Stella raised her eyebrows, "Especially when I was told by Nova who was told by Galatea who was told by Roxy who was told by Desiree who was told by-"

"Stella..."

"Flora, why didn't you tell me that the substitute is a major hottie?!"

"Because, Stella," Flora rolled her eyes as she opened her book, "I don't tend to think of my teachers as 'major hotties'."

It was the truth. Flora didn't make it a habit of thinking of her teachers in such a way. Just one and one was definitely enough for her. Helia was all the "major hottie" that she needed.

"Now, can we please get to work?"

Stella folded her arms and pouted as she slumped into her chair, "Ugh, fine. But I better get the full rundown at lunch."

"You aren't getting a full rundown because there is nothing to rundown."

"Then tell me, Flora," Stella leaned forward, "was he tall?"

Flora shrugged, "I mean taller than most of the people in my class."

"Taller than Mr. Saladin?" Stella asked, nudging her head in Helia's direction. Flora focused her direction toward Helia at the front of the classroom and did her best to hide a smile as she observed Helia reading from a book and taking a sip of coffee.

"I don't think so. But he was tall."

Helia was pretty tall which sometimes made sex awkward at times when Helia was on top and Flora had a wonderful glimpse of his sternum. She didn't think that Mr. Price was as tall as Helia but then again, she hadn't been paying that close attention and Mr. Price had never been on top of her in the way that Helia had.

"And his hair color?"

"Brown."

"Like my Brandy-Bear?"

Flora huffed and rolled her eyes, "No, a touch lighter. And to save you the asking, his skin was a little bit lighter than mine, his shoulders were broad and yes, he definitely works out. His teeth are nice and his eyes are a golden-bronze color with flecks of teal. He is also amazing at math and his voice is deep. And no, I did not get a look at his butt so don't even think about asking. Now can we please get to our work?"

Stella's pout returned to her face, "You really are no fun."

"I am sure that Aisha would love to fill you in on the details that I have left out."

Stella looked Flora up and down, "Are you sure that you aren't a nun?"

Far from it, Flora wanted to reply, but she just sat there and ignored Stella's question, veiled as an insult. Flora wished that she could speak about the attractiveness of men and boys that Aisha and Stella spoke about, but the only man that Flora wanted to talk about was a man who was strictly off the table for conversation. It was bad enough that Flora had to hear Lydia Evans talk about how "wonderful" and "sexy" Helia was, but Flora knew that if her friends had gotten Flora going on Helia, she would not be able to stop and she might reveal a little too much about their relationship. So, Flora stayed quiet.

"So, about these connections…"


The bell rang to dismiss students to their next class and for Flora that meant lunch.

Flora closed her book and the notebook that she had been taking notes on as she and Stella worked on Helia's assignment. Well, Flora worked. Stella talked about nothing and everything. How Stella could find a way to do that should be studied.

"Finally, lunchtime," Stella smiled, "I am starving!"

"You ate a granola bar when we were working, Stella."

"That still doesn't mean that I am not starving. And besides, I hear that they are serving nuggets in the cafeteria."

Flora zipped up her backpack and threw it over her shoulder as she stood up and made her way to the front of the classroom.

"I am sure that they have those veggie nuggets that you love."

"I brought my lunch. I have to save money where we can given that...you know."

Stella pursed her lips and sighed, "I understand. I can get you some, and a giant chocolate milk."

"Stella..."

"You basically did all of the work just now and you even indulged my curiosities about the hot, sexy, hunky substitute."

"You haven't even seen him, Stell."

"But you agree? He is hunky and-"

"Ms. Cortez, may I see you for a moment?"

Flora turned around and saw Helia standing by his desk, organizing some papers.

"What does he want?" Stella asked.

Flora shrugged, for the first time in a while that she told the truth about Helia's intentions. She honestly didn't know what he wanted.

"Probably wants to tell you how amazing you are and bask in your awesome nerdiness."

Flora shot a glare toward Stella.

"I'll see you at lunch, Flora."

Watching Stella leave the room, Flora turned to Helia as they were the only ones left in the classroom.

"Am I in trouble?" Flora asked, worry lacing her voice. She never got in trouble. She also never dated a teacher, but she was finding that she was breaking a lot of nevers with Helia. Never been kissed. Never had sex. All gone with Helia.

Helia smiled, "No, Flora. I just wanted to speak to you."

"About?"

"About tonight."

Helia took a step closer to Flora and reached out to touch her. Flora looked around the empty classroom as the warning bell for the next period sounded. While Helia had a free period and the class would be empty but that didn't mean that there wouldn't be prying eyes.

"Hel...um, Mr. Saladin," Flora corrected herself, "I don't think that we should-"

"You're right," Helia backed up by the desk, "sorry."

"It's okay," Flora smiled, "I wish I could reach out to you too."

Flora looked around one more time before placing her hand on Helia's chest and gently pushing him lightly to the back of the classroom where they wouldn't be seen by any passersby in the hallway. She leaned up and placed a kiss on Helia's lips.

"Ms. Cortez," Helia whispered against Flora's lips, "And yet to wine, to opium even, I prefer

the elixir of your lips on which love flaunts itself; and in the wasteland of desire your eyes afford the wells to slake my thirst."

Flora kissed Helia once again, this time slower and deeper. Her hands traveled up Helia's chest and her arms wrapped around his neck. He tasted like the coffee that he had been drinking earlier and his lips were slightly chapped from the chilly March air. But still, kissing Helia was one of the best feelings ever, even if his lips were as dry as the Sahara.

The final bell rang, and Flora pulled away from Helia.

"So what is happening tonight?" Flora asked as she brushed back a piece of Helia's hair. She tucked it behind his ear, her hand landing on the side of his cheek.

"I was hoping, Ms. Cortez," Helia wrapped his arms around Flora's waist, "that we could ride to my house. I can make us some dinner and we can watch a movie."

"We have been trying to watch a movie for weeks, Helia."

"Well excuse me for finding you to be far more entertaining and intriguing. I do wish that I could say the same for you."

"What do you mean?"

Helia smirked, "I hear that there is a hot, sexy, hunk substitute with golden eyes with flecks of teal."

Flora scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Golden eyes with flecks of teal aren't really my thing. I prefer dark blue. And you are the hottest, sexiest, and hunkiest man that I have ever met."

"Confidence restored," Helia replied, "so can I expect to see you on the bus after school?"

About to answer in the affirmative, Flora closed her eyes and let out a small groan.

"I am staying after school to get help in calculus. Tomorrow? I might be able to convince my mom to spend the night. I'll tell her that our mean old English teacher gave us a brutal assignment and that requires a long night of very hard work."

"I thought that you had a substitute in math?"

"He's actually very competent and offered to help me after school."

Helia's arms tightened around Flora's waist, "I see."

"Tomorrow, Helia. Please?"

Helia smiled, "Of course. I don't want to impede on your studies. Your dedication to your education is what I love most about you."

"Oh really?" Flora laughed, "My dedication to education is what you love most about me?"

Helia placed a kiss on Flora's cheek, "Well it would be highly inappropriate of me to say that I have been bewitched by your tight, hot, wet-"

"Okay, I get it!" Flora pulled away, "Not so loud."

Helia kissed Flora once again before he removed his arms from Flora's waist.

"You better get to lunch, and I will see you tomorrow."


"I'm sorry," Flora sighed, "I still don't really get it."

Mr. Price and Flora were on their fourth equation and the fourth equation that Flora had gotten wrong. She was good at math, not as good as Aisha, but good. She had never been this terrible before.

"No need to apologize," Mr. Price replied as he walked from the whiteboard at the front of the class to Flora's desk, "it's now my problem. I should have tried a new method of explanation."

"We have been at this for over an hour," Flora sighed, "the problem is me."

"That is not true. You are a smart girl and we just have to find something that sticks. I am confident that you will be able to figure this out, Ms. Cortez."

"Thank you for spending so much time with me. I suspect that after-school tutoring is not part of the substitute contract."

Mr. Price laughed as he sat down on the edge of the desk that was next to Flora's. He folded his arm and Flora was once again reminded of Helia as Mr. Price's shirt tightened against his shirt, giving a full display of the contours of his muscles.

"I used to teach math in Domino, but my wife and I moved to Magix so that she can get her PhD at Magix University. I sub because I can't work full-time after the birth of our son. I love teaching and I have to be honest, Ms. Cortez, and tell you that I jumped at the chance to spend more time teaching and asked you to stay after school."

"Well, I am glad that I can help." Flora laughed, "As you can see, I really need the help. And congratulations to both you and your wife on the baby and I wish your wife luck in her program."

"I will pass along your well wishes to Essie." Mr. Price said, "I think that maybe we can finish for today, I suspect that you need to get home."

Flora looked at the clock and then down to her math work, "But I am not finished."

"I am going to be here tomorrow," Mr. Price stood up from his seated position on top of the desk, "and we can discuss the work during class."

"But I cannot just not do my work."

"You won't receive any points off," Mr. Price chuckled, "not that I would be the one to make that decision, but between the two of us, I'll tell Mr. Avalon that you turned everything in on time."

Flora frowned, "I don't want to lie. I am not a liar."

Well, she kind of was. She was lying about her and Helia.

"Think of it as an extension, okay?" Mr. Price gave Flora another smile and Flora finally had to admit that he did have a nice smile.

"Fine," Flora sighed, "but I have a few minutes before the bus comes. Can I stay in here until it does?"

Mr. Price looked up at the clock once again and bit the inside of his cheek in thought, "How about I give you a ride?"

"What?"

"I promise, no ill intentions." Mr. Price held up his hands in a non-threatening gesture, "I would feel bad leaving you unsupervised in the school and while I would love to wait with you, I told Essie that I would get Adam fed and bathed before she got home from her seminar tonight."

"I am a little out of the way."

"All the more reason to accept a ride."

Flora bit down on her lip, she really didn't like people knowing where she lived. Stella, Aisha, and Helia were the only people who knew her socioeconomic situation.

"I can't, I-"

"Sorry, didn't mean to push you." Mr. Price replied as he gathered his things.

Flora turned and looked out the window. It was already beginning to turn dark and even she had to admit to herself that she did not want to wait in the March cold waiting for a bus.

"Okay, fine." Flora replied, "just so that you can get back to your baby."

Mr. Price laughed, "Adam would thank you if he could. But I am afraid that all you would get is a soiled diaper or if you are really lucky, he might even treat you to a spit-up stained cloth."

"A simple babble will do just fine."

"And I want to thank you again for indulging me, Ms. Cortez. I really missed teaching."

Flora simply nodded and smiled in reply as she gathered her things and walked with Mr. Price out of the math room.

"How about you come over to my house tomorrow? Meet Essie and Adam can thank you in person."

"You want me to come over to your house?" Flora raised an eyebrow as she walked side by side with Mr. Price. "It hardly seems appropriate."

"Ah, you're right, I'm sorry. Creep alert, right?" Mr. Price nervously laughed, "I got ahead of myself. Essie and I have been a little desperate to make friends that it completely slipped my mind that you are what, sixteen?"

"Eighteen, Mr. Price. My birthday was a few days ago."

"Happy Belated, Birthday."

Flora smiled, "Thanks."

"How about this, you forget that I asked you over for dinner, and how about as a thank you, my wife told me about this cafe down the way. I could get you coffee if you drink it. Or a muffin?"

Flora took a deep breath and adjusted the straps of her backpack on her shoulders.

"Tea. I like tea."

"Great, and we won't be long. A baby needs his daddy."

Flora scrunched up her nose, "Don't refer to yourself as a 'daddy' around me and maybe nobody else outside of your family."

"What? You don't think that I am a total daddy?"

Flora laughed as she and Mr. Price walked out of the side doors of the school to the teacher's parking lot.

"Mr. Price, I definitely don't think that."

"I'm young and hip. So don't call me Mr. Price. Call me Sam."

"Alright, Sam," Flora nudged Mr. Price as they approached his car, "you are so not young and hip."


Of course it was this cafe. The cafe that Krystal worked at and the cafe down the street from Helia's place. She would have been worried to be here with Mr. Price, no, Sam, but this relationship was purely an above-the-board student-teacher relationship. Plus, she had only known him a few hours, he was married with a baby, and she was far too in love with Helia to think anything about spending time with Sam.

"Essie told me this place was quaint, but she didn't tell me that it was absolutely adorable." Mr. Price said as he put the car in park. He took off his seatbelt and turned towards Flora.

"I come here quite often; I really like the place."

"No wonder Essie thought this place was cute."

Flora blushed as she looked away from Mr. Price. She placed her hand on the door handle and opened the door to the car. She took a step out but was caught by the seatbelt.

"Ow!"

Mr. Price laughed, "You are supposed to unbuckle before stepping out of the car."

"Right," Flora lowered her head in absolute embarrassment, "I am used to the "seatbeltless" bus."

Flora unbuckled herself and got out of the car, Mr. Price following behind.

Why would he say that to her? Why would Mr. Price call her cute? He surely could not have meant anything by it. Flora was just being ridiculous.

"Well come on, Bus Girl," Mr. Price smiled, "let's get you that tea and get you home."

The bell on top of the door rang as Flora and Mr. Price walked into the small cafe. Flora was hit by the smell of coffee and baked goods as she made her way to the counter to order, Mr. Price following shortly behind.

"Hey, Flora, and...oh, who is this?" Krystal asked as she leaned forward against the counter.

"Krystal, this is Mr. Price."

"Mr. Price. Why so formal, Flora?"

"He was my sub today in Math."

"And a very sexy sub at that."

Flora rolled her eyes, "And a married sub."

"I don't see any ring."

Flora looked down at Mr. Price's hand and it hit her that he wasn't wearing a ring.

"Yeah," Mr. Price looked down at his hand and flipped it over a few times, "I guess it became a habit not to wear it. After cleaning baby poop off of it for the millionth time, I would advise not wearing any jewelry on your hands. Or around your neck. Essie has been strangled a few too many times by Adam."

"Adam?"

Mr. Price dug into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, opening it and showing the screen to Krystal.

"My son."

"Aww he is so cute!" Krystal exclaimed as she looked at the phone. Mr. Price turned the phone to Flora who looked on at the small baby on the phone screen wrapped in Mr. Price's arms.

"He kind of looks like you," Flora smiled as she looked from the baby photo to Mr. Price.

"Unfortunate, I know." Mr. Price laughed as he placed his phone back into his pocket.

"Did you miss the part where I called you sexy?"

"And did you miss the part where I said that he was married?"

Krystal scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Just because someone is married doesn't mean that they stop becoming sexy, Flora."

"I'll have a-"

"Chai latte with vanilla and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Your usual, I know it well."

Flora gave Krystal a sarcastic smile.

"And I'll have an americano." Mr. Price said, "Baby duty tonight. I am going to need all of the caffeine that I could possibly get."

"Coming right up...daddy." Krystal gave Mr. Price a wink before turning and getting started on the orders.

Mr. Price looked down at Flora and smiled, "See, I told you that I was totally daddy material."

"Krystal is closer to your age and is not your student."

"You're not really my student." Mr. Price leaned in closer to Flora.

Flora blushed as she did in the car and made her way over to one of the empty tables in the cafe. She sat down and Mr. Price sat across from her, a smug smile on his face.

"What are you smiling at, Mr. Price?" Flora asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Just thinking about how I am going to convey the message to Essie that I still have it."

"It?"

"You heard Krysta she-"

"Krystal." Flora corrected.

"Krystal. You heard her say that I am super sexy."

"I don't think she said super."

"But she did say sexy. Essie has herself a sexy husband."

Flora rolled her eyes, "You should have heard what the students were saying today."

Mr. Price leaned in across the table, "Please, Ms. Cortez, do indulge me."

"Well," a soft blush came to Flora's face as she thought about repeating the words that other students had said that day, mainly her friends, about Mr. Price, "they say that you are a 'smoke show' and 'hot, sexy, and hunky'."

"And what do you think, Ms. Cortez?"

It was here, underneath the fluorescent lights of the cafe and leaning in close to one another that Flora was able to clearly see the swirls of amber color in Mr. Price's brown eyes that made them appear golden and the small flecks of blue that she once thought to be teal but now under the lights proved to be more of a cerulean color. Flora took in the lines around his eyes as he smiled, much like the lines that formed around Helia's eyes when he would smile. Yes, Mr. Price was sexy and daddy material. But Flora wouldn't admit that.

"I don't see why you care so much about what a high schooler has to say," Flora asked as her mouth slowly began to form a sly, half smile.

"You were my favorite student of the day; I am dying to know your opinion of me."

Flora looked around the cafe as she sat and thought of how she wanted to convey and best express her thoughts about the topic at hand.

"A fine teacher who I refuse to acknowledge as a 'daddy', no matter how great of a dad you might be. And to be frank, Mr. Price, you are old and well," Flora leaned forward, "not really my type."

Not that had ever stopped Flora before. In fact, older teachers may just be Flora's type. But there was only room in Flora's heart for one teacher and that place would permanently by occupied by Helia Saladin.

"You wound me, Ms. Cortez," Mr. Price laughed, "but I understand. You're a fine-looking young woman, but nobody holds a candle to my Essie."

"Um, thanks I guess."

"Two orders for Sam!" Krystal shouted out. Mr. Price turned around.

"Shall we get going?"

Flora nodded her head and stood up. She walked with Mr. Price to the counter and picked up their drinks before making their way back outside and towards Flora's house. Well, to the bus stop that she would usually get off at. Flora didn't want him to know where she lived. At least not yet.


"Ms. Cortez!"

Flora spun on her feet as she made her way through the halls from her science class with Palladium to her class with Helia. She recognized the voice belonging to Mr. Price, she smiled as she saw him jog down the hallway towards Flora.

"Didn't I just see you?" Flora asked as she and Mr. Price made their way down the hall, "And don't you have another class to teach?"

"No, I am actually on the way to talk with administration about potentially taking over Mrs. Johannsson's class when she retires next year."

"Wow," Flora beamed, "I wish you luck."

"Thank you," Mr. Price and Flora's eyes met but the slight tension was quickly broken when Mr. Price continued to speak, "Oh, I heard back from Essie. Your advice was just what she wanted to hear."

Flora beamed, "Really?"

"Yeah, I know you said that interior design is not your forte, but Essie really liked your suggestion for the nursery. In fact, she has invited you to come over tonight to help. You can meet Adam."

Flora was suddenly taken aback; she had only known Mr. Price for a day.

"Ah, sorry, creep alert. Like I said, Essie and I are working with zero friends right now. Here," Mr. Price pulled out a receipt from his back pocket and a pen from the pocket on his shirt front, "this is Essie's number. Give her a call or text and you can set something up with her; we'll provide dinner. And by dinner, I mean that we will order pizza."

Gently grabbing the paper from Mr. Price's hand, Flora looked at the very structured and utilitarian handwriting that one might expect from a math teacher.

The warning bell rang.

"Oh, I better get to class."

"Call Essie."

Flora rolled her eyes, "I'll give her a call during lunch."

"Have fun in class."

Flora watched Mr. Price walk away and gave him a small wave goodbye. She placed the piece of paper in her pocket before walking the rest of the way down the hall to Helia's room. Her favorite class of the day.

"Good morning, Mr. Saladin." Flora sweetly greeted.

Helia stood at the door and simply nodded, "Ms. Cortez."

Flora's smile slightly dropped, he always said good morning and if it was a really good morning, he would brush his hand against hers. But he barely acknowledged her. Nothing to worry about, Flora thought to herself, but that still didn't mean that she was worried about it.

The final bell rang and Flora took her seat next to Stella.

"Hey, Flora," Stella smiled, "did you not get my text last night?"

"Um, no," Flora pulled out her phone, "I didn't. I was-"

"Good morning, class!" Helia greeted as he shut the door behind him, "Ms. Cortez, phones away, please."

Flora blushed as she placed her phone in her pocket, "Sorry."

"For today, you will get back with your partners to continue your work from the day before. I want you to finish your exploration of Marxism in Mr. Ellison's Invisible Man. Then after the weekend, you will present back to the class."

Stella wasted no time in scooching her desk closer to Flora's and Flora knew that Stella wasn't eager to get started on their schoolwork.

"How was your after-school study session with the hot sub?" Stella asked.

"You aren't going to try to hide that you aren't the least excited to work on our assignment?"

Stella rolled her eyes and pulled out her notebook, "There, see, so excited. Now, tell me what happened."

"Stella...I am afraid that I am just going to disappoint you."

"Nothing could be exciting about being all alone with a teacher. And a hot one at that."

"I am alone with Mr. Saladin all the time." Flora retorted.

"Yeah, but despite how smokin' Mr. Saladin is old news. Now Mr. Price...he is hot, new, exciting."

"And just a substitute."

Stella laughed, "That's even better! Have a raucous affair and then he will be gone."

"Stella!" Flora exclaimed causing the rest of the classroom to turn toward her and Stella. Flora blushed before lowering her voice. "He's married anyway. With a new baby at home."

"So?"

"So?" Flora leaned back in her seat, "What do you mean by so?"

Stella laughed as she leaned forward to Flora, "I just mean, it just adds to the scandal."

"If you want a scandal, how about you try to seduce Mr. Price? But Stella, he is obsessed with his wife and son. Nothing is going to happen."

Stella sadly sighed and placed her chin in her hand, "Oh well, I suppose there is still Mr. Saladin."

Flora couldn't help but hide a smile. There was only Mr. Saladin. Only Helia.

"Everyone knows that you have the biggest crush on him."

"No, I don't!" Flora protested, "I enjoy his class, but I enjoy every class."

Stella looked up to the front of the room where Helia was squatting at another pair of desks, trying to help students with their work.

"Still, both Mr. Price and Mr. Saladin are some serious eye candy. I guess Mr. Saladin doesn't have the whole wife and kid thing standing in his way. Well, not that we know of at least."

Flora shook her head, "I think that you need to lay off the gritty teen dramas."

"Well excuse me for fantasizing." Stella pouted.

"You can fantasize but leave me out of it."

"Sorry, I already kind of imagined you bent over Mr. Saladin's desk and his mouth on your-"

"Stella!"

Flora rolled up her paper and lightly hit Stella on the top of her head.

"Hey!"

"Ladies?"

Stella and Flora looked up to see Helia looking up at them from his crouched position. His eyes were subtly telling Stella and Flora to focus and quit talking so disruptively.

"Sorry." Flora unrolled her paper and adjusted her pencil in her hand. Helia gave her a stern nod and refocused his attention on the students who he was helping.

"Come on, Stella," Flora stated after regaining her composure, "let's finish this and then think of a time to meet over the weekend."


Flora and Stella finished a few minutes before the class was over. Stella had begun talking about her weekend plans with Brandon and Flora tried to do her best to listen but found her mind drifting. Placing her books and pencils into her backpack, Flora felt the small piece of paper that Mr. Price had given her that had the phone number that belonged to his wife.

Flora pulled out the piece of paper and sneakily pulled out her phone, holding it under the desk, hoping not to be scolded again by Helia. It was so weird for Helia to scold her, especially in class, when they had the relationship that they had. But both Helia and Flora emphatically agreed that he was not to show any favoritism. So, if he were to scold anyone else for their phone use, he should scold her too.

F: Good morning, Mrs. Price. This is Fora, your husband said that he had told you about me. He gave me your phone number as he said that you wanted to talk about plans for this weekend. I am meeting with a friend to go over a project, but I am free for the rest of the weekend. Let me know what you had planned, and I will do my best to make it work. I hope to hear from you soon! Sent 12:27 pm

"Who are you texting so secretively?" Stella asked, causing Flora to look up from her phone under her desk.

Flora placed her phone in her jeans pocket and turned towards Stella.

"Just someone I agreed to help out this weekend." Flora vaguely responded.

"Who are you helping?" Stella asked.

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

"Why are you being so vague?"

Flora's phone vibrated against her leg. She pulled it out and said that she had a message from Essie.

E: Flora! Sam told me so much about you! Thank you for reaching out, I didn't think that you would so quickly. I loved your idea of a forest nursery, but I have no idea which plants to utilize and which plants will be baby friendly. Are you free tonight? I have meetings with my advisor Saturday morning and then Sam and I are heading to my mother's house for the rest of the weekend. Sent 12:28 pm.

"Who is Sam?"

Flora snapped her head once again in Stella's direction and glared at her.

"Will you stop being so nosy, Stella?"

Flora rarely yelled at her friends, but Stella was really too nosy for her own good.

"I wouldn't have to be so nosy if you weren't being so secretive."

"I am not being secretive," Flora huffed, "there are just some things that you don't need to know about."

"Fine," Stella pouted as she held her head in her hands, "but who was messaging you?"

"I told you, Stella," Flora sighed, "I am helping someone with their nursery over the weekend."

Flora pulled out her phone and sent a response back to Essie, letting her know that she could make it over tonight and that she would bring dessert.

E: Thank you, Flora! I know that it must be very odd for two parents in their late twenties to reach out to you like this. I swear that we mean well! And no need to bring dessert! Sam can just take you to our place but if you feel uncomfortable, our address is 1234 Charmix Ave. Just let Sam know what you are planning to do as far as transportation. Again, no need to take us up on the ride, I suspect that Magix gives a pretty thorough Stranger Danger course. I can't wait to see you tonight! Sent 12:34 pm

Flora read the message and placed her phone in her pocket. With her hand still in her pocket, the bell rang, and Flora popped up in her seat.

"Someone is in a hurry." Stella laughed.

"I have to let Sam know that I will need a ride tonight."

"The same Sam from the text?"

"Yep," Flora smiled, "I will meet you in the cafeteria when I am done. It shouldn't take too long."

"Um, okay," Stella replied slightly suspiciously, "see you in a few minutes then."

"I will let you make me over this weekend, okay?"

Stella beamed as she threw her arms around Flora. Flora allowing Stella to make her over was a rare treat indeed and now Flora had openly offered a makeover as a way of appeasing her blonde friend.

"No more questions!" Stella exclaimed, "I have been dying to get my hands on those eyebrows of yours."

"What's wrong with my eyebrows?"

"What's right with them? Honestly, you need to let me pluck them more often."

"Stella, I am ethnic, you know?"

"That is no excuse for an unkempt brow."

Flora scoffed, "I'll see you in a few minutes."

Stella and Flora went their separate ways. Flora had to make sure that she caught up to Mr. Price to tell him that she would be riding with him to his house. She was in so much of a hurry that she didn't hear a certain teacher calling out for her at the end of his class.


"...and then I told her that I was not going to have a blueberry cake for our wedding. I like blueberry cake, but I eat that for breakfast."

Flora laughed as she listened to Mr. Price talk about his wedding with his wife, Essie. Flora was sitting in the classroom that usually belonged to Avalon as she waited for Mr. Price to finish for the day and then they could leave.

"Oh, but blueberry cake is delicious," Flora remarked.

"Yes, but not for my wedding."

"Your wedding? My friend Stella always says that the wedding is for the bride and that the groom is lucky enough to be invited."

"Is that where you stand, Ms. Cortez?"

"No," Flora responded shyly, "I would hope that the person that I marry would be as invested as I am."

Flora sat and thought about a wedding that she might have with Helia, that is if he wanted to even marry her. He had told her that he loved her, and she knew that he was sincere but she was going to leave for Linphea College in the coming months and who knew what might happen with long-distance. Also, Flora thought about her father and how he would not be there if his immigration trial did not go to plan.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Mr. Price asked.

"Sorry," Flora turned to face Mr. Price, her mind brought back to reality, "just thinking about cake."

Mr. Price let out a low laugh that Flora had to admit to herself was very reminiscent of Helia's laugh. She smiled in response.

"Are you ready to go?"

Flora stood up from her seat and nodded her head as she threw her backpack over her shoulder.

"Ready."

Mr. Price grabbed his keys and walked out of the room with Flora following closely behind him.

"You said that you are a vegetarian, correct?" Mr. Price asked as he locked the classroom door behind him.

"Yes."

"That's what I thought. Essie is going to order a small veggie pizza for you. I hope that you won't be too offended if Essie and I eat a pepperoni pizza. Ever since Adam was born Essie has become a bit carnivorous and well, I like pepperoni."

"No offense taken at all," Flora answered as she walked beside Mr. Price.

"Essie messaged me and told me that she tried her hand at making a cheesecake. I am not sure about the flavor."

"I am sure that it will be delicious."

Mr. Price chuckled, "Essie knows that I did not marry her for her skills in the kitchen."

Flora laughed as she and Mr. Price left out of the side doors of the school to the teacher's parking lot, just as they had done the afternoon before. They walked to his car where Flora got into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt.

As Mr. Price left the parking lot, he talked more and more about his wife, making it abundantly clear that he was deeply devoted to her. He loved her and Flora, nor Stella could begin to think that he harbored any feelings towards any of his students. Helia was a special case of a teacher falling in love with his student and Flora was beyond elated to be that student.

Flora's phone buzzed against the back of her leg. She raised her body to dig in the back pocket of her jeans as she fumbled to find her phone.

"Issues, Ms. Cortez?" Mr. Price asked.

"No, just my phone-ugh!"

Flora groaned as her phone fell from her pocket and missed her hand, tumbling down into the narrow space between the seat and the center console. Flora looked down and could see and hear her phone vibrating against the hard plastic.

"I dropped my phone between the seats," Flora announced to Mr. Price as she began moving around in her seat.

"Do you need help?"

"No no, I've got it. Just focus on driving."

Flora wedged her hand in between the seat and the console, trying with no avail to fish her phone out of the narrow space. However, in her efforts, she managed to knock her phone deeper into the space between her seat and the center console.

Taking off her belt, Flora turned in her chair and positioned herself on her knees. She bent down and began searching for her phone. The car hit a bump as it turned the corner and her head bobbed up and down and her body went slightly forward. Mr. Price caught her with a hand he removed from the steering wheel. His fingers thread through her hair and stayed there as he made sure that Flora was no longer under the influence of the car's momentum.

"Are you alright?" Mr. Price asked as he removed his hand from Flora's head.

"I'm okay," Flora answered as she continued to struggle, "just..almost...got it!"

Flora pulled her hand out of the space between her seat with her phone between her slender fingers. She looked at her phone and saw that she had a missed call from Helia. Ah, Flora thought, she forgot to let him know that she would not be riding the bus, but she couldn't call him, not right now. If she did, it would arouse too much suspicion so she decided that she would call him at a later time.

"I am glad that you have managed to retrieve your phone. I hope that you did not miss an important call."

Flora placed her phone into her backpack and smiled.

"No, not at all."


The weekend was one that Flora desperately needed.

Friday night had been wonderful. Mr. Price, his wife, and his son had all been wonderful. When she had arrived to the house, Flora was greeted by Essie, a young woman with long blonde hair that fell in soft curls. Her skin seemed to glow and her eyes were an icy blue. She was gorgeous and ethereal. Their son Adam for the time being seemed to take after his mother with dirty blonde curls and blue eyes.

Essie's voice was almost as ethereal as she was as she spent the dinner indulging Flora's curiosities of her PhD program.

"How fascinating!" Flora exclaimed as she leaned on her elbows as she and the rest of the Price family ate their pizza. Flora knew that her mother would have scolded her but Flora was too enraptured by Essie's explanation of her work in her psychology PhD program that all thought of manners had left her head.

"Sam tells me that you are interested in medicine," Essie smiled as she stood up and grabbed the now empty plates front the table, "have you set your sights on a field that you would hope to pursue?"

Flora stood up in an effort to help clear the table but was stopped by Essie.

"No, dear, you are a guest, please sit."

Flora sat back down and told the Price family all about her ambitions to become a pediatrician.

The next night, Stella had come over and got started right away on slapping a face mask on Flora's face and raiding Flora's closet, replacing what Stella considered to be outdated with "the latest fashions". While Flora was appreciative as she knew that was how Stella showed her love, Flora also thought that the act was completely unnecessary. Flora did need new clothes, but she didn't want Stella to think that she was desperate.

What they needed to do was focus on their English assignment but when it came to Stella, fashion always beat out schoolwork.

Monday rolled around and Flora was wearing one of the dresses that Stella had gifted to her. Flora walked through the hallways of the school, going from her French to her History class. Like the week before, Flora was caught by Aisha who had called out to her.

"Flora!" Aisha exclaimed. Flora turned around and smiled at her friend. Aisha jogged up to Flora until the two of them were walking side by side down the crowded hallway.

"I love this dress, is it new?"

"To me," Flora answered, "Stella gave it to me the other day."

"I see," Aisha laughed, "Stella stopped by my house last night to give me a few outfits. When will she learn that I will not wear the clothes that she chooses for me?"

"You should indulge her from time to time, you know how cross she can become."

"Eh whatever." Aisha waved her hand dismissively in front of her face. "I just wanted to let you know that Avalon is back."

"Oh, that's good." Flora replied.

Flora was glad that Avalon was back. She loved having him as her teacher. She would be sad to see Mr. Price leave, but she had his information and Essie promised that there would be other times that they would get together. It was nice though to have things somewhat back to normal.

"I'll miss looking at Mr. Price thought," Aisha sighed as she wrapped her arm around Flora's, "He was one fine man."

"And what would Nabu say if he heard you talking like this?"

"Nabu agrees." Aisha laughed, "And only a fool wouldn't."

Flora and Aisha turned into the English hallway.

"Admit it, Flora, Mr. Price was a great piece of eye candy."

Flora rolled her eyes.

"Oh, yes," Flora sarcastically said, "a major hottie. What I would do to have him for myself."

"That's the spirit, Flora. I bet you wore that dress because you thought that Mr. Price would still be here."

They turned the corner into the History hallway.

"I did not, Aisha." Flora protested, "I wore it because Stella would be offended if I didn't."

"So your chest isn't just hanging out to appease Stella?"

"Aisha..."

"Fine," Aisha replied, "I'll see you at lunch but just know that your feminine ways are not going to work on Mr. Avalon."


"Ms. Cortez."

Flora spun around to the increasingly familiar voice to be met face-to-face with Mr. Price.

She smiled, "What are you doing here?"

"Well," Mr. Price caught up to Flora as she made her way from her class with Palladium to her English class with Helia, "I just got done with my meeting with administration."

"Wait, they called you back so soon?" Flora asked with bubbling excitement, "What did they want? What did they say?"

She and Mr. Price rounded the corner into the English hallway and paused a few feet away from her classroom where Helia was standing in his usual spot outside of the doorway. Flora, focused on her former math substitute was oblivious to Mr. Saladin's positioning.

"I got the job."

Flora, forgetting all decorum, leaped into Mr. Price's arms for a congratulatory hug. Mr. Price's arms wrapped around Flora as he caught her.

"Congratulations, Mr. Price! This is wonderful news!"

"Time to get looking at daycare programs for Adam but Essie and I are excited to see what next year will have in store. Too bad I won't have you as a student."

"I will be sure to visit when I can, Mr. Price. Miele will be here in just a few years' time."

"I am sure she will be just as lovely as you are."

With his hands on her hips, Mr. Price looked down into Flora's eyes and smiled. She smiled back, genuinely happy for the substitute that she had quickly grown close to.

"We will have to celebrate!" Flora exclaimed as she clasped her hands together.

"I agree," Mr. Price nodded, "this weekend?"

"As long as you order pizza again. And that cheesecake was heavenly."

"Whatever you want, Flora."

The warning bell rang.

"I better get to class," Flora softly said, "congratulations again, Sam."

"I couldn't have done it without your words of encouragement."

Flora laughed, "All I said was good luck."

"Better than nothing. Now get to class before-"

The final bell rang.

"Sorry," Mr. Price said, "I can't really write you a pass."

"Don't worry," Flora shrugged, "the class is right there."

Flora would have said that Mr. Saladin would probably have given her a pass but once again, Flora didn't want to raise any suspicion.

Parting from one another, Flora made her way into Helia's class right as he was beginning to shut the door.

"Good morning, Mr. Saladin." Flora smiled as she entered the classroom.

"You're late." Helia replied, his voice cold and gruff, "Take your seat, Ms. Cortez."

Flora didn't like this tone of voice. But then again, she was late, and she and Helia agreed that there would be no favoritism.

"Why are you late?" Stella asked as Flora took her seat.

"Just got caught up talking to a teacher," Flora replied as she pulled out her and Stella's presentations.

"I heard that Hottie McSubpants was walking around the halls." Stella wiggled her eyebrows.

"Really? I didn't see him."

"I would have given anything to see him," Stella sighed as she set her chin in her hand, her eyes filled with wonder as she imagined running into the hot, yet very married, substitute.

"You amaze me sometimes, Stella."

"I am amazing, aren't I?"

Flora and Stella laughed.

"Ladies," Helia called out, "class has begun."

Flora and Stella ceased their laughing and focused their attention on the front of the classroom.

"Good morning, class!" Helia greeted with a forced smile that only Flora recognized, "I know that I told you to have your presentations ready for today, but I think that I want to do something different and bring it back to last semester. I want you all to recall Othello."

"Sweet," Riven pumped his fist softly, "do I get another chance to smother Stella with a pillow."

"How many times do I need to tell you to shut it, Riven!" Stella yelled back.

Helia shook his head, "Mr. Scott, Ms. Solaria, please. Not today. And no, we will not be acting it out but I want to talk about the underlying theme of the play. Can anyone tell me what it is?"

Lydia raised her hand.

"Ms. Evans? Your thoughts?"

"Well," Lydia replied, "Betrayal?"

"Precisely," Helia smiled, "betrayal and deceit."

When Helia said that, he looked directly at Flora. Why did he look at her like that?

"The central theme of Shakespeare's-"

"Excuse me, Mr. Saladin," Flora interrupted, "but I don't think that betrayal and deceit is what we are supposed to take away from Othello."

"And tell me, Ms. Cortez," Helia folded his arms over his chest, "what are we supposed to take from Othello?"

Flora looked down at her hands, "Well-"

"If you are going to present an alternate opinion, the least you could do is stand firm and state it with conviction."

Flora looked up and noticed that Helia was still staring at her and his eyes were missing the warmth that they usually held. Instead, they were cold and stormy. She felt like retreating into herself once again, but Helia told her not to. And she was not one to back down from Helia's challenges, not now.

"I think that Othello is more about trust and the love that Othello and Desdemona have for one another."

"Explain, Ms. Cortez."

"Would the play have ended the same way if Othello trusted Desdemona?"

"Would the play end the same way without the deceit?"

"Well, no," Flora shook her head, "but that is just the plot device, the driving force behind the play. But I think that Othello's downfall is that he is so insecure in himself and his relationship with Desdemona that he completely jumps to conclusions and-"

"Othello is a Venetian General, what would he have to be insecure about?"

"Status is nothing when someone is in love."

"Can you elaborate, Ms. Cortez?"

Flora took a deep breath, "Othello could have everything in the world, the highest position and unfathomable wealth. But to be deceived so easily? To assume that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio? Even when Desdemona denies it, he kills her anyway. Othello is insecure and should have trusted his wife."

"Even with all of the evidence against her?"

"All circumstantial, Mr. Saladin. Desdemona was willing to risk her status in the Venetian court for Othello. She was betrothed to someone else and still, despite Desdemona's devotion-"

"Cassio gave Othello's token to Desdemona to Bianca, Othello heard Cassio and Iago discuss the infidelity, and-"

"All I am hearing from you is that Desdemona did nothing to receive the fate that befell her."

"Because of deceit and betrayal."

"Sure, by Iago and Rodrigo but not by Desdemona. Othello should have trusted her!"

"But-"

"Why are you so intent on arguing with me, Mr. Saladin?"

"I want to challenge your viewpoint."

"Why so intently, Mr. Saladin?"

"Ms. Cortez-"

"And you accepted Lydia's answer."

"Because she gave the correct answer, Ms. Cortez."

"But I have shown that she did not! Lydia's response was ill-informed and is not supported by the text showing that she doesn't know what she is talking about!"

Flora was beginning to feel heated. Helia had never talked to her in this way and when they did debate, he had never pushed so hard.

"Apologize, Ms. Cortez."

"To you or to Lydia? Because I am not apologizing to either of you because you are wrong and so was Lydia!"

"I know that you are not used to having your thoughts challenged and think that just because you are..." Helia caught himself, "Apologize. To Lydia."

Flora rolled her eyes, "Sorry, Lydia. Sorry that I said that you don't know what you are talking about but that doesn't negate the fact that you are still wrong. Desdemona is dead because of Othello's distrust of her and his pride! Iago is the villain, and the only consequence is a non-fatal stab wound and demotion!"

"What has gotten into you today, Ms. Cortez?" Helia asked, his voice also rising.

"Me? What has gotten into me? What has gotten into you?"

"You are being insolent, Ms. Cortez."

"And you are being completely unfair, and it feels like you are upset about something and are taking it out on me! If you are, then you are being unprofessional as well."

"You want to really tell me that I am being unprofessional?"

"Yes, I do!"

"You know what, Ms. Cortez," Helia walked towards her desk and placed his hands down on the top of her desk, lowering down so that his face was close to Flora's, "I am upset. Upset with you. And I will see you in detention tonight."

Flora's eyes widened, "Detention? But-"

"Is there a problem, Ms. Cortez?" Helia asked before lowering his head and whispering, "or do you have something else more pressing?"

Flora turned to avoid Helia's gaze as she felt herself become more and more upset. It was better just to say nothing.

Helia backed away, "I will see you after school, Mr. Cortez."

There was a silence in the room before Riven turned to Flora.

"Dayum, Cortez."


Flora sat in the empty classroom, ready for detention. She never got detention. And she never thought that she would have been given detention by Helia. Especially something so stupid and petty as an argument in class. She was right and while Flora may have let it go, Helia was pushing back so hard and then accusing her of going on a date with Mr. Price...she was livid.

The door opened as Helia walked into the classroom with a stack of papers and closed the door behind him. He set the papers down on his desk before sitting down and beginning his work.

"Your detention starts now. I will dismiss you when your time is complete."

Flora mumbled under her breath, "You can't even bother to look at me."

"Silence will be observed during detention."

"Are you really that mad at me, Helia?" Flora asked.

Helia looked up from his papers, "I told you that silence will be observed and it's Mr. Saladin, Ms. Cortez."

She couldn't believe her ears. He was actually mad at her. She didn't want to believe it and while she did feel that she did nothing wrong, the people-pleaser in her wanted to find out how she might be able to make it better. She might not have liked to be wrong, but she definitely didn't like the fact that Helia was made at her.

"What did I do?" Flora asked, quietly, her voice shaking as she asked, not wanting to be yelled at once again.

"Silence."

"Please tell me, Helia."

Helia set down his pen before looking up at Flora and staring her in the eyes.

"I thought that I to-"

"Was there something that I did? I won't know if you do not tell me nor can I ameliorate the situation."

"Ms. Cortez..."

"If you are really upset at me for that or for debating you in class, I don't know who is more insecure, you or Othello!"

"Ms. Cortez, you are looking at another day of detention."

"I don't care, Helia!' Flora yelled across the room, "Because you are being ridiculous! I never thought that I would have to yell at you like this, but I also never thought that you would be so immature!"

"Immature?!" Helia shouted as he shot up to his feet.

"Yes, immature! You are apparently mad at me, and I have no idea how you could be so upset with me!"

Helia marched across the room to Flora and was once again met face-to-face with a fuming Helia but this time, Flora was just as upset.

"Because Flora!" Helia shouted, "Because I had to hear from Krystal that you were at the cafe with some 'sexy daddy', whatever the Hell that means!"

"You're mad that I went to the cafe with Mr. Price? He was just taking me home after our study session together and-"

"And what about this weekend, Flora!" Helia shouted, "I called you and you didn't answer! To make things worse, I saw him drive by and I got a wonderful view of your ass in the air and your head bobbing in his lap!"

Flora's heart dropped to her stomach. The phone incident.

"Helia, there was-"

"I know what I saw, Flora! And I know that you didn't call me back!"

"I forgot! I had a busy weekend!"

"Really? Or were you too busy fucking the hot, sexy, hunky, substitute?"

Without thinking, Flora quickly raised her hand and slapped Helia. The sound of the smack filled the empty English room followed by the sound of Flora's angry and upset panting.

"How dare you accuse me of something like that."

"Why shouldn't I?" Helia asked, his cheek red, "You've already slept with me? Who's to say that I am not some conquest that you have had?"

Tears began to fall down Flora's face, hurt beyond words that Helia would ever accuse her of something like that.

"I slept with you because I love you, Helia!" Flora exclaimed, "I love you and only you which makes your anger and accusations hurt even more! I never thought that you would say something like that to me! I can't believe that you think that I... Helia, I would never. Mr. Price and I-"

"What? What is he to you?"

"He's married, Helia! He's married with a child! Is it so hard to believe that someone might actually be nice to me without wanting anything in return?! Do you think that you are the only one who can show me kindness and that all of my attention should be directed at you?! Mr. Price is nothing to me!" Flora took a deep breath as she looked up at Helia, the tears still flowing down her face, "And right now, you also mean nothing to me."

Flora couldn't stay here, she needed to leave. She grabbed her backpack and stood up from her chair, Helia silently watching as she walked towards the door.

"Where are you going, Ms. Cortez? Detention isn't over."

"I'm going home," Flora replied, "and don't worry, I'm not going to go fuck another teacher. Because apparently, that's all I do and all that I am good for."

"Flora, that's not-"

Flora left Helia's classroom and slammed the door shut behind her before she walked down the hallway and left the school and Mr. Saladin behind.


The bus rumbled down the street as Flora placed her head on the glass and looked out of the window. The weather was cool and crisp that mid-March morning and Flora didn't want to watch as the bus stopped at the stop after hers, the stop belonging to Helia.

The bus hissed to a stop and the door opened. Flora kept her eyes forward, looking out of the window. She wasn't going to look, she wouldn't allow herself to look because she knew that if she looked and Helia was there, she didn't know if she would be able to stop crying.

She hadn't stopped crying since the moment she arrived home the night before. Her mother and sister expressed their worry and Flora had to lie and say that Riven had said something that had really gotten on her nerves and that she was crying out of frustration. Nothing to worry about. She would get over it.

But Flora didn't know if she would.

Flora never thought that Helia would behave like that and she didn't think that she would have ever responded the way that she did. She hit him and for that she was ashamed. But he had accused her of something so unthinkable. Was it really unthinkable? She and Helia had been sleeping together for nearly a month, was it so wild that he would think that she would be sleeping with other teachers? But he should know that she loved him. She loved only him. How could he think that she felt any different?

The bus continued down the road and Flora still willed herself not to look at whoever came on the bus.

Flora reached into her backpack and pulled out her phone to see a text that she had received from Essie and from Helia. She opened the message from Essie, not daring to look at the message from Helia. She couldn't.

E: Good Morning, Flora. I am sorry to bother you so early in the morning but I wanted to thank you for your help this weekend. I wish we could have paid you in more than pizza but if you ever are in need of any more, we are always willing to accept any other tips that you have for us. Feel free to invite your mother and sister next time, Sam and I would love to meet them! Sent 7:12 am

Flora didn't have it in her to respond. She knew that it was rude, but she just didn't know what to say. Should she distance herself from the Price family after her fight with Helia? No. They were kind to her and had even extended an invitation to her family. And the best part, she didn't have to hide this relationship that she had with the substitute because there was nothing nefarious.

Flora's phone vibrated and she saw Helia's name appear at the top of her phone. She glared at her phone before shoving it back into her backpack. It was official, she had never been so angry.

The bus pulled up to the school and Flora quickly grabbed her backpack and stood up from her seat on the bus. She kept her eyes trained on the door, ignoring the flash of dark hair that hit her periphery and ignoring her whispered name that came from his lips. She wasn't talking to him. Not now. Probably not for a while.


It was the time that she was dreading.

The bell rang dismissing the students from their fourth-period class to their fifth. Flora slowly closed her books, hopefully prolonging the time that it would take for her to make it to her English course. She didn't want to see Helia. Maybe he went home sick? Maybe he fell into a hole in the ground? But more realistically, Flora hoped that he would leave her alone.

Flora grabbed her backpack and made her way out of the science room and down the halls towards the English hallway where she knew Helia would be standing where he always did, right outside of his classroom. Today was a day that he wished that she had run into Stella, Aisha, Karel, heck, even Riven in the hallway. She needed a buffer because she couldn't face Helia alone. She was too afraid that she would start crying.

But no such luck and Helia was standing there at his usual place in front of the door with a smile on his face as he greeted each student. Flora adjusted her backpack on her shoulder as she took a deep breath and walked past Helia and into the classroom, ignoring his greeting and making a beeline to her spot in the middle of the room.

"Flora," Stella leaned over and whispered, "how are you doing today?"

"Fine." Flora replied, not really in the mood to talk.

"Are you sure, you of all people had detention! And from Mr. Saladin no less!" Stella exclaimed.

"Stella!" Flora yelled, "I don't want to talk right now so could you please not talk to me?"

Stella sighed, knowing that her friend was serious. Flora never yelled. Then again, Flora never got detention.

The final bell rang, and Helia walked into the classroom, closing the door behind him. He walked to the middle of the classroom and stood in front of his desk. His face was somber as he looked out to the students, his eyes directed at Flora. Not that she would notice as she fixed her eyes on her notebook, refusing to make eye contact with Helia.

"Good morning, class." Helia sighed, "before we get started with your presentations, I want to apologize for the previous day. I had some personal issues happening and I allowed that to cloud my professional judgment. Ms. Cortez was right; I was being unprofessional. I hope that you will forgive me, and we can continue a positive school year filled with respectful and insightful discussion."

"Oh course, Mr. S." Riven was the student to reply, "It was kind of nice to see Cortez so worked up. I can't believe you gave her detention."

"Thank you for your leniency, Mr. Scott," Helia said, "and Ms. Cortez is who I need to offer my sincerest apologies to. I was wrong and I am wiping the detention from the records. It should not have happened."

Flora knew that everybody's eyes were on her, but her head was still down and her eyes on her notebook. She didn't say anything. Apology not accepted. The other students didn't know how unprofessional Helia had become when they were alone in the room. He accused her of sleeping around with teachers based on the very limited interactions that she had with a substitute. He didn't trust her and it would take far more than a general apology to get her to even look at him.

"Shall we get started with the presentations?"


The bell rang as Riven and Karel finished their presentation. Flora was grateful that Helia did not call on her and Stella to present because she was not in the mood to do so, and she had the sneaking suspicion that Helia knew that as well. She didn't look up the whole time, spending the hour doodling in her notebook.

Finally removing her eyes from her notebook, she packed up her stuff and quickly threw her backpack over her shoulder, hoping to slip out of the classroom undetected. But once again, luck was not on her side that day.

"Ms. Cortez," Helia called out as Flora was walking past his desk to the door. "Ms. Cortez."

"Flora, Mr. Saladin is calling you," Stella remarked.

"I know."

"Well..."

"Well, what?" Flora snapped, "Let's just go to lunch."

"Flora..." Stella sighed as she looked at her friend with sadness. Stella hated seeing her friend so upset, especially when it was the rare case that she herself hadn't managed to make Flora angry.

"I am not talking to him," Flora replied.

"Ms. Cortez, please." Helia did his best to sound stoic and professional, but Flora could hear the hint of desperation in his voice.

Flora sighed, "Just go ahead, Stella."

Stella nodded before giving Flora's hand a squeeze and leaving the classroom.

They were finally alone, and Flora really wish that they weren't. The tension was thick, and Flora wanted to run out of the room.

"Ms. Cortez, could you please join me in the back of the class?" Helia asked. They both knew that when they asked to go to the back of the class that they were no longer teacher and student but just simply Helia and Flora, two people in love with one another. They couldn't be seen, and they were free to be themselves.

"No thank you," Flora replied, refusing to look at Helia, "I would prefer to stay here."

Flora felt Helia move closer, "Please," he whispered, "I want to talk to you."

"And I don't want to talk to you. So, please say what you need to say, Mr. Saladin, and I will be on my way."

Helia reached out and grabbed Flora's hand to which she recoiled.

"Don't!" Flora exclaimed.

Helia took a step back and sighed, "Flora..."

"I said that I don't want to talk to you right now. I don't want to be near you. I don't even want to look at you."

"I'm sorry, for everything I did and said yesterday."

"Fine," Flora crossed her arms over her chest and looked over to the side of the classroom, still refusing to meet Helia's gaze, "may I go now? I have to go see if I can go sleep with Mr. Conners for a better grade in History. Since that is what you think of me, that I am just some slut that sleeps with her teachers or the first person that shows her attention."

"I said that I was sorry!" Helia exclaimed.

"And I heard you. I said 'Fine', not that I have accepted your apology."

"Then tell me what I can do to make things right." Helia pleaded.

"Funny, I asked you the same thing yesterday before you basically called me a whore!"

"Flora, y-"

"How could you say that to me?!" Flora yelled, her eyes finally meeting Helia, filled with rage and tears. "I thought that you loved me! You said that you loved me and what you said broke my heart, Helia! All because I dared to spend time with a teacher that wasn't you! How dare you think you can just say sorry and expect me to come back to you? Was this all a lie!? Do you think that poorly of me? The poor daughter of immigrants who now doesn't have a dad, how desperate she must be! You accuse me of false feelings, but it appears as though maybe you were just projecting your own feelings onto me! Did you ever love me?"

"Of course I did! I still do! Flora, I am so sorry. I love you and I foolishly let jealousy get the best of me. I said things that I shouldn't have said, things that I did not mean. Just seeing you with him...with anyone...it drives me insane."

"And what are you going to do when I leave for college next year? Will I not be able to have any friends or amicable relationships with my professors without you accusing me of something so heinous? Maybe it is best if we just forget everything that happened between us. By all rights, we shouldn't even be together in the first place."

Helia's eyes widened, "No."

"If you cannot even trust me-"

Flora felt Helia's hand grab her hand once again and she was unable to pull away as he dragged her to the back of the classroom.

"Helia, please, it would be better if we just-"

"You are not the one who is desperate and pathetic in this relationship, Flora. It is me. I was an absolute ass, and I am willing to do whatever it is you want me to do. Shall I resign so that we may really be together? So that I may proclaim my love for you from every rooftop in Magix?"

"And have everyone else think that I am just some desperate girl who just sleeps with her teacher because nobody else would love her?"

"Then tell me what it is that you want, what you desire, and I shall do it. I love you. I love you more than words can say and if I could go back and take back what I said, I would."

"But you can't, Helia." Flora cried, "You cannot take it back."

Helia's hand cupped the side of Flora's cheek, and his fingers wove through her soft hair. He wanted to kiss her and purge the sin that fell from his lips with the warmth from her own. Just as Romeo had begged Juliet, Helia was now begging Flora.

"Please, do not leave me," Helia whispered desperately. "I will do anything for you. Anything to show you how much I still love and care about you."

"Then don't you ever say what you said to me yesterday afternoon ever again."

"Never."

"And make me dinner tonight."

"I'll make your favorite."

"And dessert?"

"I told you, anything."

"Then kiss me. Right now."

"I can do that."

Helia smiled as he leaned into Flora, finally pressing his lips onto Flora. It felt so good, so right.

"Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."


Flora's back hit Helia's mattress, his lips hungrily tracing down her skin.

"I said that I wanted dinner," Flora panted as Helia's teeth nipped the side of Flora's neck.

"And dessert. Who said that it couldn't come before dinner?"

Flora gripped Helia's arms and moaned, "Nobody, but will I get real dessert?"

"I went out to the store before you came over. I have brownies, cake, a cheesecake, ice cream, I even bought a tiramisu. All for you."

Flora removed her hands from Helia's arms and brought them to his head. She pulled him up to her and placed a long and deep kiss on his lips, "I just want you. But tiramisu also sounds delicious."

"Not as delicious as you, Flora." Helia brushed back Flora's hair and caressed her cheek, "And I really am sorry. I should have never questioned your intentions. I was stupid and paranoid and...it wasn't me."

"I know, Helia. Just don't let it happen again, okay?"

"Yes, my love."

Helia returned his lips to Flora's neck as Flora's hands carded through his silky hair. His lips moved lower to the top of Flora's chest.

"I am so glad that spring has sprung," Helia smirked against Flora's chest, feeling the smooth skin against his lips left exposed by the short sundress that Flora was wearing. His hands traveled up her leg and gripped the soft flesh of her thighs.

"It appears that spring is not the only thing that has sprung, Mr. Saladin."

"I would offer a line or a quote but all I can think about is getting you out of your clothes."

"I don't need poetry or quotes; I just need you."

Helia raised the hem of Flora's dress, exposing the lower half of Flora's body. It was all Helia needed but it was all of Flora that he wanted. He raised her dress more and Flora's back arched, letting Helia completely remove her light pink dress from her body. Helia looked down at Flora and sighed.

"What is it?" Flora asked, raising her arms up to her body.

Helia grabbed her arms and held them down at her sides, "Nothing is wrong. It's just...yeah, no quotes come to mind."

Flora rolled her eyes and began unbuckling Helia's belt, "All I want is for you to take off your clothes, ravage me, eat your vegetarian lasagna, and then stuff my face with tiramisu. So less talking, more stripping."

"I can do that."

As Flora removed Helia's belt and slipped Helia's pants down his waist, Helia wasted no time in removing his shirt and the rest of Flora's clothing. He lowered his mouth back to the top of her chest and Flora let out a breathy moan. His grip was strong against her hips and she could feel his teeth graze against her skin, sure to leave marks.

Maybe she should make Helia jealous more often.

There was a ringing noise that came from the pocket of her sundress that was now on Helia's floor. Flora made a move to grab her phone, but Helia held her down.

"Don't." Helia gently commanded through kisses.

"At least let me check who it could be," Flora kissed Helia's cheek and lightly smacked his arm, "it could be my mother. I'll be right back."

Flora managed to wriggle out of Helia's grasp to roll over and grab her phone, she looked at the number and didn't recognize it. She looked behind her and saw Helia fumbling in his nightstand drawer grabbing a condom. Flora looked back at her phone and answered it. If it were a spam call, she would just hang up. She couldn't chance it being an important call.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Cortez?"

Flora's eyes widened, "Mr. Price?"

Flora suddenly felt Helia's arm around her waist. She looked back and saw Helia's jaw clench, he did not look happy.

"H...how did you get my number?"

"Essie gave it to me," Mr. Price laughed from the other side of the line, "I wanted to know if you were free tomorrow?"

Helia's lips fell on Flora's shoulder, "Free tomorrow? It's a school day."

"I meant after school, Ms. Cortez. Do not let me stop you from getting an education."

"What do you have planned, Mr. Price? I mean," Flora looked behind her, "Sam?"

"Hang up," Helia whispered in Flora's ear, "now."

"I was wondering if you wanted to grab some coffee tomorrow. Essie wanted to give you a book that she thought that you would like but Essie has class so the task has naturally fallen to me. I'll bring Adam, he really seemed to like you…and because I kind of have to since I very well can't leave an infant at home by himself."

Flora giggled, partly because she was genuinely amused and also because she wanted to punish Helia a little bit more.

"Coffee? Afterschool? I th-"

"This is Flora's boyfriend. Flora is busy." Helia spoke into the phone, "Don't call again."

Helia hung up the phone and threw it down on the floor.

"Helia!" Flora exclaimed.

"It wasn't your mother," Helia replied as he flipped Flora to her back, "now back to where we were."

"Jealousy is not a good look on you, Helia." Flora giggled, "But it was kind of sexy the way that your jaw clenched when I mentioned Mr. Price."

"Don't say his name."

"Who?" Flora teased, "Mr. Samuel Price?"

"Flora..."

Flora giggled, "I am only teasing, Mr. Helia Saladin. And please relax," Flora now flipped Helia over on his back, "I only love you. I am in your bed, not his, and," Flora reached down and grabbed his hard cock, positioning it between her legs. She sank down and let out a deep moan, "you are the only one that I am doing this with."

"That certainly makes me feel better," Helia smiled, "But I thought that I was supposed to be the one ravaging you?"

Flora began moving her hips above Helia, her hands resting on his chest.

"But this is fine too." Helia moved his hand down to Flora's waist, "Very fine with me."

Flora continued to slowly roll her hips and felt Helia's penis hit her cervix, and the spot that she loved...and that Helia knew that she loved. Flora felt one of Helia's hands move from her hips and towards the sensitive spot between her legs. She yelped as Helia's thumb began rubbing her clitoris.

Flora's head fell forward and shut her eyes tight. Her hips began moving faster to meet the movements of Helia's hand. Fully collapsing onto Helia, Flora quickly kissed Helia. It was rough, sloppy, and just what Flora needed as Helia began to thrust his hips.

"Keep doing that, Helia." Flora panted, her kiss with Helia becoming more and more frantic. "No, I change my mind."

"What?"

Flora rolled over, sliding off of Helia, "I still want you to ravage me, Mr. Saladin."

Helia quickly rolled to the side of Flora and spread her legs, placing one leg on top of his hips. With a swift thrust of his hips, he smoothly reentered her. The pressure on Flora's leg from Helia's grip matched the pressure between her legs. Flora's head fell forward onto Helia's shoulder and her arms wrapped around Helia's neck, anchoring herself onto Helia. She didn't want to let go. She never did and she never would if she had anything to say about it.

Flora moaned as she brought her lips back to Helia's, continuing their kiss from before the position change. Helia's arms wrapped around her waist, tightly holding her to him, letting Flora know that he never wanted to let her go either. Flora could never imagine how Helia could think that she would want anyone other than him, though she supposed that she also found the green-eyed monster of jealousy creep up whenever Lydia or any other girl talked to Helia in a more than familiar way. But who could blame her? Helia was by far the best-looking teacher in the school. Flora would even bet that Helia was the best-looking person in the city. And every time that she found herself speaking to him after class, eating dinner at his house, listening to him read, or in moments like this, Flora was in slight disbelief that he chose her.

"Tell me again," Flora panted as she gazed into Helia's deep blue eyes.

"I'm sorry, Flora. I was an ass."

Flora shook her head, "Not that. Tell me that you love me."

Helia smiled, "I love you, Flora Esmeralda Cortez. Only you."

"Again."

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you, Flora. I love you, I love you, I love you."

"And I love you too."

Flora's breathy pants turned louder, and Helia continued to thrust faster and harder, hitting all of the spots that she loved. The headboard of Helia's bed hit the wall in rhythmic thumps, matching the movements of their bodies. Breathy pants and moans, slapping skin, and the sound of the banging headboard filled the room, it was music to Flora's ears.

Flora bit down on her lower lip as she felt the familiar pleasure build up between her legs and up to her stomach. She felt as though she were going to explode. Her fingers dug into Helia's back and she would apologize for the scratch marks on his back later.

"Are you going to come now?" Helia asked as he increased the pace of his thrusting.

"Mmmhmm...yes, Helia…" Flora nodded her head.

Even with her eyes shut, Flora knew that Helia was looking at her face as she felt her climax quickly approaching. Helia told her that it was sexy but Flora knew that if Helia weren't blinded by love or the haze of sex that he too would have to admit that she looked ridiculous. Flora lowered her head, hoping to avoid Helia's gaze, but Helia placed his hand under her chin and brought her head back up.

"I want to see you." Helia moaned before giving her a quick kiss. "I want to look at you as you orgasm because of me."

"Helia..." Flora whined but that whine was hidden behind a moan.

Helia's hand trailed down Flora's back and landed on her round and, in Flora's opinion, large ass. It was already bad enough that Helia wanted to look at her face as she came, but now he had to have his hand on one of her biggest insecurities. Yet still, every time Helia would state that her face and her ass were his two favorite parts of her body. Well, the ass when they were having sex or being flirty with one another.

"I want you to look at me," Helia's request came out as more of a command, "look at me as you come."

"Yes..." Flora moaned, "yes, Helia."

Flora did her best to keep her eyes open and on Helia's face but as Flora's orgasm washed over her, her eyes involuntarily snapped shut and her mouth opened as she let out a silent yell. She gasped and her body stiffened against Helia's as her orgasm crested over her in one, large wave.

"That's it, my love," Helia encouraged as he kept thrusting into Flora, "...perfect."

Tears began to fall from Flora's eyes as she came, the amount of pleasure and gratitude overwhelming her and causing her to collapse against Helia. As she came down from her orgasm, she didn't even realize that Helia's thrusting had stopped but was brought back to her senses as she heard Helia panting in her ear and his hands began gently running up and down her back.

"Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure." Helia sighed as he continued to rub his hand up and down Flora's smooth and slightly sweaty back.

"Then I shall an extra prayer for you this Sunday at Mass."

Helia chuckled, "I was merely quoting the great Lord Byron."

"I will still say an extra prayer for you. I always do."

"Is that so?" Helia placed a kiss on Flora's shoulder, "I think that this weekend you should pray that I stop being such a jealous man."

Flora shook her head, "I pray for your good health and happiness."

"Then your prayers have been answered because I feel my healthiest and happiest when I am with you."

Helia pulled out of Flora and discarded the now full condom in the waste basket under the bedside table. He reached down to the floor and grabbed his underwear and his shirt. Rolling back over to face Flora, he handed her his shirt. Flora slipped on Helia's large shirt and Helia got out of the bed to put on his underpants and a pair of sweatpants that was hanging on the back of a chair in his room.

"Come on," Helia held out his hand towards Flora, "there is an apology vegetarian lasagna and a large slice of tiramisu with your name written all over it."

Flora grabbed Helia's hand and he pulled her to her feet. She quickly bent down to the floor and grabbed her phone.

"What are you doing?" Helia asked with a chuckle.

"Wondering whether I should call Mr. Price back and apologize that my boyfriend decided to hang up on him."

"Flora..." Helia groaned.

"What?" Flora coyly replied.

Helia grabbed Flora's phone from her hand and threw it onto her bed. Flora yelped as she felt her feet leave the floor and her body drape across Helia's shoulder.

"Helia!"

"That's it, no more hot, sexy, and hunky substitutes for you."