Hot For Teacher (27 page)

Zeke

It was finally the weekend and I was excited to actually get to sleep until I felt like waking up, and not by my alarm at five o’clock in the morning. I looked at my phone and it was ten o’clock, which was a record for me. I also had two texts from Rachel.

Bestie(1):
This may be the cold medicine talking, but I think I know why you couldn’t admit your feelings for me. There’s someone else isn’t there?

Bestie(2): It’s okay, you can be honest with me, Zeke.

Me: Rach, I was asleep when u texted me last night. I hope ur okay.

Bestie: No, I’m not okay, Zeke. I’m coming over because we need 2 talk.

***

Zach

I’ve been up since seven o’clock this morning. I always went right to the gym around that time on the weekends before it got crowded.

Our second game versus Doherty Tech was this afternoon and I needed to clear my mind before it. Chris and I met up afterward and ordered steak and eggs from the diner for breakfast. Before we left, a girl I’ve never seen around before approached me and gave me her number. She was definitely my type, and I admired her brass.

***

“All right guys, I don’t know much about this team, because they were just added to our visitor list this year, but that doesn’t mean you don’t bring your A-game. Make every extra practice we had count. One, two, three; Tigers.Eat.Prey.”

As soon as the center snapped the ball back, their defense came charging directly at me.

I looked to my left, my wide receiver was covered. I looked to my right, my tight-end was covered. I didn’t expect their defense to blitz this early in the game and that left me with no choice but to run the ball myself.

I made it to the forty yard line before I was tackled to the ground…

These guys came to play and I had to get my team motivated and focused—quickly.

***

After a grueling head-to-head match, we were both tied 21-21. We were in possession of the ball with under a minute left in the game. Anything could happen in this moment and it was up to me to make a decision—fast.

I wanted to keep pushing the clock and run the field until we got at least a 3rd and goal, but the defense was barely letting us move. So I made the tough decision to let our kicker, Adam, kick us a field goal. If he made it, we could win. If not, they’d get possession and anything could happen. I’ve watched a lot of super bowls to know this first hand.

The ball was perfectly aligned in front of him, dead center of the goal. My nerves were shot, hoping he’d make this goal. He’d only missed one field goal before this and if he missed this, we’d have to stop the Highlanders from getting a goal, so we’d force this game into overtime.

He did one practice kick, then went for it and made it, giving us a three point advantage. Now it was the Highlanders turn.

Adam kicked it all the way down the field, and my defense looked scared. There were so many holes left open and I could see the steam coming out of coach’s ear, he was so pissed. “Defense, you idiots, defense!” he shouted. I could feel we were going to lose this game to this new team and it was going to
suck.

And boy was I right. They managed to score a touchdown with two seconds left on the damn clock.

After we shook hands with the team, we all slowly headed back to the locker room. Coach was so pissed he told us to grab our stuff and get on the bus. This meant one of two things. One, we’d immediately reflect on what we did wrong and practice all night. Or two, we’d be practicing all night and tomorrow.

***

Zeke

“Zeke, just tell me the truth. Is there someone else?” she asked, searching my eyes for an answer.

I was too ashamed to give her one, so I tried to deflect it. “Rach, listen. It’s complicated all right? I mean, even if there was ‘someone’ else, why does it really matter?”

“Because you’ve constantly been distancing yourself from me and I hate it. You’ve been there physically, but mentally, I could tell you’re elsewhere. You’ve been different since the first day of school, actually. When I look into your eyes, I can tell you’re thinking about someone else and it sucks because, it should be me you want, Zeke.”

I started to feel extremely guilty for feeling the way I did towards my teacher. I
should
want Rachel, but I
don’t.

“If you really want the truth, I have developed feelings for someone else.”

“Who?” she said, trying to hold back tears.

“When the time is right, you’ll know.”

“Fine,” she huffed.

“Want to go and grab some ice cream? I’m buying.” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Day 6

Zeke

On my way to my locker, I saw a note sticking out of it. I quickly unlocked it and pulled it out.

Zeke,

I knew from the moment we met, you were special.

Please don’t disappoint me. You’re hired!

-Ms. S

Her handwriting was just as gorgeous as she was.  I re-read this letter at least five more times before I was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder from Rachel.

“You need to hurry up! We’re gonna be late for homeroom.”

I quickly re-folded the note and slid it underneath my algebra book. “I’m coming, relax.”

***

Zach

“Chris, how the hell did that happen Saturday?”

“I don’t know man, but it won’t happen again.”

“No, it won’t.”  I scowled, tossing my bag over my shoulder. I was still fuming over our loss to the Highlanders over the weekend. It was complete bullshit how we lost. Our defense looked like chickens running around with their heads cut off, unable to stop a person from scoring.

It was only our second game of the season, the first away game, and we were made a fool of. Well, the defense was, not me. I promised coach we’d practice every night there wasn’t a scheduled game, even if it kills us.

I stopped at my locker to grab my books and saw a note sticking out of it.

Zach,

You were not chosen as my assistant, but I can tell you’ll be just fine.

Good luck on your future endeavors.

-Ms. S.

I kind of figured I wasn’t getting the position. I only wanted it to try and bang her anyway, and this was only a small speed bump in my way. I’d think of another way eventually.

I grabbed my biology book and saw that girl’s number in it from the other night, Amber was her name. Hot blonde, smoking body, that’s all the incentive I needed to get to know her a little better.

I texted the number and told her where to meet me after school for a bite to eat before practice. I was in need of some new arm candy anyway.

***

After school, Amber was standing in front of Sal’s, a local pizzeria. Her blonde hair was long and straight and she was wearing a tight pink and black dress with heels. “Hey, Amber.”

“Hi, Zach, are you ready to go inside?”

“Sure.” We found a booth right by the entrance and our waiter, Antony, came right over. I told him to give me my usual steak bomb and cheese with fries and she ordered a crispy chicken wrap.

We sat and talked for hours, which was weird. I wasn’t used to getting to know someone like this. We usually just had sex. By looks, she didn’t seem like she had anything worth talking about, but believe it or not, we had a lot in common.

She’d just moved here from Missouri and wanted to get a lacrosse scholarship to Barnes University. We had been in the booth so long, I’d lost track of the time. It wasn’t until I got a text that I realized I was late for practice.

C-man: Dude wtf? Where r u? Coach is pissed.

Me: On my way, got caught up.

C-man: Oh I’m ‘sure’ u did ;).

I laughed after reading his message, he knew me too well, but he was actually wrong this time. I returned my attention to Amber and let her know I had to go.

“We can hang out tomorrow if you want?” she said.

“Sure, I’ll text you after practice.” I motioned for Antony to come over so I could pay the bill, but she insisted on splitting it with me. Another first for me.

“She looks like a keeper, Zach,” Antony said to me.

“Hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. We just met. For all I know, she could be a trained assassin, hired to kill me.”

“It’s always the cute ones right, son?”

“Right, Tony. I gotta go, see you tomorrow!”

She was standing outside the door when I came outside.  “Amber, did you forget something?”

“Yes,” she said. Pulling me into her arms and placing a kiss on my lips, then walked away. That caused an immediate throb in my pants, and I knew there would be many more of these happening around this girl. 

***

Zeke

After class, Ms. Sheppard asked me to stay behind. Zach gave me the evil eye and I smiled at him as he exited the room, envious.

Ms. Sheppard walked by me and locked the classroom door and pulled down the window shade. Suddenly, I felt like the air changed in the room and my sweater felt like it was going to strangle me.

“Uh-Ms.-”

She walked back over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder telling me to hush.

“It’s okay, Zeke. I just wanted some privacy, that’s all. No need to freak out, yet.” She grabbed the seat beside me and pulled it directly in front of me and sat down, slowly crossing her legs. “So, you’re willing to do ‘anything’ to alleviate my stress?”

My palms started to sweat, and I swallowed hard, nervously shaking my head yes.

“Good. Now I’d like you to help me sort and organize the papers on my desk.” I wasn’t exactly sure where she was going in that moment, but helping her with paperwork sounded a lot better than what was originally going through my mind just then.

***

We spent the better half of three hours together. She signed and graded papers, while I sorted and filed every single one. We seemed to make a pretty good organizational team.

After she graded the last homework assignment in the pile, I took it and filed it away.

“Hey Zeke, thank you for your help tonight. Would you like to go and grab a bite to eat? I could give you a lift home afterwards.

Part of me wanted to say, ‘Hell yes, we can do whatever you want.’ But, I said “Sure, I just have to let my mom know I’ll be home late so she won’t freak out.”

Me: Going out 4 dinner, be home late.

She gathered her things and I tossed my bag over my shoulder and followed her out of the room and into the parking lot. A black Mazda coupe was the only car left in the lot and I was quite surprised as she clicked the receiver to unlock the doors. “This is nice.”

“It’s not what you expected, is it?”

“No, not at all.”

“I bet you thought I drove a van, or some beat up Toyota or something, huh?”

“Maybe,” I laughed.

“I’m in the mood for burgers. What about you?”

“I’m good with burgers.”

“I know a great place, Frankie D’s Burger Hut. They’re right on the oceanfront and have the best burgers in town!”

“Then we need to get there as soon as possible, Ms. Sheppard.”

“After school you can call me, Max.”

We drove around for quite some time before I saw the water appear beside us. A huge neon sign that said Frankie D’s appeared and there were a bunch of people lined up in front of it. The building was small and I hoped we didn’t have to wait forever for a bite to eat.

She got out of the car and I soon followed. “Ready, Zeke?”

“Do we really have to wait this long?”

“Nope.” She said unbuttoning the top clasp on her shirt.

She grabbed my hand and led me to the front of the line. “Hey Max,” a tall bald guy said.

“Hey, this is my friend Zeke, he’s a first timer.”

The guy looked just like a club bouncer. He gave me a once over, laughed and let us right in. Once we were inside, I realized this was more than a burger joint, it was actually a club. “Uh, I feel like I shouldn’t be here, Max.”

“Don’t worry, Zeke. We’re only here for food. We don’t have to dance, unless you want to.”

She led us to a small window, where a guy with the name tag Marty was. She ordered two bottomless fry baskets and the ultra burger with the works. I had no idea what that was, but I made sure to let her know I was allergic to mayo.

He told us our order would be ready in fifteen minutes and gave us a huge red table sign with the number twelve on it. Max brought us to a table out back. We had the perfect view of the water and it was surprisingly quiet.

“So, Zeke, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why don’t you and your brother get along? Sometimes I can’t stand my sister, but I don’t have as much hate for her as I can sense between you and Zach.”

“I don’t even know where to start. Uh, I guess things changed between us about three years ago.”

“What happened?”

“A girl happened.” 

“Oh, well if you don’t feel comfortable telling me the full details, I totally understand.”

“I’ll tell you when the time is right.” I wanted to bask in the moment and not kill it with my past. The moon reflected off the water and illuminated the area around us. She was even more beautiful under the moonlight. I could feel my forbidden love for her grow at that moment.