TEACH ME: A sexy student teacher romance

by T. J. LONG

  The students all come to a standstill, the shuffling of feet ends, and all eyes are on me.

  “I understand everyone is whispering about me and what they think I’ve done, but make no mistake when you’re here, you’re here to learn. I will not allow you to undermine me by gossiping all period. Am I clear?”

  The students side eye each other and speak up in unison. “Yes, sir.”

  “You’re dismissed.” I walk back to my desk, my head bent backward. I kick my chair and wipe my hand down my face. I take a seat. Somehow, even with being safe, we almost lost everything.

  My phone rings when I get home. I look down to see it’s my mom. “Fuck me.” I hesitate answering. My mom knows I’m dating Taylor, my neighbor. What she didn't know was that she was a student, my student. I told her Taylor was eighteen, and that she went to USC. Yes, I feel like shit for lying to my mom, but it had to be done. Now I have to deal with the fallout.

  “Mom?”

  She sighs. “You know why I’m calling, I assume.”

  I rub the back of my head. “Yeah, Mom,” I say, disappointed in myself for lying.

  “Your student, Josh? Have you lost your mind?”

  I sigh. “Mom, I know, but it’s not as cut and dry as it sounds.”

  “You said she was your neighbor. Was everything a lie? When did you start lying to your family?” She exhales.

  My head falls and I rub my hand over my scruff. I tell her everything from the beginning, and this time, I’m honest about it all.

  “I understand why you felt you had to lie, but Josh, it’s only a few more months until graduation. Couldn't you guys have waited to date?” she asks quizzically.

  If I’m honest with myself, saying no to Taylor wasn't an option I wanted to think about. But now, it may be best if we hold off until graduation. It’ll be torture to not have her, but if these alligations are brought up again, I’m sure I’ll be fired.

  “I don’t have an excuse. We got caught up in each other, Mom.”

  “I know how taken you are with her, and if she is as smart as you say she is, she’ll agree to take a break, too. It’s not safe. You’re my son and I want the best for you. A scandal at school, a student teacher affair, is not what’s good for you. Do you hear me?”

  I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when she says “A student teacher affair.”

  “Okay, Mom. Today has been hectic and I still have to find time to talk to Taylor. Can I just text you later?”

  “Okay, I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  I make my way to my room and belly flop on the bed so it engulfs all of me. Today we were saved from being exposed, but I know it’s not smart to take any more chances. Mom is right. My love for Taylor won’t end just because we have to take a break. If she and I are meant for one another, like we both feel we are, then she’ll be there waiting for me.

  Me: We should talk about what happened today. Call me when you get a chance.

  Anastasia: Want me to come by?

  Ugh, I hate having to do this.

  Me: I don’t think that's a good idea. That’s what I want to talk about.

  My phone vibrates immediately with Taylor calling me.

  “Hey.”

  “What's going on?”

  My throat clears. “After everything that happened today, I think it’s best that we take a break.”

  I hear her suck in a breath “Your breaking up with me?”

  She says it with such sadness my eyes shut and my heart vibrates the fabric of my shirt. “No. Never. I just can’t have something like this happen again. Bill called my mom, and then she called me. She isn’t happy with either of us.”

  She hesitates "… Oh.”

  “I just think it’s best if we keep it professional at school and no more sleepovers at Anns.” I laugh. “As soon as you graduate, you're mine.”

  “I don’t like this at all,” she starts, “but I also know you’re right. Today was very scary. Are we still allowed to text?” she asks, hopeful.

  “I have to have some communication with you, or I’d go crazy.” I quickly add, “But no pictures. Nothing that could be used against us.”

  I hear her huff. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

  “Taylor, I can’t even put into words how much I’ll miss you. Your kiss, your touch… your blow jobs. Man, I just got the first one and now I have to wait six months to get another one.”

  She bursts out laughing. “Thanks for always taking the bad moments and making them bearable.”

  “I’m trying, babe. It's better than us both sitting here crying on the phone together.”

  “So from now on, we are just student and teacher?”

  I hate how it sounds, but it’s how it has to be. “Yes. For now.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Teach,” she says glumly before hanging up.

  I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, feeling the heartache wrecking my heart. Fuck Brian.

  The next day multiple students make passes at me. Numbers are written on classwork and homework assignments with “I won’t tell” or some other inappropriate remark. They get a remark from me, but it’s “Write that again and you'll get a zero on your next assignment.” Probably not the response they were hoping for.

  I’m sure Brian is wondering how I’m still here teaching. He took part in class, his usual amount. But when he thought I wasn't looking, I noticed his face screw into a confused grimace.

  I have never wanted to harm a kid, but I’d love to knock that little shit on his ass for what he did to Taylor and me.

  Taylor

  On Tuesday, when I walk into class, all eyes are on me. I stroll through the aisle, not wanting to give into the fleeing feeling that festers. You'd think I was wearing a scarlet letter the way they are eyeing me. I sit, slinking down in my seat and listening to the vibrations of my heart. Josh takes the attention off of me by drawing it to himself.

  He makes sure not to look at me during class. I know it’s for the best, but I miss the millisecond stares and the small smirks that graced his face when our eyes would meet.

  Tristan, our relationship saviour, is absent today. Curiosity gets the best of me, and after Literature, I take my phone from my bag and send him a text while walking to my next class.

  Me: What happened with Dr. Warren yesterday?

  I look up just in time to see Brian passing me in the hallway; he walks past me like I’m not there, invisible. I give him a glare, but I don’t think he sees it, and if he does he doesnt let on.

  By the end of the day, I still have heard nothing from Tristan. I really want to talk to him and thank him for doing what he did. I know that my threat of exposing him and Brian most likely led to him coming forward. I don’t care why he did it; I just care that he did.

  Tristan’s seat is empty the next three days, and when I finally am able to get ahold of him, he tells me he got suspended and his parents took away his phone and all of his electronics. Otherwise, he would have reached out sooner.

  Me: I was hoping we could talk about everything.

  Tristan: I think we should, but let’s not do it over text.

  Me: Okay, when then?

  Tristan: Saturday work for you?

  Weekends are allocated to Josh, but since we are taking a break until graduation, I have all the time in the world. And I will have to find things to occupy my time so I dont go crazy without him.

  Me: Saturday works for me.

  Me: Are we meeting at my house?

  Tristan: Nah. How does In and Out work for you? I think the food will distract you from the conversation we have to have.

  Me: It’s safe to say you still know me well. lol

  Tristan: Ha.. Okay, Saturday at noon.

  Me: Ok

  I pull into the parking lot, picking a spot in the back and choosing to wait until I see his white BMW pull in to get out. His hair is in its natural disheveled state, hanging down his forehead. He b
rushes it back with his hand as he approaches me, smiling nervously. After everything he did for Josh and me, I can’t hold a grudge, I am forever grateful.

  I go in for a hug. “Hey,” I say as I squeeze him tight.

  “Hey.” He smiles when we separate.

  “I’m hungry,” I say as I grasp his arm and pull him toward the front door.

  “What’s new?” he deadpans.

  We find an empty booth in the back of the restaurant and sit across from each other.

  I order way too much food, but to be fair, we’re about to have a stressful conversation and what girl doesn’t love stress eating?

  He starts off the conversation by clearing his throat. “I know you probably want answers for what you saw on Halloween.”

  I tilt my head. If I didn’t have Josh, I would need answers. “That’s your story, if you don’t want to tell me, then you don’t have to.”

  “I think I should explain things from the beginning.”

  “Okay.” I half smile at him. I don’t know what I’m about to hear. “I’m ready to hear this. And might I add, I may think you were a shit boyfriend at the end, but what you did in that office totally overrides that.”

  He smirks. “Thanks, but you might change your mind on that statement when you hear what I have to say.”

  My lips go to one side. This doesn’t sound promising

  “You know how I was constantly warning you to steer clear of the guys?”

  I nod my head, not sure where this is going.

  “Well, it’s because there was a bet for you.”

  I shove a forkful of fries in my mouth. “A bet for me, for what? I’m not following,” I say confused, through a full mouth.

  He makes a face and shifts in the booth “For your virginity.”

  I cough on the food that was making its way down my throat. “You’re joking with me!” I’m shocked. As far as I knew I was invisible in that school.

  “You’re not as invisible as you think.”

  Damn, he’s a mind reader now?

  “Everyone has always noticed you. When I saw you for the first time, I thought you were cute. But when we got to know each other in Mr. Burns class, I was like this chick is very cool. You’re sweet and you keep to yourself; you’re never involved in the drama. The guys were going crazy for you. I heard some pretty shitty things about what they’d like to do to you. I didn’t want that to happen to you so I….” He looks down and picks up a fry. He bends it with his fingers and looks at me with an expression I can’t place. “I convinced the guys to let me pull you. I told them that I could take your virginity.”

  My heart speeds up as I listen to his story. I try to swallow the anger. Remember the good things he’s done, Taylor, I tell myself.

  He holds up his hands. I’m sure he can see the displeasure on my face.

  “But I swear I only did it to protect you.”

  I let that simmer in my brain for a moment while I take a few bites of my burger.

  “Should I keep going?”

  I nod my head yes.

  “I knew you’d be safe with me. The other guys would have tried everything to get you to sleep with them. And if that didn’t work, then they would have taken advantage.”

  I clear my throat, holding up a finger to signal I’m ready to speak. “First, let me say I’m not mad. I can see why you thought it best for us to ‘date,’ but I do have a kind of awkward question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “When we kissed, I could see that it turned you on... like in your pants.” I laugh out loud.

  “Yeah,” he laughs.

  “You’re a beautiful girl and kissing you was enjoyable. Had it not been a fucked up situation, then I would have wanted to take things further, but in this case, my conscience wouldn’t allow it.”

  “Well, then, now I guess I’m confused. So you were attracted to me, but you are attracted to guys too?” I ask quesically, brows raising.

  “I wouldn’t call myself gay, maybe more like interested in both.” He looks on, confused like maybe he isn’t sure what he is. “To get back to the story, after we’d been dating for six months and I still hadn’t taken your virginity, the guys all started to hassle me. They told me if I didn’t seal the deal they would take things into their own hands. I didn’t know what that meant exactly, so I decided spreading rumors about you being a prude, and a few other things that I don’t want to repeat, would be the best course of action.”

  My lips form a flat line, showing my displeasure.“I know, it’s shitty and I’m so sorry. But, honestly, I wouldn’t change it, because after I told them those things they took you off the ‘girls to fuck’ list.”

  My lips scrunch. The guys at Shrewsbury Prep are sick.

  “Can I ask you another question?”

  He laughs. “Taylor, I’m here so you can ask me anything you want.”

  “Okay.”

  I take my time to think about how to word what I want to say next. I appreciate his openness, but I know what I’m about to ask will not be fun to ask or hear. “Why didn’t you do anything when Brian attacked me, and how could you let him blackmail me?” What I say is confrontational but the tone I use isn’t. I want to understand.

  His eyes drop to the table and I see regret all over his face. “I was mad at him for what he did to you. I’m still mad. I’m so sorry. If I could go back to that night, I wouldn’t have allowed him to place a finger on you, but I was in shock. I felt frozen like I couldn’t move. I mean our secret had just been found out. I didn’t know what to do or how to act.”

  I don’t know what his relationship is like, but I want full transparency here. “Do you know he threatened to rape me? He pretty much said he’d enjoy doing it.”

  Tristan’s face falls. He looks sickened by what I’ve just told him. I didn’t even tell Josh that because I was scared he’d beat Brian to a pulp.

  “I didn’t know that. No. I’m sorry. God, I’m sorry I keep saying sorry.”

  “And the blackmail?” I say.

  He brings his finger behind his ear, scratching while scrunching his eyes. “.. Eh, I may have told Brian about seeing you in Mr. Bailey’s classroom during lunch.”

  I give him a death stare.

  “I know, but you know how couples talk—like small talk—that’s what we were doing. I guess after that he had a hunch something was going on between the two of you. When he saw your phone on the ground, he decided to go through it. And, Taylor, when I say this, I mean it. I had no clue what he found on your phone. He didn’t tell me about any of it, but I put two and two together and confronted him when I came to school Monday and saw all the pictures. He said that he found them on your phone and that it was the only way to keep you quiet.” My eyes go big.

  “That’s ridiculous. I told him multiple times that I wouldn’t say anything.”

  He shrugs. “ I don’t know why he did it.”

  My eyes roll. I forgive Tristan for his part because he saved mine and Josh’s ass, but I don’t forgive Brian. He’s an asshole.

  “I knew you’d be expelled and that Mr. Bailey would get fired, and once you sent me those texts, I knew I had to help you. Especially since you were in the mess because of me. Honestly, I expected more than a one-week suspension.”

  “They can’t suspend the star player for two weeks, now can they?”

  He sighs, flipping his hair. “I guess not.”

  “So what happens now with you and Brian?”

  “As of right now, we have to be a secret because of his dad’s position in office. If anyone ever found out his son was bi or gay, it would be the end of his political career. And I have a feeling Brian would get shipped off to another continent.”

  My lip dips, and my eyes go to the side as I think about Brian being shipped to another continent. My shoulders shrug as a smirk crosses my mouth. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”

  He tilts his head, smiling while his head shakes.

  I get why Brian went through such len
gths to try to shut me up, but I told him plain as day that I wouldn’t say anything. Plus, he had something just as bad on me. If I were Tristan, I wouldn’t trust Brian. He has more than one screw loose.

  “After everything, you still want to be with Brian?” I say through large eyes.

  He clears his throat. “To be honest, after what you've told me, no.”

  Not my relationship, but breaking up sounds like the sane thing to do.

  We finish eating in silence. The last of the fries make their way to my mouth and I watch as Tristan shovels his burger in his mouth and takes a giant bite.

  “You ready to head out?” he says with a full mouth.

  I smile, nodding my head. “I am so full.”

  We stand making our way to the exit. Throwing our garbage in the trash on our way out. He holds the door for me, as I walk ahead of him. I feel his hand land on my arm. I turn to him. His face pensive, he hesitates "… Are we good?” His hand tugs at his dirty blonde tresses. I suck my lips into my mouth, raising my eyes to meet his. “Yeah, we’re good.”

  He walks me to my car and we hug goodbye. I’m grateful that the talk cleared up everything I needed to know. And I’m hopeful that this opens his eyes to what Brian is really like.

  ***

  The rumor of a student teacher romance had finally made its way to our tiny community after a few weeks. Thankfully, no one had heard who the alleged teacher and student were.

  “Isn’t it just deplorable how a teacher would take advantage of a student in that way?” my mom asks at dinner that night.

  “Allegedly,” my dad says, tilting his head and eyeing my mom.

  She shoos his comment away with her hand.

  “Taylor, have you heard anything at school about who it may have been?”

  My eyes shut and I’m about to open my mouth to say “No” when my dad interrupts me.

  “No one even knows the facts, Mary. What if the teacher and the student are both young and fell in love by chance?”