by Tia Siren
The drive to school was peaceful; that is if she left early enough. Liana thought about her favorite stories. Romeo and Juliet. She loved the idea of true love. But why couldn’t it be real? Why did it only happen in the pages of a book?
She pulled up, parked in the senior lot, one of the best perks of being the elder statesmen of the school. Liana had one more semester of high school after this one. It was going by fast. She thought back and wondered if she had enough good memories to satisfy the old lady version of herself. What a weird way to look at it, she thought. But maybe it wasn’t. Maybe we should be trying to live for memories. She hopped out of her car and started walking to school. As she looked around at her fellow classmates, she noticed how everyone was divided into cliques and groups. There was social stratification. This was the way of high school, she knew. And really, is is the way of the world. You are never free to do what you want, for the judgment of others makes sure of that. Liana entered her school and walked down the hall that led to her class. Her first period was English Literature, by far her favorite subject. As she made her way down the hall, she noticed someone different standing outside the door greeting the students. It must be a sub, she thought.
“Good morning,” said the new teacher.
Liana just nodded. When she sat down, she realized that she felt different. Not just different, but good, really good. The substitute was very good looking; she had noticed that. He was probably in his late thirties to early forties and looked to be right in his prime of physical condition. She had seen attractive men before, but for some reason, her body was physically reacting to this guy.
The bell rang, and sub closed the door. “Hi class, my name is Lance Hunter, I will be your new teacher as Mrs. Croneswipe is pregnant with twins and will be teaching another class when…”
Liana couldn’t hear the rest of what he said. This guy is going to be our new teacher. I get to see this guy every day. Did he say his name was Lance Hunter? What a sexy name. He passed out an assignment for them to do, but Liana could no more do schoolwork then she could lasso the moon. All she could think about was her new teacher. Why did he make my body react like this? Was this guy a god? A romantic hero come alive? There seemed to some kind of irresistible magnetic pull on her. It would not let go or relent. It was constant. And she loved it. She must know; it was in her nature to find out. Liana thought back to her favorite romance stories, to Lord Byron, and thought about the passion and electricity they must have felt. Maybe this is what that is like.
“The assignment I have passed out, is a series of questions concerning Romeo and Juliet. We will be going over the play for the next few days. As you know, it was written by William Shakespeare during the Elizabethan era. Now what has captured the hearts of readers for the past four hundred years, is the depth of love in the play.”
Some of the guys in the class rolled their eyes, but Liana sat at the edge of her desk, listening intently. This was her favorite story, told by a man that looked like the perfect fulfillment of her deepest longings. She was in heaven.
Lance continued. “You see Romeo and Juliet were from two feuding families. Romeo was from the Montague house and Juliet from Capulets. They were forced to meet in secret and do everything in secret. They even consummated their love in secret. Their love knew no bounds. It was not concerned with the decorum of the day or the will of their parents or anything else. Their love was one of passion for each other. It was a total devotion that can only truly be understood by those that feel the same way. Now few of us will ever feel that way in our lives. Many would say that even if we do feel that way we should suppress it. They might tell us that forbidden love is forbidden for a reason, but I saw that is nonsense. I say that if anyone in this class is fortunate enough to feel like this, they should never let it go.”
Liana felt like she was going to swoon. She felt equal parts deep passionate, romantic desire and a burning sensual fire between her legs. Romance and sex cannot be separated, she knew, and never felt guilty for associating the feelings.
“If you have any questions on the reading, raise your hand, and I will come to your desk to off my help,” said Lance.
I can make him come talk to me; I have permission to be right beside him. Liana decided that she should try to work on the assignment for at least a few minutes instead of just asking for help right away. She didn’t want to look too obvious. Her heart was now racing. She looked around and felt like everyone was watching her like everyone could notice that she was infatuated with the teacher.
These questions are hard, too hard...hard like I’m sure Lance is...in certain places. She shook her head; she couldn’t focus. She looked back up at her teacher. He was standing at the front of the class, observing, making sure everyone was on task. She had to know what it was about this guy. He wore dress shoes, not the shiny ones, but nice leather ones. Her gaze went up, noticing his nice, black dress pants that did his long muscular legs justice. His belt matched his pants. Then Liana looked at his shirt. He was wearing some kind of flannel dress shirt. Maybe that was part of what turned her on so much. He must be really confident in himself to wear that, she thought, he looks like a lumberjack. There was some kind of indefinable quality about him that Liana tried to measure. His skin tone was tan, sort like a cowboy. He looked over at her, and she put her head back down. Liana sat in the front row, so Lance could see everything she did.
Finally, when Lance sat down and focused on the computer Liana was able to get a good look at his face and really analyze it. He had a strong jaw line, but there was also a softness. He had blue eyes that were simultaneously piercing and predatory, and also relaxed, confident, and calm. He seemed to embody every good physical characteristic. He looked sophisticated, yet rugged and masculine. He looked confident and in charge, but also like someone that would listen, and understand. His face had a lot of character and seemed to have emotional depth. Liana began to daydream and imagined him carrying her off into the sunset, or sitting with her by a crackling fire at Christmas or walking with her on a beach. He got up again. Liana pretended to work.
“Do you have any questions on the assignment,” asked Lance.
Liana’s heart skipped a beat. There was now no denying the intense physical power that he had over her. His softest words seemed to melt her. It was as if he was the personification of every virtue that she had ever admired. Time seemed to pass slowly, as the intensity of the moment seemed to stifle her.
She could not bring herself to speak or even utter a sound, but merely nodded her head and pointed to one of the problems.
“Oh yes, this one here. This is one of the more tricky problems, so you will have to bare with me,” he said with a gentle but intelligent and masculine voice.
I need to bare with him. I want to BE bare with him, she thought. Why do I keep thinking like this? Then like a bolt of lighting it made sense to her. This man, Lance Hunter, was sex personified to her. Everyone had their own ideal, the perfect form that no reality could match. This was Liana’s. But reality matched. Liana listened as his smooth voice seemed to massage the words, sensualizing the numbers, and the fractions, and the variables. It didn’t matter, he could read her the phone book, and she would be driven wild.
“Do you understand now,” asked Lance.
Liana could only nod her head. Lance walked to the next student, and she cursed herself for not even talking to him. He probably thinks I’m stupid. The rest of the period she spent regretting her failed interaction with him, and her only solace was that he would be back the next day.
Chapter 2
“So how has your day been going so far,” asked Jamal.
Liana was caught off guard. She hadn’t even thought about her boyfriend all day, for the only thing she could think of was Lance. “It has been going pretty good so far, I guess,” she replied with insouciance, hoping that the conversation would die out soon.
“Oh, ok, well that is cool. Mine has been pretty good. You know that test I didn’t stu
dy for, well I got my grade back and…”
Liana cut him off in her mind, blocking out what he was saying. Normally she didn’t find him to be insufferable, but right now she felt like he was a prepubescent obnoxious twerp prattling on about the inane minutia of high school life. She wanted more than that. She wanted Lance. One day I will tell Jamal how I really feel. Or one day he will just snap and leave me. She didn’t care either way.
When lunch finished, Jamal got up, expecting Liana to walk with him to his next class as she always did. She followed tradition, not wanting to deal with any drama so that her mind could engage in unfettered reverie. They walked through the halls together, and Liana realized that her path would pass by her first period, and she hoped to get another glimpse of Lance. Lance...Lance...Lance...She said to herself. That name, it is short, poetic, firm, strong and...my obsession. Liana realized that Jamal had asked her a question.
“Excuse me, what did you ask me?”
“Is there something on your mind, you have been ignoring me all day,” said Jamal.
“Um...no…well yes, I am just thinking about the Christmas party this weekend.
“Oh ya, the masquerade ball, that should be a lot of fun. I have my mask picked out already, do you have yours?” asked Jamal.
“Ya, it is a simple one,” replied Liana.
“Sometimes those are the best ones. Do you want to get there early?” Asked Jamal.
“I am not sure if…”
Liana saw Lance walking through the hall towards his class. His hair seemed to flow majestically as he moved, with the freedom and ease of a young movie star, but with the dignified organization of a CEO. He had it all. Their eyes met. Liana looked away. Did he notice me? She felt insecure. He probably had just looked her way, she reasoned. There is no way we just had a moment, she concluded.
“You are not sure if...what?” asked Jamal.
“Oh...I’m not sure if I want to be there early or later. Sometimes a dramatic entrance is the best you know. But I will let you know of course,” said Liana with a smile, trying her best to remedy the awkward situation.
“Well let’s figure out what we want to do so we can plan,” said Jamal.
“I just don’t know...okay,” replied Liana
“Ok...whatever,” said Jamal as he continued on to class without her. Liana was left standing alone. She had wanted her boyfriend to stop being so talkative and needy, and how she had what she wanted. Does getting exactly what you want always suck?” No, it sure doesn’t. I know something that I want that will not be a disappointment.
Chapter 3
Oh Lance, Lance, you are just too much for me.
I will show you true love and affection. I will show you the stars and moon. Come into my chamber, in here true pleasure awaits. Take my hand, in here we shall enjoy the fruit of consummation. Liana let no law, or authority, or anything else come between us. Let us be together tonight, and forever more. BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ
Liana hit her alarm clock again. She laid in bed, trying to remember her dream. It came back to her. Now her nondescript handsome love interest had a face. Instead of just a hero or a prince or a dashing man, her dreams were filled with Lance. He must embody everything I have ever wanted. He is my knight in shining armor. Liana wrote it in her journal. She spent a few more moments thinking about him, and what he must be like. She got ready and then went downstairs.
Liana had a few more minutes before she had to leave, and poured herself some cereal.
“Are you excited for the school Christmas dance this weekend,” asked her mother.
“Yes, super excited, I have my red dress picked out already, and it is hanging up in my room just waiting for the night,” said Liana.
“Good, I am so happy for you. You are going to have so much fun. When I was your age, I wasn’t as bold as you are. I would never dance in front of people,” said her mother.
“Really, and do you regret that,” asked Liana.
“Why of course I do. You will see, when you get older, you mostly regret the things that you don’t do, the things that you miss out on. I missed out on a lot of fun nights and a lot of great guys.”
“What would you have done differently?”
“Oh, well I can tell you that the biggest hurdle you are going to face when you are younger is caring about what other people think. You want me to tell you the craziest thing you will ever hear? I actually didn’t date certain people strictly because I was concerned with how others would view me and that relationship. Do you know how stupid that is? I don’t even talk to anybody from high school anymore. So why would it matter what any of my dumb friends from high school think? It is just plain nonsense. You have to do what is right for you.”
Liana carefully considered the words and thought how they would apply to her present situation. “I understand, I am glad I am someone like you to tell me these things. I have to go now. I hope you have a good day, mother.”
“Bye, now, and remember, don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.”
Liana drove to school that morning in deep consideration of the words of her mother. I don’t know exactly how to apply what she is saying. But I will remember it because one day it will make sense and I will know what to do.
That day Liana walked to class looking confident on the outside. She had spent hours the night before picking out the perfect outfit. She did not want to look too overtly promiscuous, lest Lance not take her seriously. She also did not want to be too modest or else she feared blowing her ever-shrinking window of opportunity to impress her new teacher. She decided on a cute white blouse, with a small black skirt. Liana had a trick up her sleeve, though. She was wearing a tiny lace black thong. The only way that Lance would be able to see it, and nobody else, would be if she sat in the exact right way while Lance was in the exact right position at the front of the class. Liana spent a lot of time practicing in front of her mirror at home. The trick, she thought, was making it look casual, natural, and most of all not planned. The hope was that Lance would notice her sexuality, and begin to see her in a whole new light.
Lance was standing outside again, greeting everyone as they walked in.
“Good morning,” said Lance.
This time, Liana had the courage to reply, “Good morning.”
Liana felt proud that she had managed to make audible noises, and she thought she actually sounded normal. She sat at her desk, and slouched down ever so slightly and moved her butt forward just like she had practiced.
“Today we are going to be talking more about Romeo and Juliet, and also a little bit about Guinevere and Lancelot,” said Lance as he diagrammed the story on the board. He needs to turn around and notice me, thought Liana, as she spread her legs the appropriate amount to make sure he could get a good look without anyone else noticing her display.
Lance focused on the board. “The most important themes of both of these stories as we talked about earlier is that of forbidden love. They are star-crossed lover…”
He trailed off slightly when he turned and saw Liana.
“Star-crossed lovers, that have uncrossed their stars, or I mean want to or... Let me start over,” he said looking flustered.
It worked exactly how Liana had planned it. Now she closed her legs, for she wanted to see if Lance would keep checking for another glimpse. She didn’t want to give him everything so soon and so easy.
“Ok, so that is the gist of the drama as it unfolds,” he said, intermittently looking down towards Liana’s crotch. “So open up your books and start working out some of the questions. I will give you thirty minutes, and whatever you finish you will be turning in at the end of the period.”
He definitely wants some more, thought Liana. She felt like she was going to burst with excitement. Lance sat down at his desk, looking flustered. He fiddled around with a pen, clicking it over and over, seeming to be preoccupied. He looked over at Liana. Their eyes met again, but, this time, longer than the day before. Liana looked back down at her boo
k. This time, it was for sure real. But anybody can make eye contact, it doesn’t mean anything.
Suddenly Lance spoke, “If anybody has any questions on the problems, you can come up to me, and I will give you assistance.”
Was this a test, was he trying to see if I will go up there. It didn’t seem like a coincidence to Liana. The day before he had gone up to the students to help, now he was offering for them to come to him, and right after they had made eye contact. I am overthinking this. Nobody got up to ask for help. It felt like an awkward silence of Liana. Nobody was moving, nobody was talking, nothing. Lance sat at his desk, seemingly absorbed by his work on the computer. Liana sat at her desk, seemingly absorbed by her schoolwork. But, Liana knew that wasn’t true for either of them. We are both waiting this out, seeing who will make the next move, who will budge.
Liana decided to be unpredictable and raised her hand to ask for help. Lance saw her hand, and then looked right at her. Their eyes met again, but this time neither broke their gaze. Liana’s heart rate skyrocketed. Could any other students see what was happening? Wasn’t he worried about his job? She felt tense but also relaxed and calm. Lance got out of his chair, and without breaking eye contact walked towards her. He was fixated, confident, like a predator approaching his prey. Liana felt small as he approached, nervous; like she was insignificant compared to him. But then when he reached her desk, and she could feel his warmth and approval in his voice, she felt validated, like everything in life made sense. He explained the questions with grace and charm and surety. Liana cherished his presence, and when she looked up at him felt herself become almost hypnotized by his eyes. They were deep, refulgent, and brilliant. He smiled, and it sent a scintillating thrill through her entire body. He put his hand on her back before he went back to his desk. Liana closed her eyes. His touch, so perfect, so pure, and yet so utterly sensual. Liana rolled her shoulders back, trying to capture forever the feeling in her body that his touch evoked. The bell rang, Liana paid it no mind, for she was not eager to leave. She slowly packed up her belongings and turned in her assignment. She looked back before she walked out the door, and Lance was looking right at her as if to clear any doubt from her mind that he noticed her and wanted her.