Against All Odds

by Alexia Vella Deguara

  “Nothing,” I replied.

  “Nothing? Is this nothing called Mr Spencer by any chance?” she asked knowingly. I blushed. I couldn't fool Lucy. She knew me even better than I knew myself.

  “What happened this morning, after I left? What did he tell you?” She asked eagerly.

  “Well he told me that he had heard me calling you bitch and that he didn't accept that kind of language in his class,” I told her.” Oh and that if I do it again he'll punish me,” I continued

  “Is that all?” she asked disappointed.

  “Yes, what else were you expecting?” I asked smiling.

  “Well I don't know,” she told me. “ So how was art?”

  I coughed feeling my throat getting dry all of a sudden.

  “What is the matter Cas?” Lucy asked with amusement.

  “Well,you won't believe it when I'll tell you. Try and guess who my art teacher

  is?”

  Lucy looked at me with suspicion.“I don't know. Is he a new one?”

  “Sort of,” I said giggling.

  She kept looking at me and then all of a sudden a grin appeared on her face. “Oh my God. Don't tell me it's him again?”

  I nodded “Yes! You should have seen how shocked I was when he came in! And that's not all! Apparently I'm his only student for art.”

  “What? Are you kidding? She asked gaping at me. “You'll be having a private lesson with him? Lucky you, to have all that individual attention," she said laughing.

  “What the hell are you saying? It's not funny and I'm definitely not lucky. He is so mean. So-" I stopped. Darn hot, I wanted to add but instead I said “Well he's making my life miserable."

  Lucy ignored my comment. Instead she looked at me and smiled. “Did he say anything about this morning?”

  “Of course. He did his best to embarrass me again, and he succeeded you know. I kept blushing all the time. Especially

  when.."

  I stopped. Maybe I shouldn't tell Lucy about the accident.

  “When what Cas? Go on!” she said urging me to continue.

  “Nothing,” I said as I started to walk.

  “Oh come on Cas. I know you're keeping something from me.” I stopped and turned around to face her. She was my best friend and I really needed to tell someone about it.

  “Lucy you have to promise me not to say anything to anyone. I could get in trouble even though it was just an accident.He could be in trouble,” I said seriously.

  “What are you talking about?” asked Lucy her eyes wide. “Just spit it out. I'm so curious! Listen Cas, you know you can trust me. We've known each other for 10 years.”

  “Well I might have accidentally fallen in his arms,” I said in a single breath.

  “What?” she shouted. All the students in the corridor stopped to look at us, she was being so loud.

  “Can you please lower you voice Lucy?” I said embarrassed.

  “Oh sorry, it's just that you took me by surprise. Oh my God, how did it happen? Did you kiss?” she asked me leaning forward.

  “Kiss? Hell no! It was an accident. I was going near him to show him my work and I tripped in his briefcase. He grabbed me from the waist to prevent me from bumping in his desk and I fell on him,” I said feeling my cheeks getting warmer just at the thought.

  “Oh and what happened then?” Lucy was sounding very interested in this conversation.

  “Well I froze. I couldn't move a muscle. I was so embarrassed. I thought I was going to faint... My face was buried in the crook of his neck and my hands were resting on his thighs. I was shaking. My body was playing me jokes. I felt goosebumps and don't even know why,” I told her excitedly “Oh he has such a good smell.”

  “And what did he do?”

  “Well initially he froze too. It wasn't a comfortable situation for him either, his hands were still round my waist and I was so close to him that I could feel his heart beat.

  “And then?” she asked with enthusiasm.

  “ Then Mr Daniels came in.”

  “What?!” She shouted again. “Sorry. Oh dear! What did he say? Are you in trouble?” she asked me with a worried voice.

  “No no. Thank God he knocked before coming in, giving me time to run to my desk.”

  “Oh sweetie, you're in big trouble you know that, don't you? she said raising her eyes to my face.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked pretending I didn't know what she meant.

  “You're falling head over heels in love with him.”

  “I'm not! It was an accident. Are you thinking I did it on purpose?” I asked scandalized.

  “No. But you have to admit you really like him. Your eyes are glowing just by talking about him. You were never like this about Julian. Not even when he kissed you for the first time,” she continued.

  “He's my teacher Lucy,” I reminded her.

  “So? she shrugged."There are no boundaries when it comes to love.”

  I stared at her in disbelief. “Yes Lucy, there are boundaries. This is just a crush. I mean he is so handsome anyone would like him. It’s just a childish crush. " I repeated trying to convince myself rather than her. “It will pass. Love doesn't have anything to do with this situation.”

  “It does! Cause it was love at first sight for both of you," she said her eyes bright.

  “What? No! He doesn't feel that way," I said.

  “How do you know? I don't think he told you didn't he?” she asked.

  “Of course not, but I do know. I have to stop this. I mean I could get expelled and I don't want that to happen. I want to get good grades and graduate and go to college. I can't ruin my future because of his beautiful eyes can I?"

  Lucy shook her head and smiled.“Oh, but you already have my dear. This won't pass and you won't stop until you have him. You know that."

  I bit my lip, I knew she was right.

  “This is nonsense. He’s my teacher, he's older than me!”

  “Do you know how old he is?” she asked.

  “No, but I assume that he's about 25. He said this isn't his first year teaching so...”

  “Well 8 years is not that much. Cas, why don't you ask him?”

  I looked at her startled. Was she becoming mad all of a sudden?

  “What? No! That's personal. I mean I can't just go over to him and ask him. How old are you Sir?”

  “Why not? You'll be alone with him. No one could say anything. And then you have done worse than that no? I can't believe it! You and Mr Hot Guy," she giggled.

  “Listen Lucy. This will never work for two major reasons,” I told her. “Firstly we're both in a relationship and secondly, he's a teacher and I'm just his student. He can't possibly feel anything for me” I sighed.

  “How do you know he has a girlfriend? Did he tell you?” she asked curiously.

  “No. But I saw him in the canteen with Ms Leighton and they were looking quite intimate. He was stroking her back and they were whispering amongst themselves.”

  “Did he see you?”

  “Of course. He looked at me and smiled,” I continued. She cocked her head thoughtfully.

  “Oh well my dear, he wanted to make you jealous then. He did it on purpose I'm sure of it! And you? What did you do?” Lucy asked.

  I hesitated a second and then I told her .

  “I kissed Julian!”

  “What?" she shouted. Really Lucy needed some tips on managing her reactions. Luckily we were alone in the corridor now.

  "Are you crazy? What if he reports you? Was it just a peck?” she asked excited.

  “No, a deep French kiss,” I admitted looking away from her.

  “Oh my God!! You're so crazy! Were you trying to make him jealous? Did it work?”

  "I don't know. He just went out,” I told her doubtfully.

  “With Ms Leighton?”

  “No. Alone."

  Lucy smirked. “Oh then I can assure you it worked really really well.”

  CHAPTER 5

  The next d
ay I woke up early. I wanted to take my time in getting ready, I took a shower and applied some makeup. Then I spent about thirty minutes staring at the mirror, trying out different hairstyles. Finally I brushed my long blonde hair and decided to leave it loose. I ate my breakfast hurriedly and went out. I was really eager to get to school. As soon as I arrived I saw Lucy talking to a cute guy. He was handsome I had to admit but still, not a match to Mr Spencer I thought smugly. Oh! Him again. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I wanted to see him so badly! At the same time I was dreading going to English class. Lucy stopped talking to that guy and came near me.

  “Hey Cas! You look lovely this morning. Trying to impress someone?” she asked me with a teasing smile.

  “Is it that obvious?” I asked afraid that I had exaggerated.

  “You won't pass unnoticed for sure,” she told me grinning. “We'd better get going the bell will soon ring ,” she said walking away. I didn't move.

  “What's the matter Cas?” she said turning to face me.

  “I know it's stupid but I'm afraid... I don't know if I'm ready to face him after the canteen episode" I admitted.

  “You'll have to. You can't avoid him forever. Do you have art with him as well today?” she asked.

  “Yes, just after this lesson."

  Lucy came near me and put her arm in the crook of my arm.

  “Come on Cas. Just don't look at him OK? Avoid his glaze, avoid eye contact and everything will be fine.”

  “OK,” I replied doubtfully ”During English it won't be that difficult but during art it will be close to impossible.”

  I walked with Lucy in silence, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. We arrived at the door and found it open. The students were already sitting down but he was not there yet. We reached our seats and sat down.

  “How come he's late this morning?” she asked.

  “I don't know, maybe he's not coming,” I replied.

  On one hand, this was what I was hoping for but on the other I was really wishing to see him. I was yearning for his beautiful face and his penetrating eyes. His gaze was on me as soon as he came in. I didn't look back and instead fixed my eyes on my desk. I didn't want eye contact with him. My heart was beating so fast that I was sure he could sense it. I was feeling really unwell. My God how could this man have such power on me? He sat down and began to take the attendance. I waited nervously for my turn, wondering if he was going to call me or not, after all he knew I was there.

  “Cassidy Hastly,” he called out.

  “Here,” I said in a soft voice.

  He pretended not to hear me and looked around the class.

  “Did anyone see Ms Hastley this morning? Is she sick?”

  Lucy looked at me amused. The other students just laughed. Was he talking seriously?

  “Since no one replied I take it that she's not coming today,” he continued.

  What the hell was he doing? I stood up and looked at him angrily, furious that he was making fun of me once again.

  “I'm here!” I repeated, loudly this time.

  He looked at me nonchalantly and said..

  “Oh so there you are Ms Hastley. I'm sorry but you're sitting too close to that window, the sun is hurting my eyes. Could you please come and sit here?” His tone was a mocking one, and his eyes glimmered maliciously. He wanted me to go and sit just in front of him. I wasn't going to give in so easily though.

  “Why? I want to stay here. The sun is not hurting my eyes and you don't need to look in this direction do you?” I retorted.

  For a moment he just stared at me.

  “He wants to have you near." whispered Lucy giggling.

  “I don't want you and Ms Meadows near each other,you keep talking,” he said finally.

  “So please just stop complaining and come here. I’d like to start my lesson if your Highness-” he stopped, feigning a bow and then went on, “approves?”

  The students laughed at this remark. Angrily I grabbed my bag and books and looked straight into his eyes.

  “Fine,” I replied crossly walking towards him. I sat down in the empty seat in front of his desk and stayed quite. Why was he doing this to me? He seemed to adore ridiculing me in front of the whole class. He sat just in front of me on the edge of my desk and began to talk about the books we would be studying during the year. I immediately realised that it wasn't a good idea having him so near, since I soon wasn't hearing a thing he was saying. I became distracted looking at his hands, at the way they rested on his muscled thighs. Unintentionally I looked at his belt and a little further down and wondered how he would look without anything on. I blushed at the thought. What the hell was wrong with me? I was suppose to be doing English instead I was studying his anatomy in my mind. I was surely going to fail English this year if I went on like this.It's just that he looked so perfect. Although he had a jacket on I could see a little hint of the white shirt he had underneath which I was sure covered a six pack. If only he took off that darn jacket. I was so intensely concentrated on his body that I wasn't hearing him calling me until he waved his hand in front of my face.

  “Hello, is any body home? Miss Hastley are you by any chance getting deaf?”he asked derisively.

  I looked at him and blushed.

  “What!? No I'm sorry... I-” I paused, I didn't know what to say.

  “Were you daydreaming again? What about this time?” he asked teasingly.

  Everyone laughed probably remembering the remark I had made the day before.

  “Not you don't worry!” I said in a sarcastic tone. He was sexy OK but he was getting on my nerves now. He could be so unpleasant sometimes.

  “Good to know that,” he told me. “Now can you please begin to read?” He asked crossing his arms on his stomach.

  “Yes sure,” I replied. I took my book and began to read. After a few moments I heard my schoolmates laughing again. What had I done now?

  “Miss Hastley, do you have any plans for lunch?” he asked me.

  I stopped and looked at him confused. Was this an invitation? And if it was why was he asking me in front of everyone?

  “Why?”

  “Because no matter what you were planning, you'll be spending it with me. You’re on detention,” he said calmly.

  “What!? Hell why?” I snapped.

  “Mind your language Miss Hastley. You were so far away from earth that you didn't hear a word I said. We aren't doing that book, but the other. You weren't paying attention,” he scolded.

  “

  I'm sorry,” I told him. “I know I was a bit distracted but... detention? Isn't it too much? I mean-” I said hoping he would change his mind.

  “Stop complaining. I said you're to be punished and you will. Now please read the right book. We’re on page 6,” he snapped.