A Second Time Around

Chapter Ten

Hi Guys! I'm very, very sorry if I haven't updated in a while. To be honest, this has been a stressful month for me and this has been a depressing week at that. I've been busy doing a summer job that didn't end well. But if you look at the bright side, it means I have more time to update ASTA!

To compensate for my long absence, here's a long chapter for ya!

I love you guys!

xoxo Anne

Please vote!!!

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"You did what?"

Stacey was laughing the next day while she recounted last night's confrontation to Jenna.

"You're kidding, right?" Jenna said, her face displaying her awe.

"No, I'm not." Stacey said. She's in a good mood today despite her lack of sleep. "I don't know what came over me, you know? But now that I did it, I feel so relieved. Maybe I should do it more often. The 'saying what you feel' thing, I mean."

"Uh huh, like how you could 'say what you feel' about Andrew, right?" Jenna said smoothly.

"Hey, that was a long time ago. I don't have a crush on him anymore." Stacey said defensively.

Jenna scoffed. "Oh, is that why you acted so unaffected when you found out he's going to be our substitute prof yesterday?" Jenna asked teasingly.

Stacey huffed.

Even though Stacey slept late last night, she had woken up so early this morning, much to her surprise. She even had the time to catch up with Jenna at the campus lobby, and Jenna remarked on her unusual punctuality.

"Hmm, if I didn't know better, I would say that my dear best friend is so eager to see a particular 'someone' this morning, that she arrived on time to see him." Jenna smirked.

Stacey, who wasn't thinking anything like that, looked at Jenna incredulously. "How did you come up with that conclusion? Can't you blame it on my early body clock for a change?"

"Since when has your body clock ever been early? Let's be real, honey. In the back of that pretty mind of yours, you really want to see him." Jenna winked.

Stacey decided not to answer; Jenna will only listen if it agrees with what she wants to think.

They have arrived in their classroom, and the two went directly to their seats.

"Well at least you've had your shower now." Jenna said when she had sat down. She tried to keep her face straight, lost the battle, then cracked up.

Stacey groaned; she had belatedly realized that she hadn't taken a bath yesterday when she and Andrew talked. It was a really bad idea opening that up with Jenna; she keeps teasing Stacey about it. Stacey just hoped that Andrew was far enough yesterday not to have smelled her.

The bell rang signaling the start of the first period. Right on timing, Andrew bustled inside the room. Despite her earlier comment about not being attracted to him anymore, Stacey's heart leaped. Andrew looks very handsome indeed, with his clean-shaven jaw and boyish smile. Every bit the prince charming she has always dreamed of. Stacey shook her head at the direction of her thoughts.

Andrew beamed at the class. "Excited for our first lesson?" He asked.

There were murmurs of "not really," and "nope" around the room. Andrew smiled despairingly at them.

"I know the feeling, you guys." He sympathized. "But there's nothing we can do about it. I gotta earn the paycheck you pay me, right?" He laughed.

Most of the class laughed too. Even Stacey smiled admiringly at him.