Teacher's Pet

9

I'm standing in the hallway talking to Cristina when Derek walks up out of nowhere. He clears his throat to get our attention.

"Uhm.. Miss Grey?"

I look at him. "Yes Mr. Shepherd?"

"You forgot your book, thought you might want it back." He hands me my notebook that I've been looking for since yesterday. I was afraid I might've left it on the bench with him.

Guess I just got my answer..

"Oh yeah, I've been looking for it, thanks.."

"No problem. See you tomorrow.."

I nod. He looks from me to Cristina - who's standing there inspecting him with a raised brow.

"At class I mean!" he adds quickly, then turns and walks away.

"See ya!" I shout back. He turns around and smiles at me before walking away in a hurry. I turn back to Cristina.

She looks at me with both her eyebrows raised this time.

"What?" I say.

"It's him, isn't it?"

"Sorry?"

"Derek. The guy you slept with. It's the English teacher right?"

I turn bright red.

"OMG IT IS!!" she exclaims.

"Shhhh!!" I drag her into the girls bathroom. I check under the stalls to make sure no one is here and luckily there isn't. I go over and lock the door.

"If I tell you this you have to promise not to utter or breathe a single word to anyone alive on this planet, understood?"

"Chill down Mer!"

"Understood Cristina Yang?!"

"Woah! Okay! Understood!.."

"Yes it's him. Mr. Shepherd is Derek."

"Oh my.. When was this even??"

"Before! It was the night of the beach party. When you disappeared with Owen I started walking along the beach and stumbled upon Derek."

"Then what happened?"

"Then we talked, then we kissed, then we went to his house, then we fucked a few times, then I went home. End of story."

"Give me a break.. that isn't the end of the story."

"Yes it is."

"Then why the hell did he have your notebook?!"

"Because.."

"Because..??"

"We meet up.. sometimes.. He reads my poetry.."

"Ha! I knew there was more to the story!"

"Yeah but that's it. Now he's just a teacher helping his student with her writing."

Cristina scoffs. "Bullshit."

"Why do you always think I'm lying?" I cross my arms.

"Uhm, let's see.. One, you didn't tell me the truth about him to begin with. Two, you have a tendency of keeping things to yourself even though I'm your best friend. And three, even if you think you're not lying, you are. You're just too blind to see when a guy's into you."

"Are you finished?"

"Mhm."

"I'm not lying. It's good to keep some stuff to yourself. I'm not blind, and he's not into me."

She sighs heavily. "Do I really have to call bullshit on you again Mer?? Are you kidding me?? He stared you down in the hallway in a way I've never seen anyone do before. Well, maybe in movies!"

"We had sex one time but that's it! It's in the past now."

"No one who has sex with someone one time, looks at the other person like that. Try to fool me all you want, but I know something's going on between the two of you, even if you can't see it yourself."

I roll my eyes.

"Are you done? Can I go now?"

"Wha- You dragged me in here!"

"Can we go now then??"

"Sure." she shrugs her shoulders.

I turn to unlock the door, then turn back around and move close to Cristinas face.

"Swear on your heart and soul that you won't tell anyone about what you've heard in here."

"Luckily for you I don't have that much of a heart."

"Crisss!" I beg.

"I'm kidding Mer! You know you can trust me on this. I'm your person. If there's someone you should count on, it's me."

"I know I know.. sorry I.."

"-have trust issues?"

"I guess."

"No shit you do." she chuckles.

I look at her with vulnerable eyes.

"Don't give me that look."

I keep giving her the look.

"Not the 'hug me' me look.."

I keep on going.

"Ughh!" she sighs but then gives in and hugs me tightly.

"Thanks Cris. I needed that."

We let go of each other.

"Yeahyeah." she waves it away with her hand, making me giggle.

"I promise I won't tell anyone you hugged me, if you promise you won't tell anyone about Derek."

"Deal."

We shake hands and walk out of the bathroom.