Snow Princess

Chapter 4: A date with my teacher?

I thought I heard wrong and asked "What?"

          He laughed. "I asked if I could join you. If that would be okay with you, unless you wanted to eat alone, I could get a different table."

          I quickly shook my head and the words "No, you can join me," rushed out. I nervously laughed.

          He smiled as we walked. Was this really happening? Was I about to have a lunch date with my teacher? I mean, was this considered a date? There wasn't anything I could do to make sure of it.

          We stood outside Denny's. It was a long wait from where I stood. I was hungry, and that was the last thing I wanted. I was starting to think that maybe my day was turning out to be a bust. Then I remembered that Sam was standing by me.

          I looked at him from the corner of my eye, and he was looking right at me. I quickly turned my gaze away. Why was he staring at me? I thought better before over thinking it.

          "Are you alright?" he said all of a sudden.

          I turned to him. "Yes, I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" All he did was point to my hair. I then understood. "Right, I'll be fine. I'm a tough cookie to crack." I laughed slightly nervous. I wasn't lying to him. I wasn't that torn about it. Fallon could be, well, herself all the time, and I would try to ignore her. I was a tough cookie to crack. Well, I hoped I was on the surface at least.

          "If you're not fine, you would tell me, wouldn't you?" He was staring straight into my eyes, and I just wanted to break down right then. I had to hold it together. Not just for him, but for myself too. No one was nice to me, so it made me feel vulnerable. I didn't give him an answer, but I hugged him instead. He hugged me back and started smoothing out my hair. I heard him whisper, "That's what I thought."

          How could he be so nice to me? Why was he so nice to me? Was it because he was my teacher? I wanted to believe that it was more, I really did. But I knew a crush was all I would get out of this. It would take a blessing from God to be this man's only.

          I let go reluctantly. I didn't want to stay in his arms if they weren't around me full of happiness and not from sympathy. The look in his eyes could have passed for hurt, but I was so grateful the line kept moving. We were just a few more away from being seated, and I couldn't have been more grateful if I tried to be.

          Sam didn't say a word as we took our seats. I was pretty sure that it was because of how I could have pushed him away during the hug. I didn't want it to stay that way.

          "What would you like to drink?" our waitress asked Mr. Maple. She was blonde with curly hair. I looked at her more closely, taking in that she was flirting with my teacher. 

          "Water would be just fine. Thank you." I looked over to Mr. Maple and he gave the waitress an appreciative smile but that was it. 

          "And you ma'am?" I turned my attention back to the lady.

          "I'll have the same as well."

          She nodded and then left. It left Sam and me to be alone once again. I needed to say something. I asked the first thing that came to mind. "How did you start teaching?"

          "Hmm...?" It seemed as If he wasn't even paying attention to me. That slightly bothered me, and I didn't even know why.

          "I asked what made you start teaching. Well, teaching homeschoolers?"

          "Oh, well I didn't start too long ago, and Mrs. Salazar let me take the job with a little persuading." He said with a hint of mystery caught in his eyes.