Miss, Do I Know You?

31 - Monday, February 8

PE class always managed to make my life harder in one way or another. Making myself look presentable again left me pathetically scrambling around, damp skin aching in protest after a shower and leaving my dress feeling all weird as I stepped into the classroom for detention. I knew I was late, yet for once, I had a valid excuse. I had plans for an evening with someone very special.

Alex smiled as she looked up from her laptop. "Picking up old habits?"

"Ugh, no." I groaned at my second skin. "The dress is a little tight. Imagine taking it off, sweating for an hour, and then having to put it back on."

"I can imagine taking it off, yes," she mumbled to herself, staring into her laptop. "And then sweating for an hour."

My steps halted, and my mouth fell open. "Since when are you flirting with me here?" I asked. Our casual flirts had become a common thing lately, but never during school hours, and never without me initiating. 

Her lips quirked up in a cheeky grin as she finally met my gaze. "Since you look very pretty."

"Are you implying that I don't normally look pretty?"

"Even when you're drooling on my precious pillows and making me question why I allow you to sleep over, you somehow stay beautiful."

"Why, thank you." I chuckled softly, stepping closer until I was standing before her desk. "How kind of you, Miss Martin."

"Don't call me that," she murmured in a flat voice. "Especially not in that tone that makes me sound like a porn star."

"Oh, I would never." I played along. "But, you know..."

Alex stared at me for a moment, as if trying to understand what I was trying to say, until a huff slipped past her lips. I could see the corners of her mouth twitching as she started rummaging through her bag. "I knew I should've never told you that."

"Told me what?" I asked innocently. But before any other words had a chance to leave my mouth, Alex shot me an unamused glare and abruptly chucked her car keys at me. They narrowly missed my face and landed in my upturned palm. "Okay, woman. I'll shut up."

"Please do." She huffed. "There's not much to do here. Just go get your man and get out of my hair."

I strolled over to her side and leaned against the desk. "Are you trying to give me a black eye before my date? Jealous much?"

"You wish."

"You can stop pretending you're not into me." I smirked. "Just admit it out loud. Please?"

She scoffed as she rose from her chair and moved to the trash can. But on her way back, she stopped right in front of me with a smirk of her own. She was still a foot away, but when she looked straight into my eyes, I felt my breath catch in my throat. It had to have caught there, because it definitely wasn't coming out of my mouth anymore.

"Who's the one who can't even breathe every time I get close to you?" she said in a low, sultry voice, her gaze piercing into my own. "Like right now."

I already knew she wouldn't do anything, for she never crossed professional boundaries, and I had a feeling it wouldn't happen then either, but my heart couldn't seem to catch on. My throat went dry. I opened my mouth to find the courage to speak, but nothing came out. 

A satisfied smile took over her. "That's what I thought," Alex said before she stepped back and turned to sit down. She had known for a long time the power she had over me. Over many people, in fact, if she chose to use it. But I liked to tell myself it was something only I could experience, and that thought alone could drive me to sleepless nights.