Borrowed Time

Chapter 180

Juliette honestly didn't care about being late to Chemistry content wise, because she was pretty sure it wasn't something that she was ever going to use, it just didn't click well in her brain, but she hated being late because she never wanted detention, that was why Bertha causing them both to be late because she needed a jump was fucking awful - it also meant that she had to run.

And run she fucking did, sprinting down the hall, not beating out the final bell, which went off moments before Esme pulled the door open, both of them wheezing in the doorway.

Good God I've got some poor cardiac health.

"Ms. Smith. Ms. Panchek." Mmm... I don't like when you say it like that. "You're late." Esme placed their hand on her arm.

Oh.  You're talking?  I might have more pull, but okay...

"I'm sorry ma'am, with the cold, my car wouldn't start-." Their teacher cut her off, giving her a stern look as she sighed, shaking her head as she tapped a stack of papers on the desk to straighten them up.

Please don't give me detention. I will die of pure boredom, and I simply feel I do not deserve to suffer more than I already have.

"I'll let you off with a warning this time, but next time it's detention." Juliette's shoulders sagged as she let out a sigh of relief, giving her a grateful smile before linking pinkies with Esme to pull her along after her.

She heard them let out a quiet chuckle and turned back to see them giving her a soft, loving look.

"Damn, pays to get in trouble with you, huh?" Esme asked, giving her a half smile that made Juliette feel like her heart could pound out of her chest... it was unfair that she could just look at her like that and she felt like she could simply pass away from pure love.

"Mhm." She heard their teacher clear her throat again.

We're going, I swear we are.

"Something to share with the class, you two?" She asked, and Juliette grimaced to herself before forcing the best, most genuine smile she could across her face as she turned, shaking her head... Honestly, she just wanted to get to her seat so that she could get the eyes of the class off of her, but clearly that was going to take a second.

Especially if the questions continued, how was she expected to work under these conditions, right?

"No ma'am." She said, making sure that her best innocent tone came across because really, they didn't have anything to share with the class, and if she could present like the girl she was at the beginning of the year, she was more likely to be let off with a warning.

Her teacher only nodded, looking down again.

Thank God.

"That's what I thought." Cool. "Take your seats. Quickly." Roger that, whatever you want.

"Yes ma'am." They settled in, listening to Ms. O'Brian start to drone on about a topic that she hadn't really paid attention to, not seeing the point... Not until she realized that Esme was out.

And Esme would probably need notes... Fuck.

"Esme." She whispered, poking them as they shifted away from her.

Cute.

"Hm?" 

"Are you asleep?" She asked, and Esme nodded instantly, which was fair because it had been rhetorical.