His Favorite Teacher: Student-Teacher romance

Chapter 2

Lana's POV

I feel like today's class went well. But I do have a lot of work to do. Most of them are unable to introduce themselves and I will work on that for now.
Getting them to speak is paramount. I always hated language classes where only the teacher speaks, so I decide not to be one of them.

Aaron crosses my mind as I walk back from school. How old can he be? Surely not 18 like the others. Maybe 20-21? That would explain how tall and muscular he is. And the low voice, and the facial hair (From up close, I could see it was obvious he shaved everyday, while some other students probably tried their best to grow the three hair their chin gifted them).

I get home to my small apartment, prepare myself dinner and think about tomorrow's class. I have three groups of students, two being 12th graders, one being 11th. Around 9PM, I go to bed, hoping I can be a good teacher to all these teenagers, because I feel I lacked a good one myself, when I was their age.

Two days later, on Friday, I have class with my first group again, at 2PM. It is 1:40 so I'm not expecting any students yet. It's been raining all day and I cannot stop thinking about my country and how much I miss it. A few minutes before, I had decided to wear jeans and a white top to school, instead of pretending to be a law professor at Harvard or something. I had not taken into account the rain, and I am aware my white t-shirt became a little transparent. Fashion faux-pas again.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts by the classroom door opening, as I'm writing some French expressions to introduce oneself on the white board. Turning my head to see who it is, I stop dead when I see Aaron entering the room. He starts closing the door behind him but I wish he would not:

-        You can leave the door open.

He pauses and looks at me with a look I cannot define. Every time he does that, it's like he can read my soul or something. He nods slowly, like he understands that closing the door would make me uncomfortable, and pulls the door again, to leave it open.

-        I wasn't... expecting you so soon, I say, deciding not to look at him and to keep writing on the board to hide my nervousness.

In the corner of my vision, I see him tilt his head to the side a little. He takes a deep breath in, like he's annoyed, and goes to sit on one of the tables right behind me. I can't see him anymore and it makes me uneasy.

-        Do you mean because I'm early, or because I came? He asks carefully, after a long pause when I imagine he just looked at me writing on the board.

I turn and face him. He's a little too close to me for my taste. I can smell him again, his shower gel probably. I go to my desk and sit on it. I feel better that way, because my desk is higher than his table, and it gives me some confidence, weirdly.

The confidence goes away when I remember I might have a see-through t-shirt problem and cross my arms on my chest. His eyes slide down and I can see from his look that he did not really do it on purpose, like he did last time. When his eyes go back to my eyes, I notice they look darker somehow. And his stare is more intense. Not good. But a shiver runs through my body and I try not to think about it.

-        Both, I guess, I answer, trying to ignore the warmth I feel in me.

-        I'm not here for the class, he says while crossing his muscular arms on his chest. I'm here to know if you'll email me before you plan tests.

Of course, he isn't. I nod slowly and bite my lower lip, thinking about what to say.

-        I... haven't planned them yet, but when I know, I guess I can email you when they'll be. If I don't forget.

-        Don't forget, he says with an actual... smile?

-        I'll try no to. But won't it be difficult to take the test if you haven't been to any class?

-        Trying to get me to come to your class, eh?

-        Don't flatter yourself, I'm just asking.

He smirks at my last remark and gets up, getting closer to me. I pull my arms tighter on my chest, but he doesn't look this time. Thank God. Or too bad. I don't know at this point.

He's close enough that I can almost feel his warmth surrounding me, and he leans forward a little, closing the gap even more, like he's telling a secret:

-        I don't really take the test, I just want to be here so I get a grade.

His eyes are directly looking in mine, and I notice how big his pupils are. It makes my heart pound heavier in my chest. I slightly lean backwards so that we don't touch.

-        O... Ok, I understand.

Shit, I sound way more nervous than I want to. He stands back straight and runs his hand through his hair slowly, and it looks like he is trying to compose himself. I think I hear him mutter "Fuck".

Then he walks to the door to leave but stops himself and turns to me.

-        I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. You're just so...

I realize I've been holding my breath since he leaned back. He doesn't finish his sentence. He just stares at me for one or two seconds and clenches his jaw. Then he leaves and closes the door behind him.

-        Fuck, I whisper to myself too.

I just cannot deal with this right now. This job is my first job ever. I am a guest in this country and I'm grateful that the school is giving me a chance. And this idiot, my student as it happens, is ruining my mood.

His apology doesn't make things right at all. If anything, it makes things worse because it makes me wonder if he might not be the idiot I'm expecting him to be. The fact that he acknowledged his behavior, his... attraction sends bolts through my body.

And then the fact that he apologized for it shows a maturity I wouldn't expect from men that are my age, let alone 20 or 21.

I sigh and sit at my desk. It will be fine. I will not see much of him, only during the tests and interactions will be limited, thankfully.

I shouldn't fall into traps so easily. He could think of me as some sort of challenge, I know men his age always try to "score" older women or women in positions of power. My self-conscious side even wonders if it isn't some type of bet he made with a friend, because after all; why would he be attracted to me?

I'm pretty sure a man like that could have any girl his age. I would definitely have fallen for him if I were in his class, and I'm guessing every girl in the school has a crush on him. It's probably why Sophie spoke about him, to get his attention.

I can't believe how much time I spend thinking about him, this has to stop now!!