Endless Desire

Chapter Three

Natalie's Pov

As soon as I got home, I called Leila to talk about everything that happened.

"She's definitely into you," Leila declared.

"I don't know, maybe she was just trying to be nice," i countered, trying to downplay the situation.

"You like her don't you?" Leila prodded.

"Okay, maybe just a little," I admitted sheepishly, and Leila let out a delighted squeal.

"You need to flirt with her or get her attention," Leila suggested eagerly.

"She's my teacher, Leila. I could get in trouble," I reminded her, hesitant about the idea.

"Live a little! Take a risk its all part of the fun," Leila Insisted.

"I'll see you in school tomorrow. Make sure you flirt with her," she teased, laughing. "I'll give you some tips too," she added with a wink.

"Alright, whatever," I said, playfully rolling my eyes at her enthusiasm.

                                    ❁ ❁ ❁

Leila and I strolled to our next lesson, Spanish. After back-to-back geography and math classes, my nerves were starting to flutter. The idea of speaking a language I barely knew aloud in front of everyone made my palms sweat.

"Hey, are you okay?" Leila asked, noticing my unease.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just feeling a bit warm," I replied, trying to brush off my anxiety.

Arriving a bit late to class, we found the only available seats were at the front. As we sat down, my nerves intensified, knowing I couldn't hide in the back rows anymore.

"Alright, everyone get out your books. We will be writing a speech and presenting it to the class," the teacher announced, with Leila translating beside me.

My heart raced as I retrieved my book, trying to jot down any Spanish words I could recall. "Hola," "Adiós," and "Por favor" were about the extent of my vocabulary.

After struggling for 20 minutes to string together a coherent sentence, the teacher began speaking again, sending a wave of panic through me.

"Espero que tengan sus discursos listos porque ya empezamos. Natalie, tú primero."
Translation: "I hope you have your speeches ready because we are starting now. Natalie, you're up first."

Leila turned to me, a sympathetic look in her eyes. "You're up first," she whispered.

My heart plummeted. I wasn't prepared for this. What could I possibly say with just a handful of random words scribbled on my sheet?

As I stood up, my hands shook uncontrollably, betraying my nerves. Panic surged through me. I couldn't do this. I needed to escape. Ignoring the teacher's calls behind me, I dashed out of the classroom, the sound of my name echoing in the corridor.

Tears started filling my eyes as i started shaking. I tried my best to make it to the bathroom. As i turned the corner quickly i bumped into someone.

"Oye mira por d-" a voice said before looking down at me.

Miss López.

"Natalie are you okay?" she said looking at me with concern.

I stood there in silence, tears streaming down my face, unable to utter a word.

Miss López approached me, enveloping me in a comforting hug, her arms wrapped securely around me as she gently stroked the back of my hair.

"Breathe in and out," she whispered softly. "It's okay."

I nestled my head in the crook of her neck, inhaling her familiar scent. Instantly, a sense of calm washed over me, soothing my frazzled nerves.

I heard the fading footsteps behind me, and Miss López's words were directed to the teacher behind us, "Voy a solucionar esto."
Translation: "I will solve this."

As the footsteps retreated, I gazed up at Miss López, finding solace in her soft, understanding gaze. Her pupils were slightly dilated, her expression gentle and reassuring, wrapping me in a sense of security that I yearned to hold onto forever.

"Let's get you sorted out," she said, extending her hand towards me. Without hesitation, I reached for her hand, feeling a rush of comfort as she led us to the bathroom, her touch guiding me through the turmoil with unwavering support and compassion.

As we stepped into the bathroom, Miss López lifted me up by my thighs, my legs resting on either side of her waist. My heart raced as a blush crept onto my cheeks, my mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions.

She gently placed me on the counter and reached into her pocket, retrieving some wipes. With delicate movements, she began wiping away my tears and mascara, her touch soothing and tender as her thumb traced over my cheek, erasing the evidence of my distress.

I found myself mesmerized by her softened features, so different from the usual serious and stern demeanor she wore in class. In this moment, she appeared radiant, her beauty captivating me in a way I had never noticed before.

Lost in admiration, I must have stared for too long before she broke the silence. "It's rude to stare" she gently chided, her voice pulling me back to reality.

"Sorry," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I glanced down at the floor, suddenly self-conscious under her gaze.

Her hand gently moved to my chin, tilting it up so I was forced to maintain eye contact with her.

"You're cute when you blush," she remarked, her words causing a rush of warmth to flood my cheeks. "Don't hide your beautiful face from me," she added, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

Feeling flustered, I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on something behind her, trying to regain my composure.

She stepped away from me, heading to the bin to dispose of the wipes, giving me a moment to compose myself and close my legs. As she approached the door, she turned back to me.

"You have English last, so you can just go straight to my classroom with me," she informed me with a reassuring smile. I stepped off the counter and made my way to the door, pausing to look at her.

"Thank you," I said softly.

"You don't need to thank me. I'm always here for you, Natalie, and you already know that," she reassured me, her smile filled with warmth and understanding.