Between The Lines

Chapter 41: Mixed Signals

Rebecca's POV (1st Person):

I woke up the next morning feeling more exhausted than rested. My mind kept replaying last night's events on a loop, each time making me cringe even more. What had I been thinking, leaning in like that? I groaned and buried my face in my pillow, hoping the day would somehow erase the embarrassment from my memory.

But there was no time to dwell on it. I had to get ready for school. I dragged myself out of bed, quickly showered, and dressed in my uniform. I pulled my hair back into a messy bun, not really caring how it looked. My mind was too preoccupied with the incident from the night before.

Downstairs, the house was unusually quiet. My parents must have already left for work, leaving the aftermath of their argument hanging in the air. I quickly packed my lunchbox with whatever I could find in the fridge—an apple, a granola bar, and a small bag of chips. My stomach churned at the thought of eating, but I knew I needed something to get me through the day.

As I walked to school, I couldn't help but replay the moment I almost kissed Mr. Montgomery in my head. His concerned eyes, the way he took care of my scraped leg, and the unexpected kindness in his touch. It was all so confusing. I had never felt this way about a teacher before, and it was messing with my head.

When I got to school, I headed straight to my locker, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters. I grabbed my books and slammed the locker shut, leaning against it for a moment to collect myself. Just as I was about to head to class, I spotted Oliver in the crowd. He waved and started walking towards me, his usual easygoing smile on his face.

"Hey, Rebecca," he greeted me. "You okay? You look a little out of it."

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired. Didn't sleep well."

Oliver nodded, not pressing further. "Wanna walk to class together?"

"Sure," I replied, grateful for the distraction. As we walked, Oliver kept up a steady stream of conversation, his cheerful demeanour a welcome relief from my chaotic thoughts.

When we entered Mr. Montgomery's classroom, I felt a knot form in my stomach. He was already there, setting up for the lesson. Our eyes met briefly, and I quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Oliver and I took our seats, and I tried to focus on getting my books out, avoiding Mr. Montgomery's gaze.

Class started, and I could barely concentrate. Oliver was his usual chatty self, cracking jokes and making sarcastic comments. Normally, I would have joined in, but today I was too distracted. Every time Mr. Montgomery looked my way, I felt a flutter of anxiety mixed with something else I couldn't quite identify.

Oliver, noticing my distraction, leaned in and whispered, "Hey, what's up? You seem really off today."

I shrugged, not trusting myself to speak without my voice betraying me. Instead, I fidgeted with the bangle on my wrist, a nervous habit I had picked up.

Mr. Montgomery started the lesson, his voice commanding the room's attention. I tried to focus on what he was saying, but my mind kept wandering. I noticed how his shirt fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and strong arms. His presence was magnetic, drawing me in despite my best efforts to stay focused.

Oliver, ever the distraction, put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer as he whispered another joke. I forced a laugh, but my eyes kept drifting back to Mr. Montgomery. He glanced our way, and I thought I saw a flash of something in his eyes—jealousy? But that couldn't be right. He was my teacher, after all.

The rest of the class passed in a blur. I barely registered the lesson, my thoughts consumed by the confusing mix of emotions swirling inside me. When the bell finally rang, I hurriedly gathered my things, eager to escape the tension in the room.