Hopelessly in love (GirlxGirl) (TeacherxStudent)

Missed buses

The bell rings, and I walk to Miss Hardman's classroom to apologize about earlier. I reach her door, and give it a slight knock, received minutes late by the gorgeous blonde woman.

"Elle. Come in." 

I shake my head; I had a bus to catch.

"No I shouldn't, I have a bus to catch, but I just wanted to apologize for earlier. It hadn't even occurred to me that you spent your own hard earned money on my lunch and I chose not to take it. I'm so so sorry I turned you down earlier; I wasn't in the best mood."

Miss Hardman smiles and places her hand on my arm. 

"Elle, sweetie-"

My heart jumps. "Sweetie"???? 

"It was only 50 cents. It wasn't that big of a deal. I promise you. Is there something more to you not eating lunch than you having a bad day though? I've noticed you hadn't eaten lunch the past couple of days that you've been here. I know I haven't known you for long, but it's kind of a teacher instinct to know when your student isn't doing okay. If there's anything you need to talk about, please let me know."

I feel my heart in my throat. She knows. 

"Thank you Miss Hardman, but I'm okay." 

We smile and wave, before I take off in a sprint towards the buses, but when I reach the front of the building, bus 54 was already gone. 

"Damnit."

I say under my breath, and decide to walk home. My mom won't be home because of her business trip, which means I'll have the house to myself; also meaning she won't notice what time I get home. It was a particularly cold day, and I had forgotten my sweatshirt. 

"Well this is just great, isn't it?"

I walk until the school is out of view, already thinking about stopping somewhere to warm up. I still had about a 45 minute walk left before I even made it in my neighborhood. I guess that's what I get when I'm just on the border of the school district. I continue walking, when a gray SUV starts to slow down on the street next to me. I start to become freaked out, slightly putting some pep in my step. The gray SUV pulls over to the side of the street, turning its hazards on. I give the car a small smile and keep walking, when the window rolls down. What the- 

"Need a ride?" 

No way. There's no way this is happening. "No thanks. I'm good." 

"Elle you're freezing. You're in a tank top and shorts. Please just get in the car." 

I shake my head.

"Students aren't supposed to get into teachers' cars."

Miss Hardman laughs. "Elle. Get in. I'll be fine, and so will you." 

I drop my forehead into my hands. Oh what the fuck. 

I open up the passenger door and swing my backpack into the floorboard of her car, strapping my seat belt. 

"Where to?" 

I give Miss Hardman my address and she turns off her hazards and pulls back out into the street.

"Thank you for doing this. You really didn't have to."

Miss Hardman laughs and sets her hand on my thigh, her other hand on the steering wheel. I'm surprised by her hand placement, but I choose to let it brush off. 

"I figured it was my fault you missed your bus, so may as well pick you up."

"It was my choice to come and talk to you, also how did you know I would be here?"

Miss Hardman shrugs. 

"Dunno. I was on my way home and I saw you so figured I'd give you a ride."

Part of me wished this wasn't the only kind of ride I'd be given. No. Stop thinking like that. She's your teacher.

"Plus, I'm sure you have someone at home waiting for you." 

I laugh.

"No, my mom's on a work trip for a few days."

Miss Hardman's eyebrows furrow. 

"So you have no one to be with while you're home?"

I shake my head.

"Would you like to stay with me for a few days? Just until your mom comes back."

My jaw definitely would have been on the floor, had it not been attached to my face.

"I- uh- is that allowed-?"

Miss Hardman smiles.

"Technically, no. But you're 18, so you can make whatever decisions you want. Do you want to stay with me for a few days? It can be our little secret."

I feel my cheeks heat up.

"Don't you like have a husband or something at home?"

Miss Hardman laughs.

"Honey I have zero interest in men." 

WHAT. SHE WAS GAY????

"Oh- I'm sorry- I didn't mean to-"

She laughs and squeezes my thigh.

"It's okay Elle. I know it's kind of hard to tell by looking at me."

"Yeah no shit." 

I say, not remembering it was my teacher sitting next to me. I slap my hand over my mouth and Miss Hardman just looks at me, her mouth agape and her eyebrows raised.

"I'm so sorry." I say, and Miss Hardman just laughed. 

"We're not in school. Rules don't apply here. We'll stop at your house so you can pack a few necessary items and then go to my house."

I smile and nod. This was all still so confusing, but I was confused on which part of the conversation that I had said I agreed to this. 

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember agreeing to this."

Now it was Miss Hardman's turn to turn a bright shade of red. 

"I'm sorry- I shouldn't have assumed-" 

I start laughing. 

"Relax. Yes I'll stay with you for a few days, but only if you give me a ride to school every morning while I do." 

Miss Hardman rolls her eyes. 

"Well duh. I'm not gonna make you walk to your bus stop."

We pull into my driveway and I smile as I get out of Miss Hardman's car and rush to the front door. I walk through the front door to my house and run as quickly as possible up to my room. I gather my toothbrush, makeup, perfume, and a couple of other essentials before walking back out the front door, getting back into the same car that had brought me here about 5 minutes ago. 

"Got everything?" 

I smile and nod. 

"Hopefully."