Teach me - A teacherxstudent romance

four

"It's crazy what you'll do for a friend."

-The Neighbourhood 'Daddy Issues'

James Quinn

Practice has just ended and I watch as all of the boys head to the locker room. "Hey, Kyle, wait up." I jog over to him and place my hand on his back for one second before dropping it.

"What's up, coach?" No needs to say, Kyle is a very respectful young man.

"Why was your sister at workouts today?" I'm no stalker, I genuinely want to know why she wasn't picked up after school.

He shrugs, "Mom works late." I nod as he walks away, although something feels as if he is lying to me.

When I pack my stuff up from the locker room I open the front doors of the school and get into my white Mercedes Benz. I turn on the engine, turning on 'Sundress' as I coast out of the parking lot and onto the main road. I take a right and drive a mile or so until I see a small girl walking down the sidewalk. I pass her and look back at her, realizing who it is. I slam on the breaks and she stops in her tracks.

Should I ask her if she wants a ride or is that too weird? I decide to stick my head out of the passenger window instead of backing up, not wanting to scare her.

"Kiara? What are you doing?" I throw one of my hands up as she sighs in relief. "I'm sorry if I scared you by the way."

She places a hand on her chest and breathes, "I'm on my way home." She says it more as a question than a statement.

"Why didn't you take the bus?" I feel a little nosy, then a strong gust of wind hits us both. "Kie, get in, it's freezing." She looks behind her before stepping forward. I open the door for her and lean back into the driver's seat as she steps in and closes the door.

"I don't get a bus. My neighborhood is too close. Usually my brother takes me home but workouts were really long and I have somewhere to be." She looks down at her hands and starts to pick at the skin surrounding her nail.

I shake my head and click my tongue. "Stop picking your skin, that's awful." She finally looks up at me with her eyebrows stitched together and I suddenly feel bad. That shouldn't be any of my business. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Kiara doesn't make eye contact, then goes back to looking at her hands, but she doesn't pick them this time.

"So your mom doesn't take you home either?" I feel as if that is a risky question to ask. I've never seen her mom nor her dad at any one of Kyle's basketball games.

Kiara shakes her head again. "She's usually not home." She quietly says. I suddenly feel awful that I even asked that and I can tell that she is uncomfortable, so I change the subject.

"Alright, where do you need me to take you?" I watch her as she pulls out her phone and pulls up an address, handing the phone to me. I bring the phone closer to my eyes. "Sounds good. Put your seatbelt on by the way." She reaches behind her to click the seatbelt in as I continue to drive straight.

I pull into the parking lot after no words coming out of anyone's mouth. That is until Kiara says, "Just give me a minute." as she pulls out her phone.

As she places her phone in her backpack I see a girl running out of the house barefoot. She wears Nike Pros and a small t-shirt covering her top half.

"Hi Kie!" I hear her scream from outside of the car. Kiara opens the door forcefully and screams her name, which I guess is Mar. I recognize her from my first period class. Shit, this probably looks really weird. The girl looks at me staring and I quickly look to my left, scratching my head to cover my face.

I back out of the driveway as fast as I can and speed away as the girl squints her eyes.

Kiara Woods

"Hey Mar!" I exclaim as I exit James' car. "I'm so exited!"

"Me too!" She grabs my hands to lead me inside but stops and looks at Coach Quinn with stitched eyebrows. "What the fuck..is that-" I watch the car skid out of the driveway and I let out a soft laugh. I grab her hand and drag her inside before she gets the chance to say anything.

"Kiara!" I drag her up the stairs and look for a room that best resembles a teen girl. When I find posters of Jacob Elordi, I know I've found her room. I throw her down on what I'm guessing is her bed.

"Don't say anything, just shut up." I start laughing hysterically as she sits down with her jaw dropped.

I lean my back against the wall and my laughs start to die down.

"I did not just see who I think I saw." I start laughing again and this time she laughs with me. "No way!" She falls back on her bed and starts dying of laugher. I suddenly realize how loud I am and I cover my mouth. "No need to cover your mouth, my parents are at a murder mystery dinner with their friends, they won't be home 'till late because they'll probably get drinks after. Now explain to me what I just saw."

"I'll tell you on the way to get smoothies, I'm hungry."