Beyond the Lesson (TXS)

Taking Chance

I would never say English is my favorite subject like at all. But being taught by Ms. Romano provides a whole different level of interest in the subject. She's so confident with how she teaches its incredible. She never refers to the teachers guide book how other teachers do letting you know they don't understand the material properly without a refresher but she just glides through it. And the way her lips move, it'll be difficult not to want to follow everything she says. We've been learning about deciphering poetry since well before reading Edgar Allen Poe for the weeks lesson. "And who has the first poem they would like to share to end the class with to set the pace for the remainder of the week?" She asks and Christian one of the football players raises his hand. "Go ahead Christian."

"It's just a poem I came across on instagram last night." He says and she nods and he stands up. All eyes go on him. "Love, a boundless feeling; free to give. Free - to receive. But not a love like mine forbidden! Not a love like this.
Such love must stay hidden inside dark corridors beneath my ribs. You mustn't look at me tender you mustn't talk to me sweet; you mustn't give this wild bird its desired pair of wings. By Clairel Estevez." He finishes and everyone snaps at it. I look over at her and she's looking at me.

"Ms. Romano." A student calls for her and her eyes snap up as we all look at her to say something.

She takes a breath and clears her throat. "That was an interesting poem Christian. Thank you for sharing." Ring! "Ok how about we decipher Christians poem for homework and we'll discuss tomorrow. And don't try not doing it because I'll be calling on everyone for their perspectives." She says and then everyone leaves.

"See you after practice." Maira says and I nod and they leave. I watch as Ms. Romano says bye to all the students with that signature dimpled smile that sends a smile to my face.

The door closes and she goes straight to her desk. She turns on jazz music and starts going through papers. I stand up and go to her desk. I sit the paper down of the homework. I see her eyes go to it and then go back down to her work. I tilt my head at that. "Are you ok?" I ask and she hums. "Ms. Romano?"

She looks up at me. "Yes Ms. Kingston." Great we're back to that.

I sigh trying to hide the want to roll my eyes. "Um, I asked if you were ok?"

She nods. "Of course why wouldn't I be?" I shrug. "Then I'm fine. Go have a seat." I furrow my brows but listen and take my seat. I continue to look at her trying to figure out what's wrong.

"Did I do something?"

I hear her sigh. "No Ms. Kingston you didn't do anything wrong."

"So why are you not looking at me?" She turns her head and looks at me and I smile slightly at just having her attention. "That's doesn't mean you weren't doing it."

She sighs and goes back to her work. I stand up and go to her desk and grab the stool she had me sit at last week and sit next to her. I look at what she's doing and she's just staring at the attendance sheet. "Ms. Romano." She glances at me with a side eye and then goes back to the paper. "Is it about the poem?" I asks and she visibly swallows and ignores me. "So it is. It's kind of a coincidence isn't it." I say chuckling and she looks at me with furrowed brows.

"This isn't funny Talia. That," she gestures to the front of the class but I keep my eyes on hers. "Is why this cannot happen. Too many coincidences and nothing has even happened." She says sounding emotional pointing between us.

"But nothing has happened." I say and she rolls her eyes. "Ms. Romano, go out with me." I blurt out and she snaps her head to me and I swallow.

"Excuse me?"

I sigh. "Just give me a chance." She shakes her head.

"Get out Ms. Kingston."

"I like you." She shakes her head as if trying to cancel me out. "And I know you like me too so stop shutting me out." I say and she scoffs.

"And how would you know that?" She asks and I shrug. "Exactly this is just some crush you have on your teacher that will subside the minute you graduate or simply find someone your age."

"It's a feeling." She throws her hands up and puts her head into them. "I just want a chance please." I beg and she shakes her head and stands up but I grab her hand and stand up directly in front of her. "I know the risks ok? I know what can happened if we're caught." I say looking down at her as she looks to the side basically staring out the window.

"There won't be any risk because nothing is going to happen. Now leave."

"Tell me you don't like me and I will." I say and her eyes look into mine. "We're big on honesty here right?"

"Talia." She says in a whisper. I grab her other hand and she holds on to mine.

"Tell me."

"I-I can't." She breathes out.

"Then kiss me." Her eyes slip to my lips and back to my eyes. "Push me away or ki-." Her lips meet mine and the intial shock of it subsides and I let one of my hands go to her face and she hums against my lips. Her free hand goes to my hip and I melt at her soft touch. Her lips are so soft and warm like velvet meeting your skin. Her other hand squeezes mine and I smile from the intimate moment. Ring! The bell goes off signifying the end of our free period and the end of our kiss and we let our lips hover over each other as our breaths fill the room. I keep my eyes closed. "Are you ok?" I ask in a whisper and I feel her head nodding. "Are we ok?" She doesn't move and I open my eyes and I see her eyes looking at me and I see nothing but worry. "Don't panic."

"Come?" She asks in Italian.

I smile softly caressing her cheek with my thumb. "Because we're going to be ok." I hear the sound of footsteps and chatter coming from the halls. "I have to go."

"Perché?" Oh she's gone. She's not even speaking English anymore.

"Um," I think what it means. "Because you have a class to teach and I don't want to distract you so I'm going to go. I want to stay but I can't, ok?" She nods. "Ok." I leave her and get my stuff and put my book bag on. Her eyes fidget across the floor and I lift her head back up to look at me. "We'll talk later?"

"Sì." She clears her throat and takes a breath. "Yes, we will." I smile and go to kiss her again but someone knocks on the door. "Go, it's my kids trying to come in." She says and I nod and I leave the class room as they start to file in. Well that happened.