Dangerous Attraction

4. Weekend

Hazel Whitlock

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I had thought the brief attraction to my principal would subside after that day, but I clearly underestimated my ability to be obsessed with something I could never own.

As the days went by, I found myself trying to get in trouble with him just so I could get detention again and get to stare at his handsome first all evening.

However, he paid me no mind and didn't react to anything I did, which was what propelled me to sign up for his class.

I wasn't interested in learning a new language. Being fluent in English and Spanish was enough for me, but I suddenly wanted to learn Italian when it was announced that they would start teaching a new language.

It was not part of our curriculum but the school board thought it would be good for those who were interested. I wasn't. I just wanted to get a close-up look at him. It was a Friday and our last class for the day, was Italian.

Almost all the female students signed up for his class, so the class was filled with 90% girls and 10% boys. How could he ever notice me with this many girls around?

As I thought about that, I instinctively raised my hand. I didn't know why. I just wanted him to look at me.

He pursed his lips when he saw my hand in the air but couldn't ignore me or it'd be weird. "Yes, Miss Whitlock? Do you have a question?"

"Yes, sir," I said quickly trying to think of something to ask. He had been teaching us about how to introduce ourselves in Italian. "Uh..." he looked at me impatiently, more than ready to dismiss me. "What is daddy in Italian?"

There were snickers and chuckles around me at that question, but Mr. Laurier pretended he didn't get the joke. "Papà. Is that all you want to know?"

Well, now that I had his undivided attention, I had to think of something else. "What about lover?"

"Amante."

"Boyfriend?"

"Fidanzato."

"Sugar daddy?"

He narrowed his eyes on me, finally showing his annoyance. "Let us stick with the topic today, Miss Whitlock. You may sit down."

"One more question. I'm really curious about this one." He let out an inaudible sigh but gestured for me to go on. "What is 'I want you' in Italian?"

"Miss Whitlock..."

"Tell us, sir. We're curious." Another girl backed me up. I arched an eyebrow briefly at him, not missing the disapproval in his gaze when he saw it.

"Tell us, tell us..."

"Silence." His voice boomed over the class, making everyone keep quiet before they could even start a chant. "Voglio te." He finally responded.

"Voglio te." I tested the words, looking right at him. He opened his mouth to speak but the sound of the bell cut him off. I was certain he was going to scold me again, but he didn't.

"By the next class, I expect you all to know basic introduction in Italian. See you next week."

I packed my books slowly, waiting for the class to empty up before I walked to his desk. By now, he knew that I never had anything serious to discuss with him so he wasn't pleased to see me.

"What do you want this time?" Most times, I usually asked him silly questions like where he schooled, his age, and if he had a girlfriend. I asked him personal questions and he never answered anyone so I kept asking each day. He expected the same thing today.