Love At First Spike (GirlxGirl) (TeacherxStudent)

15

"Just admit it," I urged, desperate for any sign of acknowledgment. "You can't keep pretending this doesn't matter. Not to me, and not to you."

Miss Hart stood there, her expression unreadable, but I could see the conflict in her stormy eyes. For a moment, I thought she might finally say something real, something that proved she felt it too. The tension was thick, and her lips parted slightly as if she was going to say something... but then nothing.

She just sighed, a heavy, tired sound, like she was exhausted from carrying the weight of it all. Her gaze dropped, and it was clear that she was wrestling with something inside her—whether to admit what we both knew or continue burying it deeper. Her silence spoke louder than anything. She didn't agree, but she didn't disagree either.

After what felt like forever, she finally spoke, her voice detached and flat. "I will treat you like every other student, Stacey."

That was it. No more, no less. She said it like a fact, like a statement she needed to convince herself of. No emotion, no hesitation in her tone. Just cold, sterile finality. And then, without another word, she turned and started walking away, her steps quick but not rushed.

I stood frozen as she made her way to the parking lot. Her hair caught in the wind, the dark strands moving like they had a life of their own, dancing in the breeze while I just stood there, dumbfounded. There was nothing more I could say. She wasn't going to admit it—at least, not out loud. Not now.

I watched her until she disappeared into her car, the door slamming shut with the finality of an ending I wasn't ready for. The engine started, and as she drove off.

The next morning, I walked to school with Mia by my side, the weight of yesterday still sitting heavy on my chest. I hadn't really told Mia everything, but she knew enough to be concerned.

"I'm sorry for running out yesterday," I said, breaking the silence between us. "I didn't mean to leave you like that. I just... I couldn't stay."

Mia gave me a small, understanding nod, but there was a trace of curiosity in her eyes. "I get it. You looked like you were about to explode back there. But seriously, Stacey, what's going on with you? You've been acting... off."

I shrugged, not sure how to explain it without diving into the whole mess with Miss Hart. "It's just... complicated."

She looked at me sideways, her eyebrow raised. "I know, and I know you're not ready to talk about it... But just don't shut me out, okay?"

"Yeah, I won't," I promised, even though I wasn't sure how much more I could actually say. I gave her a grateful smile, and we kept walking in silence.

By the time we made it to English class, the familiar nerves kicked in. Miss Hart was already by the door, greeting the students as they lined up. As Mia and I approached, she gave her usual polite "Good morning" to each student, her voice calm and steady, like always.

When it was my turn, she paused, her eyes subtly scanning me up and down before meeting my gaze. I felt a slight shift in the air between us, like she was weighing how to respond. "Morning," she said, her tone short but not unfriendly. It wasn't blunt, but it wasn't warm either—just neutral, like she was talking to any other student. Exactly like she said she would.

I smiled awkwardly, unsure how to react. Part of me felt like we were back to square one, like none of what had happened between us really mattered. But another part of me knew things had shifted, even if only in small ways.

I headed into the classroom and took my seat, still feeling a little awkward. Mia sat down next to me, her eyes sliding toward Miss Hart and then back to me. She wriggled her eyebrows, smirking knowingly.