Dancing with Fire (John Pearce/Justice Crew Fanfic)

Chapter 1

The sudden outburst of my alarm clock echoed throughout the walls of my bedroom, waking me up stunned. It was the only way I could determine it was morning because my curtains were always closed. Since my mother died a couple of years ago, our house died with her. No curtains left open, no parties at home, no one was happy.

For 8 years, I greeted my mornings with sadness, and hugged my evenings filled with watered eyes. Not even events or occasions got me excited, including my birthday which was coming up soon.

It was a sunny morning as I peeked outside a small portion of the closed curtains. Going to school was the last thing on my mind, especially on a hot day like this. It was tiring, and I haven’t even started my day yet. But as if I have another choice.

Getting up, feeling robotic and dead wasn’t helping, thinking about finally being in senior year is. It took me an hour to get ready for school, and found my friends in our usual hang out spot before classes start.

Honestly, I’d rather be someplace else than this, for once, I wished I was still in bed enjoying the coldness of the room. If it weren’t for my friends, if I wouldn’t get in trouble, I’d skipped school right now, though it’s the only place that would keep me safe.

“Kayla, have you been listening or do we have to rave once again?” Amy shaking me from left to right, snapping me out of my daydreaming.

“I don’t mind hearing it all over again” Caitlin sighed, her eyes full of love, grinning happily during our conversation that I wasn’t entirely listening.

“What’s going on?” I asked irritably and hot, fanning myself with a makeshift paper fan I tore up from my notebook. Staying out in this summer weather is the worse feeling and gets my mind off somewhere else.

 “Jeez, what were you thinking?” Caitlin slightly poked the back of my head which I caught and slapped it down.

“Sleeping, being in bed, lazy…” I trailed off. I haven’t had a decent sleep since forever and well, it was one of those days when I hope I was back at home, under the covers, peacefully sleeping and not caring about anything else. Yeah, like that was close to happen.

“Wow, did I hear you say you’d rather be home?” Amy shocked response. She’s my best friend and knows everything about me. I know where she’s coming from with that statement, and true enough, I was excited staying at home.

“I just wanna get lost in my bedroom. That is all” I muttered, hopefully I wouldn’t get more questioned. Luckily, Amy noticed that slight twitch in my reaction and changed the topic back to this ‘godly’ teacher.

“So who is he? And how did you guys found out?” I asked, finally saw them looking at me with blissful thoughts, like falling in love for the first time. “Have you even see him yet?” I chuckled, knowing how some people overreacts at how hot someone is and then seeing them and be like, ‘meh—you call that hot’ kind of thing.

“No, haven’t seen him, but I’ve heard good… no, no great things about him” Caitlin responded, sort of like in the movies, swaying his body and spinning around like crazy.

“Yes, and he’s 22 years old” Amy stated as a fact. Wow, so young to be a teacher!

Seriously, I’m quite impressed that they have listed down reports about this teacher who they haven’t met, and fell instantly in love with him. Hot, sexy, godly, young, new, were most of them, but I’m more into how he would interact with us. I’m more into his teaching ways.

“I bet he’s gay, if he’s that hot” I scoffed, regretting I did after receiving numerous slaps on my arm from Caitlin and Amy.

“Hey!” they said in unison, defending their new beloved English teacher like they have seen them. What more pain I would receive if I mentioned it to every other girl in school.

“I’d be laughing my ass off if he turns out to be gay” I smirked, teasing my friends.

“Nope” Caitlin said, popping the ‘p’. “I’d be laughing my ass off if you think Amy and I are right about him” she taunted.

“Is this a bet?” I asked with my game face on, pumping my hands together, grinning. Caitlin and Amy nodded and smiled.

We started walking to our lockers to get books for our first period History. Our lockers were beside each other, easier to meet up. The bell rang and instantly the corridor was crowded by students going to their respective classes.

My friends and I were still hanging out by the lockers, not wanting to get squeezed through the crowd of rushing students. Our room wasn’t that far, so we’ll get there in time. We’re used to being the last ones to get inside the classroom.

“Wait up, girls” Jason came, resting his arms around my waist and giving me a sweet peck on my cheek. Jason is my guy best friend, practically being tied together since we were born. Our mums were best friends in college which explains our special connection, but it wasn’t like we were in love. I like him… as a friend.

And my friends are popular - Jason’s the school quarterback while Amy is the head cheerleader, all used to being the center of attention and the topic for most gossips in school. Gossip spreads real fast in high school, except we’re not those typical cliques you watch on TV, we’re the nice ones. Our usual pranks are within the group and not with fellow students. :p

Andrew trailed behind him and gave Caitlin a sweet kiss. They have been dating for 4 months now. Andrew and Jason are our boys in the group.

“You guys make me sick!” Amy playfully vomiting in air, looking at us like we were disgusting pigs.

“This is why you need to date so you don’t have to look every time Jason and Andrew are around” Caitlin teased Amy.

“Wait, Jason and I are not dating” I shared. Puppy dog eyes from Jason appeared from his face, releasing his arms around my waist, now leaning his back to the metal lockers behind us. Sadness washed his face.

“And Caitlin, I’m a cheerleader so basically I can have any guy I want” Amy snapped, flipping her blonde hair from the side, ‘I’m fabulous’.

“True, only if you don’t scare them away” Caitlin laughed as we strolled down the hallway and went to our classroom.

We got there in time as always. People chattering about the new gossip, surprisingly not related to us. These types of gossips are rare and we’re enjoying that it isn’t about someone in our clique, instead that hot English teacher most girls were talking about. Raving about that guy can surely wake up people; mind you, a hot one at that.

I wasn’t exactly the normal girl who would trust any kind of gossip. Rumors are plain bullshit that fuck people’s minds, and I’m not gonna join in. I was the type of girl who needs to see the person first before falling in love with him or praising him for that matter. I need to see him with my own eyes. Sometimes, people exaggerate gossips therefore not everything is exactly true.

“This new guy must be gay” Andrew snickered, Caitlin giving him deathly glares. Of course, we all knew he was talking about Mr. Pearce. Everyone’s talking about him.

“Had the same feeling” I giggled, the boys were happy I was on their side; Jason was finally showing his charming smile. The girls were shooting daggers at me, zipping my mouth closed.

“Haven’t seen him, already hate him” Jason retorted, putting his fist into a ball and fist-pumping with Andrew who agrees with his sentiment.

“Jealous pricks” Amy glared, Jason smirking at her.

We were seated in the last row and didn’t notice that Ms. Williams was already in front checking attendance.

“Ms. Amy Brown, do you have anything to share in class?” Ms. Williams asked, annoyed at our little discussion at the back.

“Oh no, Ms. Williams, carry on” she fake smiled then rolled her eyes.