Pencil, Paper, and Passion.

Chapter Three: Those Eyes.

      I was halfway home when I remembered Charlotte and my doctors appointment.  After a five second debate, in which I tried to imagine the extent of my mother's anger at my absence, I pulled into a gas station and took my phone out. 

     Hey, Charles, be there in ten. - Eliza.

    Okay.  Wait, what about Brandt? - Charles.

    He pissed me off.  I'll tell you when I get there! - Eliza.

    Ha!  Alright, girly, see you in ten. - Charles.

    I tossed my phone in the passenger seat and pulled out of the gas station, heading in the direction of Charlotte's house.

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    "That jerk actually called you a twit?  In front of the entire Chemistry class?"  Charlotte's mouth gaped open.  We were sitting on her bed, discussing the days events.  She appeared a little pale, but was otherwise fine.  Well, when she wasn't throwing up, I amended.  Almost every fifteen minutes or so, Charlotte would shoot up from the bed and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

    I  shrugged.  "Yep.  It's not that bad, though.  I mean, come on, Brandt and I are constantly insulting one another."

    "Yeah,"  She said slowly.  "True.  So, I heard we have a new Chemistry teacher..."

    I rolled my eyes.  Charlotte was such a gossip.  "I have a new Chemistry teacher.  You decided not to take Chem.  II, remember?"

    "Because I didn't have to.  You, my little nerd, didn't either but, being the overachiever that you are, jumped at the opportunity for an extra credit."  She picked up a saltine cracker from a plate beside the bed and eyed it dubiously before she shrugged to herself, shoving the cracker in her mouth.

   "What about Brandt?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow.  "He's taking the class, too."

    "Brandt had to.  He failed Physics, remember?  He needed another science credit."

    "Oh, yeah.  Well, anyway," I said.  "It'll look good on my college applications."

    "There is that.  Maybe I should drop my 'study' period and take Chem.  with you."  Charlotte debated, eating another cracker.  Suddenly, she turned curious eyes on me.  "But let's not talk about that.  Brandy Harold text me saying the new teacher is really young."

    "Uh-huh.  Twenty-three, I think he said.  It's his first year teaching."

    "Brandy Harold also said that he's a hottie."  She grinned.

    I tried to maintain a straight face but her wicked smile prodded me into indulging her.  After all, she was sick.  I smiled back at her and fanned my face.  "Mr. Gallagher is a major hottie.  He's got an amazing body;  you can tell he's got muscle, but it's sleek, like a jungle cat.  Um, he has messy brown hair; the kind you just want to sink your fingers into.  But," I said, sighing dramatically.  "It's really the eyes that get you."

    "What?"  She said excitedly when I stopped talking.  When I shrugged and pretended to examine my nails, she reached out and grabbed my arms, shaking me.  "Out!  Out with it!  What's so special about his eyes?!"

    I laughed.  "Alright, alright!  Now, stop rattling my brains before I forget!"

   Charlotte immediately subsided and sat back, excitement still gleaming in her eyes.  "Okay, sorry.  Please, continue where you left off."