Consequences of Flirting (Teacher x Student)

Chapter 8 - I'm Smiling at Everything

"Give me therapy,
I'm a walking travesty
But I'm smiling at everything."

- Therapy
All Time Low

You know how I said that I was completely content with having no friends?

Yeah, well someone seems very determined to change that.

We knew they were joining the school a week before they did. A message was sent around the school informing us that there would be a new pupil, as if it was something of great importance. They didn't specify the gender, but I didn't see a point in the secrecy - we'd find out soon enough anyway. Exciting things rarely happened at our school though, so they were probably just trying to make it a bit more interesting for us all.

I didn't care though.

I really didn't.

The new pupil was the talk of the school for the whole week, making not hearing about them an impossibility. Everyone had their predictions. Most of the girls hoped it was a hot guy whilst most of the boys hoped it was a hot girl. I couldn't care less.

By the time they were scheduled to arrive, the whole school was acting as though they were expecting the bloody queen to walk through the school gates. Well, I say the whole school. The whole school bar me. Because I didn't care.

Obviously.

I sat down at my usual desk for registration, quickly noting that the space next to me, as always, was empty. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the new pupil would be forced to sit there - it was the only spare desk. The new kid, whoever and whatever they may be, would have to sit by me.

"As I'm sure you're all aware," my tutor began as she entered the room, "there will be a new student joining us today." The room around me appeared to light up at the mention of that, "I hope you'll make her very welcome."

A chorus of audible sighs echoed throughout the room at the casual gender drop, mainly from the girls. It was quite funny really. They all seemed to deflate like a balloons. In theory, I should be too, but I didn't care.

And then she walked in.

And suddenly I started to care a little bit.

Not in an "oh my god, you're making me question my sexuality" kind of way, she just grabbed my attention. I mean, she was beautiful, no doubt about it, but I was so inarguably gay, and there was no changing that. Of course, that didn't mean she didn't try.

"Why don't you introduce yourself?" It was then that I realised everyone else was deadly silent, probably having exactly the same inner conflict as I was.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to mask her anxiety behind an 'I don't give a fuck' attitude, "Uh, hi. I'm Irene, Irene Adler."

I watched her nervously scan the room until her eyes met mine. I shot her a small smile in an attempt to calm her down. To let her know that this shit hole wasn't actually that bad. To let her know she'd be fine. She smiled back.

Wait...

Did I just make a friend?

"Take a seat." And she did.

She sat down next to me, as predicted. I'd like to think there was more to it than it just being the only seat available, but there was no point in lying to myself.

Once we were told we could talk amongst ourselves, which usually meant I counted down the minutes until the bell went so that the 'I have no one to talk to' situation was less awkward, Irene turned in her seat to face me.