A Second Time Around

Chapter Fifteen

If there is one thing that Anastasia Elise Hampton hated beyond anything (well, other than slow internet, traffic jams, and late updates in Wattpad), it's teachers who give surprise anything.

Even if that teacher is the man she secretly-loves-but-pretends-that-she-doesn't.

A good example of those kinds of teachers is this:

"Hey class!" Andrew said. "I've got a surprise for you. Pop quiz!"

Well, what reaction would a teacher expect from that pronouncement? Cheers worthy of Bring It On?

A good example of a student's reaction came from the back of the classroom:

"WHAT THE F-"

"Finish making that statement, Josh, and it's the dean's office for you." Andrew scolded mildly. He made it a habit of calling his students by their first names nowadays, probably because he thinks that he will make a stronger bond with them using that tactic. Stacey had to smirk; even if this is Andrew, and she adores him to bits, she must admit that this tactic of trying to rub elbows with her classmates is not that effective, particularly in the present situation.

"But sir, we're not prepared for a quiz. I haven't even read anything yet!" wailed Jenna frantically. Stacey gave her a sympathetic look. Jenna spent most of the weekend at McDonald's, working overtime. She still has those dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep.

The class rumbled with various complaints and other murmurings. Stacey mildly hoped that the "other murmurings" do not constitute expletives, as Josh just tried doing a few minutes ago.

"Guys, the quiz is fairly easy. You needn't have read your books. As long as you've been listening to our discussions this past few meetings, I'm sure you'll pass it, probably even perfect it."

Now, well, putting it that way, Stacey knows that she'll fail this quiz. How can she not, when all she remembers from their past meetings are his eyes, his smile, and his laugh? It is truly dangerous when one has a crush on a teacher. Well, a danger to the report card, that is.

"Let's go start the quiz, shall we? We haven't got all day, you know." Andrew grinned in a deliberately annoying way. He seems to be enjoying himself. "Mind if you could arrange the seats. I want them one-seat apart..."

And so the quiz started. Stacey thanked the gods of Olympus that she at least has read her book. It won't do if she just sat there and stared at the problem as if waiting for the answer to pop out any moment. She's sure that she won't get a high grade for this quiz, but at least it's not a failing one, either.

She barely had time to write her name on her paper, though, when she heard silent mutterings behind her. Curious, she snared a glance at the person sitting behind her and found Jenna whispering under her breath, all the while tearing at her hair: a sure sign that she is becoming panicky.

Stacey rolled her eyes this time as she turned her back again and focused on her own paper. Jenna is the smartest and most hardworking person she knew. Even though she wasn't able to study post-hand, Stacey's sure that she has taken the lessons at heart from all their discussions. If she can't pass this simple quiz, then no one else can. Simple fact.

But she also has the tendency to panic about things that she really shouldn't worry about.

Sure enough, after they have submitted their papers and rearranged their chairs, Jenna grabbed her book from her bag and quickly scanned the pages, her eyes moving from left to right faster than a type writer, clutching at the book as if her life depended on it. It was a rather dizzying sight to behold.