Midnight. ☆ [boyxboy]

Torres.

I walked into class, heading towards the back of the classroom to take my usual seat. I dropped my messenger bag to the floor and dropped into my seat. I began to pick at my nails, sneaking glances at Mr. Salvatore who was seemingly busy grading papers. He was back in his "teacher casual" dresswear. No jeans, leather or scarves. The bell rang loudly and everyone took their seats, Mr. Salvatore pushed himself from his chair and turned to the chalk board, he wrote across the board in elegant cursive;

"Love"

A few students snickered and a low buzz of whispering started up. Mr. Salvatore turned towards the class and began to speak.

"Love. Four letters, wide variety meaning. Lots of you think that you know what love is. Or that you're in love with your boyfriend or girlfriend. But what is love really?" he turned to the board and wrote the word "Adaptation" below the word Love.

"Can anyone tell me the reason why I wrote adaptation below love? What does adaptation have to do with love?" he asked as he turned back to face us, his eyes scanning the class.

A boy with a face full of acne and too much gel in his hair, raised his hand.

"Yes, Gavin, Go on"

"I think you wrote adaptation because it's one of the bridges to love" said Gavin quietly.

Mr. Salvatore nodded "Good, who can add on to that? Anyone?"

I raised my hand and Mr. Salvatore smiled and nodded, gesturing that it was okay for me to speak.

"Love is like a tree. It has many meanings like you said. A tree has many branches, which could be represented as the meanings. And adaptation could be one of the main branches. For example, you have to learn to adapt to certain things sometimes. If a mans wife had cancer, he'd have to adapt and be there for his wife, he's doing this Because he loves her" I rambled on and most of the class turned in their desks to look back at me.

"Someone please stop the queer from rambling like some strung out hippie talking about tree branches having meaning" a girl from the far left side of the room said and most of the glass giggled at her remark.

"Ms. Torres, what makes you think that Zane doesn't have the right to speak on his point of view and personal response of the question?"

"He sounds ridiculous, Mr. Salvatore. Plain and simple"

I looked down at my desk and muttered faintly just above a whisper "Atleast I'm not sleeping with one of your brothers college friends.."

Several people gasped and the alarmed whispers began. Joanie looked over at me in horror and pure disgust.

"ENOUGH!" Mr. Salvatore boomed as the class began to get louder, cutting off Joanie as she was about to fire back. The class silenced and Joanie continued to stare at me as if she wanted to murder me on the spot. "Both of you are to stay after class, do you understand?"

I nodded but Joanie spoke up, "For what? I didn't do a damn thing but state the mutual thoughts of this entire room.."

"I said that's enough Ms. Torres. Stay after class" he said sternly as he glared from me to her. I wanted to laugh because just last night I was having pancakes with him because my mom had gotten stuck at work. I was upset with my mom for leaving me there but I left out the part about a drunk business man trying to buy me off as some gang prostitute. Otherwise she'd never let me out of the house again and she'd never forgive herself.

I had sort of just walked out on him at breakfast dinner last night. Not bothering to hear what he had to say because it was too much to handle along with what Chris had told me. And now here I was being scolded by him, it was a good laugh.