The next morning I felt worse than the night before but I was convinced that Jamie didn’t mean what he had said. He wanted this as much as I did, I knew it. What I felt last night wasn’t just one sided, I mean he kissed me first. I wanted to call Holly and get her opinion on the matter but I knew no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t. What if she told her mom, who was a secretary in the office at the school, and her mom told one of the other teachers, or worse, the dean? Jamie’s career would be over, I wasn’t naive enough to think otherwise. I made a travel cup of coffee before leaving my apartment, got in the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby. I watched the dial count down, nearing the 23rd floor, holding my breath at 24. When it reached 23, it shuddered and the doors drew open. There he stood, bags all around him. He bent down to pick them up and called out anxiously;
“Hold it please!”
“Sure.” I replied and he froze “Do you want a hand?” and I stepped forward, one arm holding the doors open, the other stretched out to him.
“Cass!” he breathed as I took the bag nearest to me “On second thoughts, I think I’ll walk.”
“23 flights of stairs, you can’t be serious.” I replied, very matter-of-factly.
I took another bag and once they were all on, there we stood, side-by-side, in silence. I held out the travel cup, he hesitated, then took it and drank it down gratefully, sighing with contentment after each gulp.
“So, what’s in the bags?” I asked, glancing around me.
“Props.” he replied “For the play.” he added as if this weren’t obvious.
“Oh right.” I murmured “I hope you have some nice costumes for me.”
He looked startled.
“In the play,” I explained “you know, Juliet.”
“You’re very certain you’ll get the part.” he smirked.
“I do have the lines of two pivotal scenes learned off already.” I said the words with ease.
“Well good for you, I don’t know where you’d find the time?”
“It’s amazing what you can get done when trying to keep your mind of other things.” I looked at him and caught his eye. He held my gaze for a few seconds then looked down again.
“So, how are you planning on getting all this stuff to the school?” I asked, changing the subject.
“I’ve got my car with me so it’s no trouble. What about you? How do you get to school?” he asked, seemingly uninterested.
“I catch a ride with my friend Holly’s mom.” I replied, noting how childish it sounded to have your friend’s mom bring you to school. “She works in the office so she’s going there anyway.”
He looked alarmed at this and hit the button for the next floor, the 7th and all the remaining floors down to the ‘L’ for lobby. The lift stopped on the 7th floor and I turned to him confused.
“Cass, tell me you didn’t say anything to your friend.” he demanded.
“Say anything about what?” I played dumb, staring back at him with a cold look.
“Cass, don’t mess with me!” he grabbed my shoulders and stared me down. “Tell me you didn’t tell your friend about us making out last night.”
I stared back, silent. He moved his left hand to my cheek, stroking it gently.
“It’s not just my job, Cass, my whole career will be ruined if anyone finds out about this. I mean, what parent wants their kid taught by a guy who got involved with a student? It wouldn’t matter to them that I was only three years older than you or any of that stuff. All they’d see is a guy who likes to mess with kids. I’ve never wanted to do anything else but teach.” he was panicking now, the fun was gone.
