The Mailbox Girl

12. The substitute

Author's note: This is going to be a short chapter guys but keep reading, longer ones will follow! And please don't forget to vote or comment if you liked it ^^

***

"Yo, you look gloomy today."

"How can someone look gloomy?"

"Well, I don't know, girl, but you do." Sofia answered with a laugh.

We walked together towards the mailbox room. Well, actually I was the one going to get the mail, she was just going to her locker.

"Do you know you're gonna have the hottest substitute teacher in the world, So?"

"Well I know Mrs Thomas is leaving but no, I do not know about that substitute. Tell me more."

"He used to be one of my dad's students and trust me, he is the most gorgeous man alive. Bless you who's gonna get to see him four hours a week."

"I don't believe you. This shit only happens in shows. I've never had a single decent-looking teacher in my entire life."

"I swear, Sofia!" I insisted. "He has beautiful eyes, he's tall, probably ripped," she giggled at that "and he dresses nice too."

"Can't wait to see him, then. I have English this afternoon, Mrs Thomas is probably going to introduce him to us."

I sighed.

"Please date him since I can't. I'm so fantasizing a forbidden teacher/student love story with him."

"I'll do my best to seduce him then. But I didn't know you had a teacher fetish, girl! Were you secretly the one who had a crush on Mr Fieldman in that letter?"

"I don't have a teacher fetish, Sofia." I answered dead serious."Just a Matthew Hastings fetish. Can you believe even his name sounds sexy?"

"It's alright."

"It's not just alright! He told me to call him Matt. Can you just imagine calling that name while he..."

"Are you imagining some R-rated scenario with him right now?" she burst out laughing. "Because, girl, I want the details."

I started laughing – and blushing – with her. This man was obviously making me lose all decency. Thankfully I discovered soon enough – aka at the end of the day – that I wasn't the only one whom he had made a strong impression on. Half of the letters we got that day were about the new substitute that everyone wanted to have an affair with. I recognized in one of them the writing of that girl who had a crush on Mr Fieldman a few weeks prior.

***

"This is boring."

I didn't even look up at Shane.

"Come on, can't they come up with different adjectives at least? Those are all the same letters." He complained once more.

"You're just jealous because Matt is getting more attention than you now."

"Who's Matt?"

"Matthew Hastings. The substitute."

I had said these words with the sweetest voice.

"You're calling him Matt? This is ridiculous, don't act like you know him..."

"Mind you, I do!" I claimed with a big smile.

Shane furrowed his eyebrows and I explained, delighted to share the story of how I had got the privilege to call him by his nickname.

"Him knowing your dad doesn't mean you're gonna date."

"I never said I would date him. I can't. My dad made me swear I wouldn't get in an illegal relationship with a teacher. I'm like living by procuration through these letters. And I really hope someone will manage to date him."

"That's messed up, Jenn. If you like him, go for him! Why do you care about some promise to your dad? Live your life for yourself."

"I'm not the kind of person to break promises." I answered calmly as I looked up at him. "And I'll never go for a guy first."

"So you think the guy has to make the first step?"

"No. No... I'm just too shy."

I had blushed like crazy saying that and I tried hiding my face behind the letter I was reading.

"Yeah well you can't be shy forever."

I budged at Shane's heartless answer. But he explained before I could nag:

"You're gonna miss many life opportunities if you don't go for it sometimes."

"I'd rather give a go at something that's not illegal though."

Shane cracked a smile and for once, there was no hint of mockery in it.

"You're such a good girl, Jenn."