If Looks Could Kill (Sideshow Bob Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Author's note:

Thank you all for reading so far! I'm sorry if this isn't a very exciting fan fiction; I'm not all great at writing the romantic stuff, let alone the *ahem* mature content parts, but hopefully a good old story line, good strong emotions and a gripping plot has been enough to make you stay! I promise that if you'd like it, I'll try and add in some more romantic scenes. 

Enjoy!

Chapter 25

Bob entered the staff room of the university, sighing.

"Tough hour?" Janet asked him, the only one of Bob's colleges in the room.

"Put it this way," Bob said flatly, "I have somehow gained the nickname 'Professor Palm-tree', but that wasn't the problem. The problem was one kid implying that I deserved no respect because I was apparently a palm-tree to them."

Janet stifled a snicker. Bob heard, and sighed.

"Yes, it sounds funny, but trust me, it wasn't," Bob growled.

"I know, Robert. I'm sorry," Janet apologised insincerely.

Bob didn't pursue the matter, but instead poured himself a cup of coffee.

"I thought you were a tea person?" Janet asked, raising a puzzling eyebrow.

"I'm tired," Bob scowled, slumping into a chair.

Janet sat down beside Bob. She offered him a sympathetic smile. Bob tried not to absorb any of the sympathy. He couldn't stomach any more sympathy; he was met with it everywhere he looked. It was too sickly sweet. It was sugar coated; it didn't feel sincere.

All those people who were so sympathetic- they had no idea what he was feeling. They'd never felt like they were ripping down the middle. They'd never felt sick with nerves because they feared breaking down. They'd never nearly jumped out of their skin because they thought they'd heard their dead son's voice... They had no idea what was going on inside himself.

 "I like it when it's just the two of us," Janet said, yanking Bob out of his thoughts.

"What? Oh, me too."

"You're just saying that because I've just said it," Janet smirked.

"Well, I was, but now that I think about it... It's actually true," Bob mused.

"How sweet," she laughed. Bob chuckled.

Bob took a sip of his coffee and grimaced.

"What's wrong?"

"This coffee is unpalatable!" Bob exclaimed, getting up and tipping it down the sink. Janet giggled.

"You and your fancy vocabulary," she giggled.

"What? Unpalatable?" Bob inquired, rinsing out the cup.

"Yes! What does that even mean? Though I have some idea," Janet replied, sipping her hot-chocolate from her flask.

"It means that it's disgusting; sickening; not tolerable," Bob answered.

"Okay, Mr.Professor," she chuckled.

Bob gasped.

"There aren't any tea bags left!" He cried with mock horror.

"Tragedy!" Janet gasped, equally as mocking.

"Quite," Bob muttered, sitting back down beside Janet.

"You know, I have another flask of hot-chocolate if you'd like some?" Janet offered.

"I couldn't possibly take your beverage," Bob answered, smiling graciously, "but thank you."

"Why ever not?" Janet replied, mocking Bob's dialect.

"Because it is yours," Bob said, oblivious to Janet's mockery.

"Poppycock! I've plenty," Janet chuckled, continuing to imitate him. 

Janet couldn't keep an amused grin off her face as realisation flashed in Bob's eyes.

"Oh ha ha. Very funny," Bob chuckled.

"Really though, Robert, I've loads," Janet pressed.

"Oh alright, if you truly insist," Bob relented.

He got up and fetched a small, empty cup from the cupboard.

"I know that you're trying to polite on purpose; that cup can barely hold a thumb's worth of liquid!" Janet accused, "Go and get a normal sized one!"

Bob sighed, got up, and returned with a slightly larger cup.

Janet rolled her eyes.

"I guess that you're not going to give in. Fair enough," Janet sighed.

She pulled another flask out of her handbag and unscrewed the lid. Bob handed her the minute cup. Janet filled it to its brim with steaming, sweet smelling brown liquid; hot-chocolate.

"Thank you, Janet," Bob said politely, receiving  the cup back.

He took a sip.

"Mmm! Delicious!" Bob said, smiling.

"Yes, it is," Janet returned the smile.

"There's something about you Robert," Janet said, as if trying to put her finger on it.

"And what's that?" Bob asked, giving her a puzzling look as he took another sip of hot-chocolate.

"Even when I'm feeling downright awful, you always manage to cheer me up somehow," Janet smiled. 

Bob felt warm inside, touched.

"I'm touched," Bob replied, smiling, "And the same is true of you, Janet. I wasn't feeling all that great when I walked through that door, but you've cheered me up considerably."

"Awww. I'm glad," Janet said, smiling back.

Bob glanced at his wrist-watch.

"Oh, what a shame," Bob sighed with disappointment, "I'm due back in the classroom in a moment."

"That is a shame. But it was nice spending time with you, Robert," Janet replied.

"And with you," Bob said.

Bob gulped down the remainder of his hot-chocolate and then rinsed out the cup.

"I'll see you later," Bob bid Janet farewell as he left the room.

"Back to another hour of seemingly pointless teaching," Bob chuckled, walking along the corridor.