Beer Bottles And Cigarettes

Chapter Four

I play with the hem of my shirt as Mr Way gives me a look that makes the pit of my stomach fill with butterflies and my heart sing. I smile even more than before and clear my throat. "Um...So...My father and I kind of got into a fight this morning right before I came to school and...I can't really go home so..." I mumble.

"You want me to stay after school until you want to go home?" He asks, sitting up taller and tilting his head to the side. His eyes catch the light perfectly and shine. I feel my heart pound in my throat. Why is this man so beautiful?

My eyes widen. "Only if you can!" I say quickly a little too loud. "I mean...I don't want to be a bother..." I say, blushing at my sudden outburst.

His hand reaches across the table and gently touches mine. "It's fine, Frank. I'll stay. I've got some stuff I need to do anyway." He smiles again and goes back to working, his hand gripping his pen. I wonder what else his hands can do.

What the fuck are you doing, Iero!? He's your teacher!

I snap out of my trance and head back to my seat next to Jensen. I notice Jensen's hands shaking and press them into the table. "Dude...are you alright? You seem a little shaky today." I say, worry seeping into my voice.

He shakes his head, his eyes distant. "It's nothing..." He mumbles.

"Jensen-"

"Fuck off, Frank!" He yells, standing and grabbing his stuff quickly before storming out of the room. All he leaves behind is a fallen stool and a piece of paper with a phone number on it.

I stare at the door before reaching for the paper. I tuck it into my pocket, intending on returning it later, and turn back to my drawing. I've finished the basics now all I need to do is add details and colour and then I'll be done. As I'm drawing some of Mr Way's hair in, someone peers over my shoulder and I turn quickly to see two people looming over me.

One is a bigger guy with cropped hair and brown eyes while the other is a regular sized girl with good sized chest and pale skin. Her eyes look slightly sunken in and are a grey colour. The bigger guy snorts. "Drawing the teacher, eh? Teachers pet!" He exclaims.

I swallow. "W-well-" I start.

"Oh leave him alone, King!" The girl exclaims, shoving him back. She shoos him away and sits next to me, shifting on the stool. "I'm Beth." She say.

"F-Frank..." I murmur turning my attention back to my drawing.

"Sorry about King. He thinks because his name means royalty, he is royalty. Which is complete bullshit." She smiles, her pink lips stretching to reveal white teeth. "Anyways...I wanted to say that you're really cute and I love your drawing."

A blush rises on my cheeks. "O-oh thank you." I smile, my heart leaping. Someone actually likes my art work for once.

Mr Way's voice breaks through the air. "Beth! Back to your seat!" He snaps.

Beth's face drops and her eyes lower. "Talk later..." She mumbles before walking back to her seat and sitting down.

I frown but continue drawing. At the end of class, I pack up my stuff and leave before anyone else, set on finding Jensen and returning the number. I check all the bathrooms and all the empty classrooms before walking outside to see him smoking by the bus stop. I walk over to him and stand next to him in silence, unsure of what to do.

"Phone number." Is all he says, his voice slicing through the silence like a knife.

I dig around and give him the number, shoving my hands back into my pockets. "Mr Way says you have detention for the next week after school. Not with him but with the other Mr Way. You know...his brother. I hear he's pretty strict. It also means you'll be missing the party." I say.