Mr. Mendes

chapter 1 - a surprise encounter

I liked school, well, it wasn't unpleasant. Generally, I'm motivated and like to get things done and I guess that attitude applied to my school career too. I think my experience was made more bearable because I did my homework on time, I'm not the type to go out to parties until god knows what time. Pretty boring I know.

My eyes drift open to hear the blaring sound of my alarm. It is soon turned off with a violent whack from my tired arm. "Yay, time for school!" I muttered sarcastically under my breath. Putting my dressing gown on, almost tripping down the stairs, I reach the kitchen where I am greeted with the smell of a full English breakfast and the warm, beaming smile of my ever positive mother.

"Morning El" she chimed, only being met with the stern expression of my 'pre food morning face'

"Ah don't be so miserable", she said jokingly while putting some bacon into the frying pan, "you'll grow up soon enough and miss these days"

"I'm seventeen, I have grown up!", not counting my ever-present love of cartoons, books and all things remotely childish.

"Well here's the same breakfast you've had since you were 11"

"Thanks Mum, I love you."

Pushing open the doors of my high school for yet another term, I sighed to myself hoping that this one would be just a little different.

I caught the eye of my best friend Hannah, who I had been friends with since we were in prams. She let out a quiet shriek of joy and began bounding over to me, arms flung open wide with a huge smile from cheek to cheek.

"How was your summer?" She asked excitedly

"Not much to report, binge watched too much Netflix" I replied

"Eleanor Hill, you never fail to surprise me" she said sarcastically

"So what about you? Anything of interest?"

"No, I did pretty much the same as you." Hannah said, "Oh! but there is one thing."

"Go on"

"Well you know how Mrs Robinson has left, it means we get to see who the new teacher is!"

"Oh how life changing!" I responded, whilst rolling my eyes.

Before I knew it me and Hannah were sat down in the corner in the usual official unofficial seating plan. I gazed out the window thinking about who this new teacher might be, girl or boy, young or old, good looking or not, when my silent daydream was interrupted by the noise of a door flying open. We were expecting and old woman with a sneering face and snappy tone; instead we were met with a handsome young man, early twenties or so. He had brown waves and brilliant muscles, I couldn't stop staring.

"Hey guys, I'm Mr Mendes, I'll be your English teacher from now on!" He said with a beaming smile, showing off his pearly whites. "Could we start by writing the date and title?"

"Anything for you, Mr Mendes" I heard a girl teasingly say, and being reciprocated with a few sniggers from her friends. I don't think he heard though, as I glanced over at him to check if he did, I was met with direct eye contact from him and those chocolatey brown eyes. He gave me a small grin, shook his head while chuckling slightly and returned to organising the things on his new desk.

"Why was he staring at me? Does he think I said it?" I thought to myself

Somehow I managed to claw my focus back down to my exercise book and begin the task.

"So for homework I want you to read up on Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice" he chimed

All too soon, the bell rang. I didn't want to leave. Packing my things as slowly as I could, I saw Hannah at the door. She mouthed "Can I go?" from across the classroom and I gave her a nod of approval. Soon it was just us in the room.

"Eleanor, right?" He had the sweetest Canadian accent

"Yeah, that's me!"

"This is really hard to admit but I wanted to ask you something"

"Yeah of course, what is it?" My breath hitching as I replied, thinking of all the possible outcomes of his next sentence.

"Do you know where Mr Williams' office is? It's just I only got here yesterday and I haven't learned my way around yet."

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding in, I'm not sure if it was disappointment or relief.

"Yeah," I paused for a moment, "Would you like me to take you?" Hoping this shot in the dark would pull of.

"Thank you so so much, you don't find many nice teenagers nowadays"

"You talk like it's years since you were one." Instantly regretting saying it.

He looked me up and down, toe to top. I blushed a little.

"Haha yeah" He said with a cute little awkward chuckle.

"We should probably get going," I said, breaking the thick atmosphere we had now created, "It's on the other side of school."

He jumped up and leapt towards the door, pushing it open and holding it in place with his strong muscular build. I speed walked towards it, not particularly looking where I was going, I bumped into his chest by accident.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry" I apologised whilst probably turning a deep shade of crimson.

"Don't worry about it," he smiled.

We began to walk down the empty corridor and we made small talk on our way.

"You should probably be driving home soon right?"

"Ah, I don't have a car yet."

"So how are you getting home?"

"I'll just have to walk I guess." I said glumly while looking out of the window, seeing raindrops rolling down the windows and storm clouds beginning to congregate.

"Not in this weather you're not."

I paused. "Sir, I really can't ask you to do that." Whilst knotting my fingers.

"You didn't ask me, I offered." He said with a cheeky grin, "Wait outside, I'll only be a few minutes".