Language of Love

Iuana

Note: After ✿, the point of  views will switch to 3rd person (and switch back)

"Thank you for all of your help, but I just met you today. It's not great timing." I say. He looks into my eyes with those beautiful brown eyes. He nods.
"I understand. Maybe another night. I should get going anyway. Goodbye, Gray." He says. I lean against my counter and watch him walk out the door.

Once the door is shut, I walk over to my mattress. I fall back onto it. I don't bother with dinner, it's already late. I pull my blanket over and set my alarm. I might as well get some rest.

     At 5 am, I'm jolted awake. I shut off the alarm and drag myself into the shower. After doing my hair and make-up and stumble out the door. I see Fitzgerald walking down the stairs.

     "Fitzgerald!" I blurt. He stops on his stair and turns to me.
    "Hey, Gray. You can call me Fitz, I know my name is pretty long." He says.
     "Alright, Fitz. Do you have bus duty this morning too?" I ask.
     "I do. Do you want a ride? I don't mind." He asks.
     "I can drive myself, thank you though," I answer.

     I walk up to the covered area and wait for the buses. One comes screeching to a stop. I look over to Fitz who seems equally surprised. One kid stumbles out, a blood from a bloody nose coating his shirt. I didn't notice the split knuckles until the second kid gets off. The second kid has an already forming black eye and split knuckles. I eye them carefully, watching for another fight to break out. The second kid takes a swing and knocks the other to the ground. I run toward him and prepare to split them up, but Fitz already holds the aggressor. I take the other back and make sure he's alright.

We walk the two to the Principal's office. The principal, Dr. Molton, looks up. He glances from one kid to the other.

"Lady, take yours to the nurse. Bring him back." He says. I have the kid follow me to the nurse. I was slightly offended the principal didn't know my answer, but there isn't much I can do. The boy comes back out with an ice pack. I take him back to the principal's. Fitz stands outside the door with his arms crossed.

       "You can go back, I'll take care of him." He says.
      "You don't have to," I add.
      "I don't mind. Go back out, the weather is pretty." He says. I smile and walk out.

✿✿✿✿✿

        "Dude. You totally like her." The boy says.
        "I'm sorry, what?" Fitz says.
        "Lady teacher," The boy responds.
        "Oh, Gray. We like just met." Fitz explains.
        "So? She's hot." The boy comments.
        "You're like 15," Fitz says.
        "Hot girls are always hot." He answers, "You should ask her out."
         "I not going to ask her out," Fitz says.
        "She totally likes you." He convinces.
        "Look, I already asked her to pizza and she said no. But look, I didn't tell you this." Fitz answers.
         "Just try again, she'll come around." The boy suggests.

✿✿✿✿✿

"Hey!" A man shouts from behind me. I turn and see Fitz jogging to me. I smile.
"Hi. We've got like 10 minutes left." I say. He nods and glances around.
"How would you like to go to dinner with me Friday?" He asks. I'm taken aback. I want to trust him, I do. But not yet.
"I have plans. Maybe another time." I say, not wanting to actually say no. He nods.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."

Once the bell rings, I walk back to the hall. I unlock my classroom and open my presentation.

I walk over to Courtney's classroom. She looks up.
"Yes? Oh, hey, what's up?" She asks.
"Can I just pretend your my best friend who I've known forever? I need to spill." I say. She closes her laptop and points to the chair by her desk. I shut the door and head in that direction.
"Shut door? What happened?"
"Okay, look. Yesterday Fitzgerald asked to drive me home." I start.
"Oh my god, he did?"
"Yeah, but I said no. Anyway..." I continue.
"What is God's name is wrong with you? When the hottest guy ever asks to drive you home you say yes." She remarks.
"Well, I was upset about something else. Anyway, he gave me his phone number so when I got back to my apartment I texted him. So, I went out on the balcony to sit. I heard my neighbors talking and laughing. Then, it sounded like they were talking about the text I sent. So I peeked my head over and Fitz was standing right there." I tell.
"Fitz? You call him Fitz now?" She asks.
"He told me to, um, so I was like what number are you. Long story short, we're neighbors. So, I let him in and he offered to help me unpack. Obviously, I said yes. Afterward, he asked me to put to pizza." I recall.
"And? Where'd you go?"
"We didn't. I said no."
"Seriously, what is your problem?"
"I've got trust issues, okay? So this morning he asked me to dinner Friday." I continue.
"You better have said yes." She goes.
"I didn't. I kind of wish I did, but too late." I say.

I walk back to my classroom after talking to Courtney for a while. It's time for class to start, so I stand on the outside of my room. My students wander in and sit at their desks. I'm teaching a lesson on greetings. I was distracted the whole lesson. I couldn't stop thinking about him. It was horrible. Halfway through my lesson, my door opens.

Fitz peaks his head in. "Can I use your stapler?"
"Yep!" I say and hand it to him. He winks at me and leaves my classroom. I roll my eyes and continue the lesson.

Around lunch, he walks back into my room and puts the stapler back. I smile.
"Hey!" I say. He smiles and turns to leave.
"Wait!" I call. He spins around in my doorway and shuts the door. I raise an eyebrow. He has something to tell me.

"A closed door conversation?" I ask. He just nods.