Honor Student

Chapter 8

Ah...Monday. It was gonna be tough getting back into the routine but I was ready for school, I really missed Regina and even though I couldn't tell her, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I rushed out the door ten minutes early feeling confident and dressed to impress.

I decided to stop for coffee and walked in listening to the bell chime, it was a nostalgic place for me. I'd had so many memories here, and this was where I met Regina for the first time...this place was truly special. As if my guardian angel had heard me, the bell rang out once more alerting of a new customer. In walked Regina wearing a cream trench coat over a white blouse and a fitted pair of black dress pants.

Our eyes met briefly and it almost felt as if I had never even known her in this life, she cat-walked up to the register and ordered her usual. Her eyes caught mine once again as the bell chimed and in walked a familiar looking man. I began to people watch as Regina found her seat and started spinning her ring around her finger out of boredom. The man walked up to the register and ordered then proceeded to take his seat next to Regina. She shifted and I watched as her mannerisms changed; her back straightened, she almost appeared to be holding her breath, and she smiled a little too much.

She looked uncomfortable and I began to wonder if that man was bothering her but when I turned my attention to him, he looked at her with so much love. His attitude towards her told me that they must've known each other for a while. She sighed and got up and his eyes traveled down her body as she entered the restroom.

Hot jealously burned inside me but I shoved the feelings back down. I took this as my opportunity and made my way to the ladies room. At first I thought the stalls were full because I found Regina standing against the wall, but as I walked in she smiled and said, "I was expecting you."

My heart fluttered as I replied, "So...you got my gift?"

"Yes", my eyes took in the sight of her and I looked back up in the realization that she had caught me staring. I blushed a little and she let out a strained laugh. The vein on her temple was protruding letting me know she was stressed.

"Is everything alright?" I asked uncertain of what my boundaries were. She abruptly stood up from the wall and began to walk my way, I worried she was going to storm out at my words but instead she came inches from my face, her hands softly cradled around it and smiled. She pulled me into her embrace for a mere second before walking out.

I figured it was best not to stay any longer so I got my coffee and made my way towards campus. The first bell didn't ring for another 15 minutes so I bid my time and played on my phone. It seemed like it had been an hour when the bell finally rang and I started on my way to class. Though the Regina I'd seen in the bathrooms that morning looked peachy, this one wasn't.

She was short with everyone including me, though I will say she kept casting glances my way and when I gave her encouraging smiles she always seemed to want to return them...even though she didn't. I stayed after the bell to chat. As I was approaching her desk she raised a hand without even looking up and said, "I'm not writing you a pass so you'd better get to class." Wow. The audacity.

"That's alright", I said as I pulled up a chair next to her desk. I stared at the ground for a moment trying to gather my thoughts and I could feel her eyes bore into me. "You know it's not nice to stare right?"

She didn't even flinch before replying, "Well it's not nice to invite oneself in either yet here you are..."

She was unfazed and I almost gave up but instead I said, "What's your problem?"

Her eyes widened, "Excuse me? I'm your teac-"

"No, I mean Regina. What's your problem? You've been short all day and I'm worried about you. I'm not asking you as a student, I'm asking you as a friend. I get it if you don't wanna talk about it but I don't get why you're taking it out on me." I looked up at her and I felt a sharp pain in my chest telling me that I'd overstepped as I waited to be met with an office referral.

When it was taking too long, I finally peeled my eyes from the floor and she was crying. Tears welled up in her eyes and she was pale as a ghost. She snapped out her daze when she saw me watching her, unsure of what to do and said, "Meet me after school, here." She handed me a tardy pass and I walked out with a million different thing running through my mind.

My day went by excruciatingly slow and it seemed as if every class dragged on an extra hour. The bell dismissed us home for the day and I was zoned the whole way to her class. That being said, I completely disregarded the fact that her door was closed and chose to walk right on in.

I'd forgotten this was her conference period and was reminded of this fact when the man from the coffee shop was sitting in front of me. He had thick, square framed tortoiseshell glasses on as well as a darker complexion. His eyes were black and glassy, and he had a stubbly five o'clock shadow growing around the edges of his face. At first he stared at me with confusion, followed by distaste. "Excuse me, what do-" he blurted but was interrupted by Regina, "Fred, this is a student that I'm supposed to be tutoring after school...besides, I think we're done here." Standing straight as a board (minus her beautiful curves) she escorted him out and when he leaned in for a kiss on the cheek he was met with a rushed peck and one last shove out the door. I sat by her desk with a million thoughts running through my head and more questions.