Running Into You

Chapter 23

Emma

The next day at school I'm nervous and tired. I'm also very sore. I think we might have over done it last night. I'm glad I can drive to school. When third period comes around I slowly walk across campus to get to the gymnasium. I hope we're playing badminton again. I see Henry sitting at his desk with his normal red polo shirt on with the school logo embroidered on it. He has a whistle around his neck. When I stroll into the gym lobby he stands up and looks at me with a grin that fades almost immediately. "What's wrong?," he asks.

"I'm sore is all," I explain embarrassed.

He bends over his desk to whisper, "I'm sorry. Go into the locker room and get dressed and don't come out until we're done running laps."

His familiar clean smell is heaven. I take a deep breath before I nod and walk into the basketball court to get to the locker room. Most of the girls are already on the basketball court. I find a dressing room and change slowly. I stand inside the locker room door waiting to hear the whistle that lets me know they've stopped running and then I walk in and stand behind the crowd of students waiting to be assigned a badminton net. He glances my way as he gives his speech. Luckily, he gives me the net that I'm already standing beside. As we play badminton he walks around the court giving instructions. His professionalism comforts me. I notice that other girls seem to be bit more clumsy when he walks near them. A few students dropped their rackets and others would raise their hands and ask ridiculous questions about the net or how to hold their racket. Yolanda even got a birdie in the face when she was caught staring at him. I giggled. I was just another awestruck teenager infatuated with their smoking hot teacher. He seemed oblivious of it all. He'd walk around with his hands clasped together behind his back answering any questions politely and giving instructions professionally. Nobody seemed to be suspicious of us. Why would they? Other than a few glances my way he treated me no different than he treated anyone else. I was delighted. 

In the locker room girls were all talking about how cute he was. How tight his butt was or how big his muscles were. Some even wondered if they had a chance with him. Amber heard a rumor that he was dating Miss Calhoun. I snarled. Heather piped up that she heard that Miss Calhoun was engaged to Mr. Howard, the vice principal. I took my shower leisurely and dressed in no hurry. We had been in PE for half the year now. I don't know why these girls were still infatuated with him. If they only knew what he was up to last night. I giggle. I wait until everyone's gone before I walk out of the locker room. He's standing in the lobby waiting for me to enter.

"Can I see you after school?" he asks as he hands me two Advil and a cup of water. 

I take the pills and swallow them. "If you promise me we keep our clothes on."

His eyebrow shoots up and I can't help but smile when I see it. "All right. I'll try," he agrees.

"I'm tutoring right after school I'll be done by four. I'll head to your place after that."

"Do you want me to pick us up something to eat?"

"Is it going to be take-out?"

"Probably."

"Then no. I'll cook."

"I don't have much food, unless you want to cook bagels and eggs."

"We'll go shopping once I get there."

"Okay, if that's what you want."

"It'll be fun. Besides right now we should find something else to do."

"You'd better head to class, young lady. I'll see you later." He shoos me out with his clipboard.

I hitch my backpack up higher on my back and walk out.