No Filter

Chapter IX (9)

"Everyone, please stay in your seat," Ms. Cole says. I lean forward, not losing my sight on her. She stood in front of the whiteboard, her hands on her waist. "I would like to first introduce myself. I am Ms. Cole as I previously stated. I am an intern from XFU. I know that I am new, and that could possibly make me less frightening, but beware, I am not your friend. I am not your older sibling. I am your instructor. And I expect nothing, but quiet and work. No phones. And if you have nothing else to work on, I will find something busy for you to do. Any questions?"

Brett raises his hand, and I roll my eyes. And I knew what was up. A hot woman walks in, and he finds an interest. "Yes," Ms. Cole acknowledges.

Brett clears his throat and asks, "Are you married?"

"Excuse me?" She questions.

"Are you married?" Brett repeats.

She disconnects their eyes and turns them towards me. "Any questions related to detention," she clarifies.

"I just want to know," Brett says. "A girl like you, not to be disrespectful, is young and beautiful. Are you married?"

I waited for her response. And although her eyes parted to the others students, they came back, and our eyes lock, deeper than usual. She speaks, "I was, but not anymore."

A weight lifts off my shoulder or so it seemed. I didn't even notice I was smiling until I catch her smiling. She bats her eyes and lowers them after a few seconds. "Anyway, work on something, or if you have nothing else to do, come ask and I'll find something for you to do. If I see you doing nothing, I will decide what you should do."

Some students groan while others remain quiet. Her heels clicked as she walks to her seat. She sits down and sulks a little in the foam seat. I chuckle quietly as she looks like a leprechaun in the seat. It was oddly a familiar feeling that I had.

I clear my throat and stand up from my seat. I walk up to her and explain, "What would you like me to do? I have nothing to work on."

"Nothing?" She raises his eyebrow, "No homework, no book to read, no essay to write."

I shake my head, "It's the first week of school. What do you expect?"

She nods her head and sighs. "Okay, I guess, what would you like me to do to you?"

I crease my brows and widen my eyes a little. Did I hear her correctly? "Um," I feel the heat hit my cheeks as I scratch the back of my neck, "what did you say again?"

"What would you like to do?" she repeats.

I feel my heart beat lessening. "Uh," I begin. I shrug. "Just anything, except washing the dishes. Please don't make me do it."

She chuckles and said, "What?"

She seems to be tensed. I panicked and explain, "Sorry, I just have this dislike of washing the dishes, especially spoons. Actually, because of washing spoons in school, I refuse to use one except if it's my own. And I buy my own."

"Okay," she replies, seeming uninterested and annoyed. My palms sweat, and I rub them against my jeans.

"Never mind," I said with a nervous chuckle. I turn around, smacking myself mentally.

"Wait," she calls out. I stop and spin around. "I actually have something for you to do. Follow me." She stands up and looks at the class. "Students, I will be right back. Please resume what you're doing."

She passes me and exits the room. I follow her down the hallway, and we approach the automatic door in the middle of the hallway. It was the music room. She pulls the door open, and we walks through. As the door shuts behind me, she walks to a corner where there were a couple of stacked music sheets. She picks up a heavy stack and places them on the table. As she picks up the second and third stack, I walk to the piano, sliding my fingers on the keys. I play a small key that eventually transitions into a soft melody. I smile as the soft music fills the air. It even got Ms. Cole to smile.

"What is it? I never heard it before," she says, setting the third and final stack down on the bleachers.

"It's a small melody I've been working on," I answer. "It is for someone special."

"I'm guessing this special friend is a she. Who is she?" Ms. Cole answers. "Is she your girlfriend?"

I shake my head. "My best friend," I answer. "We've been friends for a long time, and she's always been there for me. Always supported me and... she is just special." I smile as memories flooded back. Too many to count.

"So she is not your girlfriend?" She questions.

"I don't have one," I answer. "I just recently got out of one, but it wasn't a deep one."

"Me too," she says. "My ex-husband, he was always a drunken bastard. Never paid attention to me. He was always at the bar, drinking away every financial fight we had. I still wondered why I married him."

"Sometimes, people just can never push their wants aside and open their heart to let the other person in. It's quite sad and pitiful," I state.

She nods her head and walks around the piano. She stood beside me, sliding her fingers on the keys as well. "Can you play it again? I want to hear it again."

I smile and nod my head. We take a seat, and I begin to hit the keys. Each note flowed well together with the next. I look at Ms. Cole, and she smiles brighter than usual. Her eyes soften, and I can say mine did as well. My heart slowed down a little. My stomach grew weak as did my legs. She sets her hand on my wrist, and a shock of electricity ran through my skin. Her eyes sparked. After a moment, my nerves calm down. We came closer without even knowing. I can see her fair skin clearer. Her eyes grew more beautiful. Her cheekbones were highlighted, and her lips looked tender.

Hahahahaha!

Ms. Cole darts her eyes at the door. The sound of the students tore the moment, and I take a moment to recall what just happened. Her hand touched mine, and it was delicate. Her eyes spoke to me in a unique way. The melody of the song empowered our movement. What is happening to me?

"Excuse me," she says, standing up. Her tone changed, and I wasn't hearing things. She seemed and looked a little upset yet astounded.

I lift my hand, not wanting her to leave yet, but that would be weird. She is a teacher. Or an intern. She has an authority over me. And it's weird.

This couldn't be happening. No way is it happening. The feelings hit me harder than I expected. I couldn't deny the joy she filled me with. There was an instant spark between the two of us, and I knew that I couldn't be the only who felt it. Do I really feel something? Yes. No?

I can't stop thinking about it. It has roamed in my mind for the remainder of detention. And even as detention was over and I am drivingon the road, I couldn't help but think about it.

I lower the volume of the radio, hearing my phone going off. I pick up my phone, glancing back and forth from the road ahead to the device. I look at the caller, and my eyes shot up, reading Ally's name. My heart pounded against my chest. I smack myself mentally, knowing that I had forgotten about our hangout at six.

I press the answer button and put my phone on Bluetooth. I wet my lips and prepare myself.

"Hello?" She says. "Liam?"

I close my eyes, sighing. "Yeah? I'm here," I reply.

"Um, are you coming?"

I crease my brows. I look at the time and read 6:14. Shoot. Fourteen minutes late. Oh, gee. I can't believe I forgot. And it's Ally. "Um, can we take a raincheck? I've had a long day."

"Oh," disappointment slipped through her tone. "Okay. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

I shake my head. "No," I answer.

"I hope you get some rest."

I smile. "Thank you," I said. "I'll talk to you later."

"Alright, I'll see you," she says.

I hang up and toss my phone on the passenger seat. I smack my hands against the steering wheel several times, angry that I did this to her. As I ran my fingers through my hair, I can only imagine Ally right now and her disappointment. She deserves better. And I told myself too many times: I am not the best one for her.

So, what did you think?