Forbidden

Chapter One

“Okay class, please open your textbooks to page 287,” Mr. Hemmings’s voice boomed out from the front of the classroom. “Today we’re doing about Pythagoras Theorem, so you’ll need your notebooks. You’ll have a test on it next Friday so make sure you’re prepared.” I chewed on the end of my pen idly as I looked at the page in front of me. I couldn’t make sense of any of it, and I didn’t want to ask Mr. Hemmings, so I nudged Danielle. “Do you understand this?” I pointed at the first question as she nodded, “Yeah, draw squares on the sides of the triangles and make them length x length. The area of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the shortest two sides!” I nodded and began to work out the question when Mr. Hemmings walked over, “Well done Danielle! That was an accurate explanation! I’ll ring your parents after the lesson has ended.” Danielle smiled as Mr. Hemmings turned to me, “Is everything alright Chloe or do you still need some help?” I looked up at him and began to mumble, “I, uh…I’m good thanks sir…” He smiled and nodded, “Okay, well if you need anything you know where I am!” I nodded and looked down at my work, slowly feeling my cheeks turn red. Danielle smirked, “You’ve got a crush on Mr. Hemmings!” I dropped my pencil, “What?!” I squeaked, a little louder than intended. Mr. Hemmings looked up with a smile as I quickly looked down, “I don’t know what you’re on about…” I hissed as she laughed and leaned in, “Its okay, cause I think he likes you too…I see the way he looks at you when he’s teaching, all girls want to be looked at the way he looks at you!” I turned redder and focused on my work, not allowing myself to build my hopes up.

~*~

“Danielle, please can you wait for me at reception? I just need to speak to one of my teachers!” I slung my bag over my shoulder and ran upstairs to Maths, knocking on Mr. Hemmings’s classroom door. He looked up from his computer, “Ah, Chloe! How can I help you?” I shyly walked into the classroom, “Hi Mr. Hemmings…I’ve been really struggling in my lessons and I was wondering if I could have a tutor please? You know, cause of the exams coming up…” He nodded and looked at the computer, “Okay, let me look at the grades in your class…Your friend Danielle has good grades?” I shook my head, “We always get distracted…” He pursed his lips, “Okay…Well the next best grade in your class is Jack Thompson, but I’m not entirely happy about the idea of you having a male tutor…” I smiled, “Don’t worry sir, I can be trusted!” He thought for a moment before sighing, “Okay, but you’ll always have the sessions in my classroom so I can chaperone.” I nodded and smiled, “Thank you Mr. Hemmings!” He grinned, “No problem, I’ll see you tomorrow!” I walked out of the classroom and back downstairs to Danielle, trying to keep the smile from my face.