There's a unanimous mumbling of 'Yes' from each of the students. I give a pointed look to the two in the back and I get a rush of satisfaction at seeing them with their heads bowed and avoiding eye contact. The picture flashes in my mind again. It was of Nelson's back, clearly taken from where one of them is sitting right now. There were comments made around the picture, very juvenileMean Girlsstyle. Things like he's such a slow typer, why is he here, he asks too many questions, wonder if he's divorced or going through a mid-life crisis.
I wave a hand in the air, dismissing them to go back to their projects for the last twenty minutes. I sit down at my desk and make myself busy. I have one student come up and ask me a question, but other than that, I don't get much else done. I see the words they said and picture the Nelson that I shared a bed with. I know they're fresh from high school, but I don't recall being like that at their age. It just pisses me off.
"Um, Bennett?" I blink and look up to see Nelson standing in front of my desk. I glance around, realizing everyone else has left. I look at my watch in surprise. I've been in my own head for the last ten minutes.
"I totally spaced out there," I admit. "Sorry, did you need something?"
"Uh, I was just going to ask you about your little outburst earlier. I'm assuming that was about me?"
"I don't take kindly to bullying of anyone."
"I appreciate it, but honestly it doesn't bother me. I know what I'm here for and they aren't going to deter me from achieving that."
"That's a healthy attitude to have," I say. I stand up and move around the desk to lean against it. I'm only a few inches away from him and the urge to reach out and lay my hand on his is tempting. "But either way, I don't stand for bullying. If they'ddone it to one of the females or someone else, I would have said the same thing."
"So the 'I want to murder someone' look wasn't for my benefit?" I can hear the change in his tone and it relaxes me. I give him a shoulder shrug and pretend to flick a piece of lint off my arm that isn't close to him. I know my cheeks are turning red. "Either way, thank you for that. If that's how you were in the high school, I'm sure you helped a lot of students who were secretly struggling."
"Speaking of high school." The flash of Tuesday morning comes back to me, when he was driving me home. "I don't know if it compromises anything or makes it weird, but I was your nephew's high school teacher for a semester."
"What?"
"Yeah, I tried to hide my face the other day. I'm not sure if he saw or recognized me, but just so you're aware." The nerves are creping back in, mostly because I really don't want that to change anything. I want to keep our promise of waiting until the class is over and then deciding what we want to do. I know what I want.
"Does… That bother you?" His tone is unsure and adorable. It's the same when he wasn't sure if I was staying the night or not.
"Not really," I say. "It isn't like I'm still his teacher or anything. I just wanted you to know, though."
"I appreciate it," he says with a smile. "Anyway, I have to get going. I'm looking at another apartment in a couple of hours so I'm going to go grab some lunch."
"No luck on the last one you looked at?"
"It was okay, but it smelled like straight weed when I walked into the apartment. Apparently it's from the upstairs neighbor." He sighs and I can see he's tired of this search. "I'm all for peopledoing what they want, but I get headaches from the smell. Tried it once in high school and never again for that reason."
"Yeah, I get whiffs every so often at my apartment. Is there a reason you aren't looking at houses?"
"The lack of credit mostly," he says quickly. I wasn't expecting the honestly, but I nod anyway. "I planned to live and die on the farm, honestly, so things like credit cards or anything really weren't an issue I needed to face. I know I should have planned a bit better, but it is what it is and I'm facing it now. Plus, there aren't many houses within the city and I can't afford the land prices around this area."
"Don't feel bad. I lived on my parents' money until I moved out a few years ago. I only learned about credit and all that goes with it when I went to college and took a class. It's tricky and can take time, but you're making the right moves to keep yourself afloat, so give yourself props for that."
"I appreciate the pep talk," he says with a nod. "I'll see you on Monday, then."
"See you then. Have a good weekend."
"As good as I can," he replies and disappears into the hallway. I know I'm smiling at the spot where he just was and I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. He's too damn cute. I want to catch up to him, invite myself for lunch, but I don't. Maybe I can think of a reason to see him this weekend. Or at least call him.
My phone rings as if on queue and I pull it out of my pocket quickly. My smile only dims a smidge when I see it's Hayley and not Nelson. We exchanged phone numbers, but neither of us have seen the first text. I don't know if he even cares for texting, since I always see him taking phone calls. "Hello?"
"Hello, Professor." Her voice is sultry and I roll my eyes. "I know I've been such a bad student, but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to make up for it?"
"Oh my god, shut up. Where is your wife?"
"Right here!" I hear a yell in the background. "I told her not to do it, but she wouldn't listen."
"He loves me, no matter how weird I am or how much I make him blush. Your face is red, isn't it? Are there people around that can tell me?"
"I'm in the classroom alone," I inform her. "My last student just left."
"Damnit," she says. It makes me roll my eyes. "Anyway, I was wondering how busy you are this weekend?"
