“I don’t like this,” Jeremy declared after we’d claimed a table in the back, as far away from Professor Isaac as possible.

            “Come on, it’s fine,” I told him reassuringly— or as reassuringly as I could. “He’s a professor, there shouldn’t be a problem.

            “Just like Chris was a teacher and there wouldn’t be a problem?”

            “Er.. well…”

            Jeremy crossed his arms. “Isaac was never a violent guy, so I don’t think gang violence will be a problem.”

            “Well that’s good!” Looking at Professor Isaac, I couldn’t imagine him being a thug. His face was too pretty. He looked more like a model.

            “You’re thinking he’s pretty, aren’t you?”

            Caught, I turned away from him and shook my head. “I was not!”

            “I’m telling Chris.”

            “Jeremy!”

            “Do you think he’s more handsome than me?”

            “I think that’s something you should ask your girlfriend.”

            “So you do think he’s more handsome!”

            I kicked at him under the table. “Shh! Jeremy lower your voice!” Fortunately neither the professor nor the students at surrounding tables heard him. Frowning, I studied Isaac for a moment. Dark hair, good build, nice eyes… of course he was attractive. Figured my luck appeared where it didn’t count. Anyone would kill for a cute professor. Me? I would kill not to have one. I was done with this whole cute teacher thing. I had mine and that was enough for me.

            “Checking out the professor already? Heywood won’t like that.”

            I jumped, looking up to see Lance grinning down at me. “I’m not checking him out,” I denied, turning my attention to the tabletop. “He’s not even cute.”

            “He’s pretty attractive,” Lance said, taking the seat to my right. Jeremy and I raised our eyebrows. “What?” Lance added defensively.

            I shook my head.  “Look, it doesn’t matter.”

            “It does matter— what if he tries to sweep Casey away from me?” Jeremy argued, sizing Professor Isaac up. “He’s not as muscular as me…”

             “Casey loves you, Jeremy,” I said, rolling my eyes. “She probably won’t even notice him once she sees you.”

            A sudden gasp drew our attention over to the door, where Casey had suddenly appeared. She stared at Professor Isaac for a moment before turning to our table, eyes wide. He’s cute, she mouthed frantically.

            Jeremy narrowed his eyes at me. “Won’t notice him, huh?”

            “Casey likes to appreciate the finer things?” I tried.

            “No wonder she doesn’t appreciate you,” Lance said to Jeremy.

            Jeremy reached across the table and socked Lance in the shoulder. “Shut up, brat.”

            “He’s like a model!” Casey whispered excitedly as she settled down across from Jeremy and next to Lance.

            Jeremy grunted.

            “Of course, you are a model, Jer.”

            “You can think he’s cute,” Jeremy told Casey, “but not cuter than me.”

            I rolled my eyes. “Geez, it’s like none of us have seen an attractive person before. Even though we’re all dating someone much more attractive who we love.”

            Lance nodded. “Holly’s right. I think you guys are a little unsettled because you both fell for teachers. Which is still ridiculous.”

            “Technically I wasn’t a teacher,” Jeremy corrected. “Just a substitute. Holly was the only one who broke the law.”

            I blushed. “I didn’t break any laws!”

            Suddenly Professor Isaac stood up from his desk, and all the twittering around the class died. “Uh, hello. Welcome to home economics… or, your easy-A class, which is probably why most of you are taking it. Or you needed a few more credits and you decided on this class. Or, and this is what I hope, you actually need it for your major. Is anyone taking it for their major?”

            No one raised their hand. Professor Isaac gave us a half-smile, half-grimace. “Well, that’s okay. It will be an easy class anyway. We’ll do some cooking and maybe some sewing. It really depends on you guys… um…” He tugged on the collar of his suit, looking extremely uncomfortable. “Oh! Right, I’m Isaac Grimaudo. You can call me whatever.”

            “Grimaudo? Is that Italian?” someone asked.

            Professor Isaac nodded, smiling again. “Yes, I’m originally from Italy. I moved here when I was six, so I lost my accent a long time ago.”

            “Ooh, and he’s foreign!” Casey said, grinning.

            Jeremy hunched his shoulders. I patted his back comfortingly.

            “Professor,” another student started and Isaac made a face.

            “Actually… I’d prefer if maybe you guys could call me Isaac? It’s my first year of teaching and I’m not used to being called professor. Honestly, it makes me a little old.”

            The girl who spoke up beamed at him. “Of course. Isaac, then, can you speak Italian?”

            “Not really,” he responded, shaking his head.

            “Are we going to be cooking Italian food?”

            Professor Isaac rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, does penne count?”

            This got a few chuckles from the class. Jeremy continued to pout, resolutely not looking at Professor Isaac. I rolled my eyes. He was such a child.

            “Anyway, today we’re going to just go over safety rules. It’s probably nothing you haven’t heard, but we have to do it. I’ll hand out the sheets,” Professor Isaac said, grabbing a pile of papers off his desk.

            Jeremy leered at him as he grew closer to our table. I kicked him under the table and gave him a scolding look. Why did Jeremy seem so guarded? As far as I could tell, Professor Isaac seemed like a nice guy. A little shy too. And he didn’t seem to have any ill will towards Jeremy, so I didn’t understand.

            Professor Isaac stopped at our table and handed me a couple papers. “Here you go, Holly.”

            “Thanks Professor,” I responded, taking the papers and offering him a smile.

            He smiled back. “Call me Isaac, please.”

            “Okay, Isaac.” After Chris and Jeremy, calling teachers by their first name was no problem anymore.

            Jeremy cleared his throat. “Yes, thank you, Isaac.”

            Isaac turned his attention to the blonde and his smile widened. “One of these two must be your girlfriend, Jeremy.”

            “Jeremy, you know him?” Casey said, eyes widening.

            “I take it that’s her?” Isaac inquired.

            “Casey Rivers,” she responded, holding out her hand. “And yep, I’m this lucky guy’s girlfriend.”

            Isaac nodded. “I’m an old friend of his.”

            “I wouldn’t say friend,” Jeremy denied.

            “That’s right. I guess I would say best friend, hahaha.” Isaac gripped Jeremy’s shoulder. “Or maybe I’m like his mentor?”

            Jeremy shook his head, brushing off Isaac’s hand. “Not even close. More like pain in my ass.”

            “That’s really what you thought?” Isaac asked, his face dropping. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…”

            Casey stared between the two men, obviously confused. Lance had a suspicious look, so I figured whatever he was thinking was pretty close to the truth. Obviously Jeremy and Isaac had been pretty close during their gang days, because Isaac actually looked hurt by Jeremy’s words. I kicked Jeremy again. He shot me a dirty look and I sent him a stern one. I didn’t know what happened between these two, but I had the feeling Isaac wasn’t a bad guy. “Ignore Jeremy,” I spoke up, turning my attention to Isaac. “He’s probably just hungry or something.”

            “Isn’t that right?” Isaac replied with another laugh. “I have some bananas in the back—”

            “No thank you,” Jeremy interrupted. “Are we going over the list or not?”

            Isaac blinked, and then nodded. “Yeah, of course.” He returned to the front of the classroom and gathered the class’s attention again.

            “He’s part of the gang, huh,” Lance deduced.

            I gave him an impressed look. “That was quick.”

            “Who else would willingly be friends with this blockhead?” Lance continued, gesturing toward Jeremy.

            Jeremy gave Lance a sarcastic look. “Hey, don’t make me stuff you in a box and ship you back to Polperro.”

            “Why can’t you two get along?” Casey complained, puffing out her cheeks.

            “We get along fine!” they returned simultaneously.

            I ignored them, and actually paid attention to what Isaac was saying. It was basically just common sense. But I probably (most likely) lacked a lot of that, so I figured it was a good idea to listen. Maybe this class would teach me to be a better chef. That way Chris couldn’t tease me for my lack of culinary skills.

             Isaac ended class twenty minutes early, to everyone’s pleasure. I leaned back in my seat and stretched, letting out a yawn. “I’m tired.”

            “Let’s get out of here,” Jeremy said, standing from his seat quickly. “Before that guy—”

            “Jeremy! Was this your last class of the day?” Isaac asked, appearing behind Jeremy in the blink of an eye. “Want to get coffee and catch up?”

            Jeremy folded his arms over his chest. “No.”

            “What? But it’s been so long—”

            “Not long enough.”

            I glanced up at Isaac, whose face fell. “Oh…” He shuffled on his feet awkward, taking a step back from Jeremy. “Then I guess I’ll see you on Thursday.”

            Jeremy nodded once before grabbing Casey by the elbow and pretty much dragging her out of the classroom. Lance followed after them and I offered Isaac a small smile. “Have a good day, Isaac.”

            His expression brightened immediately. “Thank you! You as well.”

            I hurried after my friends and caught up with them in the hall, immediately giving Jeremy a disapproving look. When he noticed he pursed his lips at me. “Don’t give me that look when you don’t know anything.”

            “You were being mean! You’re never mean!”

            Casey snorted. “Not true.”

            “Listen, I’ll tell you everything when we get to Chris’s,” Jeremy told me, shaking his head.

            “Isn’t that how it always is?” I grumbled.

            Casey pouted. “Damn, I can’t go. I have to go to work.”

            “Me too,” Lance said. “Not that I care about any of this.”

            I rolled my eyes. “Have a good night, Lance. See you later, Casey.”

            “See ya,” Lance responded, giving us a short wave before disappearing into the stairwell.

            Casey gave Jeremy a quick kiss before heading off as well. I smiled before walking off in the direction of the parking lot. We split from there, taking our separate cars back to Chris’s apartment. When I arrived, I was slightly surprised to not find Chris’s car parked in the parking lot. Jeremy, of course, had beaten me there and was waiting for me, leaning on the hood of his car.

            “I forgot we get out earlier than Chris now,” I said, gesturing for Jeremy to follow me up the stairs. “I have a key though.”

            “How come you have a key and I don’t?”

            “I’m his girlfriend?”

            “Or maybe it’s because he doesn’t want you to have to knock in the middle of the night for a booty call.”

            I blushed, kicking Jeremy in the shin. “Shut up. I don’t make… booty calls, or whatever. Pervert.”

            Jeremy grinned at me. “Oh, that’s right. You practically live here. That must be every night—”

            “I can kick you out,” I interjected warningly, pausing with my hand on the door handle.

            He quickly shut his mouth and nodded.

            Then, as I opened the door, I heard him mutter, “Wonder if you’re this bossy in bed.”

            After a small scuffle with me trying to shut the door in his face and him trying to push by me, we were both seated on Chris’s sofa, coffee in hands. Jeremy was flipping through the channels on the television finally settling on something from Shark Week. 

            “When is Chris coming back?” Jeremy demanded after an hour had past.

            I checked the clock on my cell phone. “He should be back any second. School finished a little over half an hour ago.”

            He huffed. “I’m bored. I want Chris.”

            “I’m sure you do.”

             Then Jeremy gasped. I sat up immediately, my eyes wide and alert, hands forming fist. “What is it? Jeremy?”

            He stared at me, eyes wide. My stomach shifted uncomfortably. Was there someone behind me? I slowly turned my head, blinking in confusion when no one was there. Turning back, I frowned. Jeremy’s eyes were lit up in excitement, not fear. “This is my chance! I can finally ask you! Chris, for once, is not around!”

            “Jeremy!” I snapped, feeling the tension drain from me. “You scared the crap out of me!”

            “Sorry!” he apologized and had the decency to look guilty. “It’s just, uh, we’re alone.”

            “And?”

            He smirked. “And this means I can get some dirt on Chris from you. Finally. It’s been ages since we’ve hung out without him around. I’ve always been curious… tell me, how big is Chris’s— ow!”

            Jeremy cringed as Chris slammed his fist on the top of Jeremy’s head. “How big is my what, Jeremy?” he demanded, hovering above Jeremy with his arms folded over his chest.

            Jeremy grimaced up at him. “Your, uh, book collection.”

            “Very large,” I said solemnly. “Probably bigger than yours…”

            “Topher, you sly fox—”

            Chris cleared his throat. “Why did you bring this thing into my apartment?” He turned his piercing grey eyes to me and I found myself frozen. “Well, Ms. Evers?”

            “Ah… You look pretty handsome today, Chris!” I forced out, going for the best technique when telling Chris bad news; compliment, compliment, compliment, and then ease into it.

            He plucked at the red tie resting on his chest, frowning a bit. “I tried not to… don’t want any more students falling for my good looks.”

            “Are their any cute ones?”

            “Feeling jealous, Holly?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

            I shook my head immediately. “No!”

            “There’s no need— I’m all yours,” he told me, sitting between Jeremy and myself and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “How was your first day at college?”

            I scooted closer to him, relishing in his smell and warmth. “Easy.”

            “Yep, after all, she had me there to help her along,” Jeremy pointed out proudly.

            Chris ignored him. “I should’ve applied to teach something there.”

            “Chris, this way is fine. We finally get to have a normal relationship. Nothing’s going to change just because you’re not my teacher any more,” I said, frowning up at him. “I love you the same.”

            “Really? I always thought you loved me because of the excitement of a forbidden relationship.”

            “Well, that definitely got me interested… kidding! I’m kidding!” I said quickly as he raised his eyebrows in what looked like a seemingly innocent gesture. But I knew better. It was his look before tickling me into submission.

            Jeremy cleared his throat. “As much as I love watching you two love birds flirt like there’s no tomorrow, there is a reason for me coming over today.”

            Chris sighed lightly before finally turning his attention to Jeremy. “Well the sooner you tell me, the sooner you go home.”

            “You always act like this. One day it might make me think you actually don’t like me,” Jeremy said.

            “I thought that much was obvious.”

            Jeremy’s face was the perfect picture of horror, and although I wanted to laugh, I took pity on him. “He’s kidding, Jeremy. We both know Chris really loves you and considers you his best friend.”

            “Who said that?” Chris grumbled.

            Jeremy laughed. “I know. I’m just kidding. He likes to hide behind his nonchalant exterior, but I know he loves me.”

            “You said there was a point to you coming over?”

            I stared pointedly at Jeremy. His expression became serious again and he folded his arms over his chest. “It’s about our home ec professor. You see, Holly fell head over heels—”

            “I-I did not!” I interjected, shaking my head frantically as Chris’s eyes snapped back to me. “He just… well…”

            “Well what?”

 “He said he was part of the old gang,” I said in a rush.

            Chris visibly tensed, eyes narrowing. “What? Did he know you?”

I shook my head. “No— well, I don’t know. He didn’t seem to recognize me. So maybe he doesn’t know Holly? Jeremy knows. Jeremy, you tell him.”

“What’s his name?” Chris demanded.

            “Isaac,” Jeremy responded, pursing his lips.

            “Grimaudo?”

            Jeremy nodded.

            There was a moment of silence, and then Chris laughed. “You know, you had me worried for a second there.”

            “What? You’re not worried?” I gave him a weird look. “But it’s the gang…”

            “Yes, but Isaac couldn’t hurt a fly. He’s too soft. He never belonged in the gang in the first place,” Chris told me, smirking. “I only allowed him to join for my amusement.”

            I turned back to Jeremy, frowning. “Then why were you so mean to him? Chris obviously doesn’t think he’s any harm.”

            Jeremy stuck his chin up at me. “You didn’t ask Chris why Isaac amused him.”

            “Chris?”

            “Let’s just say Isaac wanted Jeremy to be his master.”

            My draw dropped and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “L-like… like 50 Shades of Grey? Oh my god—”

            “No!” Jeremy cried. “Not like that! Like, he wanted me to teach him how to fight. Holly, get your mind out of a gutter.”

            “If I hang out with you two all the time, how is that possible?” I demanded.

            Chris chuckled and ruffled my hair affectionately. “That’s no good. You’ve gotta stay my innocent little Holly.”

            “I think any innocent I had I lost when I met you…”

            Jeremy wagged his eyebrows. “Ooh la la.”

            I gave him an unamused look. “Seriously though. Why were you giving Isaac such a hard time?”

            “Isaac?” Chris echoed. “Shouldn’t that be Professor Grimaudo to you?”

            “He told me to call him Isaac.”

            “He told you specifically?”

            I rolled my eyes and smiled. “No, he told the class we could call him that. No need to be jealous, Chris.”

            “It took you months to call me Chris instead of Mr. Heywood,” he pointed out. “You should call him professor, anyway. And I’m not jealous.”

            “You sound jealous,” I teased.

            “Holly, you know where teasing me gets you.”

            I immediately shut my mouth and schooled my expression.

            Jeremy waved his hand at us. “Still here. And I’ll have you know, it’s completely annoying to have an idiot follow you around all the time.”

            Chris gave him a flat look. “I would know.”

            “Hey, that offends me.”

            “Good.”

            “Isaac…er… Professor Grimaudo,” I corrected as Chris’s grey eyes bore into mine, “doesn’t seem annoying.”

            Jeremy sighed heavily. “It’s not Isaac himself that’s annoying, per se.”

            “It was Jeremy having to save his ass constantly,” Chris informed me, grinning. “Oh, that boy got into more trouble than me. Mind of a beast, physical ability of a baby.”

            I grimaced. “Then why did you let him join?”

            “As I said before— entertainment.”

            “You’re an awful person, Chris.”

            “Awfully lovable,” he said, flicking my forehead.

            Jeremy shot him a dirty look. “It was awful. He’d try to take on like, five guys at once and when he realized he couldn’t take them, he’d call on me. And how can I say no to him? He’s got such a baby face. It was like letting a little girl get beat up. I couldn’t do that.”

            “Did he remind you of your sisters?” I asked seriously.

            Jeremy looked horrified. “No! My little sisters are much prettier than that brat!”

            “Brat… you sound just like Chris.” I grinned a little bit. “Ah, I see the connection here. You picked up on how Chris treats you and treated Professor Grimaudo the same way. Aw, Jeremy, you and Isaac are the same. You both admire someone superior to you.”

            Jeremy scratched his head, making a face. “I’m flattered he admires me, but really, Holly. Sometimes it was too much. That kid got me in so much trouble…”

            “Isn’t he older than you?” I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

            “Maybe he was born first, but I’m mentally older.”

            “Which must mean he’s mentally really young,” Chris interjected.

            I hummed. “He looks younger than Chris though.”

            Jeremy snickered while Chris turned to me, looking slightly offended. “How old do I look to you?”

            “Twenty-three!” I said quickly.

            He dropped his head into his hands. “God, I’m an old man, aren’t I?”

            “I’m going to be nineteen in no time, Chris,” I told him soothingly.

            “Don’t remind me I’m almost five years older than you.”

            “Ah… sorry…”

            Jeremy laughed. “Well, don’t feel too bad Chris. You look younger than you actually are. Isaac just really has a baby-face.”

            “How old is he?” I asked.

            “Same age as Chris,” Jeremy responded. “He just looks young.”

            That was true. Hearing he was the same age as Chris was a surprise, but it made sense. If it was his first year of teaching college, it meant he’d graduated high school normally and did four years of college. Unlike Chris, who was actually a genius. And if he got under Jeremy’s nerves like it appeared… well, it was going to make this semester a lot more interesting. It was amusing to see Jeremy being the irritated one for once.

            Jeremy elbowed me in the side. “What are you grinning about? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Chris already.”

            “Don’t joke about that,” Chris snapped.

            I put my hand on Chris’s thigh and squeezed it reassuringly. “Don’t worry. After all we’ve been through, you think I’d let you go so easily?”

            Chris took my hand into his, but was frowning still. “No, but…”

            “No buts. I should be the worried one here. I’m sure there’s a bunch of cute new students in your class.”

            “That’s true, but none of them are as cute as you, though.”

            I paused. “Wait, what? So there are cute ones?”

            He shrugged. “Maybe.”

            “Chris!”

            “Don’t worry,” he echoed back to me. “After all we’ve been through, you think I’d let you go so easily?”

            Jeremy laughed while I puffed out my cheeks. Yes, I was in for a very interesting semester.

_____________

Ahhh, it's so hard getting back into their characters since it's been so long! I hope I'm doing everyone justice.... I need to re-read APR and ASR and get their characters back. It'll be fun- I haven't read them for awhile! Anyway, it's nice to write the banter between Jeremy/Chris and Chris/Holly again. Ahh I've missed that.

More important- I hit my fanfunding goal! So yes, this means I will be self-publishing APR! And you lucky cats who helped out get signed books! But not to worry, everyone will be able to buy their own books! I'll let you guys know more when I know more. I don't know a lot right now lol. But thank you for making it happen! You guys rock!