There was a storm outside. Raining cats and dogs, with the occasional clapping of thunder and blinding lightning. Which is a strange way of expressing a heavy downpour. The first time I heard the phrase raining cats and dogs, I  literally ran to the window and gazed outside with curious child-like wonder , hoping to see a laperdoodle and a tuxedo cat falling from the sky , but was met with a crushingly disappointing sight of torrential downpour.

This sorta weather is tailor made for snuggling inside a warm comforter drinking hot cocoa while binge watching American Horror Stories . But instead I'm stuck in school, typing ferrociously at Amanda's laptop, my fingers begging for a break ,afraid they'd fall off my knuckles.

I'm finishing the nineth slide, that would be an awesome achievement but I'm not even halfway through the notes on the given notepad. In fact, I haven't made a dent but my need to inpress Amanda was strong as I wiped the sweat that glittered my upper brow and got down to business.

It's quiet. Really quiet, except for the steady sound of her breathing , the ticking of the second hand clock and the occasional flipping of a page as she marked the books. Looking over the laptop, I notice she's almost done with marking, just a few more books to go. That's actually impressive of her . She really was a hardworking person. Glancing back down to my power points, a sense of dread showers me , the urge to give up increasing with each passing heartbeat. I notice that my detention time was up . But the rain is what kept me here. That and the exercise given to me by Amanda.

" Do you watch porn on your laptop?" I decided to break the ice with a little awkward banter, sneaking a cheeky glance at Amanda, only to be met with a look of disdain.

" Why would I watch porn?" She scoffed at the question. " Do I look like one of your hormonal, testosterone filled rotten friends?"

" There's nothing wrong with watching porn, Amanda," I teased, my fingers working on the silvery keyboard as I typed away.

" That's what they all say but did you know that excessive pornography could lead to addiction?"  I knew that. I'd read it somewhere but ignored that little detail that day seeing as the erection I spotted at the time was too stubborn to ignore. So I jerked off to some nice lesbian porn.

" And have you ever heard of erectile dysfunction disorder?" She had long since stopped marking, leaned casually on the backrest of her seat. The corner of her lips had creased into a knowing smile , watching me ponder on her question.

" No, tell me," I smirked back, mirroring her posture, abandoning the task at hand.

" Don't you ever pay attention to your biology class?"

" Biology is boring,"

" Heard that before," An eye roll. " If you keep excessively 'spanking the monkey' , pretty soon you'll have trouble getting  an erection." Something about her talking about erections and masturbation brought an unwanted amount of blood rushing between my legs. Funny enough, the supposed erectile dysfunction disease didn't seem like a threat and I knew I'd be 'spanking the monkey' as soon as my feet step into my poorly unkempt room.

" You learn something new everyday I suppose," I sent her a wink and she rolled her eyes yet again.

" Are you done with the exercise I gave you?" She briefly shifted the topic to something a little less uncomfortable.

My eyes fell down to the monitor then shifted over to the yellow notepad that sat beside me, opened to display thousands of notes. " Kinda?" Was all I could sermon to say .

" So no?"

" It's a lot of notes, it's gonna take me two days to complete it,"

" It'll take me one ," she bragged and I blinked in amazement at that.

Show off!

Amanda pushed herself off the seat , the vinyl cover letting out a tiny squeak and sauntered towards the rows of windows that adorned the side of our class, numerous raindrops racing down the glass like tears. A flash of lightning blips on before rumbling thunder proceeded making me jump slightly at its overly loud crack. That didn't go unnoticed as Amanda chuckled at herself, amused at my startled expression.

" You're scared of thunder?" She asked, alighting at the window, staring outside the wet ground outside.

" No," I gave a nervous chuckle, my cheeks flashing red . " It's just too loud that's all. "

She snickered in response.

" Gosh, it's pouring out there!" She exclaimed, her hands reflexively rubbing against her exposed arms, probably from the cold. I found myself gazing down at my hoodie snugged around my torso. Should I give it to her to wear....? I'm not chivalrous but I wonder what it feels like to offer a woman my coat and let willingly let myself freeze just to make her happy. I'm not stupid to do that but maybe.....

" I suppose I should give you a ride home?" That caught me off guard. Was she being chivalrous to me?

" Er...." I couldn't find the proper words to utter as I struggled to loosen my tongue. Usually it's the man who offers to drive the woman home ,not the other way around? I don't know,. maybe I'm a bit old fashioned, my toxic masculinity getting the best of me.

" It's okay to say no," she was teasing me. " You can walk in the rain, right?"

" Wow!" I let out a derisive laugh. " You'd leave a helpless kid in the rain? Would it be wrong to call you Cruella ?"

" I thought you preferred Amanda," A glint of unspoken mischief danced inside those sapphire orbs, making me harden even more, subconsciously adjusting myself.

" I do, " I smiled. " I really do."

She shudders again, and I knew it was due to the occasional draft that loomed inside these deserted walls like a ghost. Without thinking, I pulled the hood off my back and dashed towards her , holding it out for her to take. " Here. You....look cold."

Her eyes lit up with a smile, a smile that stretched over to her eyes, a smile that testified the ludicrousness of my childish chivalrous offer. A smile of pleasant surprise. Staring down at the piece of clothing nuzzled between my hands' clasp , Amanda let out a dry laugh, she thought this was a joke to her. Still, I stood my ground..

" Thanks? But I actually have a coat in my bag so ..." I could almost feel the discomfort dancing in her body as she politely declined my offer. Rejection felt akin to my blood, not to say that my ego was shattered or anything. At least she gave me a feel of what it's like to be chivalrous, even though she declined it.

" Okay," I said. " Then it's settled." She nodded slowly, lips tucked inside her mouth. " I'll wear your coat and you'll wear my hoodie."

She laughed.

Her laugh was like angel bells. I don't even know what angel bells sound like but I bet they sound amazing, just like her laughter. It brought an unwelcomed buzz inside my heart that centered in there, the perfect embrace to my soul. I hate how poetic that sounded but I suppose I should allow myself to be a bit romantic even for a second of my life.

" How ridiculous can you get?" She asked, her smile barely leaving her lips.

" Ridiculous? I'm being romantic, " I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

" And what do you know about being romantic, huh?" She scoffed. " You've never even had a real girlfriend before."

" Why would I need a girlfriend when I've got you in my life?" For the umpteenth time , she rolled her eyes only this time , it was more aggressive.

" I'm not your type, Max," She said. " I don't date men younger than me . Especially minors. Do you know what that would make me if I ever decided to date a minor?"

I shook my head , cluelessly.

" That would make me a pedophile, " I winced at the word. I hated that word and Amanda was definitely not that word. So dating me would make her a... that word? I can't even bring myself to say it. It disgusts me.

" Well, I've seen men date girls half their age," I reasoned with her.

" I'm not those men,"

" I know, " I sighed. " You're better than those men. And all it takes is consent, yes?"

" It doesn't matter. It would still label me as a pedo-"

" Please don't say that word!" I interjected in a strong voice.

" Max," For the first time, Amanda touched me . Her beautiful fingers curled around  my biceps as she spoke, her gaze pierced deep into mine. " I'm not that word so please don't turn me into one. I can't date you. It doesn't matter if you consented or not, I still can't do that. "

I get that she wanted to protect her reputation but what about my feelings for her? I know I sound stupid and all sorts of crazy but I can't just forget about my feelings towards her. My first real crush. Well, not first per say , I did have a crush on Jennette McCurdy from icarly that one time. She was so cool and I loved her. Maybe love is a bit of a strong word . I liked her. A lot. I never missed an episode of icarly before in my life. I don't remember when my crush towards Jennette McCurdy or more accurately Sam Puckett fizzled out but one day , my eyes and attention were snatched by my Best friend's mom.

This single mom with a body to die for. I could worship her if I wanted to. I tried to get over her but it seemed impossible. She lives next door for pete sake. And she teaches me Calculus. She sometimes comes over for dinner at my house . Most times I can't keep my eyes off her as she cuts her steak and bites it in the most adorable way . Or when she engages in conversation with my father about intellectual stuff. It sounds like gibberish but I enjoy her voice when she is engrossed in conversation with dad.

So how can she expect me to forget about my feelings towards her? Was that a joke?

" What if ....we did it clandestinely?" My voice came out small and quiet but she'd heard it regardless.

"Clandestinely? " Another laugh, though not in a mocking way. " I didn't know such a word exists in your vocabulary!"

" I read books... sometimes," I nonchalantly replied, smirking at how intellectual I sounded. Clandestinely.

" So you know what 'clandestinely' means but you can't solve a simple math equation?" Her arms crossed over her chest, a smirk sneaking its way on to her lips.

" if you're referring to those Greek words you write on the board during your lectures as simple math equations, " Her eyes rolled yet again.

" They are simple, " she defended.

" So simple that a monkey can do it?" I joked with a cunning wink.

" Exactly," She gave a boastful reply.

" Maybe you should replace me with a monkey then," She considered it, but in a joking way. This was our playful banter.

" That's a splendid idea,"

" You know I heard that they love throwing their poop around,"

" Still better than you," I gasped exaggerating, feigning hurt.

" So should I start throwing my poop around as well?" Another eye roll.

" Don't you do that already?" My lips curved in an amused smirk, enjoying this version of her. Not uptight, not authoritative. She's not acting as if she has a stick up her ass. She's being all laid back , playful, funny. More reasons to like her , maybe even love her.

" Cute," I said . " Anyway, I am smart. I just don't show it off more often. "

" I can only imagine," A beat of silence passed by , her face reverting back to the conversation at hand , a serious expression masking it. " I can't be with you, even if I wanted to, if which I don't. "

" I'm still going to flirt with you," I reminded and she chuckled at herself, a hint of pink crawling up her face , blushing.

" Of course you are," She said. " I can't stop you from doing that but just have in mind that I will never in a million years date someone who's young enough to be my son. "

" Age is just a number," I cleverly replied

" So I've heard," Brushing past me , I get a lovely whiff of citrus and jojoba oil, that smell I inhaled so deeply into my lungs, enriching it with the most amazing scent in the world. I don't hesitate to glance over my shoulder, appreciating the swaying of her hips as she made her way to her seat behind her desk.

" Do you still need my hoodie?" I asked as soon as her butt kissed her seat.

" I don't do hoodies," She said in her most self entitled voice, head held high . " A woman of my callibre shouldn't be seen wearing those. "

" How classy of you,"

" But since you asked," my eyebrows jutted up to my hairline, my curiosity piqued. With her left arm stretched to my direction, Amanda motioned to me to place the hoodie in her hand, inviting the idea of chivalry into my head. " I'll wear it."

I don't know why my hands trembled as I gave her my hoodie. Probably because of excited anticipation. No one , except for my sister, has ever worn my hoodie or jacket. My heart thumped excitedly inside my chest as I watched her pull her head through the head hole , her neatly kempt hair dishevelled at the action, some few strands obscuring her face before sliding both arms into their respective arms holes. I watched her, mouth agape as she pulled the hem down , fully wearing my hoodie. My dick twitched at this .

" Take a picture, it'll last longer," she sneered teasingly, running her fingers through her wild locks before pulling a book closer to her , pen in hand.

" I will," And so I did snap a pic of her , much to her displeasure. That was a keeper.

" Delete that immediately," .

" Nope," Sticking my phone inside my front jean pocket, I sauntered towards my desk , a victorious smile plastered on my face. I can't believe Amanda is wearing my hoodie! I should scream it to the world.

******************

The scene nextdoor was magnificent. With my seat placed next to my window, I leisurely spied on her through my high definition telescope. Her window remained unguarded, no blinds,no curtains whatsoever blessing my eyes with the view of her. Almost as though she wanted me to look at her while she undressed.

Today, she wore a red brassiere, that matched her thong underwear. Wait! Amanda wears thongs?! What a sweet  revelation!

Having a front row seat to her bedroom window was like the perfect cinematography. I'd spend a fortune on her just to see her naked.

And tonight, I almost saw everything had Roxie not barged into my room , unannounced. Violating my privacy as usual. God , I hated her sometimes!

" Whatcha doing?" She jumped on my bed as I struggled to close my blinds and window, hastily shoving my telescope away from the window in an attempt to look innocent.

" God, why do I even have a door at this point! You never knock, ever!"

" Oo...are you spying on Charli?" She teased in a single song voice, kneeing her way across my mattress and over to wear I sat , poking my sides as she spoke.

" Whatever," I tried to avoid her pokes to no avail. " Quit that!"

" I wonder what she'll say once she finds out about your voyeurism,"

" I couldn't care less,"

" So I should tell her," Having tired herself from teasing and poking me , Roxie plopped back down on to my bed, resting her head on her palm.

" Be my guest,"

" Okay then," She smirked. If only she knew this had nothing to do with Charli. Speaking of Charli, I'm supposed to ask her to pose as my fake girlfriend so that Leslie can leave me alone.

"Lemme call her right now," I watched as Roxie strolled away and out of my room. Finally some peace and quiet and some well deserved privacy.