MENDES' POV:

I was resting on my office chair when I open my eyes at the sound of the bell. My first class of the day is about to start; thankfully it's friday, the plan that I have for tomorrow is spend the whole day in bed.

This week has been very stressful in all ways possible, I managed to finish in time everything for the Wednesday's event, that's the only highlight for me.

Cameron.

The main reason of this stress, what I was thinking when I laid my eyes on my student? It was and still so hard for me to pretend that I don't need his presence around these days.

Whereas the only time we spent was working side by side, I feel for real that we can match together.

He is my student but he still a man, and what a handsome man he is, the imagine of his bare skin is printed in my head, why he has to be so damn attractive?

And his personality, his sense of humour, his laughter.

I've never thought it would be so difficult for me this re-start my life when I came here expecting nothing but calm.

Also the guilty that I've been feeling the past days, the feeling of betraying Nick and I's memories. Cameron changed all in contrast, it happened and I couldn't help it.

I heard my students already in the class, the energy is different because it's friday and there's a home game today and the whole school is excited with the team.

And of course, with the captain of the team.

I pick my cup of tea and my books, I walk into the classroom, I don't even have to look at where is he to notice him.

He's been acting different since monday. He didn't show up on Wednesday and it was obligatory for the seniors. Yesterday he just got up and left my class without saying a word.

"Morning Class" I greeted them placing my cup over the table. "Since it's friday and I can feel your excitement for the game tonight I decided to take it easy for today" I say and the whole class celebrates. Well, the whole class except Cameron.

"Take notes of Romans I. pag 44 to 50 and we will discuss them on monday" I smile and their complains starts. I'm not taking that easy on them at all.

Couple of minutes later I notice Cameron with a phone on his hands. "No cell phones in my class" I say and few more students got scared and hide their ones.

Not Cameron. Instead of respect me he stood up, place his backpack on his shoulders and started to walk towards the door again.

Oh no, not today.

He didn't looked at me before he walked out of the room. "Keep on working" I order standing up to follow him.

"Cameron, where do you think you're going?" I approach. He stops and turns around to face me. "Elsewhere but not here, not in your class" his response hurts.

"Cameron you can't do this, your behaviour will affect your grades" I can't keep on acting like he's working on class when he is just leaving in the middle of the period.

"Cameron? I thought it was Mr Dallas for you" he laughs ironically. "Also you have the game tonight, why are you leaving before the practice?" what a stupid way to change the topic.

"It doesn't concern you" he turns around to walk away. "Cameron I can't let you fail" I can't let you go. "Don't act like you care" he yells not looking at me, he keeps on walking to the exit.

"Cameron" I run towards him and hold him by his wrist, pulling him closer. He turns around in the act and his face is now just inches away from my face.

Our eyes interlocked, I can feel the fresh mint breathe escaping from his mouth. I glup dry aware of our closeness. We stare at each other in silence.

I look down to his part open lips, those lips that I've been craving for days. I was about to lean in but we heard a door being opened all sudden and I step back immediately.

"Let go of me Mr Mendes." he pulls his arm away from me, he turns around and finally leaves the school.

I walk back into the classroom, not even bothered with the fact that the whole class was doing everything but the lesson that I assigned.

"Did he leave?" I heard his desk partner Matt asking. I nod with my head in defeat. "I don't know what's going on with him to be honest" Matt adds. "Keep working" I respond. I hope the time runs today.

×

"I can't believe I missed Evan's birthday party for this" Nath keeps blaming herself. "You were the one who encouraged me to come!" I'm already too nervous to keep listening her complaints.

"I know, I know. It's kinda exciting" she laughs now, how she can change her humour in a blink?. "This is not a good idea Nath, let's go" I'd drive back immediately but we came here with her car.

"No way, we are here and we're going to do this. I'm not in mood of listening any of your 'what if' tonight" she opens the door and steps out of her car. I take a deep breathe and step out as well.

"Wait a second" I say after I close the her car's door. "What the fuck are you doing?" - "Wearing a bennie and glasses?!" I respond in a duh tone.

"I know that spying your student that you wanna fuck sounds already illegal but this is too much" she says pointing to my outfit.

"I don't want him to notice my presence" I'm wearing all black from the bottom to the top. "Everyone will notice your presence, you're looking like a thief or a kidnapper" she says pulling off me the glasses and the bennie.

"What if he sees me?" He can't stand me already, I don't want to make the things worse. "Just hide behind me and if he notices you just act like you came to the game, relax" she gives me a small massage that didn't help at all.

"I'm not gonna pay" she says pulling me to the entrance. I take wallet to pay for the tickets... "Goodnight Mr Mendes, the game is already in the last quarter, you don't have to pay anymore" one of my students tells me.

Good thing: I didn't spent 10 dollars.
Bad thing: One of my students already noticed me.

"Great, you can't complain on buying me food back home" Nath is always ready to roast me. "Let's go by this side so the players are going to give us their back on the bench" I push Nath in front of me so I can hide behind her, or at least try to do it because I'm taller than her.

"Who is he?" She asks looking at the game. "His jersey has the number 30 in the back" I say looking at the scoreboard, the team is down 95-80. "I spot him and damn he is cute" I just breathe in and out letting go her comment.

"How is he doing? They're losing" I hope he is okay. "He sucks, he just missed one shot" I turn around quickly to watch the game, he looks done, without the passion that he is used to have.

"He is the captain, he doesn't suck" I defend him. "He is probably injured or something else" I add. "Why is he even playing?" Nath asks ironically after another miss of Cameron.

"DALLAS, OUT" Coach Stephen yells and all I can see is anger on Cameron's face. He sits on the bench covering his face with his hands in frustration.

"Who's she?" Nath questioned when Hannah, a cheerleader and one student of my other senior group walks towards Cameron and sits next to him.

"She's my student" what is she doing next to him? "She's probably his girlfriend" Nath says when we saw her trying to cheer him up. "Let's go Nath" I say pulling her out of the arena.

"Are you okay?" Nath asks me concerned. "Yeah, just start the engine and let's go" I'm not okay and I can't stay here. She starts to drive. "It's because of that girl right?" I can't hide anything from Nath.

"Kind of. It's the fact that he is straight actually" I don't know how to feel or what to do. I only experienced my life with Nick and he made the 1st move.

"Oh come on Shawney, any man would be gay for you, just look at you!" I couldn't help but laugh at her spontaneous comments, even knowing that there's no chances with Cameron anymore.
He is straight.