The table felt a little awkward as the three students looked at their new teacher. Ethan, Blake, and Ryan had no idea that the new teacher, Joshua Cruz, who was the same age as them was supposed to be the new temporary teacher.

"So, what happened to Mr. Clake? Umm, Sir?" Ryan asked.

Joshua smiled his dimpled smile and answered, "There is no need to call me sir, Joshua works well, and Mr. Clarke had an emergency, we are acquaintances and he asked me if I could take some classes for him." 

"Oh, so I am not interrogating or anything, and no offense but are you good in literature?" Ryan asked again, a little hesitant. 

But Joshua just smiled and answered, "It's good if you interrogate me, it's the mark of a sharp, alert mind that you would suspect me since I am obviously younger than you and we are in the same grade, but yes, I am good in literature, I also have many awards to prove that you are in the right hands, don't worry." 

"You are younger?" Ethan asked suddenly.

"Yes, I skipped a grade, don't worry though, I still top my grade." Joshua answered, directing a smile to Ethan, melting him on his chair.

"So, now that your questions are over, it's my turn now. What are you guys currently studying? Joshua asked.

"We were on Robert Browning's poems, just completed some. We were gonna start some plays." Blake answered, still unsure of the whole situation.

"Great, let's start with the classics now shall we, what about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?" Joshua asked.

"Done," Ethan answered confidently without thinking.

"Oh, then... maybe 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde?" Joshua asked, directing the question to Ethan.

"Completed," Ethan answered, a little nervous, not making eye contact.

"Hmm, what else then, 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth'?" he asked again, keeping his elbow on the table and his chin on his hand, gazing at Ethan.

"Umm, Mr. Clarke mentioned he wanted to do 'Othello'." Ethan answered, loudly with fake confidence.

"Okay, if you say so," Joshua said, giving Ethan another dimpled smile and asking all of them to pull out their books.

Joshua's deep, confident voice filled with simple clarifications and witty explanations glided over Ethan. The charm in Joshua's answer made him want to listen to him more and more.

"How can Iago do that?" Blake said, making Joshua chuckle.

"This is a play, but yeah politics is always dirty, time and time again through history and literature we know how politics and kingdoms were ruled with tactics and lies." Joshua answered.

"It's late now, we should do the rest tomorrow, can I trust you guys to read a little about this play on your own?" Joshua asked.

"Yes." "Yeah." They answered, packing up their books.

"Anyone want a ride?" Asked Joshua, as they were leaving.

"No, I and Blake will manage, I have a bike and we live really close," Ryan said, shrugging.

"What about you?" Joshua asked, looking at Ethan. 

For a second Ethan thought of accepting the offer, let his bicycle be damned, let the world burn, Ethan is contemplating saying yes even if Joshua starts asking to crawl together to his house. But of course, there is someone to ruin his day.

"It's fine, he has a bicycle and he lives close, so no problem." Ryan rejected Joshua's offer for Ethan. 

Ethan just politely smiled, even when he was reeling with anger from inside.

"I have a car, so I thought I should ask you if you want, but it's good then. See you all soon, bye." Joshua waved his farewell, taking his leave. Ethan could see Joshua, opening the door of his rundown car and driving off.

Ethan himself peddled off, in a much, much better mood than how he left the house. At least he met Joshua, which is a win. Maybe he should have talked more, flaunt his knowledge but what good that would have been, that guy is a genius. He knew the dates by heart, he knew the concepts, periods, even the biography of the writer by heart, flaunting knowledge in front of him is waste. 

But what else could a person do, be good at sports? No, he would definitely be better. Be good in studies? No, he is better. Be confident? Damn, can't be more confident than him. That guy is perfect, there is absolute no way to catch his eyes, damn his eyes. 

His dark, dragon eyes, giving that bold, fierce, confident aura. Those eyes makes Ethan feel like diving in them, to reach his soul, to feel how he feels. These emotions scares Ethan, how he just properly met Joshua for the first time and still feel such intense feelings for him. Maybe he should step back a little, it's not like he has some chance with that guy.

By the time he reached his house, his overthinking convinced him to step back a little and not jump in heartfirst for Joshua.

"Are you home baby?" Ethan's mom asked from the kitchen.

Ethan put his bag away and washed his hands to join her in the kitchen. But to his surprise, the whole family was sitting on the kitchen table, looking like they just started their meal.

"Come sit baby." his mom asked him, patting the chair beside her. It's been a while since he had a meal with everyone, especially his stepfather. 

"Your father and I thought we should have a special meal together, here is your plate." his mother said sweetly, handing him his plate of hamburger and fries. 

"So what is this big announcement? You said you'll tell after Ethan get's home. Please don't tell me you guys are having a baby." Alice asked, breaking the subtle tension on the table.

"Be respectful Alice." His mom said sternly.

"Let's eat and discuss everything later." Mr. Wilson said, his voice leaving no room for arguememnts.

"So how was the tutoring?" his mother asked, clearly trying to break the rising tension.

"It was good, Mr. Clarke had some emergency so we had a different teacher today." Ethan replied, trying to keep the conversation vague.

"Is he? I will have to talk to him, I am not paying him to give you some other ameture teacher." his step father said, frowning. As a man of principles, he does not tolerate unprofessional people and waste of money.

"It's alright, the new teacher looked qualifies enough, he was really good." Ethan explained, trying to keep the fact that his new teacher was even younger than him under wraps.

"Mr. Clarke is a good man, I am sure he would have appointed a proper replacement dear. Besides, let's focus on the new future now. Kids, your father and I decided since he has retired early and have savings and a stable pention, we are going to start doing volunteer work for orphan kids." His mother announced, thankfully closing the topic of his teacher.

"You are adopting?!?" Alice asked shocked.

"No, it's charity work, but we might sometimes have to travel for days, so it's a big step. Now that you both are all grown up, I thought, actually your father and I thought it should be alright to trust you both to stay alive in the house alone for at least some days." His mother explained.

Alice and Ethan looked at each other, staying alone at home?!?

DAMN YES THEY CAN!!!

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Dear lovely readers!!

Thank you soo much for reading this story!! I hope you like this love story, and if you have read Peter's story, you might have an idea where this story is going. 

Please comment what you think of it and don't forget to VOTE!!!