Chapter Three

WARNING: its a shorty only because writers block is a biotch -.-

Pic of Neil

Was it wrong of me to like a student?

Of course it was; I’m a teacher for Christ’s sake!

But there was something about Jacey Wylie that pulled me in, made me want to know everything about him that his file hadn’t already told me. It was strange, this feeling. Whereas most of my relationships and crushes were purely physical, it wasn’t that way when I thought of Jacey.

His smiling face when we discussed artwork, or whenever I agreed with one of his critiques. I never missed the blush that permanently resides on his cheeks when he looks at me. If I didn’t know any better, I would say my student likes me back.

But that was all it could be.

A crush.

No, I wanted more than that! I groaned and pulled at my hair. I never wanted someone as much as I did Jacey. I wanted to talk to him, just talk, not touch. Okay maybe a little, but I wanted to take it slow. Get to know everything from his favorite music artist to the amount of freckles on his body.

I wanted to know every little detail about him.

“What are thinking so hard over?” I looked up to see my sister, September, looking at me with concern as she set a cup of tea down in front of me. September looked just like our mother and it made me miss her more sometimes. Regardless, I still loved my sister and wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world.

“Is it bad that I’ve seemed to develop a crush on a student?” I asked softly, chewing the inside of my cheek as I thought over what I said. Even now, I couldn’t believe I was admitting it, but I was done denying.

I, Levi Stokes, was undeniably infatuated with Jacey Wylie.

September looked at me, her lips pursed in thought. She took a sip of her tea. “If you can keep it a secret, then no,” I looked at her baffled. Did she just accept the fact that I, a teacher, liked one of my students?

“How can you answer that so easily!? I could lose my job!” She gave me a blank look.

“Levi. You can’t deny who you fall in love with,” Love? I don’t think it was love…yet. “Besides, I said as long as you keep it a secret, you should be fine,” She finished her cup of tea and got up to put it in the sink.

“So, are you going to tell me about this student?” She asked, sitting back down after I continued to be silent. I finished my tea also and set it down.

“His names Jacey. He is utterly adorable. He has dimples when he smiles and when he wears his beanie and those glasses, ugh!” I groaned and ran my hands through my hair, putting my head on the table. “He’s so quiet and keeps to himself, but only when he talks to me, it’s only then that his eyes seem to sparkle. Lately, it’s seemed like he’s been having trouble though and I just want to hold him and talk about everything, but I can’t. What if he freaks out and tells on me and I get fired?”

September looked at me thoughtfully. “Well, from what you said about his eyes only sparkling when he talks to you, I don’t think you need to worry about him freaking out,” She winked and got up. I watched her leave and sighed.

This was going to be a long day.

The bell rang and I watched as my students began to get out their sketchbooks and begin on the warm-up I had placed on the board. I studied the various kids in my class. They all looked like your typical art nerds, exempting the few that were only taking the course for an art credit. But none of them compared to Jacey.

“Speak his name and he shall appear,” I said under my breath as Jacey walked through the door. He was late and I would have yelled at him for it, but I could see the dark circles under his eyes. He looked sick and I found myself worrying. “Jacey,” I called to him and he sighed as he walked over to me.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I was napping and my friends forgot to wake me up,” My worry grew as the sparkle and blush that normally took over his face when he talked to me wasn’t there. Something was seriously wrong, and I was going to find out.

“I’m not angry. Why don’t you take the period to catch up on your sleep? I’m positive you won’t be missing much seeing as you are my brightest student,” I gave him a small smile and he nodded his head before taking his seat. The rest of the hour, I gave the class a quiet assignment, letting them define some terms that weren’t really a necessity for them to know. But I was getting reprimanded for not giving enough book work, so today would be the day.

The bell rang and I watched as the students packed up and turning in their work before leaving the room. I noticed Jacey had yet to wake up and walked over to his desk. I touched his shoulder lightly and he jerked awake. I stared at him wide-eyed as the fear and panic was clear in his eyes and he was breaking into a nervous sweat.

“Are you alright?” I asked and he slowly looked at me then around the room.

“I’m going to be late,” He began to get his things but I stopped him.

“This is your last class. Sit with me for a second,” I told him and he slowly sat down. I could see how fidgety he was getting and it made me chuckle. He was so adorable. The more I watched him, the more I wanted to tell him how I felt. It was a matter of him getting mad anymore, but more of his rejection and someone finding out.

“Jacey, what are your feelings towards me?”  He seemed to pale and I knew I had him.

“Y-you’re my teacher Mr. Stokes. I guess I see you as a friend,”

“I think you see me as more than that,” I pressed on and he looked at me in shock.

“I don’t know what your insinuating,” I gave him and amused smirk and he blushed. Leaning over so I was right against his ear, I whispered, “I think you do.” He jolted back from me and went to get up, but I grabbed his wrist and pulled him into my lap. His face was so close to mine and I could see him looking from my lips back to my eyes before I finally took the chance and kissed him.

At first, he didn’t respond, so I licked his bottom lip and he finally gave him. I was surprised at how he dominated over me, grabbing the sides of my face and leaning into the kiss. It was overwhelmingly sexy and I wanted nothing more than to bend him over the desk and hear him moan my name in pleasure. I moved my hands under his shirt, feeling his smooth skin and he jerked away from me. I regretted my action as his face was turning red and I could see the panic forming back in his eyes.

“I—we…that should have never happened,” he whispered and I got up to stand in front of him. He went to move away, but I cupped his face in my hands so he was looking at me.

“If that kiss didn’t tell you how I feel, than I don’t know what will. I don’t care that I’m a teacher and you’re my student, it means nothing to me. I will tell you though, that no matter what, I want to be with you. I want to know everything about you. I want to know what is going on with you and I want to know how to fix it,”

“You can’t fix it,” I heard him whisper and I felt my heart clench at his words. I could see the sorrow written all over his face and it filled me with agony to know he was suffering and I had no way of helping.

“Can you try? Just try and tell me, please?” He looked at me for the longest time before sighing.

“I can try,” I gave him a soft kiss on the lips, happy he didn’t pull away and actually kissed me back. I let him leave after he said his brother was probably waiting for him and watched him walk to the door. With one last glance at me, I felt my heart soar as he gave me a soft smile and small wave before leaving.

I just kissed Jacey Wylie…and I loved it.

JACEY

Neil was waiting for me at my locker and I was so confused with everything I almost walked past him.

“Where’s the fire?” He joked and I rolled my eyes but continued to walk. Between trying to solve this possession matter and now Mr. Stokes telling me he likes me, I was confused on what to do. I could clearly see how worried he was for me and it made me wonder what he would do if I told him everything.

Would he actually help me or would he just call my parents and have me put in a mental institution?

I decided to trust him and planned to talk to him after class tomorrow. Right now, he was my only hope and who knows, maybe he had an answer and solution to all this? Neil didn’t talk the rest of the ride and I was surprised when he didn’t bother me once we got into the house.

“Jacey?” I heard my mom call out to me and walked into the kitchen, where she was making dinner. “Honey, your dad and I are working the night shift. I told Neil to make sure to heat up dinner for you two,” I gave her my thanks and let her know I was going to be taking a nap. I found myself become extremely tired in the mornings and afternoons, but once nightfall hit, I had the worst case of insomnia.

It seemed like whatever was inside of me became more active at night, and I was afraid of the dreams I could have if I slept. I walked into my room and closed the door. Changing into some sweats and a tank top, I climbed into bed and let myself fall into a much deserved slumber.

“Good evening Jacey,” I looked around the black void I was in for the source of the voice, but found nothing.

“Evening?” I questioned and I heard it chuckle

“My, my. I never intended to drain you this much. It is indeed eleven at night Jacey. And you’re still asleep,”

“You’re the thing that’s possessing me, aren’t you?”

“Seems I picked a smart host,” I could hear the sarcasm in its voice and I felt myself getting pissed.

“Just tell me who you are!” I snapped. That way I can find out how to get rid of you more quickly.

“Who am I?”

“That’s what I fucking said,” I waited for an answer, but was met with silence. I began to think it left, until I felt a cold shiver go down my spine and something whisper in my ear.

“I am you,”

I jolted out of bed, scrambling from my blankets and hitting the floor in the process. I was breathing heavily and tried to get it under control, taking deep breathes until my breathing was at a normal pace.

What the fuck was that?