I was like a junkie, dying for my next fix. It was a surprise that nobody noticed my odd behaviour. Ever since Saturday, I'd been in a funk. I just couldn't help feeling really down, though I'd managed to get a grip on the superhuman werewolf senses.

           I breathed a sigh of relief as I slipped into Luca's classroom. His scent coated the room and wrapped around me instantly. It reassured me to know that he wasn't far away. He'd enter the classroom, and my line of sight, soon enough.

           Christian wasn't in school again today. He hadn't been feeling up to it. I had tried to convince my parents to let me take the day off so I could go see him, but my heart hadn't really been in it. I'd wanted to see Luca. So bad. In any case, my parents hadn't given in to my request.

           Luca walked into the classroom a few seconds before the bell, another cup of hot chocolate in hand. I could smell marshmallows, and my mouth watered a little. He glanced in my direction, smirking as he took a long, lingering sip.

          He could be so childish sometimes.

           I'm offended, amore mio, Luca said, bristling at the adjective. I can't very well offer you a sip now, can I?  Out aloud, he said, "Quieten down everyone." And proceeded with the lesson.

          I shook my head, settling down for the hour. Luca walked around the classroom as he spoke and I couldn't even be embarrassed by the fact that my eyes followed his every move... much like the other girls in class.

           He is so handsome. They want him... but he is ours, my wolf purred, so proud of her mate.

           "You have to look at the connotations, the deeper meanings of the words," Luca was saying. "Remember; point, evidence and explanation. There's no good saying that a character is in pain, why is it relevant? Where is the evidence to back it up? Use quotations. Your essays leave a lot to be desired, and I want you all to take on board what I've said. I expect better answers for you next assignment." Luca looked around the classroom severely.

            Essay? I couldn't recall Luca mentioning anything about an essay before now.

           "Sir?" Tawni said, from across the classroom. She had her pen poised in the air, and the notebook in front of her was full of notes. I was impressed.

           Luca leaned against his desk, an incredible air of animal magnetism about him, even relaxed as he was. "Yes, Tawni?"

          "Can we write as much as we want? I was thinking..." she carried on, explaining her idea. It was then that I realized just how lost I was. I had no idea what she was talking about. I was surprised she was even showing this much interest in an assignment. She never had before. Luca listened attentively, and I guess any attention from him would do.

            "Seriously?" A guy scoffed behind me, interrupting Tawni – much to her displeasure. "I don't get it. We write essays longer than the text we're doing them on."

           Luca cut the poor guy a look that silenced him immediately, but still went on to explain the importance of literature and poetry. It was kind of fascinating, listening to him argue, even though I wanted to turn around and snarl at the guy behind me for his tone of voice. Weird.

           I stayed behind after the bell went.

           "How are you feeling, tesoro? I wanted to see you yesterday, but I didn't know if... you'd be busy." Luca's eyes roamed over my face. If you were with Christian, were the unspoken words between us.

           "You know there's this marvellous contraption that many people tend to use. It's called a cell phone." I took mine out of my pocket, and Luca's eyes dropped to my hips for a second before he jerked them up again. He looked a little discomfited, but unapologetic.

           We exchanged numbers and for the next month, I lived for the quiet moments at night when I was in bed and so was he. We'd talk for hours, until I'd fall asleep still on the line with him. When I wasn't with Christian, I was with Luca.

            We'd spend time at his apartment, cooking every dessert known to man. We'd listen to music or we'd go for a run in the woods. He was there for me – always. Every time I needed to vent, every time I needed to cry. He never complained, just held me tight when he knew I was upset and when I was hurting. He was there throughout it all as my childhood sweetheart began to get sicker and sicker by the day.

            ***

           Thanksgiving was fast approaching. It would be Christian's last, according to the doctors, and Rob and Ella had a massive lunch prepared. Christian was usually far too tired to make it to dinner these days, so they'd decided on a lunch instead, inviting close family and friends. Everyone wanted to make the day special.

           Mom and Dad had wanted to have a light Thanksgiving dinner at home afterwards, but I'd told them that Donna had invited me round to hers. They weren't happy about it, but understood that Donna and Sammy were by themselves at this time of year. I didn't tell them that we were all actually going to Luca's... that his parents were flying in.

           Despite everything going on around me, I was nervous. Immensely so. I tried not to dwell on it though.

           "Don't worry, mia cara. My parents can't wait to meet you. Mia mamma especially," Luca said, one night on the phone, when I'd expressed my concern. I'd never had to deal with meeting anyone's parents. My relationships before Christian hadn't been that serious at all, and Christian... well, I'd already known Ella and Rob for most of my life. There had been no nervousness on my part. "How many were there?"

           "Hmm?" I murmured a little sleepily into the phone.

           "How many boyfriends have you had?" he asked, and I was suddenly a little more awake. Crap, he'd heard my thoughts. Our bond had grown so much since my first shift, but it was still rare for Luca to pick up my thoughts from such a long distance. Of all the things he could have heard, he had to hear that particular line of thought.

           "There weren't that many, just two... plus Christian."" I told him. I waited a beat, staring at the ceiling. It had taken me a long time to get used to seeing in the dark. I still wasn't fully there. Before my first shift, I'd have been staring at pitch blackness, but now I could see everything in my room as clearly as if it were daytime. It was distracting to say the least. "Luca?"

           "I'm trying to decide if I want to know more," Luca admitted, chuckling darkly.

           "There's not much to tell," I told him, shaking my head even though he couldn't see.

            "That's... good," he said, finally.

            "Good?" I repeated, a little amused.

           He growled back at me, though I could tell there was no real heat behind it. I murmured goodbye a little while later, turning over in my bed. I loved hearing his voice every night before I went to bed, and I imagined what it would feel like hearing it first thing in the morning.

           Even though it drove me mad with guilt.

           Christian had stopped chemotherapy and radiotherapy a week ago, and already he was feeling slightly better, which was good to hear and even better to see. I could literally feel my whole world light up every time I saw him and he looked less paler, less thinner. But that was just the side-effects of the treatments disappearing. The cancer was still there, growing and festering. Taking a life that would never really get to live.

           They'd stopped the treatments, but not before a large portion of his hair had fallen out. One minute it was all there, and the next it had been falling out at a rapid pace. He wore a bandana most of the time now, even though he still had some hair left. I'd overheard Ella commenting on how it probably wouldn't grow back to how it was before... that there wasn't enough time for that to take place. She'd been staring blankly at the wall, tears streaming down her face as Rob held her. I'd retreated quietly, thankful to remain unnoticed. I couldn't believe what I'd heard. He'd get the chance to grow his hair back. He had to.

          The lack of time... it scared the crap out of me.

           My teachers had been lenient, but I was still behind on every subject apart from English. There just weren't enough hours in the day for me to get everything done, so I'd stopped trying. Christian had quit school three weeks back. He hadn't given an explanation, but one wasn't needed. There was no point in going. I found myself skipping days so that I could spend school hours with Christian, and the evenings with Luca. Mom and Dad had understood that I couldn't really sit still in a classroom and concentrate right now, but they weren't happy about me missing so much school. I never told them beforehand, but they always ended up finding out from phone calls with the school. I hadn't been punished for all my absences though.

           The termination of Christian's treatments was a clear sign – one we all understood. There was nothing to be done. Everyone seemed to have a permanent air of defeat around them, and my parents weren't about to make things worse for me.

           Damian was around all the time, as was Peter. Vera had also become stuck like velcro to me, and I found it increasingly more difficult to find time for myself so that I could just process everything. I wouldn't trade any of my time with Christian, and I physically couldn't sacrifice the few moments I managed to find with Luca. Any minute now, everything was going to come crashing down. I could feel it, and when it did, I was sure that I might just combust.

           ***

           I received a shock in assembly, the day before Thanksgiving. I was sitting with Vera, listening to her talk to Damian. The poor boy was getting more flustered by the minute as the exotic beauty teased him mercilessly.

           "... as I am sure you all have plenty to be thankful this year," the principal was saying. "Now on to another matter entirely. I'm sure you all know Mr De'Angelis, a member of our English department, who has been an outstanding teacher in his time here and a wonderful colleague to work with. Fortunately for him and unfortunately for us, Mr De'Angelis has been offered a great opportunity in another state, and will sadly be leaving us at the end of this semester..."

           The hall all broke out in hushed whispers concerning Luca's short stay here – and his abrupt departure. I was completely baffled. I'd been on the phone to him just last night – and he hadn't mentioned anything about leaving. Oh god. Where was he going? I felt my heartbeat skyrocket just thinking about it.

           "He's only been here a few months. I can't believe he's leaving already!" Vera said angrily, as though Luca's resignation was a personal affront towards her.

           "Oh my god. That's totally unfair! I'm so going to miss the eye candy in English," Damian squealed melodramatically. Vera glared at him.

           "Knock it off, you two," I said before Vera could respond. "I wish you'd just get together already. The sexual tension in the air is getting suffocating." I sighed loudly. Vera turned her scowl on me. It was kind of mean to embarrass them like that, but amusing nonetheless. I cherished these moments of light-heartedness whenever I could find them. And I needed the distraction right now. Otherwise, I'd dwell on why Luca hadn't said anything about quitting his job.

          I glanced back at the principal. He seemed fine, and jovial, most likely looking forward to the long weekend ahead. It eased my mind slightly. Surely he wouldn't be in such high spirits if he was being less than truthful about Luca's reasons for leaving? Still, a paranoid part of me wondered if somehow someone had found out about Luca and I.

           "He's only been here a short while. I wonder why he's leaving so suddenly..." I heard a voice behind me say.

           And the rumours began.

           It took a few tries for the principal to get everyone to quieten down. He wished us all a happy Thanksgiving, and exited the hall rather quickly himself. He was no doubt headed to his Mercedes so that he could leave for the day, starting his holiday a few hours early.

           I parted ways with Damian and Vera, using the bathroom as an excuse. I needed to talk to my mate.

           Luca...? I tried calling him through our bond as I walked. Everyone around me was chattering excitedly about the extended weekend, making plans.

           Yes, amore mio? Luca replied in my mind, sounding surprised but pleased. I could sense that he was somewhere on the second floor of the building, but I had no way of knowing if he was alone or not. Luca would probably have been able to tell if it came to me, but my grip on our connection wasn't as strong as his. Luca was sure that the connection would strengthen after he marked me though, so I didn't really dwell on it.

           What's all this about you leaving? I asked him, feeling a bit peeved.

           He was silent for a beat. Where did you hear this?

           Principal Kohen announced it in assembly just now – so it's not true? I asked, hopefully. I would miss seeing him every day.

           Oh, it's true, Luca said, sighing long and hard, and my stomach dropped. But I had hoped to tell you and all my classes myself.

           Oh, I said softly, and even I could hear the hurt in my words.

           We'll talk of this later, tesoro, when I can see your beautiful face. I have a class now. Don't worry, this is a good thing, Mila. I felt the comforting thoughts he sent my way as he withdrew from the mental conversation and headed towards his classroom.

           ***

          I sat on Luca's couch later that day with Sammy propped up on my lap, taking a nap. Donna was at work, and Luca and Keaton had actually started taking turns to babysit while she was at the restaurant. Keaton was currently playing a video game on the TV, while Luca sat on the floor going through some papers. There were two piles beside him; one for things he'd trash and one for stuff that he needed to keep. There had been a permanent stack of them on the coffee table, and Luca had decided to go through it all. His parents would be arriving in a few hours, and he'd gone through great pains to get the apartment spotless.

           "So...?" I said, trailing off expectantly.

           Luca set the papers aside and came to sit beside me. "Teaching... it's something that I enjoy and as far as jobs go, it has a lot of benefits to it," he said, seeming to choose his words carefully.

           "So why would you quit? Are you still going to be teaching with this new job?" I pressed.

          "I was getting to that, tesoro," he said, shooting me an amused glance. "There is no new job. I needed a valid reason for quitting so quickly, and it was the best I could come up with."

          "I don't understand."

           "I want to be there for you when... when Christian passes. I can't do that if I have to hide. I want to be able to... be there for you. I am your mate, amore mio. Those that know I was once your English teacher will still find it odd, but that can't be helped. There's nothing I can do about that now. If I had known – I would never have applied for that position. Of all the rotten luck..." He shook his head, ruefully. "I can always start teaching again next year – once you've graduated. I just feel, I know that this is the right move for us," he continued.

           I understood what he was saying. "But what will you do for cash?" I asked, wondering if I should be asking and if the question would embarrass him.

           "I inherited a substantial amount of my grandfather's estate when he passed on several years ago. It'll scarcely make a dent if I live on it for the next year. I haven't touched it all these years, except to pay for college tuition, and my father has been investing it...."

           "That's good to hear," I said, relieved. Sammy stirred a little in my lap and I rubbed his back soothingly. Luca glanced down, his eyes softening as he took us in. He had a real soft spot for little Sammy. "But you don't... you don't have to quit something you enjoy just because of me," I said, feeling obligated to object, even though the picture he was painting was an appealing one. Sure, some might still object, but there wouldn't be that fear that he'd lose his job over me

           "Mila, I do love teaching... but it's just a job. Not working won't be a burden for me." I smiled at that. "Besides, being your teacher has been nothing but an inconvenience... among other things. Quitting will be what's best for not just me or you, but us. I actually sent in my letter of resignation a month back. I was just waiting for them to find someone to replace me, waiting until it was certain to tell you. I should have quit sooner, but it was my only link to you, my only way to keep you near."

           "I've really fucked things up for you, haven't I? Made it much more complicated than it ever needed to be," I said, my throat tightening. I could remember Luca's thoughts that night I'd first changed; how different we were to other mated couples he knew and how effortlessly other mates tended to end up together. Luca laughed a little. "What?"

           "Nothing." He shook his head. "I've just never heard you swear before. It sounded kind of sexy coming out of your mouth." His eyes lingered on my parted lips. He'd started to be more vocal about his attraction towards me this past month, but he never crossed the invisible line I'd unconsciously set.

           "Shut up," I mumbled, elbowing him. Sammy murmured inextinguishable words in his sleep. He shifted on my lap, and began snoring softly right next to my ear. He was so damn cute. I placed a quick kiss on his little hand, loving how warm and cuddly he was.

           Keaton turned around, pausing his game. I'd forgotten he was even there. "Finished with your little heart to heart, have you?" he asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes like we were absolutely ridiculous. I resisted the urge to throw something at him. "Might wanna get back to that pile of crap though, Dane. We have to leave for the airport soon." Keaton gestured to the papers on the floor.

           Luca sighed, touching my arm gently as he got up.

           His parents would be arriving soon.

A/N:

In regards to Luca's job... I had planned on him quitting for a while now. It's what's right for them. This isn't a student/teacher romance... OK maybe it is. But it's so much more than that... at least I hope it is. I needed a barrier between them, something aside from Christian, something taboo and forbidden that would keep them apart... and that's where Luca being a teacher came in. But it made no sense for him to remain that way any longer. I guess you could say that this is the start of things beginning to resolve themselves.