FEELINGS

We're given a camera and a pass to explore the school ground and take photos. Annika and Samantha buzz with excitement while I smile. There's one place I'd like to visit and take photos.

"Please be back before the bell as I'd like to see what photo's you've taken today."

Annika leaps up and takes Samantha's hand.

"Are you coming with, Charlie?" Annika smiles.

"That depends. Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" Samantha giggles. "The boys have sport on the oval. Maybe we can find you a new boyfriend?"

"Thank you for the invite, but I'm staying away from boys for the moment."

"If you change your mind, you know where to find us."

"Cheers." I grin.

Once those two are gone, I collect the camera and the lanyard and wander outside. I snap a few pictures of the flowers and trees before wandering into Noah's empty classroom.

Noah's engrossed with a piece of wood he's sanding at the electric sander. I point the lens at Noah and capture the intense concentration. I adjust the settings so that I can capture the dust floating in the air.

He turns the machine off, then jumps when he sees me.

"I like this surprise."

"Same here." I nod.

"You have a camera, so you must have photography right now."

"Yes."

"Did you take a picture of me?"

"Yes." I nod.

"Can I see it?"

I pull the picture up and pass the camera to Noah. He smiles at the photo, then points the camera to me. I cover my face with my hands and run away, but Noah follows. He discards the camera on the table and scoops me up.

Noah slides me onto the work bench and squeezes my thighs. I grab his cheeks and tug his face closer. He kisses my nose, then captures my lips with his.

"It's only been a day and I miss you." His breath tickles my skin.

"I climb into my cold bed and all I can think about is your warm arms wrapped around me."

"I miss the feeling of you in my arms."

"I don't miss your snoring, though." I chuckle.

"I don't snore." He frowns.

"Mm." I laugh.

"I'm completely enchanted by you."

"Same." I chuckle.

"What are you supposed to do for photography?"

"Wander the grounds and take photos. Samantha and Annika have gone to watch the boys play sport and well, I'd rather watch you."

I push Noah back and slide off the bench. I collect the camera and snap a few photos of Noah smiling.

"So you're going to spend the next hour harassing me?"

"More like the next forty-five minutes, unless you'd rather me watch the guys play sport?"

"It's fine, you can stay here."

I take another picture, but this one is slightly blurred but I love the lopsided grin.

"What are you working on?" I nod to the sanding belt.

"I changed the sanding belt and thought I should test it."

"Oh." I frown.

"I'm procrastinating on marking because it isn't very fun."

"You should do your work."

Noah rolls his eyes and returns to his small office. I sit beside him and lean my head against his shoulder. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. I nuzzle my face into the crook of his neck and kiss the warm skin.

He shuffles through assignments and I watch as he grades them. When my body hurts from the awkward positioning, I lean back and point the camera to Noah. I take a couple of pictures before adjusting the setting to deal with the dim light.

"How are the photo's coming along?"

I pass the camera to Noah and smile.

"I didn't realise I looked that angry when I concentrated." He laughs.

"You look sexy when you concentrate." I wink.

"I assume you'll be keeping these photos then?"

"Shouldn't I delete them?" I frown. "We have to show the class our photos and I don't know how I'm going to explain these."

"My laptop might be slightly defective, but the slot where you put the SD card still works." He proudly smiles.

"You want to keep the photos?" I frown.

"You took them, so of course." He nods.

Noah removes the SD card and I smile. He uploads the images to his computer, then deletes them from the camera.

"You should probably take photos of something since it's almost the end of this period."

"I suppose you're right." I sigh.

Noah squeezes my thigh and frowns.

"Is there something wrong, Charlie?"

"I'd rather stay here with you, that's all."

"Are you sure there isn't anything else?"

"It's stupid." I shake my head.

Noah pinches my chin and tilts my face up.

"How you feel isn't stupid. Now tell me, what's wrong?"

"Sometimes my feelings for you scare me. I can't stop thinking about you, I want to be with you all the time and I." I sigh. "I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Noah grins and my stomach erupts with butterflies.

"I feel the exact same way." He nods.

Noah pecks my lips and I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him forward. He nips my lip and our kiss deepens and swirls with passion. He pulls away and I'm left wanting more.

"I don't want to say this, but you should really go. I don't want you to get in trouble for not doing your work or getting back late."

"Ugh, I hate it when you're right."

Noah's lips hover near mine but his warm breath fans across them as he leans back. I take the camera and drag myself out of his office.

"I'll see you later, Noah."

Secret relationships can be so much fun but horrible at the same time.

* * * * *

Our class is disrupted by the administrative lady bringing a new student. Since it's mathematics, it's a welcome distraction because numbers hurt my head.

Once the admin lady leaves, the teacher quiets the class down and smiles at the student. She shakes her head and her blonde hair falls in front of her face.

"Please welcome our new student, Ella. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

"No," she mumbles.

"Alright, just take a seat then."

Ella walks to the back of the classroom and sits beside me. Our teacher gives us a list of questions to complete, then leaves us be.

"Hi, I'm Charlie." I smile. "I understand your discomfort. I was new at the beginning of the school year and I was made to introduce myself in every single class."

"Hey." She awkwardly waves. "You can call me Elle, all my other friends do. You have an accent. You're Australian?"

"Yes." I nod.

"I've been once and it's beautiful. I'll never forget the feeling of the sand between my toes and the taste of the salty ocean."

"And everywhere else." I laugh. "I used to surf."

"Wow, that's pretty cool."

"Yeah." I nod.

Elle flips through the course work and sighs.

"I don't think I've done any of this."

"It's okay, I'll help you!" I grin.

"Thank you so much."

Somewhere through class, the teacher's phone rings and she's crying to someone about something. Some phone calls are made and within minutes, they're leaving. Elle and I look at each other and frown.

I hope everything is okay, but with that reaction, I can only hope for the best.

Noah strolls into the room and Elle gasps.

"Is he a teacher because he's hot as fuck."

I laugh because that's the exact reaction I had when I stumbled into Noah's classroom.

"Mr. East is the woodwork teacher." It's weird saying Mr. East and it's hard sitting behind this desk pretending he's just my teacher when I so badly want him.