9

As we stepped onto the football field, the cheers of the crowd were deafening. The energy was great, our university's bystanders supporting our football team, and spectators from England cheering for the other team-- NYU vs Oxford. The Phoenix Foxes vs the Crimson Knights.

The sun was shining brightly overhead, casting a golden glow over the field.

As we, the cheerleaders, did our stunts, one specific voice cheered the loudest. It was Iris sitting at the bleachers, trying to help hype up the crowd.

The parents, students, and basically just the supports of the university's team cheered louder than Oxford where their cheerleaders preformed the opposite side of the field.

The people were split into two sections.

At the right side of the field was the guests from the UK, and at the left were our guests.

We sway our pom-poms up in the sky as we boost each other up, balancing on each other's shoulders. Just as I, and some other girls, landed on the ground perfectly, there was a loud whistle and everyone stopped moving and cheering.

Captain Balker, the manager of the sport in the university and the host of today's event, stepped out onto the field; a whistle around his neck and a mic in his hands.

"Welcome everyone, friends, family, and those who flew out from England to be here today and support..."

I was listening closely as he welcomed everyone, hands behind my back and standing up straight along the other cheerleaders. Some of us out of breath.

Turning my back around, I quickly glance over the bleachers at our side, looking for a certain green eyed, brunette.

The cheerleaders ran off the grass, making me snap back and run with the others too.

I missed the entire speech searching for her.

I parted ways from my team, and walked around the bleachers where I kept my stuff.

Kneeling down, I reach out for my bag until I feel a hand on my shoulder.

A shiver went down my spine at how cold it was, but I was sure it was her.

She told me she'll be here.

Smiling, like I completely forgot what Iris told me, I stand up and spin around to the person behind me.

"I've been wondering where you are--" My smile fades away.

I didn't expect such a huge body to stand so close to me. Like a predator looking down to its small prey. The cleats adds a few centimeters to his height and the pads inside his jersey, plus knee pads, gives an effect off that his muscles are bigger.

He took off his helmet, revealing the king of homecoming. "You have?" He smirked, charmingly.

"Elijah." I awkwardly drag along with a smile I forced, "Yeah..."

His smirk turns into a smile. "Well me too, actually." He places his helmet under his arm. "I wanted to ask you something."

"I- uh, shouldn't you be out on the field right now?"

"It'll be quick, I promise."

I nod suspiciously, "Go on..." I gesture.

He takes a deep breath in, "Do you maybe want to grab coffee sometime?"

I pause, tilting my head as I scan his face. He's the one that's pissed at me for being the best in Spanish, getting the best grades; and he's not shy to say it out loud it class. Elijah always comes up with some type of remark, and it ends up with Professor Garcia sending him out of her class.

"Sure."

He's attractive.

His eyebrows raised a tiny inch, seemingly surprised.

Another whistle went off from a few miles away. That was his cue to leave, the game about to start. He sends me one last smile before putting his helmet back on and jogging away.

As he sprinted, something fell out of his pants' pockets.

My mouth opens to speak, about to call out his name, but he already stepped foot onto the field, running with the team and waving out to the people.

Looking back down to the object, I decided to keep it safe and give it to him after the game.

But, I was immediately grossed out by what it was.

I picked up a small box of cigarettes, half opened. From the gap, a lighter and a few cigarettes made itself known.

"You know you're not allowed to smoke near the bleachers, let alone buildings. No-smoking zones, remember?"

My breathing caught in my throat.

In a blink of an eye, I turn around and lower the cigarettes to my side.

My heartbeat spiked up, before meeting Daniela's eyes.

Stay calm. Stay calm.

"You're here." I mumble, gulping.

She furrows her eyebrows, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't change the subject."

I snicker nervously, looking down to the box in my hands. "This isn't even mine."

"Then why's it in your hands?"

"I found it, and picked it up."

She expands her hand out towards me, "Give it."

My back teeth clamped down onto each other, placing the small, black box in her hands.

She leaned around me towards the trashcan.

My body froze, not wanting to make a sudden movement to accidentally bump her with how close she is.

Her head was practically right next to mine, and her perfume stung my nose, but it smelled good.

That reminded me about what Iris and I agreed on, but how on earth can I seduce her when she's the one seducing me?

I heard the thud as the box landed onto the other trash in the can, the lid slamming shut.

"So," she pulled back from my side and stood in front of me, "How'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" I ask, frowning, "The intro? You weren't here to see it?"

"No, I wasn't. Sorry, I was busy with something important."

"More important than me?" I mentally face-palmed myself.

So much for trying to seduce and flirt with her.

The practicing helped nothing. It just made me flustered as I started awkwardly laughing, looking down and scratching the back of my head.

"I'm kidding." I look back up to her, confusion written all over her face.

"I understand. It sucks that you couldn't see it though-- we crushed it!"

She took a moment to reply, shifting uncomfortably and clearing her throat.

Awkwardness one, seduction zero.

"Don't worry, dr. Robertson from photography probably took photos. I'll just ask him for the pictures they took. But, I'm sure you did great."

I nod then shrug. "It's fine, as long as they got my good side."

Her head tilts to the side, staring at me coldly. I take a deep breath in, quickly turning and kneeling down to grab my sports bag. "I need to go get change. This skirt is getting a bit uncomfortable." I said.

"Rivera." I felt a hand wrapping around my wrist. I turn back to her.

"Everything... alright?"

I stare at her blankly before shrugging, trying to ignore her hands on mine, "Yeah, why?"

She lets go of my wrist. "About yesterday, your dad?"

My lips part slowly and I just shake my head. "I haven't talked to him yet; and I really don't want to go back home, at least not for now."

Suddenly, an idea popped up in my head.

This was my chance.

"I don't know where to go though." I lie, "Iris is sleeping over at her boyfriend's house, so I don't actually have a choice but to go back I guess."

I stared at professor, waiting for her reply as she bites her bottom lip, deep in thought. The hesitation and the silence got on my nerves.

"If you want to, you could stay at my house?"

My eyes lit up.

Iris is going to be so proud of me.

"Are you sure?" I ask, "Don't you think it's weird for a student to sleep at a professor's house?"

Come on, come on, give me something.

I regret saying it the moment it left my mouth. Professor might now re-consider her invitation. Then I'll have no chance to figure out if Iris was right or not.

"We're student and professor inside campus, not outside. Plus, I'm doing you a favor-- it's simply a human helping another."

Hmm.

I'm convinced.

I nod slowly, "Alright then."

She nods back. "My car's parked at the staff's parking lot when we go. I'll meet you there after the game?"

"Sounds good." I said walking away.

I could feel her eyes burning into the back of my head, so I just continued walking until I disappeared around the corner.

The sounds of the football game rage outside. The cheers, the whistles, the energy, it all echoed through the halls and the locker room.

The idea of staying at professor's home seemed like a safe place, a place where my thoughts about my dad will disappear. The fact that she might actually like me, as Iris said, is just a bit creepy.

A weird feeling grew in my gut.

Thinking about it... I can't do it!? I can't seduce my fucking professor.

Why did I ever listen to Iris, 'my professor has a crush on me'? That's pathetic! She's just... handling me differently, because of my family problems.

It happens with every woman I meet and when they know about my mother, they always give me pity.

Professor Garcia just wants to help me.

That 'lust' Iris saw in her eyes; Iris is just delusional.

It wasn't lust, it was sympathy.

But also, now as I look around the room and see all these cheerleaders getting dressed into more comfortable clothes, it gives me more doubts.

If they -or anyone else- find out that I've been trying to seduce professor, I'm doomed.

Worse, if my dad finds out.

I'm talking to myself like something will actually happen between professor and I.

Yikes.

I got dragged out of my thoughts as Iris suddenly appeared beside me and slapped my bare ass, only a thin cloth, my panties, giving me protection.

The sharp sting caused me to jolt, and I turned to face her with big, deadly, eyes.

"Ow!" I said angrily, "What are you, gay?"

She gave me a mischievous grin. "Whatever has two legs, is alive, and super hot, I'll fuck." She winks playfully.

My anger vanished and I laughed, shaking my head before pulling my pants up. Iris leaned against my locker, kicking her one foot up as I sit back down, now pulling my shirt down.

"Have you seen professor hottie yet?"

I froze for a split second before gulping. "Yes, actually." I sigh and look up to her, "I- I told her I didn't want to go back home to my house and that you were going to Xavier's, so I have nowhere to sleep for tonight..."

She plastered a confused frown on her face. "I'm not going to Xavier's tonight--"

Her eyebrows raise and her mouth shoots open,

"Oh, you sneaky little bitch! You just said that so that... oh my gosh... You're sleeping at professor's house, aren't you!? I'm so proud of you, our practicing truly paid off!"

In a flash, I jump up and place both my hands over her mouth.

"Will you shut up." I mumble, my eyes landing on the cheerleaders around us.

She licked my hand, causing me to gasp and pull my hands away, wiping it off on my pants.

"No, no you don't understand." I shake my head, panicked, "This is bad. This is so bad! I can't fucking stay with my professor?... that's- that's weird, especially if you think she likes me-- which she doesn't! I have to stop. I'm freaking myself out!"

"Stop? Why? This is just the beginning."

"Iris, I don't want this. She may be attractive, yes, but I'm not a lesbian, I don't have feelings for her. She's my goddam professor. It's fucked up. And I see her nothing more as a-"

Iris chuckled softly, "A... mom?"

My eyes soften, looking into hers before I tilt my head down.

"No." I mumble.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, giving me a slight squeeze. I look up to her, seeing those sad eyes staring back in mine.

"Don't give me those eyes." I said quietly.

"Vic, pookie bear." She said softly, "I've been teasing you about this, I guess, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have joked about professor having feelings for you." She mumbles, "...even if it is true."

"Iris!"

"What!? Okay, okay, I'm sorry." She said, "My point is, if you want to go out there and hang out with her, talk with her like she's your professor... Forget about what I said about those things, okay?"

I nod.

"Good." She smiles before helping me pack up my pom-poms in my bag. "Now let's go watch how our team fucking demolish these bitches!"

She grabbed my sports bag, and rush out the room, cheering loudly. A smile forms on my lips, following her lead as I run out after her.