3

Today is different.

It's our first lesson with Professor Garcia. The last real conversation we had still remains the day I helped her get to her office. From then on, we'd just greet when we walk pass each other in the halls, like I do with every other teacher. And when it's her off period, when she doesn't have a class, I see her sitting at a bench outside on campus whilst drinking a warm cup of coffee. She probably makes her coffee on her own at the staff's kitchen, because I haven't since seen her at our coffee shop.

Other than greeting, I'd catch her staring at me whenever we're at the same place.

The other day me, Iris, and her boyfriend were sitting at the cafeteria on the blue, plastic seats.

I decided to stretch like a normal person would, then once I saw over my shoulders, I looked straight into those emerald eyes.

I never turned around that fast before in my entire life. I could've snapped my back in half.

Just thinking of that moment makes me shiver.

It was just so scary in a way.

It startled me that someone was watching me, but also that it's a professor.

That's not even the first time it happened. When I was walking across the field with my friends again, we saw a few professors and of course-

"Earth to Victoria"

I pull back from my wrist-- a red mark on the side of my cheek with the pressure of me leaning against it.

I twist my head next to me, at Iris, with a frown."What?"

"You've been staring at professor for the last minute. It's creepy."

Embarrassed, I flush red.

Iris and I both freeze as a raspy voice from up front suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

"Do you girls want to share that with the whole class?"

She turned around from the chalk board, placing the chalk down and wiping her hands together. The white powder fell from her hands down to the floor.

Her blank eyes flicked from Iris to me.

I'm still trying to figure out if she's a softy or not. But that look in her eyes is much more meaner than before.

Professor Garcia's personality really lives up to her face now. It's strange that she was so friendly with me when it was just the two of us that day. Now, she's really harsh and cold; just like my mother always was. Maybe she was only nice to me, because she feels sorry for my loss.

My mom was always frustrated with her class, they never listened. Just like this group of students taking Spanish.

Garcia seems frustrated too, but I do understand why. It's not even been a full week of classes for her.

Another thing in common: she's just as strict and scary like my mom when she taught her class.

Inside, still maybe a softy.

We both mimic a gulp before shaking our heads. "No, professor." Iris and I said quietly.

The professor sent me one more glare before turning around to her desk. I let go of a breath I didn't know I've been holding in. No teacher has ever needed to talk to me like a toddler that just scribbled pen all over the wall.

It's not fair.

She knows me better than all of these other students, but she targets me. Well, technically she doesn't know me, but she knows something personal about me already.

A lot of these people are whispering to each other, too scared to talk out loud. Of course professor had to scold us, but what about Jayden that's clearly vaping into his jacket, right in front of her desk!

As the class went on, getting closer to the end, we just finished writing a baseline test for the professor to see where our Spanish lays at.

For me, it wasn't too bad. I assume the other people didn't find it well because of the sighs and eyes darting everywhere but their papers. Iris next to me was chewing on her pencil the entire time, I don't even know if she had written anything down.

The class came to an end and we all started packing our stuff up, some just jumping and running out of the room.

I was walking with Iris, an inch away from the door before professor called out my name.

"Victoria." Her voice sounds harsh.

Iris gave me a quick chuckle, "Welp, you're dead." She giggled before jogging out the room.

I sigh, mentally face palming before turning back to the teacher. She walked around to the side of her desk, leaning her butt on it and folding her arms across her chest. She nods to the door, signaling for me to close it.

Hesitating, I did.

My gut is about to fall out of my ass any second now.

She can't be mad at me for anything. I'm a good student, and my Spanish is better than any other. I didn't do anything wrong.

I turn to her.

Staring at me for a few more seconds, she took a deep breath in and reached behind her.

"Don't go telling anyone, cause they'll want their marks too." She said, "But honestly, If I were them, I wouldn't want to see it."

She held out my paper towards me.

She already marked mine?

She's fast.

"88%, well done. It's the highest I've ever gotten by a student. Not even the students at Harvard got as close to you."

I flash her a friendly smile. "I probably need to go thank my grandpa for being Spanish."

Professor looked amused at me, and I mentally facepalm myself for being awkward again.

"Also another thing; can you stop by my office after you're done with the day? That is if you're not working, si?"

"Sure, that'll be fine. Our manager actually closed the shop for a few days since they're renovating the place."

Professor walked to the front of her desk and packed her laptop in her bag. "Renovation, huh?" She tilts her head at me. "Maybe I should stop by again one day."

"Oh please do, I would love taking your money."

I should probably stop talking like that to professors.

She snickered and took the tests in her hands and walked over to me. "I bet you will." She says with a teasing smirk.

Hmm.

Or maybe I should keep talking like that to her. It sounds like she enjoys the banter.

I like her.

Professor lead me out the classroom as we continued rambling and debating over black coffee. It's the worst kind, but unlike me, she loves it apparently. It helps her focus and help her stay up late and complete her work. If I would give a stereotype, I'd say black coffee goes with her. Blank, expressionless, and intimidating, just like the strong coffee.

But I have to admit, one-on-one, she's actually nice.

It's comforting.

Professor locked the door to her classroom and walked along side me down the hallway, slithering around the students.

Our debate continued, "There's no way anyone actually enjoys drinking bla--" I got cut off by feeling my shirt getting tugged at.

Turning my head, I was face to face with a very excited Iris.

Iris spoke, "What happened with you--"

Her smile disappeared once she saw Professor Garcia next to me, watching us with a curious look.

Iris stepped back, bumping into another student that told her to watch out under his breath rudely. She gulped thickly, letting go of my shirt and awkwardly laughed.

"Oh, professor." She mumbled, sending me a glare with wide eyes.

Confused, I furrow my eyebrows.

"Sorry, I just wanted to have a quick chat with Miss Rivera. She's all yours." Her voice was low as always before she leaned down to my level, which was only a few inches shorter.

"Remember to stop by my office."

I nodded my head at her. She nodded back to me and Iris before continuing to walk down the hallway. We watch as she turns the corner before Iris playfully nudged me in my hip, causing me to groan.

"What the hell was that for!?" I mumble, and started walking again.

"Uh, hello!? What did miss hot stuff want?" Her voice is quiet, not wanting other people around us to hear.

"Miss hot stuff?"

"Come on, Vic. Follow up with the news spreading around this place. Everyone's been calling Garcia hot and staring her down like a hawk." She said, "She can turn any girl into a lesbian."

"Oh, like she did to you?" I send her a teasing smile.

"I'd break up with Xavier for her."

My smile drops. "That's- that's not..."

"Oh, no, it's alright. He said he would understand if I broke up with him for her. He totally agrees with me."

"I don't know if you're being serious or not." I mumble.

Taking a deep breath in, Iris moved in front of me and took hold of both my shoulders. She gave me a slight shake, staring deep into my eyes. Luckily, it was near the end of the day so every second the hallways got more quieter and quieter. She looked around if anyone was close by, only a group of football boys walking pass us. She waited for them to leave the building before shaking me again.

"All I'm saying is that you're one lucky fish to be so close to her." She said, "And also, be careful... people are gunna start coming at you out of jealousy."

"First of all, I'm not close to her. She just feels bad for me, Iris. Second of all, don't be weird."

"I'm serious. If something happens between the both of you, she can lose her job." She smirks. "Ugh, but I wish something would happen between her and I. Just one chance."

I slapped her hands off me and chuckled, "I'm not the 'L' word, and she's all yours."

Iris stared straight pass my skin, right into my soul. The silence slowly crawled under my skin before I realized she was trying to do it too.

She was trying to get under my skin.

The way her grin grew even wider and her eyes lighting up like she successfully got a reaction what she wanted.

A soft chuckle escaped from her lips, placing her hand back on my shoulder as she giggled. I rolled my eyes, pushing pass her and step outside onto the gravel pathway.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm ever good at reading people.

I should've known she was just messing with me, she would never use such a high-pitched voice if she's excited. She would never really tease about something like that.

"I was just joking around." She grinned, "Though, everyone do really call her the hottest teacher around-- that wasn't a joke."

"You still want her."

"Yeah." Iris laughter came to an end. "Now all jokes aside, what did she really want. Did you get in trouble for something?"

"She gave me my marks on the test."

Professor told me not to tell anyone, but Iris is my best friend. Plus, she couldn't give a single flying fuck about her marks, especially Spanish. She just takes the language as an extra class for end-of-the-year points.

"Miss genius probably got the highest score again."

I smirked at her, "Yes, yes she did."

Iris rolls her eyes before stopping in her tracks where the gravel pathway splits into two. She turned to me and we quickly gave our goodbye hugs before she was off to volleyball and I was off to choir practice.

In the end of the semester, the university's choir is going to preform a huge show for the people who enjoys musicals. It'll be open to the public, so hopefully my dad will be able to come and see me sing along with the others.

After practice, I was about to walk home, out of the university grounds, until I remembered professor wanted me in her office.

I was standing in front of the closed door now. My knuckles hits the wood, but no reply from inside.

If this woman doesn't open up soon, I'm physically going to kick this door open, because there's now and then a lecturer walking into their office, staring at me as they do.

I knocked one more time before I felt a presence besides me.

"I didn't think you'd finish this early, how long have I kept you waiting?"

The brunette reached around me to unlock the door, pushing it open for me to enter.

"Not long, a few minutes."

"You can do a lot in a few minutes."

I just shrug and walk inside. She didn't have her bags on her, so she must've already been in here to put her stuff down.

My eyes glanced around the room, now finding it a little bit more decorated. By decorated I mean only a few things on the shelves and desk. Kind of basic, but I like it.

The typewriter is still there.

I hear the door close behind me as I walked deeper into her office, making my way towards her desk where the tests are settled on. Iris has 57%. It's better than her mark last year, she had 56.5%.

Moving my eyes away from the papers, I found professor walking towards the shelves.

"What can I do for you, professor?" I ask.

"Actually it's what I can do for you, miss Rivera." She runs her finger across the typewriter's spacebar, dust getting on her fingers.

"I want you to take it, it belongs to your family." She said, gesturing to the typewriter.

My eyebrows raise, a bit intrigued. Maybe she is a softy, or at least caring after all. There really is more to her scary look.

"Thank you, professor... but, this is where my mom would have wanted it. If she was here right now, she'd tell me that she wants it right here. She donated it to the university, but they told her to put it in her office. Now whenever any staff member looks at that, they'll remember Dr. Lauren Rivera."

Examining her face, I realized I've said too much.

"I-" I look down and chuckle, embarrassed, "I'm sorry that sounds dramatic."

She immediately spoke, "No, it doesn't."

I look up again and met her sincere gaze.

"Are you sure you don't want to take it with you?" She asked, her voice a bit more soft.

I shake my head, "Keep it," I turn back to the tests again. "Can I help grading?"

She raises her one eyebrow and folds her arms over her chest. "You want to help?" She asks curiously.

I nod. "I have nothing better to do, there's no reason for me to go home yet."

"Alright then. The memo is over here..."