Chapter 8 || Soft Spot for Him

UNEDITED. ◇♡

Flow will pick up soon, get ready for a storm.

SOFT SPOT FOR HIM

Mr. Williams isn't in class today.

When I went to his classroom, it was empty, void of his powerful presence.

So instead of choosing to mope around missing him, I decided to go to the library and get some work done.

Entering into the vicinity of the library, my head-out of habit- turns towards the books on the shelf, classic literature.

I honestly don't know what I would have done if those books didn't exist to help me through life. Even if it's only fantasy. I know they'll make me forget my sadness; the emptiness that comes with his absence.

But it surprises me when I see Mr. Williams in my peripheral view, anxiously browsing through the collection of books, blue eyes shining with interest, cheeks tinted a rosy hue. He looks so unbelievably gorgeous that even I halt in my steps, just to appreciate the beauty God has blessed him with.

When I realize how much this man really loved literature, I wish he could have shared even half of the same enthusiasm for me. I would have died happy.

"Hi, Mr. Williams," I approach him, making him look up from his mission. The light disappears from his eyes, thinned lips greeting me in its slumber.

"Are you stalking me?"

"You're not interesting enough for me to want to do that, but you can keep dreaming," I hum, amazed by my confidence, but also a tad bit scared of his reaction.

"Coming from a child, that sounds much more a compliment than an insult," I feel the breath knocked out of me when he refers to me as a child.

Fúck him. How dare he.

"This child here can rock your world if she wanted to," I murmur lamely.

"What? I didn't catch that."

"Nothing..." I stress, letting my hand caress the books in the shelves.

A steady silence befalls us when he, too, goes back to browsing the books, and I find myself relishing in this moment we're sharing. Even though the only thing that greets us is the calm of the atmosphere.

Which I, of course, decide to break.

"Why weren't you in the classroom?"

"I wanted an escape from you, but I guess I can't escape you since you were able to find me here," he says skeptically, and I whirl around to look at him with a pout.

Am I really that bad of company?

"I'm joking. Stop looking at me like a kicked puppy."

"What's the real reason?"

"Why are you so nosy?"

"I'm not obligated to answer you."

"I'm not obligated to answer you either. Jesus, I cannot believe I'm engaging in such childish banter," he says, looking genuinely surprised at himself.

I gape at him. "Excuse you, it's probably because you feel comfortable around me."

"You couldn't be any farther from the truth."

"Please, we both know that we enjoy each other's company."

His hand halts, hovering over Pride and Prejudice.

He turns around slowly to stare at me, and I also halt my wandering hands (I don't even know what I was looking for), whirling around to look at him, apprehensive. Did I finally cross my limits?

"You need to stop."

"Stop what?" Playing dumb, hoping he'll drop the subject. I don't want him to reject me or child-zone me so early in our progressive 'relationship.'

"This... saying... these things," he begins, his blue eyes darting away from me.

I made him uncomfortable.

And I like it.

Because now I know he can be affected. By me.

"I didn't say anything wrong, Mr. Williams, I only stated the truth. And besides, I'm really glad to have your company. I don't fit in with those my age. I think I already told you I'm an outcast and that nobody really likes me. Even those two friends of mine have their own friends and I don't get to see them on a daily basis," I add, by way of explanation.

His expression remains more or less emotionless, but his features seem to have softened at my expense.

"I'll take your word for it, Namora," he seems to want to say something else, but hesitates.

I give him the most encouraging smile I can muster, "you can tell me anything, Mr. Williams."

"Never mind. I have work, so you won't be able to enjoy my company today," he drawls mockingly, grabbing Pride and Prejudice before turning around.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

I smile a Cheshire grin, looking at his retreating back. And he thinks I won't follow him after such a vague response?

I'm careful to remain out of his line of sight as I accompany him to wherever he is headed, which is ironic because earlier he'd accused me of being a stalker; yet here I am, doing the exact thing he thought I'd done earlier.

I would have laughed at the irony of it all if it weren't for the apprehension churning in my stomach as I realize he's headed towards the parking lot.

I furrow my eyebrows when I see a female teacher catch up to him, starry-eyed and all smiles, cheeks tinted a rosy hue as she begins to speak to him.

He responds with a shake of his head and the roll of his eyes, passively retaining whatever she's telling him, before he invites her into the passenger seat of what I can now identify as his car, a sleek Porsche. Then he moves to the driver's side and takes his seat.

But not before I see the small smile painting his face.

He drives away, leaving me standing there in my spot, the ground beneath my feet crumbling.

Just like my heart.

Who is she?

"Are you okay, Namora?"

Savannah's soft voice surprises me, and I look up at her with a sullen expression of woe.

How could I tell her that I'm in love with her favorite teacher and I just saw him get into a car alone with an unknown woman, going God-knows-where?

"Just peachy."

She can't fight a smile, "your face doesn't look it."

"Hah, I get that a lot." I'm getting a lot of things nowadays. I don't know if I'm going to enjoy Savannah's company because she seems like another obstacle in my plans to get to Mr. Williams. But then again, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?

She has no idea of my feelings for Mr. Williams, even though I so badly want to show them.

Still, I don't think I'll do it, because I don't think I can risk losing another friend.

"So... you sure you don't wanna talk about it?"

"Well... it's just hard, y'know? The way Mr. Williams treats me... I don't like it," I say devilishly, frowning.

The innocent, concerned look on Savannah's face tells me I have her hooked.

"Do you know how I can... you know... get him to loosen up around me?" I ask, letting my troubled expression show, even though my troubled expression was for a completely different reason. She doesn't need to know.

"Well... I think you'll have to start by showing him you're worthy of his praise."

"But how? I can't do anything more than getting good grades and answering his questions in cla-"

"Surprise him."

"Surprise him?"

"Yep."

"Can you elabo-"

"You're gonna have to figure that out on your own," she sends me a wink, "it works differently for everyone. The last star student in my school surprised him by pranking him. Mr. Williams had a soft spot for that guy."

"A guy? What about girls?" I murmur inquisitively.

"Oh, yeah, he's pretty good with girls too. Girls don't really have an... 'interest' in him, so they don't feel like getting in his good books, it's not their priority. Because he's so... solid. So founded and faithful. I was... one of, uh, the very few... having a harmless crush on him and then it wearing off later on," she blabbers away.

I can't describe the relief I feel coursing in my veins, the sense of euphoria that immediately clouds my judgement.

Because this is it, an obstacle toppling over and creating a path for me into the world of my dreams.

"So you don't think anyone else is going to vie for his attention?" I guess it'll be fine if I show some interest in him now.

"Ah, I knew you had a soft spot for him. Well... to answer your question, not really. I'm not sure about the teachers though."

My jaw ticks as I remember that woman.

One problem may be down, but there are many more to go.

I just hope I'm strong enough to be able to handle this journey.