chapter 30

I sat in my history class trying my very best to stay awake but it was becoming harder and harder with every attempt to keep my eyes open. 

This class was by far the most  boring on my entire schedule but I had never dosed in it, actually I never dosed in any of my  classes. 

I  tried looking around at my classmates, trying to figure out everyone's story but I hate everyone in this class so that didn't help at all. 

Brandy's face wasn't even green any more, Scott was still sparklish but it  was no longer as hideous. 

I jumped out of my seat the moment the bell went and sprinted off to theatre. I loved theatre not because I am into literature and shit but because it's the only class I shared with both Dylan and Sierra. And the teachers are usually tolerable.

"Lia.....," Sierra squealed and jumped at me. 

"Damn woman what's with all the energy," I complained teasingly.

"And you've only seen her for a minute, I've been with her all morning, she's slowly leading me into depression. Not everyone is in love Sierra," Dylan whined, giving me a side hug and I giggled. 

Sierra blushed " I know … it's just…. Ashton is so…."  she mumbled, fumbling with her hands 

"Perfect"  Dylan and I finished for her, making her blush deeper, "we know Sierra, you've only said it about a thousand times," I added and she shoved me playfully and walked to her seat.

" But we're happy to see he makes you this giddy, it's just as cute as it is irritating " I added as I took my seat as well. 

"Thanks Lia, because the irritating part is supposed to make me feel better," she scoffed sarcastically

"Hey, what are friends for?" I smirked, completely ignoring her sarcasm and Dylan snickered. 

Principal Whitaker walked in class in his usual retro red suspenders muttering something to himself. Why is he even here in the first place? I wondered

"Listen up young ones," everyone let out a chorus of very  irritated groans at his choice of words. No one knew why he was so obsessed with calling students, young ones, It's just extremely disturbing. 

"Quiet,," he commanded

" Miss Glenn, your teacher is away on a seminar in France, she won't be with us for the next month or so and I  wanted to formally introduce all of you to your temporary teacher, Mr. Xavier Brooks," he announced and in walked a gorgeous white haired man. He looked to be in his mid 20's between 23 and 25 am guessing. Angular jaw, pretty pouty lips, dimples on both cheeks when he smiled, and don't even get me started on his body. My oh my his body. He could definitely pass for a Calvin Klein model. 

But oddly his face looked extremely familiar, where had I seen this man, I could swear I've met him before, ohh maybe my body is overreacting because he looks like someone that would exist on TV screens. 

"Well I'll leave it to you now Mr Brooks," principal Whitaker spoke and walked out of the room muttering something to himself again. Am convinced that man has a multi personality disorder. 

Teacher too hot to handle (yes I just called him that. You would too  if you met him, judge me not). 

Anyway he cleared his throat and he started to talk but something caught his eye and he stopped. I looked at what he was looking at, more like who.  And just like that the little bulb in my head went on, everything fell in place.

Dylan sat in his chair with his eyes dead locked with the teacher man, someone could cut  the tension between them with a knife.  I looked between them finally  remembering exactly where I had seen that handsome face. 

Teacher man was the hot guy from club Luna that took my boy Dylan home that night we hit the bars. Shit. Double shit. 

"I like cheese," I shouted awkwardly hoping to knock them out of whatever trance they'd fixed themselves in before the entire class caught on. 

"Yes, cheese," I giggled nervously.

" white cheese, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, I don't even know if there's blue cheese but I like it. Because well I like the color blue and cheese. Two things I like boom together. Haha," I added laughing weirdly. Okay what the fuck is wrong with me, what started as a strategy to help Dylan was starting to feel a little to much, my words were coming out fast and uncontrollably, my body felt sweaty and I felt extremely jaunty. 

My hand that was holding the pencil was shaking like crazy and I had to take a couple of deep breaths to stabilise my system, then it hit me. Today morning my anxiety had been out the roof after yet another nightmare so I took two pills instead of one, these might be side effects for the mishap.

"Thanks ,miss uhhh.." he asked.

"Jenkins, Lia Jenkins,"  I replied and he nodded, clearly he didn't realize I knew what was going on and didn't seem to catch on to my little rhapsody moment.

"Yah Jenkins, uhmm as you all know am Xavier Brooks, am a writer mostly but I have a degree in theatrical arts, that's why Ms Glenn requested I be your substitute for a while." He spoke with a firm voice, if he was nervous he didn't let it peak at all, but then again, the man has a degree in theatrical arts and am pretty sure being a great actor is a prerequisite to that.

My eyes travelled to Dylan, his eyes were fixated on the book in front of him but am darn sure he wasn't reading shit. As much as I wanted to find this funny, I could actually see how much of a problem this was going to be. 

Dylan must not be feeling so good about everything happening right now. 

"How old are you Mr. Brooks, you're probably the youngest teacher I've ever seen," a girl from the front asked, not caring to be discreet with her flirting.

"And probably the most handsome too," she added and I rolled my eyes and Dylan scoffed loudly. A little too loud because now he had the attention of the entire class. 

His eyes widened when he noticed, his cheeks turning red from embarrassment and I mentally facepalmed myself. 

"Uhmm, sorry... I have something in my throat. Can I go to the nurse," he asked, not even looking at Mr. Brooks. 

Mr Brooks nodded in approval and Dylan bolted out faster than lightning. I have to follow him. He clearly needed someone to talk to. Coming up with a quick plan to escape this class. I let out a piercing scream. 

"Miss Jenkins are you alright," he asked 

"Yes, no I mean no am not alright," I stammered. Daim Lia, act  like your life depends on this. It's just acting. It's not that hard.

I let out a dramatic wail. And started moving out of my seat towards the exit. 

" Am in grave need of emotional support right now, my heart is breaking apart, can I go talk to the councilor," I wailed harder, keeping it as dramatic as possible and he nodded. 

I made my exit and ran off to find Dylan. He was seated on the staircase that led to the rooftop right above the janitor's closet.

I climbed up the staircase and sat next to him. 

"So Mr. Brooks huh"

"Is the guy I met at Luna that night, the guy I left with" he admitted and let out a heavy exhale. 

"How is this happening, how in the world of God is this actually happening?" He pulled at his hair in frustration. 

"Hey, it's okay, we'll figure it out okay, together like we always do, that's what friends are for," I spoke and he sent me a smile one that could blow any woman's heart away I swear if he wasn't so gay, I'd have jumped him. 

"Thanks Lia," he replied and we fell into a comfortable silence each one of us on a different train of thoughts

"It's kinda cool that you fucked a teacher though," I said and we laughed silently. 

"You just couldn't hold it in, could you?," he asked, still smiling. 

And I shook my head laughing. We stayed quiet for a bit until we saw something that caught both our attention. At the end of the hall, Hunter and Marrisa stood in each other's embrace. kissing like their lives depended on it . And no she didn't force herself on him, his hands were around her waist and he looked like he was enjoying himself like he craved her touch all this while. 

"Lia..." Dylan trailed, eyes on me, worry evident in them 

I looked at him, I hadn't even reacted yet, my whole body was rigid and so were my emotions it's like I had shut down. 

"Am okay," my voice came out small and a tear dropped. I wondered where that came from. I hadn't felt the need to cry but it seemed like my body had a mind of its own. 

"Am okay, am gonna go to the bathroom," I added, my voice wasn't even trembling a bit but he noticed the tears running down my left cheek because he lifted his hand to wipe it away and gave me a pitiful smile as I stood up and started to walk. 

Slowly but surely with every step that I took I felt my world start to tremble and fall around me.  By the time I made it to the girls washrooms I was a crying mess, my breathing was all over the place, I had flashes of moments between Hunter and I coming back to me. My brain was shouting at me for being such a fool 

How could you be so stupid? 

What did you think, Lia? That a guy like Hunter could be into a pathetic loser like you. 

You can't even dress like a girl. You're such a loser. 

I shook my head trying to rid the voices in my head, the vicious and insensate words running through my head felt like they were coming in twos, I couldn't breathe, my heart felt heavy there were echoes in my head of the same statement running through my head. 

You're worthless Lia. And soon I found myself chanting it to myself, my vision blurred with tears and my whole body a sweaty mess. I reached the pockets of my Boston hoodie and pulled out my pills, popping one immediately. I stayed rocking myself on the ground with my hands wrapped around my legs. 

A few minutes later, my body began to relax, my breathing stabilised and my mind had quieted down. I wasn't feeling the plethoric powerlessness I had been feeling earlier, it was now replaced with lethargy and a strong need to sleep, I wanted to sleep this day away. 

I only had one more class to go and I decided it wasn't important enough to keep me here. I texted Dylan to help me pick up JJ and I made my way out of the school, driving at an insane speed till I was home.