Beautiful Dream (14 page)

“What’s wrong with that?” She questions.

“She thinks she’s with Lucinda, not Luci,” my voice gets a little too loud. “She doesn’t realize I’m me!”

“I still don’t see what the problem is,” Deb clenches her teeth.

“Her and your brother apparently kissed last year!”

“REALLY?!” Deb shoots up angrily, and everyone turns to stare.

I can’t help my outrageous giggle. It just escapes, and Josh pauses mid-sentence, looking at us questioningly.

“Um,” his booming voice is uncertain as he clears his throat, and I finally stop my laughing enough to pull Deb back down into her seat.

“My brother is unbelievable!” She whispers.

“Apparently when they kissed, or afterwards, or something… he said
my
name.”

“Oh,” she gives me a look. “That’s sort of…
sweet
?”

I brush off her comment, rolling my eyes. “No!” I correct. “She knows I was a student here!”

“Oh,” she says again, realizing how bad this could be.

“Yeah, she could easily put two and two together,” I hesitate. “Would she say something?”

Deb shrugs. “I don’t really know her.”

Deb wishes me luck before I make my way towards Brittney.

“Brittney?” I call from behind. She turns around, offering a tight, quizzical smile, as if to say what could I possibly want from her?

I clear my throat. “Should we head to your classroom?”

“Luci!” She sighs as realization dawns on her. “Short for-”

“Lucinda,” I finish.

“Great!” She exclaims a little too unenthusiastically for my liking. “Follow me.”

Brittney’s classroom is on the second floor, right near my old senior year study hall. We walk in, and she has a small desk set up for me, which is awesome, but I can tell she’s less than thrilled I’m here.

She starts telling me about her classes, and where she is in the curriculum as her first period class makes their way inside.

All is going surprisingly well as the fifth period bell rings.

“I usually eat lunch in the faculty lounge,” she says, grabbing her bag. “You’re welcome to join. Unless you have other plans.”

“No,” I’m excited, not to mention a little shocked that she’s including me. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all!

I follow her to the faculty lounge, which to be honest, I’ve never even noticed before! “I thought you might be eating with Josh or something,” she adds while opening the door. “The code is 4321 by the way.”

“Clever,” I mutter, taking a seat, trying to ignore her comment, but she stares at me expectantly.

“Look, I really don’t know why he said my name,” I explain.

“So you’re not dating?” She asks a little too loudly for my liking, especially since teachers are filtering in and out of the room.

“Of course not!” I immediately reply, showing a clear disdain.

“You sure about that?” She asks, looking up.

I turn around, following her gaze, and there he is in the doorway.

“Surprised to see you here, Josh,” she says, again loudly, before turning back to me. “For the record, he
never
comes in here. Ever.”

I watch as she gets up and goes to sit with another group of teachers. I’m slightly flabbergasted. I know I’m in high school, but I didn’t think I was still
actually
in high school. I let out a long sigh as my gaze narrows in on Josh.

Standing up, I quickly grab my things before taking him by the arm and leading him out and into the hallway. “What are you doing?” I demand.

“What are you talking about?” He allows me to pull him easily, and we naturally fall in line and start walking towards his classroom.

“You and Brittney kissed!” I accuse in a hushed voice.

“Shit, does she go around blabbing that to everyone?” He pinches the top of his news. “That’s classy.”

“Classy or not, it’s a problem,” I say as I cross my arms.

“Are you jealous?” He inquires, and I can’t help but give him a look.

“For the record, she kissed me,” he explains. “I kissed her back for
maybe
two seconds and then I… I…”

I stop walking, and he does too. “You said my name.”

“I did,” he smirks bashfully.

“Ugh,” I throw my hands up and continue walking, hearing his footsteps following.

We turn the corner, and I look into his classroom, noticing it’s full of people. “There’s a class going on?”

“They use my room for a study hall now. It’s bullshit.”

“How dare they!” I place my hand over my chest. “From the head of the department heads!”

He grabs his key and unlocks his office door, smiling. “So are you gonna eat with me, or am I back to being sentenced to stay away from you?”

“I dunno,” I hesitate, looking around the familiar room.

He walks in and sighs, while I remain in the doorway. “Can we just go back to our lunches?” He pleads. “Before all the bullshit, we used to sit here and just talk. I miss that.”

“Fine,” I huff. “But we should probably not say anything to anyone about us eating together. At least not until we see how this stuff with Brittney plays out. She needs to realize that it wasn’t a big deal that you said my name.”

“Luci,” he stops me.

“Yeah?”

“Its just lunch,” he tries to brush my worry away.

“I’m pretty sure I heard that before.”

Chapter 8

-Josh-

Everything I once treasured and loved about my days are back. No longer do I feel a part of me is missing, and by mid-March, it feels like Luci and I never had this lapse of time between us.

We haven’t
done
anything since Deb’s engagement party, but I still shut my office door while we eat, like we have to hide, and sadly, a part of me still feels like we do.

“Hey!” I look up upon hearing my most favorite voice in the world.

“Good morning,” I smile as she walks into my office, ready to swallow the desire that hits me whenever I see her. “What’s going on?” I stand up, realizing she has something to say.
Fuck, please don’t be changing your mind about our friendship, unless it’s to take it to the next level.

“If we…” her voice trails off. “Last time we… If we were ever go back…” She laughs, frustrated.

“Yeah, sure!” I joke.

“You’re agreeing and you don’t even know what I’m going to say,” she laughs.

“I’d agree to anything you ask me,” I shrug, taking a step closer.

“Be serious.” She looks at the floor.

“I am,” I try to meet her eye.

“I… I couldn’t do this again and -”

“It would be different,” I interrupt, sensing what she’s getting at. How can she not feel how we basically picked up right where we left off? “This time,” I meet here eye. “We can be real.”

“So,” she contemplates. “I’m supposed to date you until you decide not to tell me something important again?” She shakes her head. “Because you’re unsure how I will react? I can’t let that happen again.”

“I’ve learned from my mistakes. The only way you’d ever get rid of me now is if
you
walk away.”

“What about-”

The door opens without even a knock. We both leap back, and I curse under my breath while turning away from her, for I’m certain if whomever walks in could see me there’d be no mistake about my feelings for Luci.

“I knew I’d find you here!” I hear Britney St. James’ high-pitch voice.

“I was just… helping Josh with…”

“The next meeting,” I cough, turning back around. “I figure I’d show Luci what organizing the department meetings looks like.”

“Right.” She clearly doesn’t buy it, and I hate the fact that I still have something to hide, because Luci is
not
something to hide.

“Anyway, Luci, I was wondering if you can make copies for me?” Brittney shoves a paper her way.

“Copies?” She makes a disgruntled face.

“Yes,” Brittney snaps. “It’s part of being a teacher. Making copies, and-”

“It’s fine,” Luci interrupts, taking the paper from her, upset over the unnecessary busy work.

Luci and I are both staring at Brittney, waiting to see if there’s anything else, but it’s Brittney who’s unrelenting, standing in place, not leaving.

“Now?” She demands, and I’m about to say something about how rude she’s being towards Luci, but Luci meets my eye before walking out the door, stopping me.

“God, I thought she’d never go,” Brittney laughs.

“What are you doing?” I back away as she moves closer, eying her carefully.

“We never did talk about what happened between us last year,” she bats her eyes, and it looks… unnatural. “You always avoid me.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I thought we could try again,” she smiles.

“Try again?” I inquire slowly.

“You were obviously caught up in…
something
,” she waves her hand towards the door. “I can be very good at a lot of things, and I’d very much like to show them to you. I can make you forget.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice is even, and I take another step away from her.

“I like you,” she shrugs. “You’re hot. I’m obviously hot,” she giggles. “I think we could have a lot of fun together.”

“Not to be blunt or anything,” I roll my eyes.

“I can only assume something happened between you and my student teacher, and based on when we kissed, and your
embarrassing
moan of her name, I’m going to assume that something happened while she was a student here, so if you want me to keep that to myself, I think you should consider my offer.”

“Are you trying to blackmail me?”

“No,” she chuckles. “But you clearly have a thing for her, and she’s in my way.”

“Your way of what?”

“You,” she shrugs.

“That’s extremely immature, you do realize that, right?”

“And sleeping with a student is extremely illegal, you do realize
that
, right?”

“I never slept with her,” I shake my head. “I was looking at a past paper when
you
kissed
me,
and that’s why I said her name. It’s very coincidental.”

“I don’t think a moan that delicious can be from seeing a paper,” she giggles. “Also, I don’t care.”

“So what do you want?” I ask coldly.

“Let’s start with a date,” she winks. “Think about it.”

Luci beats me to my office for lunch, like she usually does, and I’m dreading telling her about my encounter with Brittney.

“What’s wrong?” She stands as soon as I walk in, and her face tells me that she has her own rant boiling, but my look is clearly worse.

“Brittn-” I don’t even get her name out before anger washes over her face. “Basically if I don’t go out on a date with her she’s telling-”

“What?!” Her voice raises about ten octaves. “She’s
blackmailing
you?”

Her mind is racing, not knowing what to say. “Are you actually considering it?” Her eyes pierce me.

“No!” I run my fingers through my hair.

“Well, she doesn’t have any proof,” she jumps. “And I’m sorry, but there’s nothing wrong with us eating lunch together!”

“I know,” I chuckle angrily. “For once we’re not even doing anything wrong!”

“Well, maybe we should stop eating lunch together then,” she suggests, and I hate to admit it, but it’s probably for the best.

“That’s probably a good idea,” I wince at her expression. I don’t think she expected me to agree so easily. “Just for a little while anyway. It’s not like when you went here, where this was the only place I saw you. We see each other outside of school now too.”

“Right,” she mumbles, and I catch her eye roll as she heads towards the door, but I immediately grab her arm, stopping her.

“Well you’re already here today, don’t go.”

She gives me a look before begrudgingly taking a seat, and I’m boiling inside. Will we,
can we
, ever catch a break?

“So you’re going to have to go on a date with her then?”

“I don’t know, I have to think,” I stare at my uneaten lunch. “What if she ruins this student teaching thing for you?”

“Me?” Her voice gets loud. “What about
your
job
?”

“Okay,” I take a deep breath, trying to calm us both down. “Let’s not point fingers and try to save each other here. Let’s just think.”

“Can’t you tell her you’re dating someone else or something?”

“I don’t think that will matter,” I sigh. “It’s like she’s mad I turned her down. That I mentioned
you
.” I chuckle, because what else can I do at the moment?

“It’s not funny,” she tries to hide her smile.

“Still causing me trouble, after all these years,” I laugh.

“I’m just a bad seed,” she jokes, and the lightened mood feels good. I don’t want her to worry, or get mad over this, or think that we can’t be together because of this. It’s me Brittney has the problem with, not her.

“I guess it
is
sort of funny though,” she laughs. “No one suspected us back then, but NOW?”

There’s a light knock on the door, and both our eyes go wide. I freeze while placing a finger over my lips, motioning for Luci to be quiet.

I glance at the door to make sure it’s locked, and even though the light is on, maybe they’ll think I’m not in here.

Luci’s eyes are giant, and she literally freezes, with one leg in the air and her arm mid-air as well, and I can’t help my silent laugh.

There’s another bang on the door, which moves it roughly against the lock.

Our eyes meet, my chest, rising and falling. I watch as she swallows, my eyes never leaving hers. The door handle jiggles again. I think we’re caught for sure, and for minutes, I’m too nervous to do anything else but sit silent and unmoving.

Luci twists her body, reaching for a pen and paper from the corner of my desk, and I hold my breath, praying she doesn’t make noise as she scribbles.

Stop staring!!!! You’re going to make me laugh!

I smile and shake my head, before reaching for my own piece of paper. I can’t find anything to write with, so I motion for her to throw me the pen. She makes a face, before tossing it over - a horrible throw that I barely catch.

You’re a terrible throw
, I scribble and hold up the sheet, adoring the face she makes upon reading my words.

I take it down and turn it over.
I’m gonna keep on staring though, because you’re pretty!!

She laughs a lovely sound that echoes in the room. “Do we still have to be quiet?” She whispers.

“Yes,” I whisper back. “Come sit on my lap so I can hear you better.”

“Get outta here,” she throws her head back in a fit of laughter.

When I get back to my office during my free period, my phone is lighting up with missed text messages. They’re all from Luci, and the last one is asking me to come over after school.

To your house?
I reply, shocked.

Her response is instant.
Yes lol!

What about Gracie and your parents?
I hope I’m not convincing her I don’t want to go, because I do, but I’m not sure her parents would react kindly to seeing me with her.

Parents are working and Gracie is auditioning for the school play.

Shouldn’t you be teaching now?

I wish! She has me stapling papers! I’ve been sentenced to busy work.

I’m sorry.

Well I guess it IS sort of your fault. You’re a real Don Juan.

Everything is my fault!

I think she may have gotten upset after my last joking text, since she doesn’t answer again, and as soon as the last bell rings, I rush outside and wait by my car.

Minutes pass, and I watch as the crowds of students swarm out of the school towards the buses and student parking lots.

Finally, I spot Luci as she walks outside. Our eyes meet and a silent agreement passes between us.

I follow behind her in my car, nervous as hell. It won’t be bad, as long as like she says, no one is home. I’m just not ready for another parent reaction after my Mother’s, and my mind is racing the entire way to her house.

I haphazardly shut my car off, not getting out until she does. We go in through the garage and head upstairs.

“Do you want something to drink?” She opens the fridge.

“I’m good, thanks,” I try not to be too obvious as I look around. “Is this the house you grew up in?”

“Born and raised,” she smiles. “I know its sort of old looking.”

“No!” I insist. “It’s homey,” I smile. “I love it.”

She laughs, and we fall silent. I head into the next room while she pours herself a drink, which turns out to be the living room. I stop and stare at all at the family pictures hanging up, which are mostly of her and her sister.

She exhales loudly as she walks into the room. “This is sort of embarrassing,” she blushes.

“Why?” I try to hide my beaming smile as I approach her.

“I never pictured you in my house,” she laughs. “Seeing my baby pictures.”

I don’t stop until I’m standing right in front of her, her eyes vibrant and alive.

“Can I see your room?” I whisper.

She looks away, biting her lip, and I groan in response.

“Will you behave Mr. Harrington?” She asks through hooded eyes.

“Not when you look at me like that.” I can’t help my hand as I brush a piece of hair off her face. Or my other one, as it lands on her hip. I’ve stolen a couple of touches here and there during our outings, and even some during our lunches, and she has too, but none as obvious as this.

“I just want to see your books.” I give her my most convincing smile, and she closes her eyes, leaning in. “Please,” I breathe, rubbing my thumb against the side of her hip.

It’s been just over a month since my sister’s engagement party, and I know she’s been aching for something to happen, even though she won’t admit it.