Against All Odds Read online

  Was he referring to the fact that I said he was as sexy as hell?

  “I thought you found me attractive.” He was openly smirking now.

  “Are you trying to embarrass me again Mr Spencer?” I told him indignantly. “I shouldn't have said that I know, but don't feel so honored about it. I might think that about other teachers too.”

  “Oh really? And do you usually go and tell them?” He asked me amused.

  “No. I’m a good student. I would never get into trouble. I have good grades and usually I'm the first of the class."

  “Well here you'll be the first for sure,” he told me, still smiling.

  “What do you mean?” I asked him. I still couldn't make sense of anything that was happening.

  “You're my only student it seems,” he told me laughing.

  “What?” I was beginning to panic. How could I have three lessons a week alone with this man?

  “Why? What happened to the others? Last year we were five!”

  “Well according to Mr Daniels, the twin boys changed school. Mary Wilson dropped the subject ...” he paused.

  “And Nina is not coming for sure, she's pregnant,” I finished for him.

  I was stunned. How could I be the only student in class? “Maybe I should drop the subject as well,” I murmured.

  “Why? You're good. It's not your fault that few people appreciate Art nowadays. Mr Daniels didn't bother to get a teacher for just one student and since I'm good in Art, he asked me to do him a favor,” he explained.

  “Oh I see,” I replied.

  I was feeling uncomfortable. His gaze was having the same effect it had an hour earlier on me. I hadn't thought I was going to see him so soon. I hadn't recovered yet from the previous lesson. How could I concentrate on the lesson knowing he will be looking at me all the time?

  “Is this why you were looking at me with such interest this morning? Did you want to draw a portrait of me?”

  “I wasn't looking at you,” I said feeling my cheeks getting warmer again.

  “Only bad girls lie and you're turning red again!”

  How could he talk to me this way? I was getting irritated now.

  “Enough!” I snapped. “You're my teacher and teachers shouldn't be talking to students in this manner. Just stop it please. Why do you like embarrassing me so much?”

  “Cause you're cuter when you're all red!” He said smiling.

  Cuter? Did that mean he liked me? Was this what he was saying? Or was he just fooling around? He was being arrogant, playing with me like that.

  “Listen,” I told him defiantly. “I don't know what other girls do when you enter the classroom but I'm not like that. Maybe you are used to girls pulling their hair and fainting when they see you . You like all that attention, don't you? Well, I'm not one of those girls and this morning I just made a remark which I now regret,” I said tiredly. “And now just stop it please or I’ll -"

  “You what?” he interrupted me. “Go and report me? I'm not doing anything to you Cassy. I was just remarking the truth. Anyway, I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, it's just that you remind me of my little sister," he said gazing at me.

  His sister? I felt sick. I thought he was trying to flirt with me or something but apparently he wasn’t. I sat down and decided to remain silent.

  “Aren't you going to talk to me again? I said I was sorry,” he said looking at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

  I couldn't resist giving him the silent treatment for much longer. “OK OK, let's just stop this and begin the lesson,” I said finally.

  “Yes Miss,” he laughed. Then he came near me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked in a panicky tone.

  “My lesson. I will show you how to shade properly and how to use the cross hatching technique.”

  He brought a seat next to mine and began to draw. I immediately realised he was very good but I still couldn't listen to what he was saying. I mean I was, but I couldn't understand a thing. How could I concentrate with his scent infusing my brain and his shoulder lightly brushing mine?

  “Now you try.”

  I took the pencil and started shading but failed immediately in doing it right.

  “No, not like that,” he said patiently.

  He grabbed my hand and began to lead it gently, making circular movements with my pencil. My heart began to beat fast. What was wrong with me? With Julian I had never felt this way. Just by holding my hand, he was making me feel what I felt when I kissed Julian. I wondered what I would feel if he had to kiss me. Stop it! I slapped myself mentally.

  “Are you OK?” He asked interrupting my mental fight.

  “ Ah, yes. Sure,” I told him distractedly. I looked at him thinking he was looking at the drawing book but it was a huge mistake. He was looking at me and for a moment our eyes locked. I immediately looked back down. He must have felt my discomfort since he stood up and returned to his desk.

  “What shall I do now?”I asked.

  “Draw something else with the technique I showed you. In the meantime I'll do some corrections. When you're ready call me and I'll come back near you, if it is OK with you.”

  For a moment I didn't respond. Had I made it that obvious that I was nearly shaking? He must have noticed.

  “Yes of course sir.”

  CHAPTER 3

  He left me alone for sometime. I was enjoying his lesson far more than I had thought I would and I had learned a new technique which was making my drawings look much more real. He was much better than last year's teacher. I looked up to look at him. He didn't notice as he was looking down at the essays while correcting. He was chewing on his pen, his black hair falling lightly on his face. He was looking so damned sexy. I couldn't believe what I was feeling. I had known this person for barely 2 hours and he had already filled my thoughts. Even my body responded in a way it had never done before. When he held my hand I had felt a spark between us. I wondered if he had noticed. I was still staring at him and I was so lost thinking that I didn't realise he was looking at me.

  “Daydreaming Cassy?” He asked me gingerly.

  “What?" Oh no, I'm... I'm sorry I was just thinking.”

  “About?” He insisted.

  “Personal things,” I replied vaguely.

  Fortunately he didn't press it. I was relieved.

  “Have you finished?” he asked instead. I nodded.

  “Good. Can you come and show me your work then?”

  His intense gaze was still on me and I felt myself getting warmer. I nervously stood up and tried walking towards him but my legs felt weak. I stumbled slowly towards his desk and was so distracted that I didn't see his briefcase lying down on the floor. I tripped and fell down on him. He promptly caught my waist so that I wouldn't bump my head against his desk, but by doing that my face finished in the crook of his neck. My hands were on his thighs and for an instant I froze. I couldn't move.How could I face him now? I had never been this close to him. He must have frozen as well as for a moment he didn't move. We stayed in this position for what seemed like an eternity until I felt his hands squeeze my waist and he pulled me up.

  “Are you OK?”He asked softly.

  I couldn't speak. Why all of this was happening to me? I gleefully noticed that he hadn't let go of me. He was still holding my waist.

  “Cassy?” Say something.” He was looking closely at my face now, his expression intent.

  How could I? For God's sake he was my teacher and my brain was thinking only about one thing: kissing him. In that moment someone knocked at the door. Mr Spencer pulled his hands away from me.

  “Cassy go and sit down," he ordered. I obeyed.

  “Come in.” His voice sounded strange. It was as if he wasn't his normal confident self. Was he frightened? The door opened and the principal, Mr Daniels came in.

  “Good morning Mr Spencer,”he said with a smile on his face. Mr Daniels was a nice man in his forties. He was a good principal, strict but very down to earth.

&
nbsp; “Good morning Mr Daniels, can I help you?” asked Mr Spencer fighting hard to compose himself.

  “Oh. I just wanted to check that everything is all right here. Can I speak to Ms Hastley for a moment please?” asked Mr Daniels.

  “Of Course,” said Mr Spencer. He was looking a bit better now.

  “Please come outside Cassidy.” I nodded and followed Mr Daniels out of the room. I wondered why he wanted to talk to me. I hoped I wasn't in trouble. I closed the door and waited for Mr Daniels to say something. He looked at me strangely and seemed very uncomfortable and reluctant to start the conversation. I was very worried. What if he was here because of what I had said in class this morning to Mr Spencer?

  “Listen Cassidy. I know it's not a simple situation but-” he paused, trying to find the right words. Then he continued, his expression serious. “Are you comfortable with Mr Spencer?”

  For a moment I just stared at him. What the hell was he talking about?

  “I'm sorry I don't understand,” I said finally.

  “Well, you'd have to do a lesson all alone with him and he isn't even a proper art teacher,” he told me, trying to explain his previous question. “But you must understand that it would cost the school too much to get a teacher for just one person and I thought it would not be fair to force you to drop the subject,” he continued.

  “I have no problem with Mr Spencer. He is a good teacher. I have learned a lot today. He showed me the cross hatching technique,” I finally said, understanding his concerns.

  Mr Daniels looked relieved. “So you're happy with the arrangement?” He asked.

  “Yes.Why shouldn't I be?” I said with as much determination as I could muster. Mr Daniels smiled at me.

  “Good. I’m happy to hear that. OK Cassidy, that's all I wanted to tell you. You can go and continue your lesson now!”

  I'd rather not, I thought to myself. Now I would have to face Mr Spencer after what happened before. However I smiled at Mr Daniels and I opened the door to go back in.

  As soon as I entered I met Mr Spencer's gaze. There was something strange in his eyes which I couldn't figure out. Was it desire? No that was impossible. It was just my silly imagination.

  “Is everything OK?” He asked in a concerned tone.

  “Yeah,” I replied “He asked me If I was comfortable to have the lesson with you all alone," I paused.I sat down on my chair and looked at him. Mr Spencer was looking curiously edgy.

  “And what did you tell him?” he asked me.

  “Well, I said that I'd rather have another teacher,” I replied. For a moment he stayed silent and I could see anger in his eyes. Then he pushed back his chair and came near me. Not even I could understand why I had lied.

  “Why? Am I not good enough? Huh? Do you hate me that much?" He asked in an angry tone.

  “Hate you? You must be joking?” This was surreal. If he only knew what I had been thinking a few moments ago... How could I ever hate him?

  “Is it because of what happened before? It was an accident. I didn't mean to touch you. I just wanted to protect you from hurting yourself. I... You tripped. You fell on me.” He was pacing nervously in front of me. “I’m a very serious teacher. This is not my first year teaching and everything had been going well for me until-" He paused and inhaled. He seemed reluctant to continue.

  “Until what?” I asked.

  “Until this morning. No other student had been that impertinent and imprudent to tell me the things you said,” he said harshly.

  “If I remember well I didn't tell them to you but to my friend. You wanted to know and-" My voice broke. I just wanted to cry. A tear rolled down my cheek. “I told him you're a great teacher,” I admitted finally.

  “What?” He was looking in my eyes, his face stunned.

  “I told him that I'm happy to have you as a teacher. I was just..,” I couldn't continue, tears filled my eyes. He stared at me and his angry gaze softened.

  “Cassy, why did you lie to me?” he asked softly.

  “I didn't lie, I mean I was just kidding. I just wanted to see your reaction. I didn't think you would be so angry.” He came near me and stood in front of me.

  “I'm sorry” he said “Maybe we both said things we shouldn't have. We were both tensed and I was worried. You know that Mr Daniels could have interpreted what happened before in the wrong way. Do you think he would have believed that you had tripped? Please don't cry. I didn't mean to shout at you. I was just a bit nervous."

  Saying that he touched my face and wiped my tears away. I was surprised by this action. He had touched me again; a soft light touch on my cheek but which had made me shiver. I could still see something in his eyes which I couldn't understand, but I had seen a new side of him, the gentle one.

  “Should we continue with the lesson?” he asked me then.

  I nodded and he sat next to me again. For the next 20 minutes all our attention was on the lesson. I never looked at him again and this proved to be the best way to concentrate. When the bell rang I started to pack but he didn't move from his seat.“Cassy?”

  “Yes Sir?”

  “Are you sure everything is all right.Can we forget everything and start afresh?”

  “There is nothing to forget, honestly. I’m fine,” I said “See you tomorrow Sir, thanks.”

  I didn't wait for him to stand up, nor to reply. I just wanted to leave. I went straight to the canteen. I had had enough of Mr Spencer for today. Luckily I wouldn't be seeing him anymore since I knew all the teachers with whom I would be having the next 4 lessons.

  As soon as I arrived at the canteen, I heard a voice calling me. It was Julian. He was sitting down waiting for me. I smiled at him and went immediately near him. I was really happy to see him. Mr Spencer had made me feel things I never dreamed of; but he had made me feel bad as well. All I wanted now was to relax.

  “Hey sweetie. How was your day till now?” he asked. If he only knew. Obviously I couldn't tell him.

  “Fine,” I replied vaguely “And yours?”

  “Not bad. You won't believe it! I have Mr Bayne again for History. I couldn't be more unfortunate. He’s a jerk. Anyway I missed you honey."

  Saying this he came closer to me and whispered in my ear. “I would really like to kiss you right now. Cas you're so beautiful." And he began to kiss my neck softly.

  “What are you doing? Are you mad? We could get in trouble. You know we can't do this sort of thing at school. It’s prohibited," I said pulling away from him.

  “Is it? Well those teachers don't seem to think so,” he said with amusement.

  “What teachers ?” I asked curiously

  “Just turn around and you'll see.”

  I did as he said and my heart nearly stopped. At the corner of the canteen there was Mr Spencer sitting near Ms Leighton. She was my teacher last year. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and was caressing her back. He was speaking to her in the ear and she was laughing and looking at him tenderly. She looked really in love. I felt jealous. I had no right to feel like that. He was not my boyfriend, Julian was. So why was I so sad at seeing him so intimate with her?

  “They seem very intimate". Julian continued.“You can tell that he has slept with her. The way he is holding her and pressing her says it all,” laughed Julian. But I didn't feel like laughing, on the contrary, I felt like crying. Sleeping with her? No!

  “I didn't know you were so psychic,” I said sarcastically. I was angry. Julian didn't notice.

  “Well Cas honey, there is no need to be psychic. Body language says it all. I bet if they weren't at school right now they would be making out,” he replied laughing.

  “Shut up. It's none of our business is it? “I kept looking at him and my heart missed a beat when I saw him looking back at me. Our eyes locked. He smiled at me and I felt lost. I whipped my head around immediately but then I couldn't resist. I looked back at him. He continued to look at me and his hands were now on Ms Leighton's thighs. What was he doing? Was he trying to mak
e me jealous? If this was the case he was succeeding. Jealousy was eating me up.

  “Hey Cas. Do you know that teacher? He is looking at you.” Julian said looking at me warily.

  “Is he?” I replied feigning ignorance. “Yes he's my English teacher,” I said.

  “Oh. Cas-" He was going to say something else but I didn't let him because I pulled him close to me and gave him a peck on his lips. Two can play at this game Mr Spencer, I thought. Julian was surprised but he smiled at me and kissed me back, turning it into a deep French kiss. I kissed him back passionately, so passionately that I felt him getting excited. I pulled back.

  “Oh my God! Cas what happened to you today? We'd better stop. I can hardly breathe. I can't even stand up. Look what you have done to me."

  He continued to talk but I wasn't listening. I looked at Mr Spencer and to my satisfaction he was still looking at me. What was I doing? Did I really think he would be jealous? Did I want him to be jealous? Yes I did. He wasn't smiling and in fact he looked rather pissed off. He stood up and for a moment I thought he was going to come near us. Instead he said something to Ms Leighton and then walked away, heading towards the exit.

  CHAPTER 4

  I was heading towards the Administration Block, looking at my timetable. I saw that Maths was my next lesson, in classroom number 108. I saw with relief that my teacher was Mr Franks. At least I could concentrate now. Mr Franks, although young wasn't as attractive as Mr Spencer and it had never crossed my mind to think of him as anything more than a teacher. Why did it have to be so difficult with Mr Spencer? I had to stop it. I couldn't think of him all day. I was so distracted that I didn't hear Lucy calling me.

  “Hey Cassidy! Wait for me! Cas!” She shouted running after me. Finally I stopped and I turned to face her.

  “Hey Luc,” I said calmly. She gave me one of her nasty looks.

  “What's the matter with you? Do you know I called you for like a hundred times? Why the hell are you so distracted? What happened?” She asked panting.