How to make your teacher fall in love with you

Chapter 8

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, giving me another small smile before walking away to another group. I heaved a sigh of relief. Maybe things could get better.

Nathan’s POV

I watched the jerk as he told her off for looking at me. What the hell? That guy seriously hated me. I stopped from what I was doing as I saw Ella roll her eyes and him standing up to check on her work. My eyes threw out daggers metaphorically as I watched them. He was speaking to her and smiling at her. Ugh, I hate him.

I really regretted asking Ella to flirt with him, now that I’m seeing how good they actually look together. They’d make the perfect couple, I knew that. He was so lucky. I practically hated him, and I’d asked Ella to make him fall for her so he’d be kicked out of school, though I wasn’t sure what I really was going to achieve by that.

Of course I knew. I wanted to make him pay for what he had done, for tearing my family apart. But I didn’t really want to think about that right now.

Abruptly, I heard my name being called by the jerk. I looked up, and he was looking at me with narrowed eyes. “Nathan, back to work. Stop staring and pay attention.”

I rolled my eyes and didn’t say anything, deciding that it would be better if I didn’t stand up to him right now. He has been giving me maltreatment ever since all of that happened last year. I didn’t blame him, really, because I’d made his life hell back in those days. But he deserved it. All of it. And if he gets fired from his job because of what I had told Ella to do, he would deserve it as well.

I sighed and continued sketching. Ella… she was so beautiful. I had taken a liking to her immediately, but when I saw her speaking to Mr James on the second day of school, I realised that I really like her, and I don’t really want her to be with him, but with me. Maybe I could try to talk her out of flirting with him, and ask someone else to do that instead. I couldn’t lose her.

The lesson passed pretty quickly, with me being lost in my thoughts while attempting to draw portraits. Mr James clapped his hands. “Right, class.” He walked so that he was almost standing next to me. I frowned. “So, you can leave. Have a nice weekend. For homework, please create a portrait in pencil of anyone you want, maybe a family member, friends, anyone. But don’t copy off a picture please, make sure that the person is in front of you. All right? I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

I moved past him, hitting his stomach roughly in the process. He glared at me, probably hurt from the impact. I smirked as the other students started leaving the room. “I’m gonna ask my mum to pose for the portrait, Edward,” I said, addressing him by the first name. I mean, we knew the guy, so I could do that, right?

He bit his lip, drawing blood out of it due to the pressure that he was putting on it. “I’m Mr James to you, Nate.  And if you really want to draw your mum, I’d be more than happy to correct it, and you know that well. Make sure to make her look as beautiful as she really is.” He smirked. He always spoke in a low voice, so that the other students wouldn’t hear him. Of course not. He had a lot to hide beneath his smiling face. And I knew all about it.

I glared at him. “Jerk,” I muttered, walking away from him and towards Ella, who was still in the room, packing her stuff away. She smiled at me. “Ready?”I asked, putting my arm through hers. She nodded. Instantly I heard a voice from behind me speaking. I took a deep breath, recognising Edward’s voice. I turned around.

“Ella, could you please stay behind? I need to speak to you.” He paused when he saw her puzzled expression. “Don’t worry about the bus, I’ll drive you home, since I’m practically your neighbour.” He smiled.

What? He’s her neighbour?

I saw Ella smile from the corner of my eye. “Okay, then,” she said. She turned to me as I let go of her arm. “I’ll see you on Monday, then.” I smiled at her and leaned to kiss her cheek, and I admit I did almost touch her lips with mine. She smiled back, although I felt her flinch.

“See you,” I said, giving Edward a look. He didn’t look pleased. “Have a nice weekend.” I glared at him and walked out of the art room, leaving the two of them on their own.  But if they thought I was just going to walk away, they were wrong. I stood next to the door, in such a way that neither of them could see me, but I could see them, and hear their conversation well.

“How are you?” he asked her. I rolled my eyes. He’s trying to act sweet. Typical.

“I'm fine. What do you want?” Ella sounded angry. That made me feel happy.

“Are you and Nathan together?” Ooh, jealous I see.

Ella seemed to have read my mind. “Why are you asking? Are you jealous?” she said.

“No I’m not jealous. Are you together?” Hah. He was clearly very jealous.

“No, we’re not together,” Ella replied. My heart sank.

“Then why is he kissing you?”

“I don’t know! You almost kissed me, and we’re not together, are we?” My heart sank once again. Almost kissed? Her and him?

Edward closed his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“What did you want to say to me that you couldn’t in front of the class?” Ella asked, sounding pissed.

He looked worried as he ran his hands through his filthy hair. “You and I have never really talked during class, have we?” he said. “Look Ella, I’m a bit concerned here, because ever since I said we should only meet during class, you’ve totally ignored me. And I don’t want that.”

“Why don’t you want that?” she asked.

Edward sighed, and slowly reached his hand to touch her face. I could barely keep still. “I care about you,” he said softly. He put his hand down and sighed once again. “Let’s talk in the car, okay? I need to clear up some stuff first though.” He looked around the room. I immediately hid behind the door.

“Fine.” She paused. “I’ll go put some books in my locker then. Where shall I meet you?” Ella asked.

“Um, next to the door outside of this block is fine,” he replied, smiling down at her. “See you soon.”

She nodded and started walking out of the room. I turned around, so she wouldn’t see my face and realise that I’d been eavesdropping on them. Luckily, she didn’t even look in my way as she walked down the stairs. I turned back, leaning against the wall.

Mr James… or Edward, whatever you want to call him, really liked Ella, I could see that. But after all that he put me through, I wasn’t going to let him take her away from me. Time to face the music... or should I say the artist.

I walked towards the art room.