Hot For Teacher (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic)

Chapter 8

I'm beginning to get into a terrible habit of taking forever to update-- and I'm SO sorry! I had the majority of this chapter written within a week of posting chapter 7 but lost motivation because of school. However, with summer classes being finished, I am now back to my usual life of reading, writing, and Netflix! I hope you enjoy and the next chapter will be a good one, I promise :)

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Chapter 8:

[Tom’s POV]

I check the time for what seems like the millionth time since arriving at the bar. Jessica was always late no matter where she would be going and tonight was no different. To be completely honest, I doubted that she would even come to this, if I do say so myself, rather sketchy ‘meeting’.

Turning my head to look toward the back bar entrance door, I see her walk into the bar, looking beautiful as ever. Her once red hair is now a very light blonde that hits just below her shoulders and her body… well, she definitely does not look like she is a mother, to say the least.

Her eyes scan across the room and eventually land on me. She walks—more likes struts—over and sits next to me at the bar.

“Hello Tom,” she smiles softly. I apparently managed to say hello back to her despite being completely lost and distracted by her. I’m snapped back to reality not even a few nanoseconds later.

“To be perfectly honest, I was rather afraid to come here tonight.” I laugh to relief some tension but also to distract myself. What I had been afraid of happening was starting to do just that. Whatever spell, curse, or charm Jessica had over me in the past was still present today and pulling me, helplessly, back into her trap.

“I just wanted to speak face-to-face, as well as give you these,” I reach into the inside pocket of my suit jacket and pull out the two tickets. “One for you and one for if you so happen to have a date, seeing how we’re divorced, the committee made accommodations to suit those needs.” I spoke quickly and started drinking the second the words stopped flowing out of my mouth.

“Oh, fantastic! Thank you so much, really.” She placed the tickets securely in her purse, which happened to look more like a wallet than a purse, really. I take another drink, finishing the glass and the bartender went ahead and refills the glass.

“Easy there, cowboy. You and I both know what you’re like when you get hammered.” We both burst into fits of laughter but knew that she was speaking the truth. I can hold liquor remarkably well but once I begin to feel something, all functionality of my being is lost.

“I’m finished after this, I swear. I have to get home and put Ethan to bed instead of relying on my mother to do it for me.”

Jessica sighs. “How is he?”

“He’s amazing, to say the least. He’s always so full of energy and adventure. He wears me out, to be perfectly honest.” I pause, collecting my thoughts as I finish my glass. The bartender goes to refill it but I wave him off and instead pay for our drinks and give him a generous tip.

We didn’t leave then, though. Instead, we stayed at the bar and talked. She asked about my work, how Ethan is doing in school, which led me to start talking about Amanda…

“She’s amazing, really, I can’t think of any better word to describe her. She’s always smiling and somehow manages to treat all of the kids equally and with total respect and care. She’s one hell of a woman— teacher, I mean.” I quickly look at Jess and then turn my eyes away, hoping she doesn’t catch my word-slip.

“She sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to finally meet her.” I let out the breath that I had been holding and smiled widely.

We walk out to our cars, laughing and joking around. Tonight had made all of the pain throughout the last 4 years seem worth it. I truly believe that I can let Jessica back into Ethan’s life.

And then:

“I’m excited for this,” she said holding up the tickets. “John will be SO thrilled to finally meet Ethan!”

“Uh, John?” I swallow. I knew this was too good to be true.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I guess I forgot to mention it. John is my fiancé.” She smiles and I force a smile back in her direction.

“Well, congratulations! I didn’t know—you’re not wearing an engagement ring.”

“Oh, yeah, he took it back to get resized and cleaned.” I nod and shift my weight from one foot to the other. “Are you seeing anyone, Tom? I feel so rude for not asking before.”

“Oh, no, you’re fine, darling. But…” I’m panicking. I haven’t even thought of another woman since Jessica. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

I’m a terrible lair and Jessica knows it. She looks at me, obviously trying to see if I’m lying. Apparently the alcohol has worked its magic on both of us, making me a more believable lair and Jessica less sharp.

“Well, good for you. I look forward to meeting her next weekend.” She kisses my cheek and walks around to her car. I hurry into mine, start the engine, and drive. I don’t realize where I’m going until I’m sitting in the driveway.

I drove to Amanda’s.

[Amanda POV]

I see headlights shining into my living room and get up to check and see who is outside. I wrap my sleep robe around my body and look out the window. It’s Tom.

I hurry and unlock the front door. Tonight was his first time seeing Jessica and something must have happened to cause him to drive over here. I walk out to his car, to the passenger side and get in. He has his head in his hand, his arm resting on the side of the door.

“Tom, what happened?” He doesn’t respond immediately and thinking that he didn’t hear me, I reach my hand out and touch his knee. That gets his attention. He looks over at me and, with tears in his eyes, grabs me in a hug.

“Tell me what happened, Tom.” He hugs me a bit longer, his hands softly rubbing my back. I take the opportunity to smell him, as I always do whenever he hugs me. He smells faintly of his cologne, soap, a bar, and female perfume. Presumably Jessica’s.

He lets me go and immediately I feel a rush of cold air come over my body. I cling to my arms to conserve heat and he chuckles, removing his jacket and draping it over my shoulders.

“Thank you… now, tell me what happened before I shake it out of you.”

“So violent tonight, aren’t we?” I shrug, smiling. He laughs, scratches his temple, and continues. “It wasn’t terrible. She was mature and polite and completely the opposite of who I originally married.”

“That’s great, right?”

“Yes, it is. I’m more comfortable with her being a part of Ethan’s life but…”

“Spit it out, Hiddles.”

“She’s engaged. To some guy named John. And she’s bringing him to the event next weekend.”

I had no words. It’s perfectly fine for Jessica to have moved on from Tom and to be going on with her life but to bring the subject up as easily as she did seemed slightly rude, at least to me. Given that she hasn’t seen Ethan since she left him with Tom, it all seemed strange.

“That’s not all…” he covered his face with his hands and the strain in his voice made me worry about what he was going to say next.

“What is it?”

“Well, she asked if I had started seeing someone new after she had told me about John and, of course, I panicked and I told her that I am…”

The look on his face was of pure agony but I couldn’t help but laugh. I laughed so hard that I snorted, which in turn made Tom start laughing as well

“I’m sorry but why is that such a terrible thing?” I wipe tears from the corners of my eyes and try to slow my breathing from the fit of laughter.

“Because I lied!”

“Oh, the horror!” I tease.

“No, you don’t understand, I’m a terrible liar. And she’ll realize that I’m a liar when I show up withOUT a date.” I sit next to him and brush my hand gently against his. He turns his face towards mine and I give him a small smile.

“Well, look no further, Hiddleston. I’ll be your date.”