Chapter 3

     ♡

     "Don't get used to it." I send an unfriendly smile my teachers way and head to my seat, pressing my head against my hands and breathing in the familiar scent of hibiscus. 

     My thoughts are reunited with the universe by a faint voice from behind me, "Hey. I heard about your parents. I'm sorry for your loss." I swivel around to face a freckled and curly haired girl, she smiles rather pitifully at me then spins back around in her chair. How many people know about my parents? I wonder.

     I can feel the start of hot tears welling up in my eyes. I do try my best to keep them hidden with only a several minutes left of this period. Then I'll be free. For now. 

     Those minutes pass by in a flash and I am welcomed by the blaring of the bell ringing in my ear. Not wasting any time to be lectured by the caffeinated teacher after class, I leave the room and into the hall, rounding the sharp corner. My eyes fall upon the students who all walk and talk differently. A younger girl, maybe the age of fifteen is trying her best to push herself apart from the indestructible crowd. 

     I shuffle back a step once I come in contact with a large and sturdy—well, I'm not sure what it is but once I look up at the sudden object I had mistakenly ushered into, my day is immediately distinguished of any happy thoughts. I'm met with Cooper's eyes moments later. 

     "Want to explain why you're following me now?" Cooper scoffs. He's got himself leant back against the door to my next class. "I'd rather follow a perverted old man. Into his home." I accentuate my words and take myself out of the conversation heading towards the door in front of me.  

     "You have got to be kidding me." Cooper groans. 

     "Is there a problem?" I ask, twisting around just in time to catch the roll of his eyes. 

     "You're in this class?" He huffs. 

    "Yes—wait. Don't tell me you're in this class as well?" My laughter is uncontrollable as I look up at him. The anger in his darkening eyes only grows. His iris' turn from a solid grey to a deep blue. "Actually yes, as a matter of fact, this is my next class." 

     "You know that this is child development right?" I ask. 

     "Yes." He answers bluntly. 

     "And you're you?"

     "Yes."

     "Did your mom sign you up for this? Is that why you're taking it?" 

     "Alright, listen here dimwit. I am in this class because the fucking principal said I either attend this elective class or attend a school for troubled kids with deep unresolved issues. So I chose this." Cooper grinds his teeth. 

     "Makes sense. Seeing as you do have deep unresolved issues." I mumble. His palm suddenly collides with my chest as he pushes my body against the wall with his fingers grazing the skin of my neck. All I can think is:

     He's touching me. I am greatly disturbed. . .yet highly intrigued. His hand is so warm and even though he is currently pinning me against the wall, I can't help but realize how soothing his palms are, and how good he smells. 

    His fragrance is that of a tropical rainforest but more manly. It's a thing. 

     "You know what—" his immediate voice is distorted by Mrs.Lenard who edges us into the class once the period begins.

    "Alright students!" The teacher says. "I will discuss with you how this class works then we will get into your partners and your first project of the year." Her voice just barely reaches the back of the mint green walls of the room. 

     I take this chance to scan the teachers slim figure and knee length dress. Mrs.Lenard is a much younger teacher than the rest at this school. I predict she is in her late twenties. There is a vibrant glow to her that the other staff lacks. 

     I eventually grow tired of the indoors and observe the students that run and play outside as P.E is currently in progress. I begin to remember the days where I'd run around that field as well. Sometimes I wish I could go back to freshman year or even sophomore year. Those days felt like eons ago. 

    Instead I sit here, filled with desolation; bored out of my mind, making myself comfortable in the beads of sunlight that shine through the clear glass windows. 

     The teachers voice cuts back in as the yelling grows louder until it sinks into my brain and my eyes lock with hers. "Are you listening to me Daniels?!" She says. Her shrill tone tears at my eardrums. Shit. I'm dead. 

     "Of course I'm listening Mrs. Lenard. Why wouldn't I be?" I lean back in my chair. "Okay Daniels, then enlighten me. What are we talking about?" 

     Double shit. I have no clue. 

     "Child. . .development." I state confidently but it only causes the class to chuckle in light laughter. "Close. We are discussing partners for the project." She exclaims. 

     "Okay then, carry on. I don't mind who my partner is, I probably won't be here four days out of the five anyway." This only has the teacher raining in joy as she glances down at her roster and smirks widely. "Really?" She pokes a finger at the clipboard in her hands. "In that case, you and Cooper here will work together." She taps Cooper's stiff back and his grin immediately falls into a line of ire. 

     My body jolts upright as I glance between she and Cooper. "What?! Mrs.Lenard you can't do that—" I argue. 

     "Oh, but I can. You said pair you up with anyone. So I did."

     "Anyone but him!" I whine but the teacher continues with naming off partners. Leaving me to stand frozen as any human can be in the middle of the aisle. Cooper must feel the same way as he repeatedly yells at Mrs.Lenard to switch the partnership. 

    "Sit, now Rhodes!" She demands but he doesn't budge. 

     After a minute of intently staring at each other, he packs up his things and removes himself from the desk, revealing the lining of muscles along his back and in a matter of seconds he's in the seat beside me. He throws his bag next to mine only causing it to loudly clank together.

     "Let's get one thing straight, Daniels." He mutters under his breath. "Don't look at me. Touch me. Talk to me. Or question anything I do. Got it?" 

     "Let me tell you something Rhodes." I face him, clearing my throat I say. "I don't want to look at you, talk to you, and frankly I rather not touch you. You are crawling with many diseases that I for sure do not want. HIV, STD's, herpes, and who knows what else. I think we both know that it will be a lot harder for you not to touch me than it will be for me not to touch you. Seeing as touching women is an addiction for you." 

    "Just stick to your work." He growls, turning away. 

    "Our work."

    "What?"

    "Did you not read the pamphlet? Right here it says," I shake the stack of papers in his face and he flinches back. "In bold lettering: The students will pose as husband and wife in this project in order to care for the infant. Objective is to keep it from harm and take care of its needs. Switch off every other day with your partner and at the end of the seven week mark the teacher will grade you on your respect, care, maturity, teamwork, cooperation and most of all responsibility. Remember this is a partnership project. If I do not see the definition of teamwork then you will be failed on the spot." I read off. 

    Cooper yawning has me throwing the pamphlet down and his eyes peel open to find mine again. 

     "Did you even listen to me?!" I scoff. 

     "Yes, woman. I listened to the whole excruciating speech." He runs his hands through his natural brown hair. "So when exactly do we get. . .our child." He shudders. Thankfully the teacher is at our table in seconds and answers what information I didn't know myself. 

     "Tomorrow. I need both of you to work together on this or you will fail my class." Mrs.Lenard then continues down the row of students to assist them as well. 

     "I can't believe you are even allowed ten feet of a child, toy or not." I cross my arms over my chest. 

     "Are you saying I am a bad father?" His hand clutches his heart as his words overflow with sarcasm. 

     "Precisely. How am I supposed to get a good grade in this class when my husband sleeps around? Not to mention you can barely even hold your dick in your pants, how are you supposed to hold a child?" I answer and when the bell rings I leap out of the desk, swinging my backpack over my shoulder and zipping out of class quicker than you can say: 

     "Cooper fucking Rhodes"