The juniors left Miss Bennett alone and she came outside to address everyone.
“Let’s go outside. Too many farts in my class right now,” she said. She gestured for the seniors to follow her.
She led the group to the school’s rear courtyard, a popular area during lunch. Everyone took seats on the benches and tables and Miss Bennett called up the first act. Two boys performed their scene with Miss Bennett and the rest of the class as audience. West wasn’t paying attention to them. He watched Miss Bennett. She was in her element. She broke their scene down and stepped in to show them how to improve their short scuffle to make it look more convincing. The rest of the class watched and some of them took notes as she turned around to explain what was working in their performance and what wasn’t. She did that for every act booked for that afternoon.
By the time West and Diego were next, she was spent and no one stuck around to watch anymore. She rolled her sleeves up and flapped the hem of her jersey to cool off.
“Isn’t it too hot for a jersey?” Diego asked her.
West pressed his lips down to hide a smile.
“It is but I’ve got a bad rash on my neck that I’d rather not show the world,” she said, scratching her neck to sell it.
Diego nodded and turned to West. “You ready?”
“Always.”
They ran through their scene in front of Miss Bennett but they could tell she was distracted. She wasn’t even looking at them.
“Ma’am?” West asked.
She snapped her gaze to him. “Sorry. You’ve got a good piece. No need to change it.” She took a seat on a bench and buried her face in her hands. “Sorry, boys. I’m tired and I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
West clenched a fist against his leg. He wanted to sit next to her and put his arm around her but he couldn’t do that in front of Diego.
“What’s on your mind exactly?” he asked.
“Yeah, maybe we can help you out,” Diego added.
“No, it’s something I have to make a decision about. This might be my last year here,” she said.
“In the school?” Diego asked.
“In the country.”
Diego raised his eyebrows and West felt cold.
She shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I’d like to go home for a while and think about things, spend time with my parents and sleep in during the week.”
“I’d say go for it,” Diego said. “God knows teachers need a break.”
“It’s not so simple anymore. I met someone here and I really don’t want to leave him behind.”
She held eye contact with West. He took a deep breath and looked away. Diego mulled her words over.
“How special is the guy?” Diego asked.
“Very,” she said.
“And how important is going home?” he asked.
“Extremely. I can’t emphasize that enough.”
They were quiet for a time.
“What do you think?” Diego asked West, patting his shoulder.
Miss Bennett turned to him. “Yes. What do you think?”
“I don’t know enough about the situation to give you any advice, ma’am. But I do think you should talk to the guy before you decide anything.”
“Of course,” she said, flashing him a tiny smile.
They cut their time together short. Miss Bennett promised to give them a proper session the next day. Diego was fine with that and rushed home. West stayed behind and sat next to Miss Bennett.
They watched the sunset in silence.
“You told me to talk to the guy before I decide anything,” she said.
West sighed. “The guy wants to know why you want to leave.”
“I came here to follow my dream of being an actress. I spent four years at a drama academy and I thought the next step would be the Land of Opportunity. Maybe I was naive or just stupid but I thought if I really wanted to make it then I had to be bold. Step out of my comfort zone and jump into the deep end.”
“How did that go?”
“About as terribly as you can imagine. My parents gave me a big cut of their savings so I could focus on the dream. I needed to get a place to stay, transport, professional headshots, an agent, equipment to make reels and, of course, I needed to go audition as often as possible. I gave it my all and, after four years, I had to put the dream on hold before I starved.”
West scanned the area briefly and put his hand over hers in the small space between them.
“My life started spinning out of control. I went to bed with a glass of water and I nearly got evicted. That’s why I ended up working as a barista of all things. And then I met my ex-husband and you know how that story goes. I thought things were going to get better when I married him. Even my parents were excited for me but I still found a way to let them down…and myself.”
She released a heavy sigh and gripped his hand.
“Now I’m a teacher in a small town high school. All my dreams have come true.”
She chuckled dryly. West tasted the bitterness in her voice.
“I’m sorry, Jess.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry to my younger self. If I knew I’d end up like this, I never would’ve left. Maybe I would’ve done something else with my life.”
West let her hand go and lowered his head. “I don’t want to tell you to stay.”
“I’ve still got a few weeks to decide. And a part of me wishes you’d made a move sooner.”
“Sooner?” he asked, surprised. “What if you turned me down and reported me for harassment?”
She chuckled but there was a purr in her voice. “I’ve had my eye on you.”
The mood shifted.
“Wish we had a room right now,” he muttered.
She smirked and stood up, brushing her hand against the inside of his thigh. That got a reaction under the fabric.
“Come carry my bags for me,” she said, tilting her head to the school building.
West paused for a few seconds before he felt comfortable to stand. He and Miss Bennett headed inside. He took her bags and followed her to her car. There were too many students and teachers around to consider jumping into her trunk again. He laughed at the thought.
“What?” Miss Bennett asked.
“Just thinking about the ‘boot.’ The experience is definitely up there among the wildest things I’ve ever done.”
“I wonder what else is up there.”
“Fucking my teacher, maybe.”
“Weston,” she said in a low voice. “Careful.”
He smirked and stared at her, recalling every last detail. He imagined she’d done exactly the same. They turned away from each other to maintain the innocent facade and waved at Mr Jones when he drove by.
West dropped her bags in the trunk and closed it with a heavy heart. Miss Bennett smiled as she watched him.
“We are not doing that again,” she said.
“I know but I’d do it again if I could do you again.”
“Like this?” She pulled the collar of her jersey down with her index finger. He saw the dark red marks. The marks he made.
“I’ll surprise you.”
She pulled her collar up. “We’ll see.”
“We could see this weekend,” he said.
She leaned against her car. “You sound like you have a plan.”
“I do. Are you free?”
“Maybe.”
“Where do you stay?”
“West.”
“I won’t show up in my uniform. I’ll just be a visitor who’s coming by to deliver something.”
“And what might that be?”
“Dinner.”
Her brows shot up and her lips curled into a smile. “So it’s a date?”
“No, it’s dinner.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay. Dinner. I’d like that.”
“I want us to enjoy the time we have…while we still can.”
“I know, love.”
A breeze fluttered her hair from behind. The sun blazed the corner of her eye. He admired her. She blushed as she held his gaze. A strand of hair blew into her mouth and she blew it out.