"What's wrong?" Jessica flutters her fake eyelashes at me.

We're at that dumb party I still have no idea how I agreed to come to.

"Nothing's wrong, just..." I run my hand through my buzz cut.

"Thinking about that stupid assignment?"

I pull away from her.

"It's actually pretty interesting, I was thinking about applying for the literature..."

"Ughh, what's wrong with you recently?"

Jessica makes another disgusted faceLike I've been feeding her lemons or something.

"What do you mean what's wrong with me?"

"I don't know, you keep talking about books and all that crap."

"Excuse me?"I get up and she looks at me, still incredulous.

"Like, I'm dating the hockey team's captain. Not some weird nerdo, heyo?"

"Since when I can't be both?"

She gets up, fixing her top and pulling it way too low. As if that would make me want her. She wraps her hands around me.

"Come on, Trent. Everyone knows you'll be doing sports your whole life. You can't just change your mind."

"Why not?"

She laughs and I peel her away from me.

"Forget it. I'm leaving."

I head towards the door, trying to make my way through the drunk chicks and guys trying to hit on them when I hear Jessica shouting over the music:

"If this is because of that new teacher, you stand no chance."

I ignore her and head home. Fuck her, she knows nothing about any of this.

****

He's waiting for me outside my apartment. I see him from afar- he's sitting on the ground, reading a book. His eyebrows are locked, and he never realizes he does it, but he always frowns while he's reading, even if it's something that's not so serious. He's developed a habit of staying with me after school because he's applying for a scholarship.

Not a sports one like he tells everyone.

It's one of our secrets.

He's never come to my place before, though...

"Trent?" I ask as I come closer and he visibly flinches.

"Oh, hey Miss."

"What are you doing here?"

He closes the book and smiles. Whenever Trent smiles, it's like the whole world smiles back at him.

Or me, I can't tell for sure or make the difference. I'm trying to scatter all those thoughts. The ones that have been passing through my mind for the past few months, since I started staying extra hours with him to study or explain things we don't have time for in class.

Because even though he's in his last year and he's already of age, anything between us would be unthinkable.

"I got the letter."

He gets up, still smiling.

"You did?" I can't hide my excitement.

"I haven't opened it yet, because I was scared. "

"Okay. Do you want to open it now?"

"I've waited for the whole day so that I can be here."

I don't ask how he knows where I live. It doesn't matter, I wouldn't ask him to leave. Not now; maybe not ever, despite everything. I open the door of my apartment.

" Woah, you have so many books."

I hear him say behind me. I turn around to reply and bump into him. He's much taller than I am facing his chest. I look up, but he quickly moves past me.

"Wow. This is a great edition. May I?"

He pulls Edgar Allan Poe's collection of short stories. His eyes shine, and he traces the beautifully crafted lines on the cover.

"It's yours."

"What, no. I can't take it."

"You can. I know you like the way he writes."

He pauses, still looking at the book and says.

"One day I'll get you the first edition."

He looks at me then "You have my word."

I try to say something back when he quickly adds

"So. Shall we?"

We sit down on the couch and he takes out the big envelope.

"Ready?" I ask.

"Always."

He starts opening it

"You should know, it doesn't matter if they said yes. For me and for you, you should already think of yourself as a ...

"I got it."

"What? You did?"

He passes me the acceptance letter. Smiles again.

"You did!"

I can't hide my excitement and try to hug him.

But he only slips on the floor, kneeling in front of me.

"Trent?"

He takes my hand in his and says

"It's all thanks to you."

"No, no. It's all thanks to your hard work and..."

"Miss Delaware." He whispers.

"I told you you can call me by my first name, Trent."

He shakes his head

"No, not yet. "

My student looks back up at me and says

"I'm not your equal yet. But I will be, one day. And when that day comes, I will call you however you ask me to and make you mine."

He kisses my hand then and gets up to leave.