I gathered the day’s lessons and went over the syllabus for the hundredth time. I stared at the empty seat that would soon be filled with the presence of Danielle. The doors to the main entrance were opened, and the students started to file in. I once again made sure my sleeves were down, and checked my cufflinks. As the students filed in, I pulled my professional demeanor back on. But, the moment Danielle walked in the room, all of that went to shit.

Like the puppy dog he was, Smith came running after her. I tried so damn hard to act uninterested in two high schoolers talking about whatever high schoolers talked about. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Class started, and even with me lecturing, I couldn’t help but be distracted by Smith’s constant attention to Danielle. I even purposely fucked with him a few times, and the fucker had the audacity to answer each question correctly, which made me even more irate. Cocky fuck.

I ended up dismissing class early, just to get him out of my face. I watched as he said a few more things to Danielle, and she nodded along. Then I caught the tail end of the conversation. “Great, I’ll pick you up Friday then.” That’s when I tensed. I watched the both of them leave the room together. What the fuck was I supposed to do? Demand her to come back and tell me what the fuck he was talking about, oh, and also tell her that she shouldn’t be going anyfuckingwhere with him. Actually, yeah that’s exactly what I was going to do.

Before I could reach the door, that annoying as fuck teacher that was practically in heat around me, met me instead. “Mr. Knight, good I caught you.” I tried to blatantly ignore how each time she was around, she made a point to talk using her tits.

“Miss Barkley, I was just on my way out.” I made a show of grabbing my things, as a hint, but since that never made an impact on her; I might as well have been jerking myself off on my desk.

“I just need a minute. The dance is this weekend; you’ll chaperone, right? I could really use you; we just need some extra eyes. Nothing too over the top.” She paused and looked me up and down. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll look amazing in a suit.”

I thought for a second. “Is the dance Friday?”

She laughed as if I just said the funniest fucking joke ever. “Of course, silly, everyone’s been talking about it.” She kept talking, and I tuned her out. So that’s where Smith is taking Danielle. To the fucking dance. But, I wasn’t jealous he was taking her to a fucking dance. I was jealous that he was able to be out with her, and no one would ask questions. No one would think twice. If I stepped out with her, not only would people talk, but I would lose my job, and who knows what would be said about Danielle. I didn’t give a fuck what they said or did about me. It was her I was worried about. It’s her I worried about, with what they would say, or hell even do to her.

I sighed, cutting Miss Barkley off. “Yes, I’ll be there. Just email me the details.”

I didn’t have time to talk with Danielle. I had to get to SIX for Betty’s birthday party. As per usual, I was the solo one there. Even Betty had a date… to the party she “supposedly” knew nothing about, because she was the one that planned this weird as fuck party. Everyone was having a great time, yet no one was questioning the fact that people were walking around wearing animal heads. I’ve seen some weird fucking shit, but this one was definitely in the top five.

I watched from a table, as a friend of Betty’s got up on stage, dead set on showing us her special skills. We had a stripper pole set up for tonight’s special occasion. God help us all.

“It’s a beer, not a tit.” I glanced up at Big D, as he limped over and took a seat next to me. “You’ve been nursing that beer all night. It’s gotta taste like warm piss by now.”

I shrugged, putting my beer down. “Just a long week.”

He eyed me, before taking a long sip. “See all the beautiful women we invited.” He waved around the room. “Where’s yours?”

I cleared my throat, taking an equally long sip of my beer. “What makes you think I have someone?”

He gave me a pointed stare. “You no longer fuck the clients, you immediately leave every night, and you’re constantly checking your phone and smiling at the fucking thing. I mean unless you’re texting Jag’s mom or some shit, because you know I heard she was fucking hot, in which yeah, I’d be fucking texting her too, plus rumor has it that you and her…”

I cut him off, “I’m not texting Jagger’s mom!” I looked over at Jagger, to see if he was listening. Him, Gio, and August were taking body shots off of someone laying across the bar table, wearing a gigantic bunny head. What the fuck kind of party was this!? We are not doing this again! I waved around the room. “Any of this creeping you out? Or are we just pretending to ignore it?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh yeah, creepy as fuck. I always knew Betty was into some fucked up shit.”

After that, I told Big D all about Danielle. It felt good to finally be able to tell someone. He listened and didn’t interrupt. When I was done, I took a deep breath, as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. He stared at me a moment, not saying anything. If I knew Big D, this was his moment right before he got all philosophical. He looked at me and opened his mouth, and burped. I rolled my eyes and started to get up, and he laughed, pushing me back down.

“Age is just a number. She sounds beyond mature, and you practically grew up together, even if you barely uttered two words to her. If you love her, like you say you do, then…”

I held up my hand. “I never said I loved her.”

He slowly smiled before standing up. “Sure, you didn’t.” He hit me extra hard on the back, causing me to move forward. Fucking dick. He paused before looking back at me. “By the way, you didn’t deny fucking Jag’s mom.” He walked away laughing before I could offer any sort of defense.

The rest of the night, I tried to act like I was having fun. Or at least, pretended to. I looked at the last message I sent to Danielle two hours ago. She still hasn’t responded. And with two percent battery left, I wouldn’t know tonight.

I finally put my warm beer aside, made a final round, and took my sorry ass home, where I could sulk properly, and wish the girl that I really wanted was in bed next to me every night.