Page 75 of Fundamentals of Chemistry

There were plenty of other things to do that did not involve Jack Cooper. But that didn’t mean I was able to keep my mind totally off him.

***

The first few days of the school-week passed with painful slowness. My classes went well enough—I was still following Jack’s lesson plans—but that did little to help keep my mind off of him. Us. And seeing him every time we traded off between our sections only exacerbated my yearning.

I was fucking pitiful.

The first time he had walked in the room, my breath had caught in my chest. I didn’t know what to do. Should I try to act friendly? Or would he prefer to keep our interactions one hundred percent professional? I settled for a friendly smile, but I chickened out and looked down at my papers when he smirked back at me. I had butterflies in my stomach for company as I hurried out of the room.

Seeing him had gotten easier as the week wore on. By the time I reached Thursday and I was passing out the midterm exams to my classes, Jack was firmly pushed to the back of my mind.

My anxiety was completely focused on the students now.

I had done everything I could to help them learn the material, including three days of review via Jeopardy and Family Feud style games that I designed myself. Now, as I watched Matt vigorously erase something on his exam only to begin scratching back over it immediately, I wondered if it had been enough.

I loved this subject, and I loved this school since the minute I first stepped on campus. I wanted so badly to stay, but I doubted I had done enough—prepared the students enough—to earn that place.

I spent Thursday afternoon furiously grading exams, and then anxiously waiting to exchange them with Jack for a peer check. It seemed like my classes had performed better overall than the first exam. However, it wasn’t just about how my classes did. It was about how they did versus the expectation, and unfortunately, versus Jack’s sections.

On Friday, Jack spoke to me as he was packing up from his second period class. “How did the midterms go for you?”

I swallowed as I met his gaze. It was the first time he’d said more than a polite “hello” to me since leaving my bed Saturday night. “Good, I think. It’s hard to tell until all of the scores are posted. When do you think you’ll be done grading?”

He shrugged and slipped some papers into his bag. “Probably this afternoon. I’m a little over halfway done.”

My answering smile felt strained. “Right. Sounds good.”

“Is that a problem?” One of his brows lifted as he regarded me.

“No! It’s just… after the first exam… and my sections didn’t do as well… I’m just curious how your sections did. That’s all.”

“You aren’t nervous, are you?”

“No!” I answered way too quickly. If I couldn’t convince myself, there was no chance in me convincing Jack.

He lifted his hand as if he was going to brush a lock of hair back from my face, but he lowered his hand without touching me. “I’m sure you have nothing to worry about, Princess,” he said softly so no one else could hear him.

I didn’t mean to watch him go, but my eyes couldn’t help but track his movements as he walked out of the classroom.

***

On Monday, I was called back into Headmaster Richmond’s office. TJ smiled warmly as I walked past her desk and through the large double doors, left open today.

The steely-haired man smiled warmly as I entered the room. “Please take a seat, my dear. I’m sure you know why I’ve asked for this meeting today.”

I smoothed my hair over my shoulder before clasping my fingers in my lap. “This is to do with the midterm.”

“The midterm—yes—but your performance overall seems to have improved significantly since we last spoke.”

My heart jumped up into my throat. A compliment? We were off to a good start. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“I’m going to assume you took my advice and reached out to Mr. Cooper to collaborate?”

My cheeks heated as memories of collaborating with Mr. Cooper flooded my brain. “Yes, I’ve been using his lesson plans and trying out his teaching style. He’s very innovative.”

“Quite,” Richmond replied, oblivious to my embarrassment. “He seems to have made a good impression on you. The midterm exam scores for your sections have improved markedly versus the first exam. You performed at parity with Mr. Stephens’s historical scores and only just below Mr. Cooper’s sections. Well done.”

My chest ballooned with pride and gratitude for Jack. “Thank you, sir.”