CH11

Azie couldn't help but notice Jackson's empty gaze when he walked into Chemistry earlier. There was something off about him, something distant, and she couldn't figure out what it was. The whole class, he just sat there, staring blankly ahead while Mr. Magwell went on with the lecture.

She knew he didn't need to take notes—Jackson always coasted by, doing the bare minimum and still managing to ace everything. But that didn't stop her from worrying. The way he looked today made her wonder what was really going on in his head.

Sighing, Azalea turned the page of her textbook and decided it was best to get away from him. The library seemed like the only safe place where she could focus. Being around Jackson right now would just add more tension to the already thick air between them.

She buried herself in her notes, trying to get through the material for the test tomorrow. The pressure was on, and with every chapter she studied, her anxiety grew. She joked to herself that if she failed, she'd throw herself off the nearest bridge, but deep down, she knew she couldn't let that happen. Still, it was hard to ignore the weight of everything pressing on her—studying for the test, dealing with Jackson, and all the mess that had been building up between them.

"I can't believe Magwell is giving us a test already."

Oh right, Tony's here. He decided to join her, something she didn't really mind.

Azie glanced at the boy who's sitting across from her and smiled. "Tell me about it, but at least it's on Gclass so." She shrugs. "All I want to do is get this class over with."

He chuckled, which made her grin. "You're telling me? Gosh, I never liked anything science related."

"Same, but I think Biology would've been a bit easier."

Tony was about to say something when his phone buzzed loudly on the table. "Ah, shit," he muttered, quickly packing up his things.

"Everything alright?" Azalea asked, glancing up from her notes.

"I totally forgot I have a group project with Megan," Tony explained, his tone laced with mild panic.

"Megan? As in Megan Smith?" Azalea's voice dropped as she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Tony looked up at her with a grin, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, that's her. I can't miss out on this, though. She's, like, the hottest girl in school."

Azalea's face fell as the words hit her. "Oh," she said, her interest in Tony suddenly evaporating.

He was cool at first—funny, smart, someone she thought she could get along with—but Megan's name was like a slap to her face. The thought of her made Azalea's skin crawl, and the last thing she wanted to do was think about that girl now. Megan was a complication she didn't need in her life, and suddenly, she wasn't so sure about Tony either.

"Well, wouldn't want to keep you."

"Yeah, see you later." Azalea watched as the boy left in a hurry and she sighed.

"Well, guess that's a done deal," she whispers to herself. Another few minutes went by and someone took a seat in front of her, causing her to raise her head.

The air got caught at the back of her throat when she saw who it was.

Thompson.

"P-professor." She whispers, glancing at the front desk to see the librarian reading a book in his own silence.

"Mind if I join?" He questions quietly.

"Oh not at all, go right ahead." Azalea pushed hair behind her ear as the man took the seat Tony had just been sitting in. He pulled his chair in and set his things down.

"I would go in the teacher's lounge but they're all gossiping." He leans forward with a whisper. She snickered, glancing at the librarian to make sure he didn't hear her minor outburst.

"Yeah, not really the gossip type, but I'm glad I spotted you here. I didn't want to look like the professor that doesn't know how to get along with the other professors."

"Oh, so you're using me as leverage?" She teases a bit. Thompson made a shocked expression.

"I'm sorry if you might think so, but yes."

Azalea gasped and he grinned. She joined after and the both of them settled in comfortable silence as he opened his notebook.

"So what is it that you're doing?" He asks.

"Oh, this is Chem, we have a test on Gclass tomorrow so...yeah, just studying for that."

"Need any help with that?" He offers.

"I wouldn't want to distract you with your work."

"Oh no it's fine." Thompson rolled up his sleeves and reached over. He grabbed her binder and cleared his throat, getting comfortable in his seat.

Azie stared at the man, taking in his posture and noticed that he's got more muscle up close. It's nothing bulky like a bodybuilder, but it's noticeable enough.

Thompson's gaze left the page, catching her in her mindless haze. When he first met her the first thing he noticed was her eyes. Those majestic honey eyes. The pair that's always lost in thought.

She's absolutely beautiful. However, he's got two problems, one, she's his student and two, his son is already close to the girl.

"Ms. Moore." He calls lowly. He wants to desperately call her by her first name. Azalea. Azalea. That name fits her so well for reasons he can't explain.

"Ms. Moore." He calls again, this time tapping her on the back of her hand. He wanted to get a good feel of her skin but he knows that'll be creepy and a bit perverted.

And finally, she broke her stare, her eyes meeting his. Thompson, if he's being honest with himself, could stare in her eyes for years and not blink. It's so captivating, those eyes.

She's a student. He told himself.

"S-sorry, you were saying?"

He couldn't help but grin. Her reactions always tug at him. It's cute on her, being lost in thought and when she returns it's like time hasn't passed a second.

But she's a student. He repeats.

"I said I have absolutely...no idea what this is saying."

The both of them shared a laugh and Thompson absolutely enjoyed it. Her smile is just as precious and her freckles make her eyes pop along with her hair.

Azalea Moore, is an absolute ruby. However...he's got to keep it professional and not lose his job or tarnish her future.

Thompson handed her back her binder, his fingers brushing hers lightly as he passed it over. Azalea took it with a smile, grateful for his help, even if it wasn't quite what she had expected.

"Thank you for trying, Mr. Thompson," she said, her voice a little warmer than usual. She appreciated the effort, even if the chemistry stuff was still over her head.

"Well, I may not be that good at chemistry, but I am good at English," he replied with a light chuckle.

Azalea couldn't help but smile back, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Right, maybe you should just stick to what you know," she teased, her tone light and playful.

Thompson grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well, if you need any help with your assignments, I have office hours open every day. You know where to find me."

"Thank you, I'll make sure to use them wisely," Azalea said, her voice softening a little as she nodded. "Could come in handy for my community service hours."

"And I'll be glad to help."

Azalea crossed a leg over the other and leaned forward, going back to her work. Thompson pulled his chair inwards a bit more and his leg brushed hers, causing her to look up at him.

"Sorry, didn't know how far in I went." Thompson scoot back a bit, flashing her an apologetic smile.

Azie cleared her throat and again brushed her hair behind her ear out of habit.

"T-that's fine."

Silence crept between them as they got sucked into their work and studies.

An hour passed, and with each equation Azalea worked through, her confidence grew. The numbers, once a confusing blur, began to make sense, and she couldn't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. As she flipped through her binder, her eyes drifted up to Thompson, who was sitting across from her, deeply engrossed in whatever he was reading.

It was as if he could sense her gaze because, without missing a beat, his eyes lifted from the page and met hers. She quickly looked away, clearing her throat to hide the sudden warmth spreading across her face. She turned another sheet in her binder, focusing on the equations in front of her, but her eyes couldn't resist flicking back to him.

Azalea found herself studying him again—his focused expression, the way he leaned slightly forward, and the faint lines of concentration around his eyes. It was impossible not to notice how handsome he was. And just as that thought settled into her mind, Thompson's lips curled into a knowing smirk. His dimple appeared as he flashed a look at her, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stop.

Azalea quickly turned her attention back to her work, trying to shake off the heat that spread

across her chest. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't ignore the pull she felt when he smiled at her like that.