If I didn't want the extra cash, I really wouldn't have accepted this job.

I'd much rather be teaching elementary or something. The math that they learn isn't rocket science.

I'm really a student teacher but I decided against telling the class that before they use that as a way to take advantage of me. I got my lesson plans and everything from Ms.Tran but I am actually assisting another teacher who is in the math department at this school.

The kids I've met in my classes are pretty cool. For the most part, they all take direction pretty well and I'm sure that they had a lot of respect for Ms.Tran which is helping me greatly in making my transition to Rochester High.

However, I wasn't prepared for the fact that I would find myself strangely attracted to a student here.

Karma Onuoha.

She was doing a number on me without even really needing to say or do anything. Her beauty astounds me beyond belief. She speaks more on the soft-spoken side compared to her classmates, especially her friend, Paola. It wasn't hard to tell that opposites really do attract when you look at them and see them interact together.

It feels like every time she's in class, she's almost in another world. She always stares off into the distance or looks at her journal as I speak but every time she's asked a question, she's quick to give the answer, no hesitation.

Most of the time she's shy and that's why she won't speak much but I can't help but call on her just to hear her give the answer that I already know she has rattled around in her brain just so I can hear her voice because I know that if it were up to her she wouldn't speak to anyone but Paola or Justine in hushed whispers.

I have a pretty good memory. As someone who has had to take a variety of math classes, I have to as there are so many formulas I need to have memorized. By the second day of class, I knew most of the class's names.

I only changed the seating and made up a bullshit seating chart because Karma was sat too far away from my desk. I sat Paola next to her so she'd be more comfortable having that sense of familiarity around her, along with Justine being behind her.

I honestly can't believe no one questioned me as to why people whose last names wear earlier in the alphabet, were sat in the back of the room rather than the front.

It wasn't the most rational thing I've ever done, but I don't regret it because now every time I sit on my desk, I get to see her up close and personal when she actually makes eye contact with me in class.

When I send the class off to work in their books, it's a time for me to relax because I get tired of talking for too long. It's also a way for them to do their homework earlier. The last thing I'm trying to do is fail anyone I'd rather get paid and go about my day.

But suddenly that doesn't seem like the plan anymore.

They take it upon themselves to listen to their music, which makes it simpler for me to relax but it makes it easier for me to look at her from the short distance she's sitting away from me without the other classmates looking at me in question because they're scrolling on their phones.

Like right now as we're in class, I look at her as she's twisting the eraser part of her lead pencil, staring at whatever equation is in the book. She's biting the left side of her bottom lip as she stares in concentration at the paper.

Leaning back in my seat, I cross my arms as a thought crosses my mind. I'm not sure if I actually want to act on it because the last thing I want to do is weird her out with the thoughts running through my mind right now.

It wouldn't even make sense. I looked into her academic history to see that she's a very steady honor roll student she doesn't need to do it.

It's crazy but so am I for her despite the fact that I don't know her but I wouldn't mind getting to know her if she gave me the time of the day.

I didn't notice how long I was sitting here plotting as I looked at her but apparently it was a long time as the bell had rung signaling the start of the next class. Everyone starts packing their bags immediately, some are already out of the door as they packed before the bell rang.

Karma usually takes her time when walking out of class, I watch as looks at Paola whos standing on her right, saying bye to her as Paola rushes to her next class, which I'm pretty sure was Gym since I had heard her complain about it briefly before.

Justine gets up from her seat and pats Karma on the back, moving to sit in Paola's seat next to her and this causes Karma to stop packing her bag as she looks to Justin on her right.

I'm pretty sure they're about to start a conversation and I don't want one of them to look up and catch me staring so I grab my planner that is sitting on my desk and pretend to look through it as I look at my schedule.

"Karma. Are you okay?" I hear Justine ask, "You've been so quiet lately and I know this isn't the right time to ask you but this is the only time that I can get you alone without Paola because I know she can be a bit overbearing at times but you know that you can talk to me." she pauses, "about anything."

I hear Karma sigh and she responds, "I don't know. I've just felt sort of drained lately. I just have a lot on my mind I guess."

A lot on her mind with no one to talk to but Justine?

Perhaps she would need support from another person. Someone who's wiser in age than the two of them.

Someone like a student-teacher.

Such as myself...

"Well judging by the look on your face, I can see that you really don't wanna talk about it so-" I hear Justine sigh, "Like I said, you know I'll always be here for you." I hear the bottom of the chair scrape against the floor as I look up a bit from my planner to see Justine head out the door as Karma is has gotten up from her chair ready to do the same

If I want this to happen, I have to hurry up and ask her quickly.

She puts her bag over her shoulder and begins to walk towards the door, clearing my throat I quickly say, "Karma!" she turns around to look at me and I say, "Can you come here quickly? I want to run something by you."

She sighs a bit and nods her head, walking closer to the table crossing her arms across her chest, "Yes. Mr.Maddow?"

"Hey, I know that you probably have better things to do but, I have so many classes and not enough time to sit here and grade everything." I start and she nods in understanding prompting me to continue, "I was wondering if maybe you can take some time out of your day to help me with my grading? I saw a few notes from Ms.Tran saying that you were one of the best students in class and the last few days of me being here, I've seen that."

She smiles nervously and lifts one hand to shyly pat the side of her head and I notice that her hair is placed in a slick back ponytail with her hair gel creating a smooth wave pattern in her hair and I can't help but stare a little longer as she looks up at the ceiling in thought, crossing her arms again

She's adorable honestly.

"Are you sure you can't ask anyone else? There are a lot of other people in the class that are capable," she says right before we hear the bell ring, signaling the start of next period as she's late for her next class. She notices this and sighs.

Quickly, I tell her, "I'll write you a late pass to go to class." she nods at me in relief as I continue, "And you're right there are a lot of people in this class that are able to do it but I don't know if I trust them as much as I trust you with this task. I expect that you would do it with more academic integrity, Karma." I tilt my head and smile at her showcasing my teeth

I can tell she doesn't really want to do it but I'm prepared to sway her in any way I have to.

She starts to shift her weight on her feet and I can't help but lick my lips as she stands there biting her lip when she fixes the strap of her bag on her shoulder again.

"I can give you extra credit for every assignment you grade." I say again, "You know, as a way to thank you. I respect you way too much to have you do this for me for free, Karma." Running my hands through the front of my hair, she raises her eyebrows and nods her head once and I'm not sure if she's fully convinced, So I'll turn it up a notch.

"I'll drop two of the lowest test grades from any of the tests you complete this year, to raise your final grade." I raise my own eyebrows in question waiting for what she'll say

She jerks her head back and looks down at her shoes, placing her hand on her forehead and then taking both of her hands to pull both sides of the puff of her ponytail to tighten it.

Nodding her head to herself she looks back up at me and says, "Ok. I guess I can set aside some time to help." she looks at me shyly and I have to hold back a smile. I got her.

Hook. Line. And Sinker.

"When am I going to be helping you? Your free periods? Like this one?" During school hours?I'm not that stupid

"I'll actually need your help after school, sweetheart." I had to throw that in for extra effect, "I'm entirely too busy during my free periods."

"After school? Wow." she furrows her eyebrows staying silent for a few minutes before saying, "Ok. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." I smile at her honestly, "I'll let you know when I want to see you." I say and she looks at me in confusion before I clarify.

"When I want to see you after school." I laugh at the look on her face a little at how scrunched up her face looked

"Ok." she stays silent staring at me. I wonder what's going through her head. I hope her thoughts are similar to the ones I'm having now. Having her here late after school, all by ourselves with no obnoxious students to interrupt. I can't-

"Um...Mr.Maddow. My late pass?" she says snapping me out of my trance and I shake my head a bit saying, "Yeah. Yeah of course." I grab a pen and the pile of passes right next to me.

When I'm done writing the pass she shyly says thank you to me and walks backward away from me accidentally bumping into the desk behind her, stumbling over a bit.

Getting up from my chair, I say, "Are you okay?" looking over her from my desk to see if she hurt the back of her leg or anything but she brushes it off

"I'm fine. That's just me being clumsy, I guess." she chuckles to herself lifting her bag that fell on the floor.

I look at her and shake my head a little as a smirk comes to my lips. Can she get any cuter?

She turns around quickly to walk to the door not before giving me a small wave, as she twists the knob to open the door but quickly stumbles back almost in shock at someone at the other side of the door.

She clears her throat and says excuse me quietly, brushing quickly past the person and I look at the door in worry wondering what had her so spooked out like that.

When she leaves, Jesse Duran walks through the door right after her and looks back, watching her as she leaves I'm guessing with his eyebrow raised before he turns his head to look at me.

I really do wonder how this boy is going to pass this class since he never shows up.

"Don't worry. Don't worry. I have a late pass." he holds up the small paper between his two fingers, walking over to me and dropping it on my desk, crossing his arms as he looks at me expectantly.

"You know you're still getting detention for missing class right?"

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Jonah's getting real bold now ummmm

Thanks for reading! ily!