Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:07:22 -0700 From: ecclectic_soul@hotmail.com Subject: Secret Admirer: Chapter 3, Under Any similarities to real people or circumstances are merely coincidental. I'm planning on introducing a lot of fun twists, as well as more exciting sexual events! Let me know if you have any suggestions, compliments, criticisms, etc. Happy reading! Secret Admirer: Chapter 3, Under "Mr. Kiernan!" Our Sociology teacher, Ms. Vee, was staring at me, a mixture of concern and impatience contorting her kind features. In fact, I realized that the entire class shared the same expression as they probably wondered whether I had died in my chair. The pressure was uncomfortable, not only because this was a smaller classroom with a more intimate number of students, but also because I had been zoning out since the class had began. "Oh! I'm really sorry! What was the question?" I sat up straight, guiltily smiling up at the Venn diagram and having no idea what the discussion was about. Ms. Vee raised an eyebrow, and then motioned to the design on the board. "We're searching for factors that contribute to some of the stigmas placed on human sexuality, and I was asking you if you had any additional ideas on what might influence someone to view sexuality negatively." I cleared my throat, and focused on the question for a moment. There were a few basic answers listed inside the right section of the diagram, like fear and other general points. I had read the night before, so luckily, I was prepared. "Well, in some religious sects, sexuality is viewed as a kind of barrier to spiritual enlightenment. Some think that if you partake in sex, it makes you a deviant and too focused on the natural, human world to have a meaningful connection to the divine." "Excellent point, Jay. Now, let's work on having a meaningful connection to the discussion..." Ms. Vee winked as a few students snickered. I smiled and nodded, relieved that I didn't have to bullshit the answer and possibly look like an idiot in the process. Dismissing the class shortly after, Ms. Vee gestured for me to wait. I stood by her desk as all the other students filed out. When they had all gone, she looked up at me and lightly tapped her pencil on her desk. She was middle-aged and cynical, but always had a quick smile for her students. Ms. Vee was my favorite professor this semester, and I felt guilty for not paying attention in her class. I had lost the ability to think about anything else except the note. Staring at the tapping pencil, I waited. "Jay, you're one of my best students, so your little mental vacation really took me by surprise today. Actually, I'm a little worried. So, what's up?" I bit my lower lip, trying to wrap my thoughts around what she had just said. "I...I'm not sure. I..." Trailing off, I sighed and then shook my head. "Ms. Vee, have you ever been in love?" Her pencil stopped tapping. She looked up, and as she scrutinized my face, understanding swept over her, culminating in a soft smile. "I was once, a long time ago. It seems like a dream when I think about it now—beautiful, but not meant to last." Her voice took on that distant, nostalgic quality. Sighing, she shoved the pencil into a holder full of writing implements and glanced up at me. "So, who is he?" My mouth twitched. Suddenly, I burst out laughing, caught off guard by how innocent yet reasonable that question was. There was an edge of hysteria to my laugh though, which probably explained the look of surprised confusion on Ms. Vee's face. Finally, it broke off into shaky uncertainty—was this really funny? "I don't know. He's...I guess he's a secret admirer or something. That, or a stalker, and I don't feel there's much difference. He's been...doing stuff. I'm not used to it. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, if I should even do anything at all! He picked up my tab at Pine Peak the other night, and he wrote—" I immediately cut off, a hot tingle crawling up my neck. "Jay? He wrote what?" I cleared my throat. "Just stuff." "What kind of stuff? Bad stuff?" "No! Um..." I fished for the right words. "Romantic stuff?" Ms Vee raised her eyebrows. Her expression said wow but all that came out was, "Oh." I chuckled, thinking of the intense orgasm I had experienced the day before. "Yeah, that's what I said." She smiled. "Well, do you like it?" "Um...kind of. It's a little weird but flattering, I guess." Ms. Vee nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Fair enough. I know all of this must be a little odd for you, but I'd rather not have a repeat of today's little episode. Like I said, you're one of my best and I don't want you to set a bad example, if you know what I mean." "I won't! I promise! I'm just weirded out, but I'll get over it. I think tonight's game will be good for me...help me take my mind off of things." I smiled sheepishly. When Ms. Vee smiled back, I imagined for a moment that her eyes flickered to the door as if someone was there, but the flat lights of the classroom were tricky. Picking up my messenger bag, I said bye and left. Walking past the campus quad, it was quiet except for some kids laughing somewhere off in the distance. I hugged my jacket closer to me, trying to ward off the winter chill as I hurried back to my car in the parking garage next to the main student center. Streams of sunlight struck the windshield as I approached the driver's side and as I went to pull the door handle, something in the light caught my eye. Walking around to the front of the car, I discovered a yellow post-it note stuck to the hood. Picking it up, I whispered the message as I read it to myself. under. something to bring out the green in those perfect eyes. My heart started pounding in my chest as I glanced around, and then slowly knelt down to look under the car. Looking around, I spotted a long black box, about 6 x 18 inches, tucked behind one of the front wheels. I grabbed it and stood up, looking around and only hearing my fluttering heartbeat in the silence of the parking garage. Getting in my black 2008 Honda Accord sedan, I slowly slipped the lid off of the box. Neatly folded inside was a dark gray scarf with a Saks Fifth Avenue flier poking out from beneath it. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I stroked the soft cashmere under my fingertips. Then all of a sudden, like a bullet through my chest, the realization that I was falling for a complete stranger hit me. As suspicious as I was, and as much as I didn't want to believe that someone I didn't know could make me feel like this, the drumbeat in my chest was no lie. I sighed, taking out the scarf and wrapping it around my neck. "Damn it." I whispered as I started my car, backed out, and headed to the game. I hope you guys like it so far! My next installment is on its way! :)