As the chaotic evening drew to a close, I could sense my body reaching its limit. Strangely enough, I found myself experiencing heightened exhaustion, yet an unexpected state of alertness.  I could not explain it, but it was a feeling of immense weariness coupled with a surprisingly acute awareness.

The staff were the type to go out for drinks after work. They were always down to hit up the local bar. It was like a ritual for them. A way to let loose and blow off some steam after a long night. They would extend an invitation for me to join them. But did I ever take them up on it? Hell no. I always turned them down. And you know what happened? They eventually stopped asking me. Could not say I blame them though.

By law, I must be eighteen to drink alcohol. And I understand that by looking at me, my coworkers probably think I was of drinking age. But that was not the issue at hand. The issue was that drinking in a big-ass group was not budget-friendly. We all chipped in and split the bill, but let's be real. The amount I would pay for was way more than what I could gulp down on my own. I will stick to drinking solo, where I could get my money's worth.

Once my work duties were completed, I promptly changed into more relaxed attire and clocked out. Gathering the remaining food from today's meals, I packed it into my backpack.  

Despite the pleasantly warm night, I could not shake off the feeling of being sweaty, clammy, and disgustingly dirty. But with no obligations for the next day, and my eighteenth birthday was fast approaching I was determined to indulge in some much-needed recklessness. Drinking. Smoking. Getting completely stoned all on my own was my intention. Did I sound pathetic? Yes. Did I care? Hell no.

Hear me out. Initially, I had decided to give it up tonight. Do you catch my drift? I was no expert, but weren’t men generally considerate of girls on their birthdays? For some time now, I had planned to go out and hook up. Nothing serious. Just for the night.

The mention of anything remotely related to sex instantly brought up mental images of my hot substitute teacher, Mr. Cross. That man got it all. An air of sinful seduction. An aura of dominance. A truckload of raw masculinity. That damn accent. Just thinking about him stirred up thoughts of wild, passionate, and downright carnal desires.

Oh, man. What would not I give to have him just for a night?

He and I tangled between the sheets flooded my mind. A warm flush rose to my cheeks and my heart raced. A peculiar tingling sensation between my thighs made me catch my breath. Do not even get me started on how his finger felt against my lips this morning. It was like a shockwave of electricity running through my body. Mercy me! The way he touched me with such confidence and strength was enough to make me weak in the knees. I would not mind if he kept those fingers on me all day long.

Who was this fine man that got me spinning with wild fantasy? Seriously. I had never come across a teacher who behaved like him. When he swore at Nick, I could tell Mr. Cross did not give a damn about what would happen next. He just let those words fly out of his beautifully accented mouth without care. The pace of my steps slowed as I nervously nibbled on my lip. Despite the lack of support from others, Mr. Cross stood up for me without hesitation. To be completely honest, I find myself irresistibly attracted and aroused by him.

I berated myself, “Thea. You are such a fool. A man of his caliber is beyond your reach.”

I met a man I wanted but could never have. It was against school policy for us to have any kind of romantic involvement. However, what worried me even more was the thought that Mr. Cross might already have a lover.

"Someone, kill me now!" I yelled in desperation.

The people passing by gave me strange looks, but I was too consumed by my turmoil to pay them any mind. I was currently in the midst of a serious crisis.

Tonight, I will use my false ID to get alcohol to drown my sorrows.

“Miss Evans!”

My level of desperation has reached an unmanageable height. The constant pressure and stress have caused me to start hallucinating. But I refuse to give in to this state of mind. Pausing for a moment, I snapped myself back to reality by gently slapping my face and shaking my head vigorously. I will not let Mr. Cross continue to haunt my thoughts. With a renewed sense of determination, I continued my walk.

"Miss Evans! Are you deliberately ignoring my attempts to get your attention?"

With these words, I came to a sudden stop and glanced behind me. The shock on my face was evident as I tried to comprehend what was happening. I could feel a grin forming on my lips, but I stubbornly tried to suppress it. However, my efforts were futile.

"Mr. Cross!" I gasped at the sight of him.

My heart fluttered as he approached me, a charming smile gracing his lips.

“It is good to see you again, Miss Evans," he replied. His voice was smooth and seductive.

"I did not expect to run into you here," I said, trying to keep my cool.

"Well, I heard you work at Silverside, and I could not resist the opportunity to dine. However, I did not see you on the floor and decided to wait.” His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

I eyed him with suspicion. No one from school knew about my job at Silverside, and yet, this substitute teacher seemed to have inside knowledge. I could not shake off the feeling of confusion and bewilderment at how he came to possess this information.

“Is something wrong?” Mr. Cross asked.

“Your appearance is different,” I said.