The bell rang throughout the halls and I knew it was time to hurry. I slammed my locker shut, held my science books under my arm, and rushed to science class. I made a mad dash to my seat and hurried to set everything up before anyone could notice I was late. I looked up after I set the books up on my desk and realized that the teacher wasn’t even there.

“Wow, all that running for nothing.”

I grumbled under my breath. I pulled out my ‘notebook’, which I definitely used for notes and stuff. Yep. Scientific notes. All in my science notebook. Yep… I need to stop lying to myself. I opened up to a blank page and ran my #2 pencil along the blue lines. As soon as I was about to draw something, the teacher came in. Slightly startled, I set the notebook off to the side and started picking at the edge of my textbook as I looked up. My eyes widened. This wasn’t my normal teacher. As if answering my questions, the man stood behind his desk and opened his mouth to say something.

“I’m Rick Sanchez, ‘eugh’ and I’m going to be your substitute teacher f-for the day.”

He said with an attitude. I admired him from my desk. His light blue hair was eye-catching, and he wore a lab coat like a real scientist would. I wondered if he was taking this a little too seriously. I watched him take something out of his lab coat pocket and hold it up to his mouth, then slip it back into his pocket. I realized that he just drank from a flask, right in front of all of us. I smirked, immediately loving his attitude. He started flipping through the textbook that the teacher kept up front.

“Go to page ‘eugh’ 182.”

He instructed us, and we all did as he said. He started reading to us aloud about astronomy, and even though it was one of my favorite subjects, I couldn’t stand the textbook. I smirked to myself as I took my notebook out again, and started to sketch out a drawing of our substitute teacher. I couldn’t believe how good looking he was. Every few minutes, I would look up from my drawing, look back at our sub, and down at my paper. It helped me look like I was actually taking notes and also helped me get every detail perfect. By the time I finished, the class was nearly over, and I had drawn him looking slightly nervous, flask in hand, asking me out on a date. I drew a few little hearts and a blush on both our faces, then started to write in cursive, “Rick Sanchez.” I put my hand on my cheek and admired my work for a moment.

“Hey!”

I looked up at the sudden noise. Rick was staring right at me. I started to get nervous.

“M-me?”

I asked.

“Yes, you. W -‘eugh’- What are you doing over there?”

He started to walk slowly over to my desk. I froze.

“Oh, uh, I-I was just taking notes-“

“Bullshit.”

He snapped. I hurriedly closed my notebook as he got closer. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

“Why don’t ‘eugh’ you stay after class?”

My mouth was dry and I felt my face burn. I nodded, afraid that if I talked, nothing would come out right. He returned to his desk and continued with the lesson for another five minutes or so. The bell rang, dismissing everyone. I wondered if I could sneak out right now, with the crowd of students surrounding me and hiding me. I slung my backpack on my shoulder, grabbed my books, and started to leave. I noticed I was one of the last ones out. I hurried to try to make it out the door before he noticed. Too late.

“You’re staying after class, r-remember?”

Rick yelled at me. I froze and cringed, walking slowly back to the class. He shut the classroom door and had me take a seat at the front of the room. He stood over my desk. My face got hotter and hotter the closer he was to me.

“’Eugh’ are you still gonna tell me you were just taking notes?”

He questioned. I gulped, unsure of what to say.

“What’s your name?”

He moved on.

“(Y-Y/N) (L/N)…”

I mumbled.

“Speak up.”

“(Y/N) (L/N).”

I said clearly. A smirk covered his face.

“So, ‘eugh’ (Y/N). Do you mind showing me what you were working on?”

“Yeah, I do mind.”

I said with an attitude that rivaled his own. He was taken by surprise.

“You don’t get it, girlie. I’m ordering you to show me. Right now.”

He spotted the notebook under my arm and snatched it.

“No!”

I yelled and tried to take it back. He was much taller, not to mention stronger, than me. I had no chance of getting it back. He started flipping through a few of my first pages.

“Hm, I take it ‘eugh’ you’re an artist?”

“Kind of… I just sketch stuff sometimes.”

I mumbled. I kept feeling better the longer it took for him to find my recent drawings.

“Where did you ‘eugh’ leave off today?”

He asked the question I was dreading.

“Oh, um, I don’t really know…”

“Hm…”

He kept flipping through pages, going through more recent work. I knew he had found it when he stopped on the page and stared for at least two whole minutes. My heart started racing as fast as it could, and I was trembling.

“I already know what it is. I want you to say it. Wh-what’s this?”

He asked, turning the page to face me. My assumptions were correct. My mouth went bone dry again as my face burned fire hot, and I tried to conjure up as much courage as I could.

“M-my notebook.”

I replied. It wasn’t a lie, either. He got up in my face, so close I could smell whatever alcohol he was drinking on his breath.

“Don’t be a smart ‘eugh’ ass.”

I realized his face looked a little red.

“Um…… It’s a drawing of you and me.”

“Why would you draw that?”

“B-b-because…I like you, Rick.”

I mumbled and stared down at my desk. He took his two fingers and tilted my chin back up to look at him.

“You’re a lucky girl, (Y/N). You’re so pretty. To be honest, I…I like you back.”

My heart just about stopped when he said that. He hurriedly leaned in to kiss me. My notebook and textbooks clattered to the floor. I closed my eyes and kissed him back, as best as I could. He put his arms around me, and I shivered at the gentle touch. He pulled away after a few seconds, keeping it soft and innocent. My whole face was on fire, and his was red.

“R-Rick… Are you serious?”

He started stroking my hair gently.

“Yes, I’m serious. You’re the ‘eugh’ prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. And trust me, I’ve seen A LOT of girls.”

A nervous smile crept up to my mouth.

“Rick, honestly, you’re the cutest guy I’ve ever seen in my life.”

His face got redder and he smiled down at me.

“Good, because I-“

The loud ringing of the next bell cut him off.

“Oh, shit!”

I yelled and started picking up my books, stuffing them into my backpack.

“Hey, uh, I’m ‘eugh’ sorry for making you late.”

“Shut up, it was worth it~”

I flirted with him. He smiled and gave me a peck on the cheek.

“I’ll see you soon, princess.”

“See ya, Rick.”

I called over my shoulder and hurried off to my next class, thinking about how unbelievably lucky I got.