Worse Than Nicotine

“Okay, guys! Settle down for a sec!”

The whole music class turned to their teacher, and Holly took note of the way he stared in her direction more than usual. She loved this new treatment.

Alex and Holly had been together every day of the week afterschool. It would be normal for Holly to get bored with a person sometimes, but something about Alex was … different. Maybe it was his maturity, maybe it was his skills―in any subject―or maybe it was just the fact that Holly loved the thrill of making out with her teacher. Whatever it was, it made her think she was dating for the first time all over again.

I wonder if I’m getting an A in this class … She grimaced at the thought.

Hayley shifted her position closer to Holly on the couch. “You’ve been different.”

The blonde was brought back to reality. “How so?”

“I don’t know …” She shrugged as their teacher walked over to the closet to retrieve a guitar.“You’ve sobered up a little.”

“I’ve turned a new leaf.” Holly threw out, glad that her friend didn’t catch onto her lie.

“If you say so.”

Alex returned to the front of the room with a guitar and sat on the desk behind him. “So I know you guys like playing your stuff from time to time, but some of you have been asking to hear some of my work.” His eyes went to a few of the girls to Holly’s right, and the blonde immediately felt jealous. “I was in a band in high school, so I know it’s a shocker that the music teacher actually knows a thing or two about music.”

The group of girls giggled with big smiles on their faces. Holly knew one girl from the group, Jasey Rae. Or “just Jasey” because “I like it better with the Rae part” skank, Holly rolled her eyes at the girl. She had a reason to dislike her, I mean the girl did flirt with Brendon many times, and even though Holly was conflicted with her thoughts on her teacher and her boyfriend, she knew she’d always hate that Jasey Rae. She always wanted what was Holly’s.

“Hey!” The blonde whispered loudly to the other girl. “Shut up!”

Jasey glared at her as their teacher continued with a smile: “This one I wrote recently.” He cleared his throat before starting to strum.

“When you gonna give it up?
You’re giving me such a rush
Come on Holly, would you turn me on?

“You are the taste of something sweet
And I’m tangled in the sheets
You left your mark, dragged down my back
So chain me up, I’m in too deep
Too much of you is never enough …”

Holly bit down on her lip as Alex continued to look down at the instrument in his hands, completely immersed in the sound.

“When you gonna give it up?
You’re giving me such a rush
Come on Holly, would you turn me on?
Just another pretty face,
But I want one more taste
Come on Holly, would you turn me on?”

Hayley’s eyes flew to her friend, who was watching their teacher in complete awe. The red head’s eyes went back to Mr. Gaskarth, suspicion overloading her insides.

“Just one fix
To keep me in the mix
And I’m still strung out on you
Drove all night
I’m the deer in your headlights
What's left of me you’ll swallow soon
Too much of you is never enough …”

He started on the chorus again and Holly could feel eyes boring into her, but she didn’t care. She didn’t even mind the scowl Jasey was giving her.

“You took what you wanted
You got it, you know it
I’m haunted by everything that you gave me
You made me, you broke me, you saved me
I’m crazy, but I'm not done

“So when you gonna give it up?
You’re giving me such a rush
Come on Holly, would you turn me on?
Just another pretty face,
But I want one more taste
Come on Holly, would you turn me on?”

He finally finished with a light strum of the guitar and he looked up to the class. Each person was different: some shocked, some suspicious, and some―like Holly―smirking ever so slightly. Maybe he shouldn’t have played this. All he saw was a mix of emotions … and one hand raised.

“Jasey,” he called to the girl with the hand up.

The brunette’s smile tugged up. “I just have one question, Mr. Gaskarth.”

“Shoot.”

“What was that song about exactly?”

The whole class was hushed as the girl asked the dreaded question. Alex cleared his throat awkwardly and set down the guitar. “Well,” he sighed, “in little words … it’s about being addicted to fame and Hollywood. It’s almost about what I was going through when I was in a band.” He felt a sigh of relief as many of the kids nodded their heads in understanding.

He did good, but he wasn’t that careful.

---

“Liar!”

Alex instantly dropped the box of recorders in his hands at the voice and slamming of his door. He turned at the familiar giggle and shook his head. “You scared me,” he breathed out a sigh.

Holly shrugged and bent down to help him pick up the box. “School just let out, you should be used to me coming by at this time.” She kissed him on the cheek as he got the box back in his muscular arms.

“I guess I’m just not used to afterschool help.” He smirked her way and she chuckled.

“By the way, back to what I was saying: you’re a filthy liar.” She said, following him into the closet.

He turned and pulled her close by her waist. “And how is that?”

“That song you played in class wasn’t about ‘being addicted to fame and Hollywood,’ was it?”

He looked away from her and shrugged. She laughed and pulled him closer to her, resting her lips on his and kissing him for a brief moment. All she got for an answer was a wink. “Screw you,” she shook her head and hit his chest. She felt her phone buzz and she groaned, pulling it out.

New Message from Brendon<3
You coming to band practice?


“Shit,” she frowned. “I forgot I promised to be at Brendon’s practice.”

Alex was quiet for a minute before replying, “Are you still dating him?”

She avoided his eyes as she said, “Yeah … kind of …” She rubbed the back of her neck while glancing at his dark eyes. A sudden smirk crept on her face. “Are you jealous?”

He stayed silent.

“Okay, listen,” she sighed as she brushed her hand up and down his forearm. “Brendon and I have been best friends since birth. If I were to dump him … who knows what will happen. The earth might explode, and his heart would literally break in two.”

“So we mean nothing …” He pulled away from her and started toward the pile of guitars.

“No, no, no. I didn’t mean it that way.” She grasped his hand and made him turn back to her. “I’m different with you, Alex. You … I don’t know. You make me feel things I never thought I never would. You know a lot and I feel like I’m having intellectual conversations with you, which is why I think I just got a B plus in English this term, might I add―”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” He laughed. “So … what are you going to do?”

She looked down and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek, muttering, “I gotta go. See you tomorrow!”

“I’m still going to worry!” He called as she ran out the door.

And she knew he would, because she was too.

Notes

There is one reason why Alex would NEVER be a teacher in real life, and that is because he can be an idiot sometimes xD But I loved writing this chapter<3
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Rock on \m/