Worse Than Nicotine

“So, why were you gone for so long?”

Holly looked up as Hayley’s question hung in the air. The blonde sat at her desk―a table full of scratches and carvings her and Hayley made in middle school―painting her nails a new dark maroon color. She chose this color specifically because Mr. Gaskarth had worn a beanie tonight the exact shade, but she would never tell anyone that.

When Holly took a few moments to respond, Hayley continued, “I mean, you usually don’t take that long to have a smoke …”

“Uh …” Holly looked back down, continuing to paint her nails. “Can you promise not to tell anyone? Especially Brendon?”

The redhead’s eyes became concerned, and she moved from her seat at the bed to sitting crisscross below Holly. “What did you do?”

“Nothing, nothing!” She said, making sure it sunk into her friend. “It’s just that this was the second time it happened and if Brendon finds out, he’ll start to get jealous.” Holly knew her boyfriend well. He pretended not to care and to be jealous, but Holly always knew on the inside, things like her surprise encounters with Mr. Gaskarth would bother him.

“Just tell me what happened,” Hayley persuaded.

“Well, it sort of started yesterday.” Holly put the nail brush back with the paint bottle when she finished, blowing air onto her cuticles. “While I was waiting by Petrelli’s store for Timmy the Drunk to get there to buy me a pack before Brendon’s practice, I ran into Mr. Gaskarth. He was surprisingly gracious and bought me a pack, so I gave him a ride home―”

“YOU WENT TO OUR HOT NEW TEACHER’S HOUSE?!” Hayley exclaimed, eyes bulging.

“Why not tell the whole neighborhood, would ya?!” The blonde shook her head and continued. “Tonight when I went out to smoke, someone tapped me shoulder and asked if they could borrow a cigarette. It was Mr. Gaskarth again and … I don’t know … we just got to talking. The guy will literally talk to you for an hour if you show him a fake I.D.”

“So why would Brendon be bothered by this if he knew?”

“Brendon’s … weird.” Holly shook her head.

“Well, obviously.”

“He just …” She shrugged. “Brendon’s known for being the singer of the school’s prized band, an all-around good guy, and the jokester. Nowhere in that description is the characteristic of a jealous boyfriend. He tends to hide it, and I’ve known this since we were kids. And even though he hides it, I can still … see behind it, I guess.”

Hayley had an eyebrow raised when Holly looked over at her.

“I sound like someone who should have their own TLC show, don’t I?”

The quirky redhead became serious for once and shrugged. “No, it’s normal. Well, normal for you guys.” She then turned Holly’s way, a smirk planted on her face. “There’s still one unanswered question: are you attracted to our new music teacher?”

Holly tried her best to hide her blush by laughing falsely. “Oh, look who’s become a jokester! Really, you slay me, Hayles!”

“Hey! Answer the question!” The other girl pounded on her friend’s legs. “You know, you don’t even have to answer. I know you have a thing for him.”

“I. Do. Not.” Holly made sure she enunciated each word perfectly. “Besides, I have a boyfriend. You know that.”

“That doesn’t mean your eyes can’t wander.”

Holly frowned. “I’m sure there’s a rule against that. And I'm pretty sure it's Rule 56."

Notes

I just love Teacher Alex and Boyfriend Brendon, I don't know why<3 xD
Thanks for all the new votes and comments and subscribes! So exciting to see people liking my new story! Haven't had a really new story since October, and creating a new one was just what I needed to get me out of my rut<3
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Rock on \m/