Chemistry lessons
HE
And just like that, summer flew by, as if it had never been at all. This year, I turned 19. September turned out to be unusually warm. As they say: "the first time in the last grade" — the ceremonial assembly and the dreary chatter repeating year after year, only one thing caught my interest: a new chemistry teacher had come to the school for her teaching practice. The ceremonial part was over and everyone dispersed to their classrooms. Strangely, our homeroom teacher didn't come today. We're sitting around chatting about how everyone spent their summer. Then the school principal and that very new teacher walk into the classroom. "Anna Ivanovna, our new chemistry teacher and your new homeroom teacher," said the principal and left...
SHE
I
had been so fascinated by chemistry since school that I decided to go to university for the chemistry department and never regretted it. After graduating, I dreamed of graduate school and big academic degrees and discoveries, but that was still far off. In our third year, according to the curriculum, we had to do teaching practice at a school, conducting chemistry lessons for high school students. I had enough chemistry knowledge, but zero experience working with teenagers. Well, I'll figure it out as I go. They gave us the basics of methodology, education, and psychology, I guess. On the very first day of the school year, the principal, as the best student in the course, "delighted" me — not only did they give me a graduating class, but also homeroom teacher duties for it... With fear in my soul, I went to my first-ever lesson, thinking how I hoped it wouldn't be my last. The principal led me to the eleventh grade, introduced me to the students, and immediately left, leaving me on the battlefield. The class stood silently, examining me with interest and mockery. "Hello, sit down..." I said in a hoarse voice. And I sat down at the desk myself, because my legs were simply buckling from fear. The kids, whispering, were openly looking me over. Trying not to pay attention, I took attendance and started the lesson.HE
I had been the class monitor for 4 years in a row, and today there was another vote and again the same position. No one wanted to stay after school and deal with class problems. I must say, I immediately felt antipathy from the teacher. Most likely because of my appearance. A guy in a leather jacket sitting right in class, an earring, long hair tied in a bun, a mustache, and a goatee. I studied well, but I dressed exactly like that, or rather, I even rode a motorcycle to school. I'd listened to lectures from teachers about it hundreds of times. I'm from a military family, so due to frequent moves, I was two years older than my classmates. I did sports, played guitar, was a school activist. I had many friends, but I had no luck with girls. I didn't like the ones in my social circle, and the ones that caused a stir didn't even want to talk to me. Ivanovna was a girl of my taste, tall, slender brunette in an expensive, strict suit. And the age difference was a year or two, no more...
SHE
My gaze kept being drawn to a guy, with a brazen and provocative look. A stupid goatee... and on a schoolboy!!! He must have sat in the same grade for like five years... although... they don't take repeaters and failing students into the 11th grade. It was his gaze, cynical, studying and undressing, that threw me off. I couldn't take it: "What's your last name? And why are you in class looking like that? Tomorrow I expect you at lessons shaved, washed, and in proper uniform!" "Kuzmin," he answered mockingly... The class snickered, I blushed, but withstood his gaze, which had suddenly turned surprised. After lessons, the girls lingered near me, we quickly found a common language. Then I went up to the teachers' lounge. I had to fill out the register, enter all the information about the students and their parents. When I got to Kuzmin, I was in shock... his year of birth matched mine... The difference was literally 10 months. It turned out, due to his parents' moves, he missed a lot and repeated a couple of grades. Well, yeah... now it's clear why he needs to shave. Ugh, and how unpleasant he is!!! I talked with several teachers to get a picture of the class and casually asked about him too. Everyone spoke quite well of the class in general and winced slightly at the mention of Kuzmin. But they said I'd find out for myself... only the PE teacher laughed when he heard his last name: "Seems like a decent guy, just a bit of a scaredy-cat and deaf!!" So I went home with mixed feelings.
HE
I kept coming to school dressed as I was used to. Ivanovna wasn't thrilled about it, but after seeing my grades and level of knowledge, she cooled down a bit, though she kept grumbling... A month passed and we had to prepare an evening at the school in honor of some righteous person. Our class was responsible for organizing this event. We chose the program and the hosts from our class. I must say, this wasn't the first such evening at the school entrusted to us. Usually, we came up with everything from A to Z ourselves. But here Ivanovna shoved a ready-made program at us and appointed those who didn't want to do it as hosts. We started learning the program under her watchful guidance. Meanwhile, secretly in the evenings, we made our own show and decided to do everything our way.
SHE
HE
Well, everything's agreed with the guys, just a small thing left. I went to the barbershop, got a short, stylish haircut, shaved, washed up, put on a new suit. And prepared everything else for the unexpected surprise. I glued the hair collected from the barbershop into a hat, put a leather coat over the suit, and rode my motorcycle to the school for the evening. There was a magic trick number in the program, and the teacher, apparently deciding to teach me a lesson, made sure that I was the one to perform the tricks. Found her clown. So, my entrance. Hat on my head, leather coat with the collar turned up high, only my eyes and long hair from under the hat are visible. I walk into the hall, they set up a screen, the teacher smiles, rejoicing in her victory over me. I start the show. I go behind the screen and a second later come out from the other side, having thrown off the hat and coat. The hall erupts, she's in shock. I perform the tricks, take the microphone from the host, and then the new program begins. She looks at me, not recognizing me and not understanding what's happening at all...
SHE
To say I was in shock is an understatement... I realized that as a teacher, I am nothing. All my efforts and sleepless nights went down the drain. The handsome and well-groomed Kuzmin simply wiped his feet on me. And who needs my chemistry knowledge if I can't handle the students. I sat there putting on a brave face. No one from the teaching staff understood anything, everyone decided it was planned that way. Waiting for a short break, I left the hall and, tired, went to the teachers' lounge. There, teachers were drinking champagne and discussing the event, the feedback was good, but I couldn't share their mood. Taking the key to the classroom, I went there and locked myself in from the inside. I needed to be alone. Throwing the window open, I sat on the windowsill and lit a cigarette, thinking about what to do next... I didn't turn out to be a teacher, so I just need to get through the lessons until the end of the practice... two more months ahead... The principal had offered me at a staff meeting to stay until the end of the school year, good thing I didn't agree.
HE
Half the program went off with a bang. The second part was supposed to be hosted by friends from the class. Intermission was over, but Anya wasn't in the hall, that's what we called her among ourselves. I went out into the main corridor and met the PE teacher, we shook hands. He's kind of a friend. At school, it's formal, outside school walls, we're on familiar terms. I asked if he'd seen our homeroom teacher. He answered, seemed like she went to our classroom. I approach the door, it's locked. I look through the keyhole and see her with a cigarette and in tears by the window. I take out my key to the classroom, I am sort of her deputy, and enter...
SHE
Startled by the surprise, I almost fell out the window. Quickly threw the cigarette away, jumped off the windowsill, and turned my back to him so he wouldn't see my face. "What do you want?" — my voice sounded thin and childishly hurt. Need to pull myself together... I'm sort of the teacher. A fresh breeze blew on my face and I gradually calmed down. Two months. Just two months...
HE
SHE
HE
"Well, it turned out awkward. We redid everything and didn't say. The fault is entirely mine, I talked the guys into it. Again, I didn't think there'd be such a reaction. "And anyway, you don't smoke at school, especially in the classroom. And I heard somewhere that nicotine ruins the skin, especially women's. You are, after all, a girl and, I must say, quite beautiful. You shouldn't smoke, you should dance with a figure like that. And what's the fashion for opening windows in autumn? Who will be my supervisor if my favorite teacher gets sick? The beard and mustache will start growing again on the wayward student. He only listens to Ivanovna," I said, closed the window, and turned to face her. Looked at her with a guilty expression and, smiling, looked away...
SHE
We stand there like two fools... I smirked and looked at him intently. "Let's go to the hall!" I decisively took him by the arm and led him out of the classroom, — "And as for smoking, that's just from nerves, I promise I'll quit! Sasha, you know, I've dreamed all my life of riding a motorcycle. Will you give me a ride?"
HE
"Definitely, after the evening is over." — I answered and we went to the hall from where music was already coming. They announced the disco. "Shall we dance?" and immediately, without waiting for an answer, I take her by the hand and pull her along. Here she is in my arms and I don't give a damn who thinks what. I embrace her waist, her hand in mine, and only the sounds of the melody drown out the pounding of my excited heart. She seems to float in my embrace, like something weightless. So sweet and fragile. The scent of her perfume and body drives me crazy. I want to run out of the hall from the intense stares in our direction, but the dance isn't over and they won't understand. And worst of all, if this sweet creature doesn't understand. It seems like the ground will disappear from under my feet, and only reason brings me back to reality. I want to kiss her, but I can't. I want to hold her tighter, others will see. A volcano of thoughts and a storm of emotions. Reason says no, but the heart screams like a child waking from a nightmare...
SHE
Not a trace of tears remained. Before I could even think, his hand grabbed my waist and carried me into the dance. Conflicting feelings overwhelmed me! He's a student, but right now I was perceiving him as a man. His hands excited me, the music enchanted me, and he led so confidently and beautifully that my head spun with pleasure. Colleagues looked on warily and disapprovingly, and only the PE teacher winked at me, encouraging me. If it weren't for our positions as student and teacher, I probably would have just run off with him somewhere right now. I liked Sasha insanely, in his new guise he had won my heart, which was now being torn apart by a hurricane of passions. But everything comes to an end, the music fell silent and I, with a smile, slipped out of his hands, glad he didn't notice my trembling.
The disco continued, I sat down with colleagues. The deputy principal sat down next to me and thanked me for the excellent performance, then talked a lot about lessons, about methodology. I listened with half an ear, watching Sasha... he went out, came back in, invited someone to dance, went out again, told something funny to the guys, making them laugh throughout the hall. "Be careful with Kuzmin," — the deputy principal's voice suddenly broke through, — "or you'll cry later!" "In what sense?" — I raised my eyes to her in surprise. "Just don't forget the difference in position and that gossip spreads instantly. It's just friendly advice," — the deputy principal got up and went to the other end of the hall where a scuffle was brewing among the boys. I decided I wouldn't have anything to do with Kuzmin except school matters. The disco soon ended, I sent everyone home and got ready to leave myself. Luckily, I don't live far from the school.
HE
The dancing ended, people dispersed. I'm sitting on the motorcycle waiting for Anya to come out, I promised her a ride. And I just wanted to look into the lakes of her eyes one more time. Here she comes out and locks the school. Walks past as if I'm wearing an invisibility cloak. I drop the motorcycle and catch up on foot. "Anna Ivanovna, wait!" — I call after her. She pretends not to hear me and walks without slowing down. "Anya, stop!" — same reaction. "What else did I do wrong? How can you not understand, I like you a lot" she stopped. I approached and took her hand. "Don't want to talk, that's your business, at least let me take you home. It's late to be wandering alone." I lead her to the motorcycle, hand her the helmet, and she sits behind me so reluctantly... "Let's go, otherwise I'll be late for work," — I said and started the Honda...
SHE
He was at the school exit. With trembling hands, I locked the door, walked past on buckling legs, pretending not to see him. "Anna Ivanovna" from behind... I stay silent..."Anya" — hit my ears, the main thing is to leave. His confession knocked me off my feet. My heart was already pounding like crazy, and now a hot wave washed over my cheeks, something sweet ached inside. What is this? I've had men and heard confessions more than once, but nothing ever touched me like this. A hot hand touched mine, depriving me of reason and the ability to object. I sat behind him... after a slight hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling the muscle cubes tense under his shirt. Ah... to hell with it all!!! I pressed my cheek to his back and felt how hot it was, rubbed against it slightly, wanting to feel the firmness and density. My breasts under the blouse tensed, pressing against his back. And he picked up speed... My head swam... speed always excites me! With every bump, with every jolt, I bumped slightly, rubbed against his body, and my heart sweetly skipped a beat, as if falling from a great height, taking my breath away. I wanted it to last forever.
HE
In three minutes we reached her house. I stopped for a second and sharply pulled the throttle. She said something, but the sound of the engine didn't let me understand what exactly. We raced through the night city, and it seemed there was no better moment in life. Wind in my face, the roar of the engine, and the girl's arms hugging me, and I feel her trembling with delight. I stopped near a local restaurant, killed the engine, and taking her hand, walked towards the entrance. A security guard blocked the way. "Max, what's up? Didn't recognize me?" — I asked him. He started laughing and, slapping me friendly on the shoulder, gave way. This was my workplace. Here on weekend evenings I played guitar. I entered the hall, seated the girl at a table, placed an order, and asked her not to leave the restaurant while I stepped away for a bit. She looked at me somehow differently, and only the blush on her cheeks betrayed some embarrassment. I ran to my workplace. Since childhood, my father wanted to force me to follow in his footsteps — become a military man. But I loved music and even graduated from music school for guitar despite the frequent moves... So I walk onto the stage, guitar in hand, sit on a high stool somewhat similar to those at the bar. I get into a comfortable position, adjust the microphones, and the first chord fills the hall with sound...
SHE
So, home. Before I could be disappointed, the motorcycle jerked forward, and again delight and a sense of freedom overwhelmed me. Amazing... he brought me to a restaurant. Stunned, in a state of excitement, I just silently followed him, melting from the fact that my hand was in his. And now the lights are dimmed... and he... so stately and handsome in the middle of the hall... My soul froze with admiration and delight. I couldn't