Love beyond the book

The next day, Alex was bursting with excitement to return to school. She woke up extra early, completed her chores, got dressed, and headed out as quickly as she could.

When she arrived at school, the grounds were still mostly empty; only a few students had arrived since it was so early. Alex looked around eagerly, her heart racing in anticipation of spotting Mr. Max. She wondered if he had arrived yet.

A few minutes later, her eyes lit up as she saw him walking through the school gate. A wide smile spread across her face as relief and happiness washed over her. By now, more students were starting to trickle in, filling the previously quiet campus.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted him cheerfully.

"Morning. How are you?" Mr. Max replied with a kind smile.

"I'm fine, sir. And you?" she asked.

"I'm doing well," he responded warmly.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Students began making their way to their classrooms, and the teachers followed suit, ready to begin the day's lessons.

The first class of the day was Biology, taught by Mrs. Charlotte.

Mrs. Charlotte was not just the Biology teacher but also the principal of the school. She was a kind, God-fearing woman, known for her loving nature. With three children of her own attending the same school, she was well-respected by students and staff alike.

"Open your books to page 45. That's what we'll be covering in today's lesson," Mrs. Charlotte announced as she picked up a piece of chalk and began writing on the board.

The students obediently flipped their books to the assigned page.

"Are you there?" she asked, glancing around the classroom.

"Yes, Mrs. Charlotte," the students replied in unison.

The lesson began, but Alex struggled to stay engaged. Biology wasn't her favorite subject—far from it. She had never been good at it and found it difficult to muster any enthusiasm for the topic. Her mind wandered, and she found herself counting down the hours until Mr. Max's class later in the day.

The minutes seemed to drag, but eventually, the class came to an end. Mrs. Charlotte dictated the homework assignment, her voice clear and authoritative, and the students dutifully noted it down.

As soon as Mrs. Charlotte left the room, Alex let out a sigh of relief. She was glad the class was over and couldn't wait for her favorite part of the day—Mr. Max's lesson, which was scheduled just before the school day ended. 

Hours went by as other teachers came to teach their respective periods, and finally, it was time for Mr. Max's class. Although Alex already enjoyed mathematics, Mr. Max's engaging teaching style made her even more excited for the lesson.

Mr. Max walked into the classroom, his usual confident demeanor in place, and greeted everyone warmly.

"Good afternoon, class."

"Good afternoon, sir," they all replied in unison.

Alex, sitting near the front, couldn't hide her excitement. Her face lit up with a continuous smile that she didn't bother to suppress.

"You all know what time it is," Mr. Max said with a knowing grin.

"Yes, sir!" the class replied enthusiastically.

"Good," he said, turning to the board to write the day's topic.

The students quickly began copying the topic into their notebooks as Mr. Max launched into the lesson. Alex, as always, was focused and eager, hanging on to every word he said.

When it was time for Mr. Max to test the students' understanding, he began asking questions. Some students struggled, but a few answered correctly—Alex being one of them. In fact, she answered every question quickly and accurately, impressing Mr. Max yet again.

Pausing for a moment, he addressed her in front of the whole class.

"Alex, your level of intelligence is remarkable. Honestly, I think you should be in the science class. You're so good at anything math-related," he said, his tone both proud and encouraging.

Alex smiled shyly but didn't say a word. The rest of the class fell silent, watching the interaction between the teacher and their star student.

After wrapping up the lesson and assigning homework, Mr. Max made an announcement.

"The class is over. Don't forget to complete your assignments; they're due tomorrow. Alex, please come with me."

Curious and a little nervous, Alex followed Mr. Max to the principal's office. When they arrived, he greeted Mrs. Charlotte, the principal.

"Good afternoon, ma. I'm here because of Alex," he began.

Mrs. Charlotte looked up from her desk. "Alright, what's the matter?" she asked.

"There's no issue, ma," Mr. Max clarified. "Alex is exceptionally good at math. She grasps concepts so quickly and answers every question with ease. I believe she belongs in the science class."

Mrs. Charlotte nodded thoughtfully. "That's impressive, but the decision ultimately rests with Alex. If she feels ready to move to the science class, she's free to do so," she said, turning to Alex.

"What do you think, Alex? Would you like to move to the science class?" Mrs. Charlotte asked gently.

"Yes, ma. I think I'd do better in the science class," Alex replied confidently, her smile broadening.

"Alright, then. Starting tomorrow, you'll attend all science classes and drop your current ones," Mrs. Charlotte instructed.

"Thank you, ma," Alex said, her excitement evident.

Mr. Max smiled at her, pleased with the outcome. "Thank you, ma," he said to Mrs. Charlotte before turning to Alex.

As they walked back to the classroom, Alex couldn't contain her happiness. Not only was she excited to join the science class, but she was also thrilled to spend more time learning from Mr. Max, who taught many of the subjects in the science curriculum.

When Alex returned to the classroom, all the students eagerly crowded around her, curious about what had happened.

"Alex, what happened?" Linda asked, her voice filled with concern.

Linda was Alex's closest friend, practically a sister to her. They had been inseparable since childhood.

"Nothing much," Alex replied with a small smile. "Mr. Max took me to Mrs. Charlotte's office. I'm moving to the science class since I'm good at math and related subjects."

"Wow, that's amazing! So, you won't be attending most of our classes anymore?" Linda asked, her tone tinged with sadness.

"Yes, I'll only be in the periods we all share," Alex replied gently.

"I'll miss having classes with you," Linda said, her voice low and a bit melancholy.

"Come on, Linda," Alex said with a grin, trying to cheer her up. "You'll still see me every day."

"Okay, if you say so," Linda said, her mood lifting slightly as the other students congratulated Alex on the change.

Soon, the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. The students began packing up and heading home. Alex, however, lingered, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. Max. She had enjoyed walking home with him the previous day and secretly wished to do so again.

"Aren't you going home?" Linda asked, pausing by Alex's desk.

"I am," Alex replied casually. "I'm just waiting for someone."

"Alright. Bye, then," Linda said, waving as she left.

"Bye," Alex replied, watching her friend walk away.

After waiting for a little while longer, Alex spotted Mr. Max leaving through the school gate. She quickly pretended she was already heading home, her pace deliberate but unhurried.

"Alex, hold on!" Mr. Max called out, noticing her.

She stopped and turned, a smile playing on her lips.

He walked up to her, his usual friendly expression in place. "Come on, let's walk home together."

"Okay," she said, her smile widening.

As they walked, he glanced at her. "So, how do you feel about joining the science class tomorrow?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I guess I'm a little nervous," Alex admitted.

"You don't have to be," Mr. Max reassured her. "You'll do great—I'm sure of it."

"Thanks," she said, her nerves easing slightly at his encouragement.

"You're welcome," he replied warmly. "Well, we're at your house now. Take care. Bye."

"Bye, Mr. Max," Alex said, waving as she walked inside.

As she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but smile. She had a feeling that walking home with him would become a regular part of her day—and that thought made her heart flutter with excitement.