Summertime Loving

He walked out of the room, a satisfied smile on his face. The exchange had lifted his mood, making the day feel a little brighter. Heading back to class, he took his seat and waited for everyone else to finish up.

'Guess I forgot to do that whole dress code thing,' he thought with a smirk. 'But it'll be more fun if I just bring it up when the time's right.'

The bell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He gathered his things and made his way to his next class, History—one of his least favorite subjects. He settled next to Rhonda, whose eyebrows shot up at his unexpected arrival.

"What are you doing?" he asked, leaning in and peering over at her notebook.

"Writing, obviously. So maybe don't interrupt me," she replied, focused on her page.

"For real? I was just about to tell you a way to run faster, but I guess you don't wanna know," he said, looking off in the other direction with feigned indifference.

Rhonda chuckled. "You think I'm going to fall for that? Try harder."

"Alright, your loss. I'll be out here winning medals and getting faster. Guess who'll be in my dust?" he shot back, leaning back in his chair with a smug look.

Rhonda snuck a glance at him as he turned away. 'He's bluffing,' she thought. 'He's gotta be bluffing… right?'

As minutes ticked by, she found herself growing increasingly restless, sneaking glances at Travis while he jotted down notes, his expression totally relaxed—as if he wasn't withholding some secret advantage. Her curiosity gnawed at her.

'I need to know…'

Finally, she relented. "Tr… Travis." Her voice was hesitant. He turned toward her, a smirk already forming on his lips.

"Yes, Rhonda?"

The smug look on his face made her want to scream, but she swallowed her frustration. "What were you going to tell me again?"

"Oh, that? Never mind. Forget about it," he said, looking back down at his book as if the conversation had never happened.

Her shoulders slumped, her world crashing. "Please, tell me. I really need to know," she pleaded, a note of desperation creeping into her voice.

Travis couldn't hold back his laughter, looking up at her with a wicked grin. "No."

He chuckled to himself, enjoying every second of her torment.

'Muhahahaha, trolling is the best,' he thought, thoroughly amused.

The bell rang, and Travis decided he'd better head to gym class; after all, he couldn't disappoint the woman who'd just treated him to such a generous morning. He and Rhonda went to the locker rooms, quickly changing into their gym clothes before joining the rest of the class for practice.

As they warmed up, Rhonda kept pestering him with questions on how to improve her running speed, but he brushed her off, barely giving her a nod. For the next twenty minutes, they worked out, pushing through sprints and drills, his focus sharp yet playful.

Each time he sprinted past Bridget, he'd catch her eye and throw her a subtle wink, his expression filled with a silent promise that made her cheeks flush. She tried to keep her cool, but every glance left her grinning, a spark of excitement flickering in her eyes.

And from the way she shifted and pressed her legs together, even her other lips seemed to be smiling back.

[ A/N: Why did I WRITE that ]

He clocked out early, slipping into the shower to wash off the day's workout before getting changed. Fresh and ready, he headed toward the cafeteria, where everyone had gathered. But on the way, he spotted Ms. Ross, standing with Eve, her voice warm as she praised Eve's artwork.

Travis watched quietly, a faint smile on his lips as Ms. Ross continued her enthusiastic support. After a while, Eve walked off toward the assembly area, leaving Ms. Ross standing alone. Her expression was thoughtful, a hint of sadness in her eyes. But the moment she saw him, her face lit up with a bright smile, her gaze softening.

"If it isn't my most favorite man in the world. Travis, how are you?" she purred, stopping just in front of him, her hand resting lightly against his abdomen.

"I'm alright, Ms. Ross. How was your weekend?" he asked, his tone friendly but curious.

She gave a playful laugh, her eyes glinting. "It was fine, I guess. Would've been better if I'd gotten a good fucking, though." She laughed at her own bluntness, clearly enjoying his reaction.

Travis raised an eyebrow, squinting slightly as he chuckled. "Uh… yeah, I guess. So, about the lessons—you remember when we're starting, right?"

"Of course," she said smoothly. "But tomorrow, meet me in my classroom at night. I could use a bit of help with something, alright?" Her eyes held his in a way that left no doubt about her intentions, a smoldering look that made her meaning unmistakable.

He couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, I'll be there. See you then, Ms. Ross."

As he walked away, she let her gaze wander down his back, her eyes lingering. Biting her lip, she trailed a finger across her own mouth. "I just got inspired," she thought, a wicked smile forming.

Travis made his way to the assembly area where he'd last seen Eve. He walked in quietly, noticing her sitting alone on the stage, her shoulders slightly slumped. Sliding onto the stage beside her, he caught her by surprise.

"What's up?" he asked, giving her a casual smile.

"Travis! How did you know I was here?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

The quiet of the assembly hall made their voices echo around them, filling the empty space.

"I always know where you are. Call it a friend GPS," he said with a grin.

She let out a soft giggle, nudging him playfully. "You're so dumb. Can't you see I'm trying to be sad here?" she teased, her smile breaking through.

"Oh, then I guess I did the right thing by coming here. Can't have my Eve feeling down," he replied, glancing over at her with a gentle look.

Eve's eyes lingered on him, a warmth growing in her gaze. She didn't realize it, but her expression held a softness, the unmistakable look of a woman falling in love.

"If you really want to cheer me up, come over to my place later," she said, her tone light but filled with a subtle invitation.

"Huh? You're already inviting me home? At least take me on a date first!" he replied, feigning shock.

Eve burst into laughter, her laugh bright and genuine, a sound he'd always found endearing.

"Come on, just come," she insisted, nudging him again.

"Alright, alright. We'll meet by the fountain, and we'll head over together," he said, flashing her a playful wink.

She nodded, satisfied. "Cool. We should head back before they start panicking."

"Why would they panic?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know," she shrugged. They shared a look, then suddenly broke into laughter, the sound filling the hall and easing the moment.

'And if a double-decker bus crashes into us... man, I love The Smiths,' he thought, a smile tugging at his lips.

TO BE CONTINUED