Guilty Pleasures

“It was nothing, Jo,” Naomi said into the phone, a bright smile plastered
on her face. “He just helped me pick up my books, that's all,” she insisted.

“Really?” Jo asked skeptically as she fed her fish. “So that’s why
you’re taking extra time picking out what to wear tomorrow?”

Naomi froze, holding a pair of black jeans in midair before dropping it onto the growing
pile on her bed. “That’s beside the point,” she said dismissively.

“Oh, come on, Naenae,” Jo replied. “The guy was a major hottie- it’s
okay to ogle.”

“No, no, there was no ogling,” Naomi said in a voice that betrayed her true feelings about the situation.

“So if he wasn’t a teacher and you weren’t his student, you wouldn’t be a
tiny bit interested?” Jo asked with a smile, already knowing the answer.

“Okay, you know I would, but I’m strictly in a ‘no touching’ situation. Not
like he would want me to touch him, but-“

“Nae,” Jo interrupted. “Don’t believe everything that Will told you, alright?”

Naomi smiled gratefully, even though her friend couldn’t see it. “I’ll try…I better get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning, Jo.”

“Good night, Nae.”

Naomi hung up the phone with a heavy sigh. Yes, she was in a ‘no touching’ zone with Gerard Way, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t fantasize about him.

Naomi jumped when a knock sounded on the door, looking almost guilty when she opened it for her mom.

“Hi, Honey,” Donna greeted her happily. “Sorry, I had to work late.”

“That’s okay,” Naomi replied with a smile.

“Have you seen your father?”

“I don’t think he’s home, yet,” Naomi said, her smile fading at the worried look on her mother’s face.

“How was your first day?”

“It was good,” Naomi emphasized with a nod as she began putting her clothes
away, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling in her stomach.

“Uh oh,” Donna said with a smile. “There’s already a wardrobe crisis, and it’s only been one day. New boyfriend on the horizon?”

“I don’t know if boyfriend is the right word,” Naomi replied, feeling her
face heat up.

“But there’s a guy that you want to notice you.”

“Something like that.”

“As long as this new boy doesn’t interfere with your schoolwork. You know your English and history grades were waning last year.”

Naomi froze, biting her lips before glancing worriedly at her mother. Did
she know something? No, of course not. There was nothing for her to know, and besides, her grades did suffer last year after her personal life took a turn for the worst.

“I’ll do better this year, I promise.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it, but maybe you can ask Jo for some extra
help.”

“I’ll think about it.”

* * * * *

Gerard was looking forward to his last class a little too much. He had only
seen Naomi once today, laughing with her friends on the other side of the
cafeteria, and he felt an unmistakable pull toward her. He had resisted it,
of course, but it was still disturbing nonetheless.

Now, as Naomi walked into his classroom, wearing a simple yellow tank top and black jeans, that made her pale skin stand out even more, Gerard was struck by how innocent she appeared to be. She looked so…so…

“Young, you moron,” he muttered to himself, straightening a pile of already organized papers, doing anything to avert his eyes from the girl who was rapidly becoming the object of Gerard's thoughts.

Class seemed to pass by in a blur of stolen moments. Both were trying to
avert their eyes as much as possible, but more often than not, couldn’t
avoid the inevitable. Gerard wandered up and down the aisles as he lectured, unable to resist the urge to brush his hand ‘accidentally’ against Naomi's bare shoulder, noticing the shiver that ran up and down her spine that she tried to suppress.

He was fascinated with the way she seemed to worry her bottom lip when she took notes. Gerard moved to the front of the room, glancing at her as he spoke and locking their eyes again.

Naomi felt short of breath throughout the entire class. When his hand
lightly brushed against her shoulder, she was sure it was an accident, but
it still sent her heart racing. She could just imagine his hands on other
parts of her body…

Naomi nearly smacked herself in the head as the bell rang. It was only the second day of class, and she was having lusty wrong feelings about her history teacher.

Naomi gathered her things together, trying to keep up with Jo as they
left the room. “Hey, Jojo, can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure, Nae.”

“Well, Mom’s on this worrying kick already,” she said as they stopped
outside the library door. “She wants me to get some extra help in English
and history, and I was kind of wondering-“

“Nae, I’d love to help, but I just can’t right now,” Jo interrupted,
the remorse evident in her voice at not being able to help her best friend.

“Hey,” Naomi said with a bright smile. “No big. I mean, you’re already
helping Sam. I should have known.”

“Nae-“

“No, Jo, it’s really okay. You should probably get in there,” she said,
gesturing toward the library door.

“Yeah,” Jo agreed. “I really do wish I could.”

Naomi nodded, keeping her smile in place as Jo walked into the library.
The hallway was almost empty as Naomi turned around, leaning against a
locker, letting her eyes close as her smile faded.

“Something wrong, sugar?”

Naomi opened her eyes, her mouth dropping open slightly when she saw Mr.
Way standing in front of her. Naomi quickly straightened, smoothing the
fabric of her top as she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Gerard tilted his head slightly, studying her as she nervously shifted from
one foot to the other. “I’m not buying it,” he replied.

“It’s stupid,” Naomi said, shaking her head with a small smile. “I just
asked my friend if she could tutor me, but she’s too busy. Not exactly
‘world in peril’ kind of stuff. Well, not until my mom finds out I’ll be
repeating my senior year,” she finished, trying to lighten her own mood.

“What subject?” Gerard asked.

Naomi blushed, almost ashamed to admit that it was his class. “English
and…history.”

Gerard tilted his head, looking at her. “You’re doing fine in my class, Miss
Hackett. I realize it’s only the second day, but you’ve been attentive and
taking notes.”

“Yeah, but when test time comes around, it’s another story. It’s like a
freeze up and forget everything I’ve learned.”

Gerard took a deep breath, already kicking himself for what he was about to say. “What if I tutor you?”

Naomi's eyes widened a fraction as she stared at him in disbelief. “You’re serious?” she asked softly.

“Completely,” Gerard replied. “I’m free nearly everyday after school, if you
want to stop by for an hour or two.”

Naomi moistened her suddenly very dry mouth, noticing Gerard's eyes dart to her tongue as it swept across her lips.

Gerard had to suppress a groan when her tongue peeked out of her lips,
feeling a slight movement in his groin.

“That would be great,” Naomi replied, almost nervously.

“Okay,” Gerard said with a nod as he began to back away. “We can start
tomorrow if you like.”

“Thanks, Mr. Way.”

Naomi saw him smile before turning and disappearing down the hall.

Gerard made it to his classroom, shutting the door and leaning his head
against it. Closing his eyes, he tried to will away his growing erection.
He hadn’t had a reaction to something so harmless since he was in high
school. How was he ever going to make it through an entire hour with her?