Free Alpha Girl by Kate Bloomfield

Stone allowed himself a guilty grin before shifting into first gear and rumbling down the road.
    I watched him as he drove; the streetlamps passed over his face, illuminating every line. He allowed me to watch him throughout the entire journey without saying a word.
    When we arrived at my house I leaned over and kissed Mr. Stone on the cheek. He bowed his head and stared at the steering wheel.
    ‘Thanks Tom,’ I said softly before hopping out of the car and tiptoeing towards the house.

Chapter Eight

Monday – 9 days to go

     
    Mr. Stone, no … Thomas, paid me extra attention during the next English lesson. He called upon me to answer almost every question, and praised me excessively when I got it right. I couldn’t help but smile. It felt as if I had a friend for the first time. Each and every time I saw him looking at me, a guilty expression crossed his face, as though he’d been caught doing something embarrassing.
    I was equally as guilty. While we were meant to be working quietly, I raised my hand to ask for assistance, and Tom knelt by my desk, his body very close to mine. I could feel the electricity passing between us.
    His hand rested on my desk as he ‘explained’ the latest essay to me. Of course, I understood it perfectly well, and he knew it.
    It took me all of the courage I could muster to gently touch his hand with my pinkie-finger. I saw goose bumps erupt all over his skin at the feather-light touch. I didn’t move, and the inch of skin remained pressed against Mr. Stone’s hand. It was so subtle, but so erotic I could feel my loins screaming.
    He was so close I could hear him breathing. The only other sound in the room was the scratching of pens as the other students worked. No one else had noticed his proximity to me as he helped me with the essay. However, I thought I saw Sadie watching me out of the corner of her eye.
    I was right. Come lunchtime, Sadie cornered me in the playground, a falsely sweet smile on her face.
    ‘Hey, Rose. I missed you at the party,’ she said.
    ‘Yeah, I left kind of early,’ I admitted.
    ‘I know, your pink haired friend was looking for you.’
    ‘Yeah … I’ll see her tonight at the café, I guess.’
    To be honest, I didn’t really want to see Estelle. I was annoyed at her for drinking when she’d promised not to. However, I was also thankful, as it had given me more time with Thomas.
    ‘I saw you leave with Mr. Stone,’ said Sadie, watching my reaction carefully.
    I didn’t give her the satisfaction. I shrugged. ‘Yeah, I was stranded so he offered to take me home.’
    ‘How nice of him. You know he’s given me a lift home before too?’ She smiled smugly.
    My jaw tensed. ‘Yeah … yeah, I know. He’s nice like that, isn’t he?’
    Sadie nodded. ‘I’ve got a bit of a crush on him, to be honest.’ Her steel gray eyes darted between my own amber ones, analyzing my expression.
    I smiled. ‘Yeah, I thought so.’
    ‘What do you think I should do to get him to notice me?’ Sadie asked, sitting down on the bench and patting the space next to her.
    I sat down awkwardly. ‘Erm, I don’t know, Sadie. I’ve never had a boyfriend, remember?’
    Sadie rolled her eyes. ‘Come on, Rose. Help me out here. You’re smart, like him.’
    ‘He’s a teacher … you shouldn’t pursue it,’ I said cautiously.
    Sadie waved a hand as if it didn’t matter. ‘Oh, don’t be silly. No one will find out.’
    I licked my lips and shifted nervously. ‘I don’t think Mr. Stone would fall victim to your … uh-’ I couldn’t find the right word to describe it.
    ‘Affections?’ Sadie smirked.
    It was as if she knew something was going on between Mr. Stone and I, and sought to make me jealous. Not that anything was going on, or ever would. Regardless, it was working.
    ‘I was thinking of asking Mr. Stone if I can get extra credit,’ Sadie continued. ‘You know … so I can be alone with him after class.’
    ‘Oh.’ I burned with jealousy.
    When I