Page 68 of Substitute for Love

Then came a knock at the door. The student nearest the door opened it, and students from the lit class entered.

“Welcome. I’m Miss Williams, the sub for today.” She walked toward the door, helping to direct students. “Go ahead and find a partner, one lit class student per drama student. If it’s not even, then either I or the other teacher can step in. Boy-girl or whatever you want to do.”

Her back was to the door when she bumped into someone, throwing off her groove. “Oh, sorry!” Avery turned around. “Oh. Well, hi, Ga—Mr. Manwaring.”

A few of the drama students turned around, then whispered amongst themselves. She wanted to sneer at them for yet again assuming they were an item.

“Hey, Av—Miss Williams. Nice to see you.” He held up his hand in a brief wave and offered an awkward smile.

She leaned toward him and whispered, “What are you doing here?” Her plan of avoiding him was not off to a great start.

“Subbing. You?” He whispered back.

Avery rolled her eyes. “Did Doreen put you up to this?”

“Actually, yes. I signed up for math to avoid you, but she switched my assignment.”

She searched his eyes, furrowing her brows. Avery wondered Doreen’s angle.

“Honest. Cross my heart and hope to die. Although, I’m kind of a drama expert, so, you’ll be thanking me later.”

“I doubt it,” she said.

He headed to the front of the classroom, like he was the one in charge. This was like the first day of school all over again. The only difference now was their history. Avery climbed the steps of the small stage, taking charge before he could, his gaze fixed on her as she joined him.

“Are you two like boyfriend-girlfriend finally?” Sarah, a student on the front row, blurted out.

“Yeah, I heard you guys kissed in the parking lot,” added Jake, a boy next to her.

Standing side by side, Avery and Gabe glanced at each other, all the kisses they shared rushing back to her at once. They were so, so good. She fluttered, but only for a moment.

“Nope. No, no, co-workers,” she said. “He’s not my type. At all.”

The students laughed and a student said, “Oh snap!”

Gabe didn’t seem offended in the least. In fact, he flashed a goofy grin. At her? Or at the students?

She was determined not to let him get to her. She didn’t need his help, anyway. Avery was a good substitute teacher without him. Except this wasn’t only her class, it was his, too. They had to work together.

"Alright, everyone," she began, holding up her hands to quiet the students. "Today, we're doing a reading of Act 1, Scene 5 fromRomeo and Juliet. The party scene where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time."

“Yes, Miss Williams, you are correct. Now what’s important to remember when two lovers are meeting for the first time?”

Avery stood next to him, sneaking a look at him. They locked eyes for a split second, Avery remembering when they met.

The class giggled. “Lovers? Really, Mr. Manwaring?” One of the students balked. Inside Avery froze, but of course Gabe was all smiles and fun.

“Whatever you want to call them, it’s love at first sight. So be sure to bring that emotion across,” he added.

Okay, good save and good direction. “Take turns reading the scene with your partner,” Avery announced. “Get used to the words, raise your hand if you have any questions, and in about twenty minutes we’ll have some of you try it for the class on stage.”

The students grumbled at the mention of performing in front of everyone. “No worries, guys,” Gabe said as he held his hands up. “This is a safe space. We’re sharing and learning together. Right, Miss Williams?” He elbowed her softly, and she took a small step away from him to avoid him touching her. Avoiding his electricity.

“Yep.” She took a deep breath. Gabe wasn’t making this easy. “Alright, you have eighteen minutes left. Get going!”

Gabe looked at the gap between them, obviously noticing the distance Avery was trying to put between them. He narrowed his eyes at her, then took his own step away from her.What a stinker.This is so on.

They separated into the sea of students, the hum of voices practicing Shakespeare.Romeo and Julietwasn’t her favorite Shakespeare—a little unbelievable they so aggressively fell in love at first sight—but still, it was a classic and the students should at least learn what the story was about. Combining lit and drama classes like this was a great idea so they could look at the text from different perspectives.

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