Teacher's Pet

ng fans, so it's important for them to know how the real fans reacted in the stands. Look around and take note of what you see."

"I see Professor Appleyard in face paint," I said.

Ford looked where I pointed and burst out laughing. "You've got a good eye for details, Dunkirk," he said.

It was casual, and none of the other students even noticed, but I felt his thigh bump against mine as if an explosion had rocked the entire set of bleachers. I had to find a way to put some serious distance between us.

After the game, Ford led us onto the field to interview the players. The players had been prepped by their coach, and it was a learning opportunity for them too. That didn't explain why the players jostled each other to answer my questions, but Ford put an end to that quickly.

"Why don't you talk to Brian Tailor? You met his father at the art opening, remember?" Ford asked me.

"The star running back?" Thomas asked. "I have questions for him."

Ford frowned, but before he could steer me in another direction, the quarterback appeared in front of me.

"Hi, I'm Adam," he said with a charming smile.

I smiled back, despite Ford's gunmetal glance. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Adam?"

"If you answer one for me first," the quarterback said. "Would you go out with me tomorrow night?"

His teammates cat-called, and the nearest ones landed punches on his shoulder, but Adam kept smiling at me with his bright-blue, hopeful eyes. He was perfect.

Ford hovered near by and a few of my journalism classmates whispered about the look on his face.

"I'd love to, Adam." I squashed the rumors, shut down my own inappropriate feelings for a professor, and accepted a date all in one sentence. "Now, how about that interview?"

Chapter Four

Ford

I met Jackson outside the bar and waited while he made kissing noises into his phone.

"Sorry, I haven't seen Alice all day," he said. He dropped his phone into his pocket and opened the swinging door of the bar.

I patted my friend's shoulder as I went inside. "That's alright, 'cause you're buying."

We both stopped immediately inside the door and scanned the room for students. Landsman College was in the midst of a smaller outlying town, and the chances of running into students was high everywhere I went. Normally, it was fine, fun even, but tonight I wanted to drink.

Seeing only a few quiet couples and scattered regulars, Jackson and I found seats at the bar. The standing lamps mixed in amongst the shelves of booze was almost the only light in the place. Weak lightbulbs encased in dusty, red, glass shades hung over us with barely enough glow to light a bowl of peanuts.

I felt the knots in my shoulders finally start to loosen. "Beer and a shot," I ordered.

Jackson handed the bartender his credit card and ordered a beer. "Was the blind date really that bad?" he asked.

The bartender chuckled as he moved over to the taps. I caught his sympathetic glance and nodded. "What made me think going on any date in front of students was a good idea?" I wondered.

"Alice thought she was fun, might break you out of your perpetual bad mood," Jackson said.

"Since when is fun discussing the details of a pet iguana's eating habits?" I picked up the beer the bartender passed me and took a long, grateful gulp. "At full volume in the middle of an art opening?"

"I thought she was at least pretty." Jackson clacked his pint glass against mine.

"Yes, in a bright, cartoonish sort of way. She didn't let me get a single word in between the iguana, her bathroom grout, and plans to host a karaoke Christmas."

My friend choked on his beer. "Yeah, Alice warned me that Tara was really into karaoke. I just figured you wanted the fun of meeting someone knew. I didn't think you'd be singing duets or anything."

"Singing duets?" The thought was horrifying. The openly laughing bartender poured us both a shot of whiskey.