He hadn't meant to follow through.
But Friday came. Ms. Kim passed him in the hallway with a raised brow and a teasing smirk, and somehow—somehow—he heard himself say, "Six o'clock okay?"
She had smiled. Bright. Surprised. "I'll be there."
So now he was here.
At a café with mood lighting, overpriced pastries, and indie music playing at just the wrong volume. Ms. Kim sat across from him in a pretty blue dress, eyes lit up as she talked about a ridiculous incident in one of her sophomore history classes.
And he was trying—really trying—to focus.
She was charming. Funny. Quick-witted.
He even laughed once. Almost felt… normal.
Until the bell on the front door jingled and he glanced up.
And froze.
She walked in.
Evans.
Wearing a light floral dress. Hair soft, slightly curled. No uniform, no performance. Just… stunning.
But that wasn't what hit him like a gut punch.
It was who she walked in with.
Nate.
Laughing. Talking close. Confident in that way only a boy who didn't know the damage he was doing could be.
Callum went cold.
He looked away fast—like he'd been caught doing something shameful.
"What's wrong?" Ms. Kim asked, following his gaze.
She smiled when she saw them.
"Oh—Nate. He's in your class too, right? And Evans. That's cute. Are they together?"
"I don't know," Callum said tightly. "I don't ask."
Ms. Kim tilted her head. "They're heading this way."
And then—before he could stop it—Nate spotted them.
"Mr. Hayes! Ms. Kim! You guys on a date?" he grinned, only mildly teasing.
Callum opened his mouth.
Ms. Kim laughed first. "Sort of," she said, "We're just catching up outside the battlefield."
Evans smiled politely, but her eyes locked onto Callum's like a silent challenge.
There was something in her gaze. Something sharp.
"Want to sit?" Ms. Kim offered before Callum could say no.
"Sure," Nate said easily, pulling out the chair beside Callum. Evans slid in beside Ms. Kim.
Now they were four at a small round table.
Too small.
Too close.
Too wrong.
Nate chatted easily, oblivious to the tension. "So we just got out of that little film fest over on Fifth. She picked something artsy. It was, like… three hours of metaphors. I still don't know what happened."
Evans laughed softly. "You liked it. Don't pretend."
Callum didn't look at her.
He couldn't.
She was too close. Her perfume too familiar. Her laugh too knowing.
Ms. Kim leaned toward her, smiling. "So… are you two officially a thing now?"
Evans smiled again, shy this time. "I don't know. Are we, Nate?"
Nate blinked, laughed nervously. "I mean—we're just hanging out. I like her. But she's hard to read."
Callum gripped his glass too hard.
Evans' eyes flicked toward him. "Am I?"
He didn't speak.
Ms. Kim laughed. "You definitely have a mysterious aura. Must be a Math Club thing."
"Maybe," Evans said lightly. "Or maybe it's just our adviser who inspires it."
Callum looked at her then.
She was smiling at Ms. Kim.
But her eyes were on him.
And that smile?
It was sweet.
Too sweet.
Like poison in a teacup.
Ms. Kim chuckled, nudging him. "See, Hayes? You're even mysterious to your students."
He forced a dry smile. "That's not intentional."
Nate took a sip of his drink. "Nah, it's cool. Everyone thinks you're the most intimidating teacher, but like, in a smart way. Like you're judging our souls or something."
Evans tilted her head. "I don't think he's intimidating."
Her voice was low. Smooth.
Callum's heart slammed against his ribs.
Ms. Kim raised an amused brow. "You're one of the brave ones, then."
"I just think… people make assumptions when they don't really look."
Silence.
Thick and awkward and too much.
Callum stood abruptly.
"I need some air," he said.
Ms. Kim blinked, startled. "Oh—okay. Want me to come?"
"No. I'll just be a minute."
He walked outside.
Breathed.
Shook.
Inside, laughter carried through the glass, soft and normal.
But he wasn't laughing.
He was losing.
Because even on a date with a smart, lovely woman who might have been good for him—
She still owned every breath he took.
To his surprise—and slow-burning dread—the night had actually gone well.
After the awkward start, the four of them settled into a strange, easy rhythm. Jokes passed across the table, stories shared between bites of cake and sips of overpriced lattes. Nate had charisma in spades and Evans... Evans had that quiet, magnetic charm that pulled everyone in without trying.
Even Ms. Kim had loosened up, laughing freely, occasionally touching his arm when she leaned in to comment.
It was a good evening.
Normal.
He almost believed it.
Until he excused himself.
"Just going to the restroom," he muttered, standing stiffly from the table.
"Don't fall in," Nate joked.
Callum forced a smirk and turned down the hallway toward the restrooms tucked near the back of the café.
He hadn't even made it to the men's door when he heard the soft clack of heels behind him.
He turned—and there she was.
Evans.
Walking fast, then stumbling slightly in her steps. Whether it was real or performed, he didn't know.
Didn't matter.
He caught her.
She landed in his arms, a soft gasp escaping her lips, her hands pressing instinctively against his chest.
He froze.
Her body against his.
Soft.
Warm.
Too close.
His arms around her waist.
Too familiar.
"Sorry," she whispered, eyes wide as if she'd truly slipped, but her breath hitched—like she felt it too.
The pressure. The pull.
He stepped back like he'd been scorched. "Take care," he said tightly, voice cracking like dry wood.
Then he turned.
Fast.
Fled into the men's room.
Locked the stall door.
And stood there, heart pounding.
He stared down.
Hard.
Already.
He bit back a curse, resting his forehead against the stall door.
Her body was still in his arms.
Still there.
And his hand—where it had touched her hip—still tingled with the heat of her.
He looked at his palm. As if he could shake it off.
Disgust twisted in his gut.
He wasn't a predator.
He was a teacher.
But his body didn't know the difference.
He waited until it passed. Until his hands stopped shaking.
Then he washed up, dried his face, and returned to the table.
The rest of them were finishing up. Ms. Kim glanced up at him and smiled gently. "We were just talking about the drive home."
He nodded, jaw tight.
"Nate lives right next door to me," she said casually. "So if the kids are okay with it, we can give them a ride. That alright?"
Callum looked at Evans. Her face was unreadable, lips soft, lashes lowered.
She didn't say a word.
Ms. Kim looked to Nate. "That good with you, sweetheart?"
Nate grinned. "Yeah. That's cool. Saves us an Uber."
Evans still didn't speak. But she stood. Smoothed her skirt.
And walked ahead of them toward the exit.
Callum followed last.
And he didn't look at her.
Because he already knew—
Her scent would still be on his shirt.