First class

You head to your classroom, intending to review notes and the lesson plan prior to class starting. You're confident of your ability to talk your way through anything, but a little preparation never hurt. You have about an hour before class starts, and that should be more than ample time.

Reaching your classroom, you sit at your desk and make a few notes as you read, mentally preparing a basic lecture, or at least what can pass for a lecture to students who don't seem highly motivated to be academics.

The time passes quickly, and before you know it students start filing in, some of them looking barely awake. Your attention is drawn to a fresh faced young girl who sits in the front row, looking excited to be there as she pulls out a notebook and pencil, then sits at attention with her hands in her lap.

You look at her, giving her a smile of welcome which she returns shyly, your eyes flickering over her and taking in the details. She's petite, with a pretty face and high cheekbones. Her clear blue eyes standing out against her pale skin with freckles. Her dark brown hair is cut in a shoulder length bob with bangs to the side. Her breasts look small, unsurprising given her petite frame, but they're certainly there, and her legs are shapely and firm.

Well worth looking at, you smile to yourself as the last of the students file in and take their seats. The last girl to arrive comes in looking flushed, like she ran to get here, and slips into a seat at the back as though hoping not to be noticed. She's a petite blonde with a nervous diffident air, but she's pretty in a waifish sort of way. She notices you watching her and flushes deeply, dropping a pen on the floor and leaning over to pick it up, her blush deepening.

Seeing that all the students seem to have arrived, you consult a sheet of paper and nod, then raise your eyes and speak to the class.

"Until we get to know each other, please identify yourself when I call on you. I find things go better when we can all put names to faces."

You begin to call the roll, noting the students who identify themselves, wondering which name belongs to this petite keener in the front row, and the easily embarrassed waif at the back. Emily Gould turns out to be the blushing girl at the back, her blush deepening again when her name is called. You smile to put her at her ease, and only succeed in making her lower her eyes and blush even harder.

"Faith Owen?" you call, and are met for a moment with silence. You're about to repeat it when the girl in the front row blurts "Here!" looking flustered as she raises her hands. There are few muffled giggles, and Faith holds eye contact with you for a moment, her face flushing, before you move to the next name on your list. Your eyes flicker back to her a few times as you continue the roll, making eye contact every time.

Finished, you tell the class to open their texts, and begin a lecture on plate tectonics. You adopt a friendly, almost folksy style that seems to resonate with the students, and you notice many of them listening intently, and smiling at your small jokes. Faith seems very focussed her eyes fixed on you as she scribbles page after page of notes. Emily seems distracted, looking out the window for long moments, and only occasionally dragging her attention back to class.

Your eyes return to both girls several times, each time holding eye contact for a few seconds and giving them the same sardonic, knowing smile each time. You do the same to a few other students, but you single these two out for special attention. Faith visibly glows at your attention, while Emily simply blushes steadily.

"So, that's almost it for today," I say as you wrap things up. "If you have any questions, please feel free. I have office hours at my cottage starting at 10:30 today, and if you have any concerns, please come see me."

Faith takes her time putting her notebook away and gives you a lingering smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she makes her way out the door.

Definitely some potential there, you tell yourself with a tight smile, noticing that Emily is struggling with her backpack, looking flustered, almost on the edge of tears.