Ms. Lamb

Xander swung the door open, smiling in anticipation of blonde hair on the other side. The fact that it was brunette didn't register in his nerves until his hand was already halfway to Ms. Lamb's waist, and she returned his agape mouth with a bemused grin.

"I... I, I'm sorry, Ms. Lamb, I was--"

"Expecting Ms. Garrett I'm sure," Rosie finished. "Don't fret just yet, I'm sure she'll be along. I wanted to talk to you beforehand, so I ended by chat with Ms. Holland. Just... be safe, alright? You're all adults, and I especially trust you to be responsible, Xander."

Xander reddened to the hue of a well and truly ripe tomato. The tectonic plates of the Earth parted more readily than his lips right now. "Is-is... is that... why you're--"

"No, no," Rosie chuckled, her brightening to a similar hue. "I just took the opportunity. I just want to say Xander that your support to Tori earlier was sweet, and I definitely consider you one of the more trustworthy people here. I'm counting on you for this trip."

"Thanks," Xander said too quickly. Rosie smiled, and his legs buckled. "You and Mr. Hunter can count on me."

Rosie's cheeriness stiffened, and Xander sensed it with a raised eyebrow. Their silent conversation concluded with Rosie clearing her throat.

"Mr. Worthington," Rosie swallowed Ollie's name like milk of magnesia for an upset stomach, "apparently told Mr. Hunter about how one of you snuck in **** at the party. I don't really care -- again, you're adults and this is Italy, where there's a lower drinking age, I can't police you 24/7 -- but I know Mr. Hunter isn't of that opinion."

"And maybe you think Ollie is trying to play Mr. Hunter," Xander concluded.

"Exactly. I mean I can think of other scenarios, but that's more likely." Rosie leaned against the doorframe. Xander felt guilty for taking an **** glimpse of the swell of her generous genetics. "His father is on the board. He's exploiting that on Jerome -- uh, Mr. Hunter."

"Sounds like Ollie," Xander grunted. "So what can we do?"

"I need you to be another set of eyes and ears. Report to me if Ollie does anything -- I mean anything -- out of line. Right no, I'm not sure if I can trust Jerome-- uh, I--"

"Mr. Hunter, I know." Xander smiled.

"I'm sorry." Rosie casually flattened against the doorframe and turned a surprisingly sheepish gaze to Xander. In that moment, his teacher felt like an equal, like another student on the field trip-- no, no, like Xander really was another teacher assigned to the trip. Like he could actually talk to Ms. Lamb beyond the relationship that was expected in a classroom. Through that lens, Ms. Lamb's body language became apparent.

"Are you... okay, Ms. Lamb?" he cleared his throat.

With a blink, Rosie's eyes lowered, then returned to his. "You're perceptive, Xander," she stated with a sigh. "Well, I guess I'm just disappointed that my fiancee isn't here. It's Rome, a romantic place." The bright lights of the cityscape streamed through the nearby window, resounding with the honks of horns and the thump of a neighboring nightclub. She lost herself as Rome's pulse matched her own, her awareness of the history, the people, the culture reverberating in her mind.

"Ms. Lamb?" Xander's voice shattered her reverie, and Rome left her body. She coughed, and blearily found Xander's concerned gaze. "I think you left for a second."

"Uh, yeah." She shook her head, and then Xander's hand on her shoulder entered her consciousness. Strong yet tender, it felt warm, a feeling she needed right now. She slip hers onto it. "I think I really can count on you."

"I'll do my best." Xander strained his words through a sudden pounding in his chest over their perfectly platonic handholding. "I hope you try to find some fun here. I'm sorry your fiancee couldn't be here."

"Thanks. It... just would be nice to share it with someone, that's all."

"You've got us! C'mon, like you said, you're not that much older than us. Let's have some fun here, make your fiancee regret not coming with you."

Rosie laughed heartily which quickly infected Xander. "Okay Xander, I'll try. Thanks, again." She bit her lip a bit, unconsciously absorbing his tall, lean, and quite pleasing frame. She blinked rapidly, then dropped his hand. "Anyway, have a good night, Xander. And, be safe."

Xander reddened again. Cute, Rosie thought.

"You too, Ms. Lamb," he said stiltedly, and closed the door.

As Rosie left, she exhaled, as if holding her breath after submerged in the Marianas Trench. Something... strange just happened there, with Xander of all people. I mean, he was one of her brightest students, and surely one of the best in his class. He also had a unique charm and maturity, something ill-suited in that younger body he piloted.

She felt closer to him than even some of the other faculty, her supposed peers who were assumed to be above the wheelings and dealings of the provably dishonest like Ollie. The fact that Jerome even gave him an audience was enough reason to cast him with suspicion. And why the hell couldn't he leave his room? Something was rotten in the state of Roma, and she needed a good lieutenant. Xander would be the best.

Still... she couldn't tear herself away from what transpired. Fire radiated from between her legs, and a very inappropriate thought on who could quench it flashed before her mind's eye.

She groaned. Fuck, it's going to be a long vacation, she mused, and ran away from her fantasy.