Can’t sleep, I’m so nervous. Here I am staring at my ceiling over a man that part of me can’t stand and the other part of me can’t stop thinking about. Is that why I can’t stand him? Our first class teaching together is tomorrow and I still don’t know what I’m going to wear. No… Since when have you ever cared about that? Dressing professionally is one of my standards

I rolled over to the edge of my bed. On my nightstand lyes a face down photo frame I haven’t faced upright in a year. Even as it lays flat on the nightstand I still have the image painted clearly into my memory.

Shit. I have to actually teach a class with that moron tomorrow. Hopefully he read through the material or my career is doomed.

I grabbed my phone off of the nightstand to take a look at the time. It’s almost one in the morning and I’m still wide awake. I sat up from my bed, rocking my pink strawberry pajamas. I stood up, grabbed my car keys and went outside to my car.

I stuck my keys in the ignition and twisted the key to the right, the car started with a loud roar that filled up the silent night. I pulled out of my driveway and drove down to my favorite convenience store in the middle of campus that stayed open all night.

Walking to the front door of the convenience store, I stopped to let a group of students out, the five of them all had a case of beer in hand. Getting hammered on a school night. Not something I’d do. I entered the store hoping to find one of my favorite candy bars. I know sweets late at night probably isn’t the healthiest idea but I need something to calm me down.

I began walking through aisles and started grabbing more than I planned on. In one arm I was holding four bags of cheesy chips, in the other arm I was holding eight Choco Choco bars. My mouth was dry, so I walked over to the aisle with all of the fridges with cold drinks inside. I stared inside observing what to choose, all of the sudden I felt a presence next to me.

“Didn’t think I’d run into you here.” Sonny quietly said to me.

My body froze. I could feel a tight pressure in my chest. I can’t break character, I can’t show him how I really feel. He can’t ever know.

I slowly peeked over to see him looking into the fridge, he must’ve been in bed too, he was wearing black shorts and a gray college T-shirt, his hair sort of messy, it was… Cute. No, no. Not cute, it looked lazy, if you go out at least try to look presentable Sonny.

“Nice pajamas by the way.” Sonny said with a smirk on his face.

My face tightened up. That’s right, what am I saying, look presentable? I’m in pajamas for crying out loud. Though they are cute pajamas my grandma got me for my birthday.

“I see you’re being as irresponsible as ever, Sonny. Going out late at night. You do realize we have class in the morning, right?” I lectured him.

“Then what are you doing here?” Sonny questioned.

“Buying snacks for the students.” I replied.

“Buying snacks for the students, really?” He doubted.

“Yep.” I answered back.

There was a competitive scent in the air. I could tell this irritated him, he really thinks I’m trying to outdo him by buying the students snacks. I don’t need snacks to gain the students' love, I’m just a damn good professor.

Sonny’s fists were clenched, I could tell he was serious. He placed his fist against the fridges chilly glass pane.

“Okay, if that’s how you wanna play, so be it. I’ll buy all of the students ice cold beers before tomorrow's lecture, they’re going to need it if you’re doing most of the talking.” Sonny insulted me by saying.

Is that even legal? He wouldn’t, he’s not even that stupid. I think.

“Look there’s no way around it. You and I teaching together won’t work.” He mentioned.

“Did it take you that long to figure out?” I murmured.

“So let’s make things interesting. We’ll have the class vote on their favorite teacher by the end of the school year. Least favorite teacher turns in their resignation.” He challenged.

I laughed. I couldn’t let him see my true emotions. I know I’ll be the students favorite, but It’s not like I want him to quit being a teacher here. I just don’t want to teach with someone that makes me look dumber.

“Deal.” I replied.

We shook on it. From someone's perspective it looked as if we were holding hands. Our bodies facing the row of fridges, his right hand and my left hand clasped together. My heart beating, his hands sweating. He’d always get so nervous when we held hands, they’d start sweating. Weirdly enough it never grossed me out.

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SNAP!

The sound of a phone camera snapping a quick photo alerted Sonny and I. We both quickly turned around to see a student with his phone in hand aimed right at us.

Our faces were frozen, it was like our jaws were stuck. Who was this guy, why’d he take a photo of us… HOLDING HANDS!!!

The kids began quickly going through his phone.

“This is great, I’ve been hoping to snag a photo of a teacher couple, it’s nothing but students, and unless they’re popular no one really cares.”

“What’s he talking about, Sonny?” I asked.

“I have no fucking clue.” He responded.

The student swiped up on his phone and tapped a button. He then held his phone out to show a photo of Sonny and I holding hands with edited heart emojis all around the photo.

“Everyone on campus is gonna eat this shit up. You guys are a cute looking couple.” The student told us.

“Come on man, we don’t want people getting the wrong impression here. We were just shaking hands, not holding them.” Sonny informed him.

“That’s not what it looks like in the photo.” The student rebutted.

“This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening. If my parents see this, if students see this, if the dean sees this!” I panicked.

“Are you guys really not dating?” The student asked curiously.

“No!” I screamed.

“You guys should give it a shot.” The student said with a smug smile on his face.

Sonny and I both looked at each other. No, been there done that, not gonna happen.

We both got hot red and quickly turned our heads away from each other.

“Well I’ll see you guys later.” The student quickly escaped.

Sonny and I stood in place for a minute, frozen by what just happened.

“Maybe his social media page isn’t that popular.” Sonny hoped.

“Let’s hope so.” I replied.

“ I mean it is one in the morning, who’s really up right now going through social media.” Sonny said with an unsure look on his face.

“Everyone nowadays Sonny, everyone.” I informed him.

“I mean what sucks the most is he didn’t even get my good hand in the photo. My left hand looks way more toned than my right hand.” Sonny mentioned.

Sonny chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. I couldn’t help but crack a slight smile, though I made sure he couldn’t see it. As serious as this is to me I still couldn’t help but see the humor in his loveable stupid comments.

“I guess I’ll see you in class tomorrow then.” Sonny mentioned as he began to walk away.

“Don’t think just because of this that our deal is off. I will show you I’m the better professor.” I warned him.

Sonny turned around with a serious look on his face. It mellowed out into a soft warm smile.

“In your dreams.” He said.

As he left the store I walked up to the register with my bundle of snacks and candy.

The clerk, a young student running on extreme amounts of caffeine to stay awake, walked up to the register and started ringing up all of my items, she would start ringing up some of the items quickly then would slow down like she was having spikes of adrenaline then would crash out.

The student finished ringing up my items and gave a good look at my face, she squinted as if she had recognized me somewhere.

“You look so familiar.” The clerk said.

“Maybe you’ve taken my class before.” I told her.

“What do you teach?” She asked.

“Philosophy.” I answered.

“Nope.” She replied without any hesitation.

“Oh I know.” She said with a sudden relief.

She pulled her phone out and showed me the photo of Sonny and I holding hands. I never realized how well you can actually see our faces.

“How did you already see this, it just happened, like three minutes ago.” I asked.

“I have rapid notifications on for the Campus Lovers ViralShots social media page. I’m a huge fan of their content.” She informed me.

I paid and took my items. I quickly hurried to my car and went home. After a couple more minutes of being lost in thought I had finally fallen asleep.

It was the first day of our new merged class. I wanted to look as special as I could on my first day. I put on my white button up shirt and a pair of leg tight black slacks with cuffed bottoms, black heels and a red nail polish. Not only will I use my brains but It won’t hurt to use a little female charm to get some votes on my side.

As soon as I entered the double doors of our new class, I was blinded by a bright light flashing down on all of the students there, it wasn’t the number of students that should’ve been there if our classes combined. This was double that, no triple it. The seats were filled, some students even leaned up against the wall because they couldn’t get a seat. It was packed and I couldn’t believe it. Were they all in the wrong class?

Sonny walked in and was just as surprised as I was.

“They must all be here for me.” Sonny said with confidence.

The students turned to Sonny and I. Everything went silent.

Sonny and I looked at each other not sure what to do next. It didn’t feel like we could just start teaching, everything was so out of order.

All of the sudden I felt another hand grab mine and squeeze it tight, there Sonny was with a smile on his face, squeezing my hand. Our faces both turned bright red. This time it wasn’t a handshake, he was really holding my hand. I held my breath, I don’t know why I did, I just did.

The loud cheer was building up, it finally reached its climax, all of the students erupted in a loud roar of excitement. The boys began clapping, while the girls were all enamored by what they thought was a cute relationship between two professors.

A relationship. So that’s what they all think this is?