"Wow, who are you trying to impress?" Kylie says when we get to school. I look down at my outfit and shrug.

"I just wanted to wear something nice. I need to go talk to someone for a minute, I'll see you later, okay?"

She nods and my heels click on the stone tile as I walk towards the English department. I have ten minutes until class starts and that's more than enough. I get to Mr. Styles classroom and stop so that I'm not fully in the doorway, watching while he writes something. He looks really nice today; black pants and a black button-up shirt. Damn it, why does he have to be so hot? I lean back against the wall outside the room and take a deep breath before walking in, knocking softly on the door twice and waiting. He looks up from his papers and does a double-take, eyes wide as they trail up my bare legs and slowly up to my face.

Serves you right. This is what you're missing.

"What-" his voice cracks and he clears his throat as he stands up. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to ask you something." I step into the room and stand at the edge of his desk. He pushes his curls back from his face and waits. I don't know how to proceed here...the last time I saw him was yesterday when I fled from him in tears. I can't be done with him, I know that. This isn't it for us. It can't be.

"Savannah, maybe now isn't the best time," he says quietly as the halls get much busier.

"I'm going on a date tonight," I blurt out. His eyes go wide and his mouth drops open for a second before he recovers and tries to control his expression.

"That's..." he runs his fingers over his bottom lip seductively and I take a sharp breath in return. "That was fast," he says quietly.

"That's what you wanted."

He nods once and we just look at each other for a minute. I was kind of hoping this would be the moment where he would tell me not to go, that he wants to be the one taking me out.

"I don't know what you want me to say," he whispers.

"Tell me not to go." It comes out before I can stop it and I immediately look down at the floor. I hear him exhale loudly and he takes a small step closer.

"Look at me, Savannah." I life my eyes to his chest and he moves a little closer again. "Look at me." I finally meet his eyes and my heart melts. His forest green orbs are so filled with caring that it makes me want to smile. I don't, though.

"This is...a good thing," he says carefully.

"What?"

"Ryan, right? He seems like a good guy."

"Just yesterday you said that I can do better with him!"

He shakes his head. "I know what you want me to do right now, Savannah. I can't give you what you want."

"How do you-"

The bell signalling the start of the day goes off and stops me from finishing. Students start filing into the classroom, inhibiting us from continuing our conversation.

"See you in class," he says, sitting back down in his chair. I stare at him for a moment before turing on my heel and walking out of the classroom. I feel guys staring at me as I walk to physics. I was expecting that. I run my hand through my wavy blonde hair, shuffling it back away from my face. I don't usually wear heels to school with bare legs because this is the reaction I get. But this outfit and these shoes are all new and sue me for wanting to wear it all.

How can he just be okay with this? Am I delusional? Did I imagine that he kissed me and admitted his feelings for me yesterday? That happened, I know it did. How can he let me go on this date?

Physics and Chemistry pass painfully slowly and when lunch comes my seat is in direct sightline of the teacher's table. Of course the one I can see the best is Mr. Styles. Every time I look up from my tray he's staring at me, but he quickly averts his eyes and starts talking again. Why is he acting like this? If he was acting like he didn't care at all that would be one thing, but he's not. He's doing this weird martyr thing, like he's trying to get me to move on because it's for my own good. It's not!

"So where are you two going tonight?" Kylie asks, looking between me and Ryan who is sitting next to me.

"I can't say," he says cutely.

"Oh a surprise!" Kylie says excitedly. "Well that's super exciting, but Sav hates surprises."

Ryan looks at me and I smile apologetically. "It's true. They annoy me."

"Well you're just going to have to suck it up." He leans over and kisses my cheek. My eyes dart up to look across the caf when his lips touch my skin, my eyes locking with Mr. Styles. This time instead of looking away he stares right back, eyes dark with anger and jealousy. Ryan sits back and continues talking to someone and I continue looking at him, raising my eyebrows and giving him my best sassy look.

"Sav, we should get to history." I reluctantly tear my eyes from Mr. Styles and stand with my tray. I sit with Ryan in history class and Kylie sits in front of us, turning and talking to me whenever she gets a minute. The class drags on and as it comes to an end I start feeling a bit nervous. I have no idea what's going to happen next period. When the bell rings Ryan walks me to last period as usual, kissing me straight on the lips before he walks down the hall. I wasn't really expecting that and of course I was right in front of the door. When I turn to go into the classroom Mr. Styles is writing at the board, frozen mid-letter. I kind of feel bad about that one.

He glares at me for a second before going back to writing on the chalkboard, hitting the board harder than necessarry. I flinch with each tap and walk to my seat next to Madison. When our teacher turns around he avoids my eyes. Great.

"What did you all think about the way Cassandra flaunts her new life?" he asks, walking around the desk. He's asking about the story we read, the one we took a quiz on yesterday. It's a short story about a girl that runs away from her husband and starts over, then moves back into his town with her new family. She goes out of her way to make sure that her ex knows how much happier she is without him.

"Most people would find it cruel and obnoxious." He looks directly at me and my mouth drops open. "Any thoughts?"

"I don't think she does it on purpose," someone else says.

"And why would you think that?" he continues. "Doesn't it seem like she makes sure to show him that her life is better without him?"

"If he really loved her he would want her to be happy," I chime in. He takes a few steps closer between the desks.

"If she loved him she wouldn't flaunt her new life in his face," he argues, crossing his arms.

"Maybe he should stop feeling sorry for himself," I retort. He raises his eyebrows and I notice that the room is insanely quiet, everyone turned to watch the exchange between Mr. Styles and I.

"He doesn't. They were clearly miserable together, all wrong for each other. He wants her to be happy because he cares, but that doesn't mean he stopped loving her. Shouldn't she be sensitive to that?"

"Well if he loves her that much then maybe he should fight for her instead of giving up."

"He didn't give up, he wants what's best for her."

"Maybe he is what's best for her. How does he know if he doesn't at least try?" I ask. He opens his mouth to argue again but someone else cuts him off.

"He did try, they were married," someone else says. Mr. Styles stares at me for a few seconds before turning and walking to the front of the room. He continues talking about the story and I take a few deep breaths, trying to slow my rapid heart rate. That was not the right thing to do right now. Everyone is going to be talking about that little argument, a lot more heated than it needed to be. I slink down in my seat, wishing I could just disappear.

I keep my eyes on my desk, refusing to look at Mr. Styles. I feel so embarrassed right now. I can't let him get under my skin like that. I'm going to be in his class all year and I need to learn how to be around him after what happened. When the bell finally rings everyone starts to leave and he sits on the edge of his desk, telling everyone to have a good weekend as they walk past him. I walk in front of him with Madison and do my best not to look at him.

"Miss Williams, may I speak with you for a moment?"

I stop in my tracks and Madi giggles.

"Good luck. Maybe he'll spank you." She whispers. She winks and I shake my head as she leaves the room, swinging the door shut behind her. Why did she close the door? I slowly turn around and walk back towards him. He stands from his spot and looks down at me; in my heels my eyes are only about an inch below his, but he still feels so much larger than me.

"That can't happen," I start. "People are going to know something is up."

"I know," he agrees. "I'm sorry. It just got to me when I saw you-" he stops short and looks away from me. "I shouldn't have spoken like that."

"It's okay. I'm sorry, too." My apology is quiet and he looks into my eyes. I want to kiss him so bad right now...

"Have a good weekend," he says quietly. He reaches up with one hand but when it's halfway to my face he stops and lets it fall back to his side. My heart drops a little and I smile weakly.

"Goodbye." I turn and walk to the door, stopped by his voice as I reach for the handle.

"I can't fight for you."

I spin to face him. His expression is pained and he takes a few steps closer, my breath hitching in my throat.

"I know that's what you want, Savannah. But I can't. I want to, trust me, I do. I just can't." His voice breaks at his last work and I suddenly feel like crying. I can't keep doing this. "It's going to kill me to watch you walk around the school with him."

"What are you doing?" I ask. He looks confused. "You can't just say things like that. You asked me to move on and I'm trying to. When you say things like that it makes me think that you don't want me to. You can't have it both ways!"

He looks slightly angry now. "I said move on. I didn't ask you to flaunt your new boyfriend in my face. And I sure as hell didn't expect you to have one less than twenty-four hours later."

"He's not my boyfriend! But neither are you, so why are you acting so jealous?"

"Can't you see that I'm-" He stops and looks past my shoulder. His expression hardens and he looks back down at me. "Looks like someones here to collect you." I turn my head and see Ryan through the window on the door. He slowly opens it and pokes his head in.

"Is everything okay in here?" he asks. I smile weakly and look back to Mr. Styles. He just glares at Ryan.

"Fine. Have a good weekend." He looks down at me with dark eyes before turning and sitting behind his desk. I stand there, frozen by how cold his expression just was. Does he hate me? I turn and Ryan opens the door all the way, allowing me to walk past him and into the hallway. I can't let him see me cry. What is wrong with me? I never cry and now I'm suddenly an emotional mess. What is that man doing to me?

---

"Sav, you look fantastic."

I smile and brush my hair out of my face as I come down the stairs where Ryan is waiting for me. I really don't feel like going on this date, but I need to move on. Really move on. Mason is standing there trying to look intimidating. I don't know why he thinks that's going to work...Ryan is one of his best friends and knows him too well for him to be intimidating.

"Don't be out too late," he says sternly.

"Really, Mase?" I ask, stepping beside Ryan. "I don't have a curfew and even if I did, you don't enforce it."

"I'm calling it the twin right," he informs me. "We're basically parentless, so it's my job to protect you."

"Goodbye Mason," I laugh, taking Ryan's hand and pulling him out the front door.

"No funny-business!" Mason calls after us. I put my middle finger up over my shoulder without looking at him. Once in the car Ryan and I both laugh.

"Sorry about that. He's so weird."

"It's nice," he says, turning the ignition. "My brother doesn't really give a shit about what I do. You guys are close."

"Yeah we kind of have to be."

He takes me to this fancy place on the beach that overlooks the ocean. It's really open and I can smell the ocean. I love living by the water. I'm actually having a lot of fun with Ryan. He's really polite and nice to me. He would be a perfect boyfriend, no doubt. But it kind of feels like I'm having dinner with a good friend. I'm not sure if I feel the same kind of physical chemistry I once did with him. I'm not ready to give up on this, though. I need to give him a chance to claim my affections. The person who has them right now doesn't want them anyway.

After dinner we go back to my house and sit in the back yard, lying on a towel in the grass and looking up at the stars. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard, something I greatly appreciate while on dates. If you're not funny...sorry, but I'm not going to be interested. I want to laugh. Eventually Mason comes out and tells Ryan that it's almost one in the morning, which means it's time for him to leave. I stand from the blanket and walk with him through the house to the front door.

"I had a really good time," he says, stepping close to me.

"Me too. Thank you for dinner."

"My pleasure. I really like you, Sav." I laugh nervously. "Is that allowed?"

"Yes." I think. "Maybe next time we should go to the boardwalk like in the Notebook."

He laughs. "I'm okay with that as long there's a next time." I nod and he leans down to kiss me, placing on hand on the side of my face. I kiss him back, but it's just not the same. I want passion. This isn't that.

"Goodnight." He kisses my forehead once and walks out of the house. I run up to my room and change into some different clothes. I need to think about this.

"Mason, I'll be back in a bit. I'm going out."

He exits his room as I pass it. "It's late, Sav."

"I know, I'll be fine. I won't be long." I run out the front door with my keys before he can argue again, heading straight for the beach. When I get to the pier I walk down the steps and a little further down, sitting on the sand ten feet back from the water line. The waves crash onto the sand in the darkness and I let the wind caress my face. I love the beach, it relaxes me so much. I do my best thinking on the beach in the dark. It's so serene.

What am I supposed to do? I have feelings for someone that, realistically, I can never be with. Ryan is the one that I should have feelings for. He's good for me and there's nothing stopping me from being with him. So what is my problem? I look around slowly, taking in my surroundings. When I look to the end of the pier my heart practically stops beating. Is that him?

I can make out a head of curly hair standing at the end of it. After a few minutes the person turns around and starts walking back towards the beach. It can't be him. Life doesn't work like that. I look back to the ocean and watch the waves turn to white caps as they curl over themselves.

"Savannah?"

I jump and look to my right to see Mr. Styles standing a few feet away from me. Okay, maybe life does work like that.

"Mr. Styles," I breathe. Is this real? He smiles and walks closer to me.

"Harry, please. We aren't in class." I nod my head and he stops beside me, pointing to the sand next to me. "Anyone sitting here?" I shake my head and he sits himself down on the sand. We sit in silence for a few minutes. It's not uncomfortable. I think we both know that we want to be here, but we also know that it's wrong. So right at the same time, though. How is that possible?

"How was your date?" he asks kindly, breaking the silence. I turn to look at him, surprised that he cares. He chuckles and leans back on his hands. "Don't look so shocked."

"Why do you care?" I ask. He looks out to the ocean.

"I'm not sure." I nod and look out to the water as well. "Do you like him?"

"Mr. Styles-"

"Harry."

Okay, then. "I don't understand you. First you kiss me, then you tell me to forget you. Then I move on and you get all pissed off. Now you want to talk about how my date went? I don't get it," I huff. I can't do this back and forth with him. It's too hard.

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"I just..." he sighs and looks directly into my eyes. "I'm drawn to you, Savannah. I can't explain it. I want to be a part of your life, but I know that it isn't possible, not the way I want to be. I'm trying to get you to just stay away from me, but the truth is that's the last thing I want."

Woah. I wasn't expecting that.

"How do you want to be in my life?" I ask quietly. He moves his left hand closer to mine and our fingers touch.

"If you weren't my student, I would be the one taking you on dates. Ever since the first time I met you on the first day of school I haven't been able to stop thinking about you." My heart practically jumps out of my chest and I smile slightly.

"We don't even know each other," I remind him. He nods.

"Not well. Even still, you know as well as I do that that doesn't matter."

He's completely right. I know I don't know anything about him, but I want to. I want to learn every little thing that makes him who he is and I want him to be mine. I can't explain why or how I feel this way, but I do. It's the strongest thing I've ever felt in my life. There's something pulling us together, even if technically it is wrong. I lean forward and cross my legs, fidgeting with my fingers in my lap.

"I'm not really sure where we go from here," I tell him, my voice quiet. I know what I want but it's wrong. How can this work?

"What I do know is that it's going to be really hard to see you every day at school knowing that you and I can't be together," he says, leaning forward as well. I look over at him and his eyes look sad.

"Is that really what you want? To be with me?" I want with everything in me for him to say yes, but a small part wishes he would say no. That would make this a lot easier. Instead he takes my chin between his fingers.

"More than you know." He slowly leans forward. My eyes flutter closed but as our lips are about to touch I chicken out.

"Wait," I blurt out. He opens his eyes and looks down at my lips then slowly up to my eyes. "I just....if you're going to kiss me then tell me to see someone else, I swear I will rip your tongue out."

He laughs and shakes his head. "I've tried saying no to you, Savannah. And now look where we are."

"So.."

He sighs and brushes his nose against mine. "I don't know where we go from here or what's going to happen. All I know is that I can't stay away from you, no matter how hard I try. There's no going back now."

With that his lips crash into mine. There they are, the sparks that have become part of my interactions with him. I didn't even know it was possible to be this attracted to someone. I grab the front of his t-shirt with my hands and slowly lower myself down onto the sand, pulling him with me. He positions himself over me as I lay down on my back. I slide my hands up his chest and around tot he back of his head as he presses his body firmly against mine. He pulls back for a short second for a breath but before I know it his lips are moving against mine once again. He skillfully parts my mouth. I breathe him in as his tongue works against mine. I pull him desperately closer, wanting to feel more of him. He supports himself on one arm while the other goes to my waist, sliding under my sweater and raising goosebumps on my skin.

I'm gasping for air by the time his lips trail from my mouth to my neck, where he nips the sensitive skin. His lips work magic against my neck and I bite my lip against the noises threatening to burst from the pure pleasure rippling through my body.

"What are we going to do?" I ask breathlessly. He kisses my neck a few more times and lifts his head so he's hovering over me.

"I have no idea."

Notes

so i wanted to get this chapter up hours ago but then i had to go out for dinner and i didnt get to finish it on time :( anyway, i hope you guys like it :) honestly, the direction of this story is a mystery to me :P i just kinda go with the flow as I'm writing.

so anyway. do you thnk this is it? or is harry going to back out again and tell her to date ryan??

comment please :) i want to know how you guys are liking the story :)

comment, vote subscribe!!!!! please please please please vote and subscribe!