Starless Night

“Hannah y’all could get in real trouble if this gets out,” Paisley warned her for the billionth time. Her eyes showed concern for her best friend.

Hannah knew her friend was against her relationship with Mr. Blackwood. She couldn’t help her feelings for the quick-witted teacher in her History class who she had fallen hard for. He was more than anything she could’ve conjured up. His jet-black hair and deep blue eyes made her swoon. Her two friends shared the same class and agreed that not only was he the most attractive guy they have ever seen, he was also the hottest teacher that ever existed.

“We are taking it slow, Lucien isn’t forcing me to do anything. You’re being overdramatic Pay,” She reassured her friend.

“I’m just wonderin’ why he doesn’t have a girlfriend his age,” Paisley said questioning his motives. She couldn’t help wondering why he would want to risk everything to date one of his students. Even though she had to admit it was romantic that he only had eyes for Hannah. Hannah’s long blond curly hair and porcelain skin made her look like one of the dolls in her mamma's collection. She could have easily been part of the popular crowd. Paisley’s mamma had been surprised at Hannah’s big heart and beautiful personality.

Hannah was overjoyed at the secret date she was going to go on with Lucien. She was a natural with the makeup brush, applying the finishing touches to her look. Paisley gave her a small smile. Hannah came from a conservative Christian family. They didn’t even allow her to date, so here she was at Paisleys prepping for her hot date.

“Where is he takin’ you?”

Hannah beamed, “The Circus.” This was her first time, and she couldn’t wait to see it. Especially the trapeze. She had been taking gymnastics since she was a little girl, and aerial gymnastics was so interesting to her. She had tried it several times and was a natural, but her mother thought it made her look like she was practicing on becoming a stripper, so she took her out of the class.

“Well call me if you feel uncomfortable, I’m always here for you.”

Paisley's mom was working the night shift, so Mr. Blackwood would be picking Hannah up here. Their third musketeer was working and had not been able to make it. Sky was the most supportive and the most free-spirited of the three. She thought their love story was written in the stars.

Lucien stood by his car dressed casually with his hair slicked back. He smiled at them.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Carmichael,” He turned his wicked charm on to the fullest. Paisley nodded at his acknowledgment. He was her teacher after all, and her momma had raised her right. Even if she felt uneasy, she was no fool.

Paisley could not wrap her mind about what was off about him. Her momma said he was too young to be a teacher, but his southern charm had won her over. No one would imagine he would be in a relationship with one of his students. Paisley was never wrong about her intuition. It was what kept her sharp-minded and quick on her feet. Her momma said she had been given a gift from God. Sight. She did not consider herself a psychic or a witch. Just a small-town Christian girl. Who just happened to know the weather better than the weatherman. She didn’t do badly at school either and it wasn’t because of that, she was a real bookworm. An Honor Roll student, who wanted to make her hardworking momma proud. A great decision-maker.

Sky could not believe she had gotten stuck working a Saturday night shift when her best friend was going on a date with her favorite teacher. If Britney had not called off, she would not have been stuck working a double shift. How many times had Britney called off on a Saturday? That had gotten old real quick.

Britney had the best schedule cause their boss had the hots for her, quite sure she was getting paid more too. She wouldn’t even be surprised if she were sleeping with him either. Brie was her only friend at the fast-food restaurant. She gave her a silly look. Sky had told her about Hannah dating an older guy, but not who it was since they all went to the same school. She told Brie about her frustrations on not being there for her friend.

Brie was gushing about Hannah’s boyfriend, of course, it's not like Brie knew that. She was talking about how she was taking afterschool classes with him.

“I can’t stop swooning. I’ve never seen such a fine male specimen in my life.”

“You’re only 18, you haven’t even been around long enough.” Sky said as she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, come on, have you ever seen a man of his quality before?” Brie gave her a knowing side look.

“I think Mack Bolton comes pretty close.” They started giggling as they talked about their childhood crush on the High School Symphony star.

Hannah couldn’t help feeling a little jealous when girls and women who could be her grandmother kept ogling Luc. Like he was a juicy hamburger. She had to laugh at herself.

“Did you enjoy the show?” he drawled. Intertwining his fingers with hers. Hannah gave him a shy smile.

Lucien had replaced their old History teacher who had suddenly died. She was a happy cheerful teacher. No one could have guessed how unhappy she really was.

His first class of the day. None of his students knew much, other than his name. When the students walked in, they saw a tall, nicely dressed teacher writing on the chalkboard. When they all sat down, he placed the chalk down, wiping his hands, and turned around. A gasp went around the room. Had a more gorgeous man ever existed they would not have compared to Mr. Blackwood. No one would be having trouble remembering his name unless they were drooling too much to even think. No more tardies either.

At lunch, they talked about their teacher. Every girl was talking about him. Even the guys.

“Wow I’m almost speechless,” Sky said while looking into the distance dreamily. Hannah nodded. Paisley even had to admit the teacher was hot. Sky and Hannah were the most enthusiastic and talked about every word he said and move he made.

“Uh, I don’t even want to ask because I’m almost certain you guys know how many times he blinked,” Paisley looked at her boy crazy friends. Well, man crazy and in Hannah’s case, she had never seen her friend so enthralled before not even with her long-time hockey crush Blake.

“I wonder how many girlfriends he has if he even has girlfriends. Maybe casual barbies. He wasn’t wearin’ a ring.”

“Oh my gosh Pay. If he did, I hope he doesn’t mind adding a few more,” Sky looked at Hannah and they burst out laughing. Paisley shook her head. Those handsome looks spelled trouble. Paisley had never been wrong before. She was the weariest of her friends. This teacher was too surreal.

Hannah had been the last to walk out that day, the day that blurred the lines between teacher and student. He had asked her to stay behind to revise a few things on her paper. He was a serious teacher and liked things to be perfect. It was the second week, and he was already on the second unit of their textbook. Every student was attentive in his class.

. “Ms. Augustine this paper isn’t up to par with what I expect in this classroom. Stay until you have finished revising.” She nodded and apologized. When she glanced up from her seat, she was surprised to see Mr. Blackwood watching her intently from his desk. She looked back down quickly. When she finally finished a few minutes after the bell had rung. She dropped her paper in on top of the stack and was about to run out when a hand wrapped around her arm.

“Ms. Augustine I would like to discuss something with you,” he smiled flashing his straight white teeth at her. Perfect, of course. This guy must have won more than the lottery in looks. If God had crafted the most beautiful man, it had to be the one in front of her.

“Of course, Luc- ah Mr. Blackwood.”

“Well, Hannah let's keep this between us,” still smiling his perfect dimpled smile, “I'd like to personally tutor you.”

“Wh-why would you want to do that.” Looking at his eyes, she already knew the answer. Since that first day, it was like they were in their only little world. His eyes had met her’s more than anyone else’s.

“It must be so obvious to you,” Lucien leaned closer. “I can’t stand to be apart from you.”

“I don’t think the school would find that--,

“Hannah when I’m with you nothing else matters, I want to spend more time with you. I have other students I am tutoring, so you won’t have to worry about what others might think. I decided to tutor to make an excuse for why I am spending time alone with you.”

“I don’t know if my parents—

“They’ve already given their permission,” he said.

“When do I start” Hannah could not help the smile that spread across her face. Her first private lesson was today with the teacher she had been crushing on and he was even confessing his feelings for

her.

She told her friends about being selected for extra lessons. They reacted as expected.

“How many students did he pick?” Paisley knew a few people had been picked out of his four classes.

Blake, Brie, Hannah from their class, and three from each of the other classes. She had a sneaking suspicion, he wanted alone time with Hannah. Even though Hannah was a smart attractive girl, she wondered if anyone else had noticed the special attention he gave to Hannah.

Paisley looked down and gasped when she saw what she had drawn. Staring up from the page were the black eyes of the barn owl. How many times had she already seen it? She counted in her head the day the police found their teacher, at the funeral, his first day at school, one had perched by the glass window, the night he took Hannah to the circus.

Mr. Blackwood was a very bad man if there was such an unprecedented sighting of owls. She had to tell her to stay away from the teacher, but she knew someone was going to die.

She looked down at her drawing again and shuddered.