Pinto Hot for Teacher, Chapter Thirteen
A/N: Back with Pinto Hot for Teacher, Chapter 13! So excited to be back at that after having to defer earlier this month. List of writers here, list of chapters here. Tagging @keep-calm-and-ks back after they needed to defer earlier this week! Thanks to @rabidchild67 for teeing this up and @entrenous88 for your encouragement!
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Zach is sprawled on the floor in a back corner of the library, near the study carrels, surrounded by the books he’s referencing for the English paper due next week, when he hears steps approaching. He turns his head to see Chris rounding the corner of one of the stacks.
“Zach,” he says. “There you are.”
Those words send Zach’s body into overdrive, heart slamming against his ribs, and he scrambles off the floor.
“Here I am,” he says, stupidly. “I’m, uh, working hard. For you,” he clarifies, gesturing to the books, and it should feel awkward, but the supernova of happiness that suffuses him whenever he’s alone with Chris doesn’t leave much room for awkwardness.
Chris clears his throat. He’s not meeting Zach’s eyes. “That’s…good, I guess,” he says. “Listen–”
That’s when Zach remembers. “Wait! Oh my god, you’re a mind reader. I totally forgot I have something for you!” Zach drops to one knee, digging in his bag. “This is so perfect.”
“Zach,” he hears Chris say quietly. It sounds pained.
He’s so tired of hearing Chris sound anything but happy to say his name. But Zach’s about to fix that.