Sinful Temptation

The loud blaring of her alarm had her groaning out in annoyance as she groggily turned off the alarm.

The illuminating rays of sun played hide and seek through the slit of the curtains caressing the nakedness of her bare arms.

With a light yawn, she flexed her arms before lazily sitting up and removing the alluring fluffy blanket. The idea of leaving this warm cozy bed was heart-wrenching but what else can she do?

With a nest of her hair, she walked into the restroom and did her business. After a quick shower, she felt fresh and ready to deal with the hectic day ahead.

She's none other than Emma Belle Richardson. A 17-year-old girl or perhaps a nerd as per the sayings of her classmates.

Emma lived alone in her old apartment that her grandfather left her. The place wasn't amazing but it was cozy enough to be called her home. Her room is not big but of average-sized, double bed placed in the middle, a small study table in the corner, cupboard right beside it, on the other wall was a wide large window where a couch was placed, this window was her favorite place in the whole apartment. There was an attached bathroom which luckily consisted of a bathtub. The thing was old but it works well for her. A lounge sits right beside her room with an open kitchen to the left. A couch was placed in the lounge with a small table in the front. An old-time tv was placed there in front of the couch. This was the total of her home.

She was 13 years old when her parents died. Her grandfather was the only family she had left. He took care of her but Alas God took him away from her when she was 16.

He died because of a heart attack. Since then she was left all alone in this big scary world. It was tough and still is. But Emma has coped up to living alone. Though her apartment wasn't in a very good area, in fact, the opposite, she's thankful at least she has a roof on her head.

After tying her hair in a ponytail she wore her knee-length skirt. Preparing a coffee for herself she did the buttons of her baggy shirt. She hurriedly drank her coffee, picked up her backpack, and within minutes she locked her apartment and was marching out at full speed.

The area where she lived was well known for its illegal activities and criminal records. And a little girl like her was nothing more than being a lamb in front of wolves.

When she was near the bus stop. She slowed her strides and panted because of that jog. Emma waited for ten minutes before her bus arrived and she hopped on it.

She sat on her usual seat third last in the back. As the vehicle started moving, the dread of what was to come in high school today started to rack her mind.

She was a really good student, scratch that. She's on scholarship and one of the top kids in Horace Mann High School. For Emma scholarship was important as it was the only thing she could achieve because the fee structure of her school almost touched the sky. So she has to work hard to maintain her scholarship as it's the only way for her education to keep on going with no one at her back as her guardian.

Though she was good at studies and always kept to herself. Trying to fade away in the crowd of people and never to be noticed but things didn't go as planned.

She got noticed. Her weight got noticed. And then it all started. Being bullied daily by this rich group of students who think so highly of themselves.

She knew she was fat. That's why she wore baggy clothes. To hide away from their prying eyes. But no matter how much she tried, their eyes would always strip her naked. On one side they call her fat and what not and on the other side those same guys would stare at her with bad glints in their eyes and girls would always glare daggers in her way.

For the past two years, she became so conscious of herself. She even tried dieting but to no avail as it only led her to the hospital, followed by sickness.

So she tried the other way around. She started ignoring them, not responding to their harsh and cruel words. Their stupid pranks and ridiculous behaviors. But they never stopped. She's in her senior year now. Only this year in this hell and she'd be free.

With a sigh, she got off the bus and walked toward her destination. Her hands clenched into fists after noticing her enemies standing at the main entrance in a group.

For a second she thought of going back but then she's not that coward, now was she. The only reason she avoided them and bear their torture was that they were rich and can ruin her life with just one phone call because their parents has many shares in Horace Mann. And no one is at her back to save her or protect her. The wisest thing she could come up with was to ignore them.

But they always had other plans. Emma tried to walk at a fast pace from beside them. 'Please don't notice me.' While chanting this mantra in her head, luck wasn't on her side.

A tall figure blocked her way abruptly, making her apply her brakes at the fast-paced speed and stumble a step back.

Emma closed her eyes before opening them again and staring at the guy named Jack but in her head, she called him Jackass.

Without a word, Emma tried to walk past him but he only grinned and blocked her way. It's entertainment for this Jackass, for her it's a waste of time and pure torture.

"Where do you think you're going fatty?" Jack mocked.

"Where do you think you're going fatty?" Jack mocked.

She didn't know why but their words always hurt her. Emma did not answer and tried to walk past him again. His other friend named Landon aka Jerk blocked her way from the left. Emma named him a jerk because he was tall and muscular but had no brain, he behaved exactly like what she named him.

"Not so fast, fatty." Jerk smiled, making Emma cringe back at his behavior.

"I'm going to be late for my class." She said confidently, she can endure to a certain limit only, and gladly they haven't done anything to extremes that could lead her to the edge.

"She talks!" Hissed Veronica the black witch. Emma named her based on the constant black lipstick on her lips. It looks horrific but lord knows why she always wore it.

"Yes," Emma answered curtly. She bit her lip and clenched her jaw at her stupidity. She's being sarcastic to them which simply means she's poking the bear with a red flag in her hands.

"Oh! She talked back to you Veronica." Jack put fire in Veronica's already heated head.

Emma on the other hand believes that the reason for her being so confident and extra edgy was because her periods are coming near.

And this could get her killed by these mannerless people.

"I didn't," Emma said in a low voice. Not wanting to irritate the ticking idiotic bombs, cause in no way did she want to bathe in noodles and pasta which they threw at her a few months ago because she complained about their bullying to the authorities. That decision of her led them to increase their torture and not only that, the authorities warned her instead of them and even her scholarship got at risk.

"You didn't!" Veronica spat before taking angry steps toward her. She was three inches taller than Emma whereas Emma was 5'4.

"Wanna hang out with us sometimes?" Cane asked who was leaning against the wall.

"No thank you," Emma said nicely and tried to walk past Veronica who intentionally tangled her foot with Emma's, who was taken off guard and fell on the floor with a thud.

A loud chortle was heard behind her. She immediately straightened her skirt which had hiked up a little because of the fall. Without looking back for once, with tears in her eyes she ran into the girls' restroom.

Getting inside one of the stalls. She harshly wiped her tears and glared at the floor for a complete three minutes. "It's okay Em, keep your calm." She talked to herself.

She's all that she got. There's no one else to share her pain or burdens with. No soul on this planet loves her. It's just her all alone with her demons. But she was glad she had one person, her best friend.

"You're strong, ignore those bastards and bitches. They'll pay for this soon. You'll work hard and become successful. This would be the best slap on their faces." She talked to herself in a hushed voice. Trying to console her mind. Trying to manipulate herself.

Even though she appears normal and okay, only the Lord knows what goes inside her soul every single night. Those vicious nightmares eat her soul alive but she's breathing and still going, that's all that matters.

With a heavy sigh, she got out of the stall and hurriedly washed her face to remove the traces of dirt.

With a heavy heart, she walked towards her first class which was about to start in a minute, and luckily as soon as she got inside, the teacher marched inside right after her.

"Take your seats, class." Mrs. Arnold spoke and the whole class immediately settled down. Emma sat on her usual spot in the back on the seat right beside the window. Taking out her notebook she started taking notes.

Luckily no one from that gang of bullies was in this class. A little peace for her.

After three consecutive classes, it was finally recess. Time of fun for others but torture for her. One thing that scared her was the cafeteria. The incident of noodles and pasta being thrown on her head happened in that particular cafeteria, so after that incident, she avoided going there at all costs.

She has found her sanctuary in Horace Mann. An empty classroom on the top floor where barely anyone goes. The class is filled with extra desks and chairs. No one comes here so she made it her sacred place to spend the time of her break.

Plopping down on one of the cleaned chairs, she whined in irritation. The reality of not bringing food today dawned on her, making her angry but in the next second, she recalled buying a packet of chips and biscuits which she placed in her bag. Opening the front zip a beautiful smile adorned her face after finding the snacks. Looks like God hasn't forgotten her completely.

Emma ate her snacks while peeking out of the window. Strange that a few of her teachers along with the head of the authorities were standing near the parking lot and talking. She can't see her math teacher, Ms. Rebecca, there and she wished from the bottom of her heart that Ms. Rebecca was absent.

Within two minutes the gates opened and a sleek black Range Rover wheeled inside the gates. The glass of the windows was tinted black and in no way she could see who was in that car from up there.

The car stopped and the head of Horace Mann walked towards it followed by other teachers.

Munching on her chips she watched as the door opened and a man came out. The only thing she was able to notice was those mighty broad shoulders and black hair.

The man didn't even turn to face the head. He only nodded at the teachers before he was escorted inside by them.

Emma stared at that beautiful car for a complete minute, admiring its beauty before the bomb blasted into her mind. Next was her math class, the one she hated the most. The only subject that seemed impossible for her to understand. So many formulas, so many methods, and so many similarities.

She hates math!

She hates math!

After having her lunch she checked the time and she only had two minutes before the hell class would start. Picking up her bag and throwing the empty packets in a bin she walked to the restroom, washed her hands, adjusted her clothes, and went to her class.

The reason why she delayed going to the class was that Veronica and Jack were in this class as well.

She went inside and within a second, Jack hooted and before Veronica could utter a word, the head of the school walked in and everyone took their seats immediately.

In hurry, Emma sat on the empty seat in the front rather than her usual seat at the back.

"Good afternoon class. I'm here to inform you about the sudden absence of Ms. Rebecca. Last night she was met with an accident." Gasps were heard all around and a wave of guilt washed over Emma who wished to not see Ms. Rebecca today.

"Her ribs got fractured and her left leg was broken. She's out of danger and currently in the hospital. It would take her a couple of months to a year or more to return to her duty." Slight nods of understanding were seen.

"So, we have a substitute teacher who will take Ms. Rebecca's place. Let me introduce you to your new math teacher. Mr. Xander Colt." As soon as the head said these words.

A man walked inside the classroom with slow powerful steps.

It was as if all the breath was knocked out of her system.

The man in front of her could be any freaking thing but a teacher. He was probably 6'2 with massive shoulders, the outline of his taut muscles could be seen through his shirt. The bulging muscles of his biceps were one thing but the black ink on his neck and hands was another thing. Her eyes found their way to his Adam Apple and then his sharp jaw with a trimmed black beard giving him a rugged look. Pursed lips in a thin line, straight nose with a slight crook at the nose bone as if it was broken once, and then her breath hitched when her eyes met with his sharp green ones. He was staring straight at her. Closing her mouth shut, she immediately looked down at her notes.

This was the same man from Range Rover.

And he's not old like other male teachers. He was very young, not in the lad's category more like in the men's category.

"I'll leave the class to you, Mr. Colt." She heard the voice of their head before his footsteps fades away.

"First and foremost important thing. I don't like disturbance." His deep rich voice resonated in the class.

Emma dares to look around only to find everyone gawking at the man the same as she did before.

"Open your books." He said loud enough for everyone to do as he said.

Mr. Colt strode towards the whiteboard and started solving a problem on it. The way his marker nip was hitting the board indicates how pissed off he was or perhaps he was this way only.

"Eyes on the board!" His voice was a little high which got everyone to flinch in their seats as they immediately looked at the board rather than him.

Emma was tense as a wooden board during the whole class and so was the situation with everyone else.

The fact that she was sitting in the front wasn't helping at all. Once in a while, Mr. Colt's gaze would fall on her and she would get extremely nervous. Never in her life has she missed her back seat more than today. The lesson to never sit in the first row was clear for her.

As soon as the class ends. Emma was fast to leave the classroom.

She went straight to her next class but her mind was still in her math class where she understood nothing but the man that was her teacher raked her mind throughout the next whole period.

As soon as the last bell rang. Emma sprinted out at a fast pace. When everyone goes back to their homes and rest, she has to earn her bread.

She was glad that Landon and his friends didn't appear in front of her after the morning incident.

Her eyes slowly darted towards the parking lot where that Range Rover stood out like a dominating Anaconda amongst small mice.

"I will buy you one day." She promised with a soft smile on her face as she walked to the bus stop.

Within twenty minutes she entered the small cafe where she works. Jogging to the restroom she immediately wore her uniform, placing her bag in the cabinet. She came out of the restroom to find Connor standing with a grin on his face. "Guess what?" He was excited, it was written all over his face.

"What?" She asked. "I've got selected for my school's soccer team." Connor grinned.

A wide smile appeared on her face and she forwards her hand for a handshake and congratulates him.

Connor shook her hand. "Your birthday is in a week so I'll give you a treat on your birthday," Connor suggested, making a beautiful smile appear on her face.

Connor is the only person she genuinely trusts. Her only friend or family. She respects him a lot. And he cares for her a lot.

"I'll be delighted." She gave him her best pearly smile only to earn a flick smack of his finger on her forehead making her groan out in pain.

The audacity of Connor to laugh at her as he walked away to see the customers.

Emma ambled into the kitchen while rubbing her forehead where her colleague, Stacy stood.

"You're late Emma," Stacy said in a low voice so the owner couldn't hear her. "I missed my first bus," Emma said in a low apologetic voice, making Stacy nod.

Stacy was kinda the only friend Emma has except Connor. It's not friendship because Stacy joined this job just a week ago but up till now, both girls are good and kind to each other.