As Fate Would Have It Ch. 03

Hi guys, hope you enjoy the story, not sure when I will get the next chapter out - been busy times. I wrote this over quite a few months so forgive me if there is slight variation in some details - I do forget the things I have written a few months ago. The story does circle a little bit but I hope that builds it up even more for the finale. Happy reading, please leave comments and ideas for the story because I do read all of the comments and take them into considerations when writing.

- Sorry I don't have an editor and I rarely read over my writing due to lack of time and such. I apologise in advance for any mistakes.

TheStarryEyedDreamer

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Chapter 3

Zoe woke up the next morning feeling far less than she intended. She decided to go shopping. It was something she did when she was upset, though mostly window shopping, considering her income. At about midnight she bought a smoothie, a sandwich and decided to go grocery shopping. Her brother had not left his fridge stocked and so she had to have something to live off for the next week. By this point she was feeling slightly better having bought new gym clothes, a cute top, a couple of hoodies and a very stylish pair of boots. Though her credit card was feeling far more deflated.

After she bought about 10 bags of groceries she went home, feeling inspired. She looked up a recipe for curry on the internet and started cooking. Though it was only just 2.00pm she was glad she started cooking then. After two failed attempts, she finally managed to follow the recipe correctly and produce a steaming hot plate of mouth-watering curry.

It was almost 6.00pm so she decided to curl up in front of the T.V. with her curry. Before she realised it, she'd watched mean girls, easy A and two episodes of Spartacus on Netflix. She swore and looked at her phone. It was almost midnight. She had school tomorrow and she suddenly had an urge for a midnight work out.

She had a membership with a 24/7 gym and the middle of the night was her favourite time to go. It was quiet and she always got to use whichever machines she wanted. She quickly did the dishes and changed into the new gym clothes she'd bought which consisted of tight leggings which hugged her muscular thighs and ass, a crop top which showed of her flat, toned stomach and perky breasts.

Feeling good, despite the late hour, she pulled on her runners, a hoody, slung her gym bag over her shoulder and jogged down to the closest gym which she had a membership for. The gym was 3 blocks away and she knew her parents would have a fit if they knew she was running around the streets alone at this hour.

At a fast jog, she was able to cover the distance in under 10 minutes, arriving at the gym with a light sheen of sweat despite the bitter coldness outside. She took a sip from her drink bottle and dumped her things in a locker in the women's change room, including the hoodie she was wearing.

She set up on the exercise bicycle, plugging her headphones in and setting off at a steady pace as the world seemed to click into time like clockwork around her, the rhythmic clicking of the exercise bike's wheels matching her breath.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Peter was at the gym. It was late. He didn't mind. He often stayed up past midnight, working out at the gym. It paid off too, his pecs and abs were rock hard and his biceps made his shirt sleeves tight. He almost laughed when he saw her. Of course, she was here. Was there anywhere he went that she didn't?

She hadn't seen him, that much he was sure of. He felt bare suddenly, he was sitting on a bench, lifting 50 pound weights with his right arm. Because he was so late and confident, he almost always worked out without a shirt on. He was doing just so today, wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, sweat shining on his tanned torso.

He watched her, peddling like her life depended on it. He couldn't help but notice the way her tits bounced slightly as she peddled in that crop top. Her smooth, tanned stomach was on display, she was in very good shape and she had the nicest ass he'd ever seen in his entire life. He bit his lip. She was so beautiful. Suddenly his mind was elsewhere. The afterschool discussions they'd had. The way she smiled and bit her lip when she was trying not to laugh at his lame jokes. The way that she spoke about the world as if she were somewhere else, not there with him. She would gaze out the windows dreamily as she spoke, mischief glinting in her eyes as he stared into them, losing himself in her beauty.

He was so lost in thought he'd forgotten about the weights he was lifting. His arm was burning. He dropped it on the ground and swore, stretching his cramping muscles. That's when she looked up and saw him. He saw the realisation cross her face and she frowned briefly. Then she got up, stuffing her phone in her pocket, and started to walk over to him.

Peter forgot about his arm.

"Uh, hey Zoe. Bit late don't you think? What are you doing here?" His words practically tripped over each other as they tumbled out of his mouth. He felt incredibly awkward after the other night when he'd punched her best-friend.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Zoe almost faltered when she heard the anxiety in his voice. He still had a line of purple across his cheekbone. She felt slightly bad. The kids at school would notice and ask questions.

"What are you going to say about that?" she asked suddenly, pointing to his cheek.

The question obviously caught him off guard. "Uhh." He said, touching his cheek lightly.

She couldn't help but think about how deep and sexy his voice sounded.

He shrugged, "Say I fell over I guess."

She smirked. "Classic. I suppose it works enough to stop them asking more questions." she paused. "Why didn't you come over? Say hi? I know you saw me before." She said.

He frowned. He obviously wasn't expecting that either. He rubbed the back of his neck "Um, you didn't look like you wanted to be disturbed." It was half true.

She couldn't help but notice his tanned torso. Eyes roaming over his defined abs and pecs. She frowned, noticing the swirling ink along his side. Writing of some sort. It was too swirly for her to read and she didn't want to make it any more obvious that she was staring.

When she looked back up to him he was smiling knowingly, seeming to have regained his feet in the conversation.

"Do you usually come to this gym?" he asked. "I've never seen you here before."

"Um, no, I was just... in the area. You?" she asked.

He shrugged, "A few nights a week, it's close to my apartment."

She couldn't help but laugh a little.

He frowned, "What?"

"Well, it's just that I never imaged you living in an apartment." She said.

"Why not?" He asked, still frowning.

"I don't know, I just didn't." She chuckled to herself.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

"So... uh, how's your maths work going?" he asked, trying to keep their conversation professional. "We have a test this week remember?"

"Yeah, it's fine." She seemed colder now.

He wondered if he'd offended her, trying to be professional. He decided to probe.

"You don't need help with anything?" He asked.

"No, I'm fine." She repeated, seemingly annoyed now.

He smiled to himself. She liked talking to him. And not about school.

"Anything else interesting happening then?" he asked, allowing the conversation to drift away from school again.

She seemed slightly annoyed still but less so. "No, not really. Apart from the fact my best friend and I are in the middle of a really complicated situation and I feel like I just got my heart ripped out and shoved down my throat." She sniped, emotionless despite the words she was saying.

"Zoe, I -- "he started.

"No. I don't want to hear it. It's not your fault. Not really. I can't help it and neither can you. I wish I felt this way about him so I didn't have to break his heart. But I don't. It's so stupid, it's not fair. He doesn't deserve this, and there is nothing I can do about it because I am the girl breaking his heart." Her voice rose with each word until she was shouting and her voice wobbled as tears welled in her eyes.

He found himself wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his bare chest. "Sh sh. Don't cry baby girl." He said. He didn't care in that moment that she was his student. She was upset and he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms in the hopes it might help.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

She wiped the tears from her eyes. And pressed her hands flat against his smooth chest, pushing him away. She saw confusion flicker in his face, followed by the stony expression he wore every day.

"Why do I have feelings for you and not him?" she asked quietly, looking up at him. She saw his face soften and he met her lips.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing his strong arms to pull her against his body. His tongue slid past her lips and tangled with hers. She pulled back slightly, biting lightly at his lip and then she pushed back slowly.

"Zoe..." he whispered huskily.

"I don't know if I can do this." She bit her lip. "Jack..."

He lifted her chin gently with a finger. "You said it yourself. You don't like him like that. You like me. The least you could do is let the poor boy go. Don't go after him Zoe. Don't break his heart again, it won't make you feel better." He told her, staring earnestly into her eyes.

She knew he was right. She bit her lip, still hanging around his neck.

He sighed, pushing her back and taking a step back. "You're right anyway. We can't do this. It's wrong. I would be taking advantage of you, I'm your teacher."

"Fuck that." She said. "I'm an adult legally, I can make my own decisions, anyone who thinks I am easily manipulated because I am young is an idiot."

He smiled tightly. "It's still the law." He replied.

It was then that she did what neither of them expected. She shrugged, then turned and left.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Peter couldn't help but chuckle as she left. He didn't know whether to feel triumphant or rejected and he loved it. Women never walked out on him. Ever. God, he loved it. He waited until she'd left the gym. He grabbed his things and chuckling to himself, ran after her.

When he got out the door she was still in sight and he sprinted after her.

"Zoe, wait up." He puffed, catching up to her.

"Forget something?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"No, but you shouldn't be walking in the dark by yourself." He said.

She laughed lightly, "Apparently, I do a lot of things I am not supposed." She paused. "And my friends say I need to loosen up."

"Are you walking all the way home?" he asked.

"Yep." She replied, not looking at him. She still hadn't decided what exactly she wanted from him.

"Don't you live like 20k's away?" he asked.

"Not right now." She said.

He looked at her, confused, but she clearly had no intention of explaining.

"Care to elaborate?" he asked.

"I'm staying at my brothers." She responded, still not looking at him.

"Oh. I didn't know you had a brother." He said, frowning. Lame line. He was lost for words, which was strange considering they got along quite well and he always knew what to say around women.

"Two actually." She corrected. "My little brother Eddy goes to Heorndale too."

"Oh, I've never met him. What about your other brother?" he asked.

"He's overseas. Working." She replied.

She wasn't giving him anything. Why was she being so difficult?

"So you're staying at his apartment?" he asked.

"Yeah." She replied.

He wanted to ask why but he knew he'd been nosy enough already and she clearly didn't appreciate it.

They walked in silence a while until they got to an intersection.

"Which way are you going?" he asked.

"Straight ahead." She said, and she started across the dark street.

Peter stood on the corner a moment, conflicted.

He winced and jogged after her. "You shouldn't walk alone. I'll walk you home."

"I walked to the gym by myself fine." She pointed out.

He shrugged, "It's the once that counts, not the many."

She was quiet and he smiled to himself. At least she could accept a good argument.

"You should probably get home, big day tomorrow hey?" she asked him, as he continued walking next her, hoody pulled over his head against the cold with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Zoe, I told you, I'm going to walk you home." He paused. "It's the right thing to do, no matter where we stand."

She shrugged and continued walking. He shook his head, smiling at the pavement, this girl was unbelievably immune to his charms. He'd never met a girl who didn't fall at his feet, if not immediately, shortly after some intelligent conversation or flirting.

As she strode out in front of him, he watched the sway of her hips and the way her long dark hair fell around her shoulders, shining in the dim light of the city. He barely noticed himself smiling like a goon as he watched her.

She turned "Hurry up then." She noticed him smiling and raised an eyebrow. "What are you grinning about."

He dropped the smile and cleared his throat. "Nothing." He tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably and broke out smiling again, laughing lightly to himself about something he was unsure of.

She frowned now "What?"

"I don't know" he replied.

He straightened, smiling to himself and started walking again. "Come on" he said, tapping her lightly on the ass as he walked past, barely thinking about it.

When she didn't move, he froze and turned slowly.

"Sorry, shit, that was inappropriate, I wasn't thinking." He looked at her but she said nothing.

She was frowning. They stood there, looking at each other. She burst out laughing and he felt a smile spread to the corner of his mouth.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing." She said. Then she started walking again, grabbing his ass gently as she walked past.

He couldn't help but smile. "That's very inappropriate." He pointed out, following after her.

She smiled. "That's my building just there." She said, pointing at a boring looking glass apartment building.

He felt slightly disappointed, "Oh." He said.

She looked at him for a moment as they walked. "Well... um, thanks for walking me home I guess." She said, as they neared her building.

"Thanks for letting me." He smiled at her. "You can be very stubborn sometimes you know."

There was a fleeting smile but it faded quickly like there was something on her mind, troubling her.

"What?" he asked, frowning.

They stopped outside her building.

"It's just... I don't know what this is." She said, pausing. "Where do we stand? I mean, there's school and then there's life. I just need to know what this is, what we have." She said earnestly. "Are we just fooling around? Just friends? Something more?"

"Zoe... I honestly don't know. I mean, we barely know each other." He hesitated, "It's not like we can see each other -- it's against the law, you're still my student."

He saw her face, which was looking vulnerable and open, close like a book.

"Right. So, I'm wasting my time here. We are just toying with each other and our emotions. It's ok, I understand, I'm not sure what I expected." She stated coldly.

And with that she turned, scanned her key card and disappeared into the apartment building, the afterhours door clicking shut behind her. Peter felt like swearing and hitting something, there was more he needed to say. He was sure how but he needed her to understand, to forgive him so they could move on and get through what was bound to be the toughest year of his teaching career.

Anger swelling in his chest, he turned and walked home.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

By the time Peter got home he knew he couldn't see her. Whatever they had, whatever he felt for her, it wasn't real and it could never happen. He was crazy for letting it get this far. It was as if every time he saw her, his professionalism and self-control went out the window. It wasn't so bad at school, so far he'd been able to maintain a friendly student-teacher relationship with her, however he'd decided that even that relationship was making it more difficult to resist her -- especially when he saw her outside of school.

As he brushed his teeth and stacked papers for the morning, he thought about how to avoid her. He knew that if he allowed their friendly relations to develop further he wouldn't be able to resist her -- hell he'd probably quit his job. He was confused as to why he felt this way, it was if something was tugging at his heart, pulling him to her. It wasn't just her looks either, he was a very handsome man and he knew it -- even at 33. Though he'd never met anyone quite as stunning as her, he had plenty of gorgeous women lining up to date him.

There was something different about her. Something mysterious and challenging. Something strangely enticing. His mind drifted briefly to the swirling ink down his side but he quickly pushed the thought aside.

He changed into his boxer shorts, before sliding in between the sheets of his neat bed, which sat in the middle of his simplistically styled, grey-walled bedroom. There were large windows to the left of his bed, stretching from floor to ceiling with a view over the city. At the end of his bed was the door to his large open space living kitchen and living room, with a walk-in closet next to the windows. The wall on his left contained an open doorway which led into his ensuite bathroom, decorated in luxurious grey tiles and gold finishes.

He admitted that he lived in style and was satisfied with most aspects of his life. He lived a healthy balanced lifestyle, balancing work, health and fitness and his social life successfully. Only now had something came up which began to tip the scales. Zoe. She was the person on his mind as he struggled to fall asleep despite the late hour and early start.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, all he could think about was how empty his queen-sized bed felt.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

When morning came, Peter felt refreshed and determined despite the lingering pull at his heart. He dressed in black slacks, dress shoes and dress shirt with a red sweater and black overcoat. He grabbed a simple grey scarf and strung it around his neck to shield himself from the increasing coldness. After a quick coffee, he grabbed his brief case and was on his way to work.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

Zoe had to admit that it had hurt when he'd said they couldn't see each other. She felt better this morning, she was a smart, rational girl and she knew that he was right. However, she couldn't help but be hurt and angry. She didn't know how his lesson would pan out but she knew that she was going to screw something up by letting her emotions get in the way. She pulled on her uniform which was too small and suddenly made her feel as if she was a porn star. She resolved to buy a new uniform which actually fit her.

She brushed her teeth, grabbed an apple and her school bag then walked out the door.

Oooooooooooooooooooo

When Peter got to school Mrs. Pearce was sitting in the staff room with a cup of coffee. She was an older history teacher and Peter quite enjoyed talking to her, as he had studied some history in university and had a perpetual fascination with it. Occasionally, when the exam period was over and he had a free period, he would sit in on her classes.

"Morning Jenny." He said happily, as he made himself a second cup of coffee.

"Peter." She acknowledged him as she continued marking a student's work on the desk by the lounge where she was seated comfortably.

She was a kind lady, elderly and very experienced. She was still stylish and trendy despite her age, she wore perfume which smelt slightly quirky but not in a bad way and wore simple pant suits. Even though she was kind, she was also firm and intimidatingly smart, gaining her immense respect from all the students she taught and even those she did not.