Suddenly a voice interrupted them.
"Vincent, Gwen, can you two save the drama for after class?"
It was Ms. Susan Storm, stepping into the hallway, her calm presence cutting through the tension like a knife.
Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, a perfect contrast to the crisp white coat she wore over the black dress, making her look like she just walked out of some dream Vincent couldn't quite shake.
Every time she was near, his heart seemed to hit pause, like he was thrown off balance by something as simple as her presence. He stood up straighter, fighting to mask the damn rush of nerves coursing through him.
"Mrs. Suzy, no teacher," Vincent said with a playful grin. "Happy New Year." His voice was casual, but the underlying admiration was clear.
Susan Storm stopped in front of him, her warm smile lighting up her face. "Happy New Year, Vincent," she replied, her voice gentle but firm. "I trust you're staying out of trouble today?"
Susan Storm of this world was a widow, not much had been known about her, but Vincent had learned one thing: her husband was long gone.
There was no sign of the Fantastic Four in this timeline, which led him to believe that she hadn't gained her powers yet, living a simpler life as a computer teacher.
That, in itself, worked out for Vincent, especially since his crush on her had only deepened.
But men, especially Vincent, always messed up at the worst moments. In his daydreams, he'd imagine all sorts of witty things to say to her, endless conversations filled with charm.
But when he was truly standing before her, his lips sealed, and all those words he had rehearsed in his mind scattered away.
It was the usual story with boys.
Maybe it was because she was his teacher, and he was just a student, or maybe Vincent feared rejection. After all, there was always one thought that lingered at the back of his mind whenever he thought about her:
"Why would anyone love someone like me?"
And so, he made a decision, not to say anything, not yet. He'd keep bullshitting, playing it cool, until he found the courage to talk about love.
Vincent chuckled, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You know me, Miss Suzy, Trouble and I go way back." He shrugged, hands slipping into his pockets like he owned the place.
"Try not to be so... familiar with it, okay?" she said with a light laugh, her gaze softening as she gave him a quick but understanding look.
Gwen stood behind Vincent, her frown deepening as she watched the interaction between him and Ms. Storm. There was something about the way she spoke to him, so friendly, so comfortable, that twisted Gwen's stomach.
'What the hell? He just touched my boobs, and now this teacher is acting like nothing happened? I can't make sense of it. Is she into creepy guys?'
Her hands clenched into fists, the anger bubbling up inside her.
How can she just laugh with him after that? And on top of that, the way Vincent spoke to Ms. Storm, it was like he owned the place. It irritated her more than it should have.
Why do I care? Gwen thought, trying to shake off the rush of emotions. But the sight of them together, the ease of their conversation, it felt wrong, and she couldn't push away the unsettling feeling that surrounded at her.
Meanwhile, Vincent glanced over his shoulder briefly, catching the flicker of unease on Gwen's face. He smirked, relishing in the subtle shift of the atmosphere.
"Sure thing, Ms. Storm. I'll keep my distance from trouble for your sake," he said, making sure to emphasize the last part.
Susan chuckled softly. "I'll hold you to that," she said, her eyes gazing on him for a moment longer than usual before she turned to walk toward the classroom.
The moment she did, Vincent couldn't help but watch her, his eyes drawn to her every movement.
But before he could step inside, Gwen, irritated and more than a little flustered, shoved past him, her body brushing against his.
The force of the bump was unexpected, and Vincent didn't budge, he was solid as a rock. But Gwen, not expecting it, stumbled slightly.
"Watch where you're going," she hissed, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Vincent couldn't help but laugh at the situation. "You should be careful, Gwen, You might end up falling on your ass."
And just as she was about to retort, she tripped again. In that instant, Vincent's reflexes kicked in.
He reached out and caught her, his hand wrapping around her waist while the other gently supported her back, just as if he had rehearsed it in some over-the-top drama.
Her face went bright red, not only from the embarrassment of falling, but because his touch felt strangely... comforting.
She pulled back quickly, her eyes flashing with anger as she stood on her own two feet, glaring up at him.
"Don't touch me, you pervert," she spat, even though there was a slight hesitation in her voice, something almost... sweet?
Vincent raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, my bad. I didn't realize you liked being caught."
Gwen glared at him. "You're disgusting," she said, still trying to save face.
Vincent only laughed, stepping back into the classroom.
"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night, Gwen,"
As he entered the room, he noticed Susan Storm was already at the front, preparing for the lesson.
The students filed in behind him, and he took his usual seat, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. He noticed Gwen's eyes staring on him for a second, but she quickly looked away, as if trying to pretend she didn't care.
Ned, who had been sitting next to him, elbowed him sharply.
"Dude, you should really forget about Ms. Suzy," he said quietly, as if trying to make the suggestion sound casual. "I think Gwen's kinda into you. You should ask her out."
Vincent raised an eyebrow, glancing toward Gwen, who was sitting just a few seats away.
He studied her for a moment, her blonde hair, her sharp features, her style that was always on point. She looked more beautiful than he'd ever really given her credit for.
But then, as if on cue, she looked at him and shot him the middle finger.
Vincent smirked, not at all put off. Instead, he leaned toward Ned and shot back with a grin.
"No chance," he said, before blowing an exaggerated flying kiss in Gwen's direction, just to make her even more disgusted.
Ned laughed, shaking his head.
"You're a lost cause, man."
And just like that, the lesson began.