It was almost like being on Death Row, waiting for Ms. Taylor to reach his desk.  Cole had had the bad fortune to be front right in the classroom, meaning she'd always reach him last whenever handing something out.  Sometimes it meant being a minute behind on taking notes or filling out a worksheet, or being the last to view his grade on the all important project or essay.  In this case, it was waiting to see if he even had a chance of passing the first test of the final trimester.  It seemed forever before she reached his desk.<br/><br/>It had been a brief relief to find out the thick wad of sheets were not the test, but, to Cole at least, the new bundle looked pretty much the same.  The teacher finally arrived, dropped it off, and then headed back to her own desk.  Maybe grade some assignments, work on a training packet?  Nope, it looked like Ms. Taylor wouldn't share in the suffering as picked up a magazine.<br/><br/>Cole let his head drop, now staring down at the test page.  He sighed.<br/><br/><div align="center">*   *   *</div><br/>Finally, after seventy five minutes, first period ended.  Cole, along with the rest of the class, sluggishly passed Ms. Taylor's desk on the way to the door.  She was good looking... for a teacher.  He wondered at how she found time to stay in such good shape with so many senior classes.  It was something he admired.<br/><br/>"O, hey Cole!" Anna said, causing him to turn around in time to see her walking up to him.  He gave her a miserable look, then turned to leave.  She fell in beside him despite the obvious dismissal.  "Fun test huh?  I've always liked the human body."  Her tone was light, cheerful.  It annoyed Cole.<br/><br/>"Ya, fun," he said back.  "I think I bombed it."<br/><br/>They reached the doorway.  Anna turned and gave him a hug.  "Aww, that's too bad, Cole.  I'll see you after school!"  Then she turned and walked briskly off the hallway, swaying her hips a bit more than usual.<br/><br/>A guy from the class, Ian, slugged Cole hard in the shoulder.  "Damn, man.  How do you do it?" he asked, looking at Anna as she walked away.  "It's like you can't get her off you half the time."<br/><br/>Cole gave him a disgusted look, then walked out into the hallway.  Suddenly, he swore softly, turned on his heel, and walked back into the classroom, which was now devoid of students.  He tentatively knocked on the door frame.  "Uh, Ms. Taylor?  I was wondering if you'd allow me to retake this test."  He stepped inside.  "I don't think I did too well."