by A. E. Murphy
She was right about Shannon, who scowls at me as she skulks past, her lack of one on one attention from Mr Price clearly affecting her. It’s a good thing that I don’t do teen drama. I’m not a fan of the dramatics that come with school life.
Unfortunately others seem to have noticed the fact I’m staying behind and, as they leave, they look back curiously, their eyes darting between myself and Mr Price, who either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. It looks like they’ll be asking for extra time too, which begs the question - I know I’m not the only one in class who is close to failing before I’ve even begun, so why aren’t there more of us in our lunchtime group?
Isaac
“Okay, so I think we can get this done by tomorrow lunch if we work hard enough during this hour.” I state, holding my hand out for her work today. She hesitates before giving it to me and I can’t stifle my sigh. “You didn’t finish did you?”
“I…”
“What’s the point in this if you don’t care about this class?”
Her eyes widen with panic. “I do! I just…” She trails off and chews on her lip.
“You just what?” I snap, feeling more irate than usual. It’s probably due to my lack of sleep and need for the coffee I never got to have due to being late and then being interrupted by Shannon, who decided to ask for a lunchtime slot. I refused to give one to her due to her work being exemplary.
“Nothing, I’m sorry.” She mumbles and this only spikes the fiery anger in my chest further.
“You can go,” I order and place her paper on the desk.
“What?”
“You can go, straight to administration to drop this class.”
She blinks, her lips part and her hands ball into fists on the table. “Drop this class?”
“You heard me.” I rub my temples and move to my seat behind the desk. “I’m not wasting any more time on you.”
I expect her to get angry. I expect her to shout or demand I rethink my decision. She doesn’t. Instead she lets her silky, glowing red hair fall as a curtain to shelter her face from view as she picks up her bag from the ground beside her and stands slowly.
Guilt slaps at my heart a few times as she merely walks towards the door looking defeated, her jaw set and slightly clenching. I bite on my lower lip hard and run my fingers through my hair.
A sudden wave of clarity pierces the red fog that lies heavy on my mind. “Wait,” I find myself saying before my brain has even given the command. “Look… we should just pick up tomorrow when I’m in a better mood and you’re not so tired after a long weekend of work.”
“No thanks,” she says quietly, her hand gripping the handle of the door. “I’m done.”
“Done?”
She pulls it open and shrugs, her back to me. “Done.” It slams behind her and the guilt I felt before multiplies.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I slam my forehead against the table a few times and growl against the wood.
Fucking hell. I really need to get laid.
I get like this when I’m filled with sexual frustration.
I just wish I wasn’t stuck in the most depressing town in the history of the world.
“So, are you ready to talk about the October festivities yet? The party is in three weeks. We really need to make a start.” Katherine announces as she walks through the door that closed just moments ago.
I imagine racing towards her, grabbing her and forcing her willing body into the wall behind the door. I imagine myself lifting that ridiculously tight black skirt and plunging my fingers into her core, preparing her for me to lose myself in her depths.
I can’t though. As much as I feel like I need to, I really can’t use her like that. I don’t want to be that guy here.
“Sure, it’s not like I have anything else to do.” I look around the empty room, my eyes lingering on the spot the pretty redhead vacated not long ago. “Where do we begin?”
“We need to write a list of how much food we need.”
“Don’t we do that after we confirm how many students are attending?”
“Already got the list.” She waves a small sheet of paper at me, with the number of students attending and possibly attending. “Food will be store bought in packets, not including sandwiches, which your mum usually handles.”
I flinch. “My mum is fine handling it this year too, I’m sure.”
She looks unconvinced but says nothing more on that subject.
“Don’t do that.” I say, my tone hushed.
“What?” Her wide eyes only get wider.
“Don’t assume you know something about her condition that I don’t. Yes she’s ill, but she still has her own mind and can make a few fucking sandwiches.”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to upset you.” She places her hand over mine and leaves it there. It’s not until I pull away that she does the same. “Okay, so we need a list of food and chaperones.”
What? “Chaperones?”
“Yes, usually the sixth form students help supervise, but this year has less students than any other year, so it’ll be hard convincing them to join in.”
This is so boring. “Right. Well I’ll talk to my class on Wednesday and see if I can’t get them interested.”
“Sounds like a plan, so… food… your thoughts?”
Eloise
I can’t drop that class… I can’t drop any class. I need these grades. What the hell is wrong with me?
Why can’t I focus at the moment? School work was never hard for me before.
I just feel so… distracted.
I stand outside the door that leads to the principal’s secretary. My entire body seems locked on the spot.
I shouldn’t have waited until the end of the day to come here. I should have just come here during lunch, but I was hoping my afternoon English class would help me calm down and make a decision. Instead it only made me feel worse about my impending doom.
My dad is never going to forgive me, not to mention the fact I won’t get into University.
No. I’ve worked too hard to fail now. I just need to apologise to Mr Price and hope he forgives me.
Turning on my heel, I take a step away from the door.
A yelped screech leaves my throat when the belt loop of my jeans yanks me backwards into the door after sliding itself over the door handle.
Oh bloody hell.
I’m about to free myself when the door is pulled and I’m no longer standing but falling towards the dark blue carpet that covers the office floor.
I dangle for a moment by my hip before I hear a tear and fall onto my side.
“Kill me.” I mutter, my face heating as my hands cover my closed eyes. “Don’t even talk or announce yourself, just kill me.”
I hear a snort and then laughter… male laughter, right before hands grip me under the arms and pull me upwards. I don’t remove my hands from my eyes.
“Just point me in the direction of a cliff I can jump off,” I murmur as the male laughter continues and proceeds to get louder.
“You’re a disaster, you know that right?”
I remove my hands from my eyes and glare at the two similar looking men. Mr Price is basically a younger version of his father, who stands beside him, laughing silently into his hand. “I hate my life.” Then I glare at my History teacher and prod him in the chest. “This is your fault.”
“Oh?” He only looks amused.
“I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you and now you’re laughing at me!” I prod his solid chest again before turning to his father. “Your son sucks arse.” And on that note I turn and stomp in the direction that leads to the exit, ignoring the laughter that follows me down the hall. This time Mr Price senior’s isn’t silent.
I can never show my face in this school again. Ever.
The entire way home I stomp, my face bright red and steam coming from my ears. Blah.
Chapter Ten
Isaac
I can’t help but feel a certain amount
of satisfaction when, come Wednesday morning, Eloise walks into my class looking as embarrassed and annoyed as she looked after falling through the door to the school office.
I even go so far as to smile smugly at her as I hand her the class work.
Her eyes narrow bitterly, but this only makes me smile harder, especially when I recall her face when she blamed me for her clumsiness on Monday afternoon.
I haven’t seen her in the halls at all since Monday. I can only assume she’s been avoiding me and for some reason this only makes me smile even more.
“Okay, so I have something to run by you all before we begin.” I yell over their loud chatter and annoying laughter. They shush each other and take their seats. “As you all know, the Halloween party is coming up for the younger years.” A collective groan sounds throughout the room. They know what I’m about to ask. “I bet you guys loved these parties when you were in secondary school. It’s not possible without a few of you helping out at the food tables and keeping an eye on the halls.”
“I’ll help,” Shannon immediately says, a smile on her face and her hand in the air.
“Thank you, Shannon.” At least I’ve got one on board. Everybody else seems to be looking everywhere but at me. “Come on guys, it’s only three hours.” The groan sounds again. “Fine, let it be on your conscience when this gig is cancelled and… don’t think I won’t be telling them all who it was that let them down.”
“Why can’t the teachers do it?” Wesley asks, his chin resting on his bag that resides on the desk. “Surely there’s enough of them?”
“There are, but a lot of them have families to look after and the ones available are helping. Like myself and Miss Hart, we’ll both be attending.”
“Can we bring booze?”
I shoot him an incredulous look. “Is that a serious question?”
Nobody else volunteers and I’m already bored of trying to convince them. They aren’t interested, so what’s the point?
“You should do a haunted school theme,” Hayley suddenly adds, looking perked. “That would be awesome. Have people chasing the kids through the classrooms. I’m pretty sure you can hire people who can do that sort of get up.”
That actually isn’t such a bad idea.
“You could charge at the door. I’d pay for that.” Daniel, a boy who I’ve never heard talk before states, looking as excited as Hayley.
“Yeah!” Hayley starts bouncing in her seat. “Teachers could dress up as serial killers and ghosts. Like a haunted house, but a haunted school.”
“We’d need a permit and a lot of money.” I chew on my lower lip. “But it wouldn’t have to be students only. We could make the money back.”
“You’d just need a sponsor. What about Elle’s dad? He’s rolling in it.” Wesley turns towards the half asleep female and she immediately stiffens and glares at him. “It’s true. He does and he’d make it back, but even if he didn’t I doubt it would be more than pocket change to him.”
Eloise flips him off, clearly uncomfortable at the sudden attention.
“Her family aren’t rich.” Hayley snaps, patting Eloise’s hand comfortingly.
“Yeah right, they own half the buildings in town…”
“Their money is tied up in solid investment plans and accounts that can’t be accessed. They aren’t rolling in it at all. They’re comfortable and that’s it.”
I raise my hand and silence the ongoing argument that Eloise isn’t even a part of. It seems this isn’t the first time her parent’s money has been brought into the mix. “I’ll talk it over with the Head teacher and get back to you all on Monday.”
This seems to placate them, though not entirely. They’re a lot more alert than they were and I let them talk through their work, making sure to listen for any half decent ideas I could pass on to Katherine.
Eloise
“We could make it into a charity event,” Hayley blurts halfway through our lesson, startling everyone. “We could raise money for the poor ickle kiddies in the hospitals that are suffering from cancer and stuff. They can’t exactly celebrate Halloween like us and that’s really unfair.”
Mr Price nods, a smile on his face. “That we could. It’s definitely a possibility.”
“My dad would probably be happy to sponsor that,” I put in and again everyone turns towards me. “And if he doesn’t, then I bet Crystal would.”
“See, I told you she had money,” Wesley calls, pointing at me like I’m the main suspect in a crime.
“That’s enough, Wesley.” Mr Price demands, but his eyes remain on Hayley. “If you’d be up for helping organise it Hayley…”
“I am, I totally am! Eloise will too, won’t you Elle?”
I will? “Umm…”
“Like I said, we’ll discuss it Monday or after I’ve spoken to the Head Teacher. I’ll let you know. Thank you for the suggestions. Now can we please do our work?” His pointed look lingers on me. I roll my eyes but can’t help smiling at his accusatory stare. I don’t know why, but the thought of him actually thinking of me makes me happy, even if it is because he’s worried I won’t do the work, which I’m proud to admit I’m doing and hopefully doing well.
When the bell rings for lunch, I stand and look at our teacher. I’m not sure if I should be staying during lunch hour or not. Mr Price sees my hesitation and waves me over.
Hayley lurks by the door, waiting to see if I’m staying or going. I’m grateful for that. I don’t really want to spend lunch searching for her if I’m not to be tutored this lesson.
“Today I’m helping Miss Hart with organising the Halloween party, so you have this lunch hour off,” he says, smirking slightly.
“Right.” I nod and go to turn.
A warm hand wraps around my wrist, startling me. I blink in shock and my mouth falls open when he turns my hand over and places something in my palm before using his free hand to close my fingers. “Watch your step.”
When he releases me I look down at my closed hand and take note of the soft lump that hides beneath my curled fingers. I flex them, revealing the hidden gift, but my irritation spikes the second I do.
“My belt loop,” I comment wryly, holding the denim strip between my fingers, the same strip that tore off when I got stuck on the office door. “You must think you’re so amusing.”
Mr Price throws his head back, his strong, corded neck flexing as he laughs at my expense.
Growling, I stomp to the door, flipping my hair as I go and dropping the belt loop in the bin.
“Goodbye, Eloise,” he calls as I close the door behind me.
“What was that all about?” Hayley asks, her eyes glittering with curiosity and suspicion.
“Nothing,” I say, still growling. “Teachers are stupid.”
“Amen to that, Sister.” She links her arm through mine and we walk towards the hall. “But seriously, what was that all about?”
“It’s a long story.”
Her eyes narrow as she glances at me sideways. “Right… if you say so.”
“It’s nothing, he just… he thinks he’s funny is all.”
“You two seem… close?” She prods, her elbow digging into my side at the same time. “He seems to pay more attention to you than the rest of us.”
No he doesn’t. “He’s just doing his job.”
“If you say so.”
I sigh, pulling my arm free so I can look around to make sure nobody is listening in on our conversation. “Don’t make it into something it isn’t. You know how everybody around here can be. I’m not having my reputation and his tarnished because he wants me to succeed in his class.”
“Fair point. Nobody would blame you though…”
“Blame me?” What on earth is she talking about?
“Yeah, I mean… he is really freaking hot.”
“Amen to that, Sister,” I giggle, pulling her back into my side. “Come on, I’m hungry and I have an extra sandwich in my bag with your name on it.”
“Now that is a
language I speak.”
“The language of sandwiches?”
“Is it ham?”
“And egg, with salad.”
“Then yes, the language of sandwiches.”
I shake my head with amusement. “You’re so weird.”
“And hungry…”
My stomach growls angrily, confirming the fact that I am too. “Let’s go. I think Garrett is meeting us in the hall.”
“Commons or actual hall?”
“Commons.” We both turn right at the same time, smiling together as the conversation shifts to things I’m comfier discussing.
Is she right? Does Mr Price pay more attention to me? It sure seems that way. And if so, then why me?
Isaac
I pluck the belt loop from the empty bin and pocket it. I’m not sure why I do it and before I have a chance to think about it, the door opens and in strolls Katherine, a book and pen in one hand and a bag of food in the other.
“Shall we begin?” She grins, her eyes dragging up and down my body before meeting mine. I nod and offer her my comfy seat behind my desk. “Such a gentleman.”
First time I’ve ever been called that and it will probably be the last.
“I’ve gotten a few students on board. Their ideas are actually really good, but I’m not sure we have enough time to put them into action.”
Katherine’s eyes light up. “If it means extra hours after work, I don’t mind.”
Well I do. “Right.”
“Unless you’re helping out with your mum. I totally understand.”
My guilt overrides my selfishness. “It’s fine. I’ll be able to fit a few late days in, I’m sure.”
“Excellent!” She claps her hands together and slides the bag of food my way. “Let’s begin.”
******
I sit by my mum’s hospital bed holding her frail hand as she sleeps peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each calm and relaxed breath.
