10
Aiden
Icouldn’t get Saturday night out of my head.
All of it was still there in high definition surround sound when she slid into the classroom just as the bell rang Monday morning.
Almost having her again. Tasting her. Kissing her goodnight when I dropped her off at home.
Fuck, it felt like I was seventeen again.
I didn’t acknowledge her arrival to class. We both knew I couldn’t.
I was about ten minutes into my lecture when I heard it.
Kelsey Atwell, ring linger of a trio of mean girls, made a train noise.
I had no fucking clue why so I ignored it. But I saw Emersyn wince.
I played a Ted Talk video on bipartisan politics and when it ended, Meghan Hayes made a similar train sound. When I was scolding her for being disruptive, Annika Cunningham made the same sound.
Emersyn held her chin high, but I knew better. I saw it in her eyes, the way she wanted to retreat, to either bolt from the room or curl into herself and disappear.
“What’s with the sound effects, ladies?” I finally asked, giving in to their childish games.
“Ask Emersyn,” Annika called out, sending my pulse pounding.
Half the class was tuned into what was happening while the rest either pretended they don’t notice or tried discretely to check their cell phones.
“I’d rather ask you,” I said, keeping my eyes trained on Kelsey. “You three, see me after class.”
Unwilling to give them another moment of my teaching time, I begin the discussion on the Ted Talk. When I uttered the phrase ‘three or more parties,’ Kelsey and her friends begin giggling.
“Something else you could ask Emersyn about,” Kelsey retorted evenly. “We hear she’s a big fan of three or more.”
“And parties,” Meghan added.
I shouldn’t have validated their comments by looking at Emersyn, but it was a reflex. A need to make sure she was okay.
She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag. “Excuse me,” she mumbled while barreling toward the door.
“Don’t wanna be late to thetrainstation,” Annika called after her.
“Maybe go buy some clothes that fit, slut,” Kelsey muttered loud enough to be heard before Emersyn made it out.
I pointed at Kelsey. “That’s enough from you.” I jerked my head toward the door. “You three, let’s go.”
They stood reluctantly, grinning in triumph. Whatever the hell was going on, they accomplished what they’d set out to do.
I moved to the door and held it open. I’d have to walk them to the office to make sure they went.
“The rest of you,” I addressed the class as the girls joined me. “Log into the class webpage and complete the short answer section on bi-partisan parties. There’s a quiz Thursday.”
After stepping next door and asked Mr. Milner to keep an eye on my class, I escorted the girls to the office. Kelsey was still smiling smugly but the other two seemed nervous.
“Want to tell me what that was all about?”
Annika spoke up first. “There are consequences for certain actions, Mr. Singleton. Wouldn’t you say?”