I turn around startled to find my smart girl Sarah standing behind me. I didn’t read the roster so I didn’t know if any of my music students would be in the class. I’m happy to see her.
“I didn’t know anyone was listening.” Despite the truth in my words, I feel my cheeks getting hot. I watch as Sarah takes her seat and I go back to the front of the room. The first bell rings and no one else has come into the room yet. This is a little weird, but it’s homeroom so most teachers aren’t super strict about time.
After the second bell rings and there’s still no one but Sarah in the classroom I get a little prickle of awareness. I could almost imagine hearing witch’s cackles down the hallway. I’m being pranked for some reason. All of the students aren’t coming or they are coming in late. Either way, it’s not funny. It makes me feel like a fool and I want to yell at someone.
I was doing Madeline a favor. Why would she do something mean to me when I was the one helping her out?
“Madeline probably told them there was a substitute. I swear most of the people in my class are mindless followers and the ones doing the leading don’t have two brain cells to rub together.” Sarah surmises.
“I’m sorry, did you just call her Madeline?”
“Yes, we all do. She insists. Says Mrs. Smith is her mother-in-law.”
I actually let my mouth hang open. It’s so unprofessional. As much as I want to head to the principal and accuse Madeline of setting me up with her students I don’t have enough evidence to prove it. And I don’t want to look like a whiny teacher, at least I’m professional.
After the first twenty minutes have passed in which I made Sarah do the writing assignment I brought the students start showing up. They’re all giggling like they’re in on some great joke.
I have a couple of choices. I can get mad and make them copy definitions out of the encyclopedia which is what I really want to do or I can be the bigger person and play along.
I wait until all the students have taken their seats and have sort of settled in.
“That was a good one guys. I really thought you weren’t coming. The assignment is on your desk. You can start it now and finish it tomorrow. We were going to watch a movie once you were done, but now you won’t have time.”
Smiling, I walk over to the desk and sit down to read while they start their assignment. I see Hallie and Penny in the little window of my door and pretend I don’t. Screw them. It’s clear for some reason they thought this would unnerve me. It doesn’t make me angry, it makes me laugh. They need to realize I don’t really care about some childish prank. I just feel bad for the students. They are ones that are going to suffer in the long run by not having a teacher who cares about them.
Thursday morning, I feel more comfortable with my role as a substitute. I hope I’ve gotten through to them. And this time it will be different.
In fact, the nerves I’m feeling today have nothing to do with Madeline’s class and everything to do with a certain sexy singer. I had dreams about Charlie all night long and the things he’d done to me. My mind drifts back to the way he’d been down between my legs and how that must have looked to him. It’s all I can think about in the shower, mostly because in the dream I’d forgotten to shave my legs and he was looking at an insane forest.
But even with my freak out and embarrassing myself, I still don’t feel bad about how good his tongue felt. I don’t think
anything could diminish the euphoria he made me feel with his mouth on me. I don’t think he’ll be in that position again for a long time. Yet maybe I should think about waxing down there, just in case.
Before I know it, I'm standing in front of my mirror over analyzing everything I see. I actually sit on the floor wearing only underwear in front of it so I can see what he saw. It doesn't look that appealing to me so I stand back up. Maybe it looks different from on the floor than on the couch. I think of when he spread my lap apart but I can’t make myself do that. If I see what that looks like down there I may never leave the house.
I'm definitely overthinking this. I just need to go and meet with them. Tomorrow night will be more about singing with him then dating and sex. Heck, we can’t really talk about sex with Thomas at the table with us. After, when we’re alone maybe.
Walking into homeroom I’m convinced that my day will be normal, only it’s not. After the first bell, once again only Sarah’s in the classroom. I’ve now stopped thinking it’s funny. This is a strange personal attack on me and I don’t have to stand for it.
And the kicker to my now crappy morning is the principal who chooses this exact time to come into the classroom.
“Principal Stephens! What brings you to the classroom today?” I say brightly. I’ve worn the other really colorful dress I own and have paired it with the bright yellow pumps I’d worn to dinner with Charlie. I hope the brightness puts him in a good mood.
“The question should be, Miss Springfield, why are your students playing kickball on the front lawn. Shouldn’t they be in here in time for the bell?”
My cheeks heat up and I make my way over to look out the window. Sure enough, the entire class minus Sarah is playing some form of soccer on the front lawn. The girls in the class have done backbends to make the goals when the teams get close. It’s impressive, but I’m seeing red.
“I’ll take care of this at once,” I say and go sit behind my desk.
“This is you taking care of it?” He raises a brow at me.
“For every minute they aren’t in here, it’s another minute they are in detention with you tomorrow after school.”
“Very good.” He actually smiles and walks out of the classroom.
“Man, Miss Springfield, I’m glad I came to class. You’ve got a little venom underneath that bright ass dress,” Sarah says.
“Language Sarah,” I say, “and thank you.”