𝐌𝐒. 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐄

𝐎𝐍𝐄

Belle held her thick school books closer to her chest as she made it through the brightly lit hallway. She could feel her eye twitch a little at the sudden slam of the cream colored lockers. The feeling of the books pressing tightly against her chest relieved some of the anxiety she felt coursing through her body.

School wasn't a place Belle liked very well, the way the jocks cheered profanity words at the cheerleaders or any girl that breathed as they walked by their clique. If she could get rid of anything about the school it would be the jocks, she hated how self centered they could be. Belle smirked at the memory of them losing their football game last week, it was the only time they were quiet the whole day. The girl remembered wishing they would lose just to see the sour look on their faces, the universe granted her wish.

Within her time of thinking she had finally arrived to her first class, Poetry. Belle always arrived to class 10 minutes early, making sure she got the seat near the window in the very front. The scenery helped her mind become creative to write.

She placed her books down gently onto the graffiti filled desk, breathing a sigh of relief from the pressure being gone. Belle looked around the room in hopes to find her favorite teacher, Mrs. Ridgenton, instead there was a new name on the chalk board.

Belles eyebrows creased as she mumbled the name Ms. Selene. She admitted it was a beautiful last name, but her heart clenched at the thought of a new teacher. Hopefully it was just a substitute and Mrs. Ridgenton would be here tomorrow, giving Belle one of her famous hugs that always made the girl feel better.

Taking a seat in the cracked chair, Belle curled a piece of her already curled chocolate brown hair around her pointer finger. She was nervous, what if the substitute didn't like her?

Belle was a people pleaser, she always had to be the favorite student at all cost. She didn't really understand why she felt the need to always please others, but she knew it made her feel good when they praised her for her kindness. The fear of being hated made her stomach churn. Her nervous habit was short lived when the girl could hear the distant sound of heels clicking against the solid hardware floors of the school.

She tensed a bit as the door opened wider, she was too scared to get a look of the substitute.

"I see I have an early bird, that's always refreshing." Belle heard the woman mutter the last bit almost sarcastically, making her hands clam up. Belle let out a dry laugh that sounded more like a squeak than anything. The substitute walked closer to the girl, standing right in front of Belle as she was upset the girl had yet to take notice of her.

But Belle surely started to notice her now.

Belles honey brown eyes met a pair of fierce cat-like green eyes. She could feel a blush coat her cheeks at the intensity of the woman's stare. Belle let her eyes wonder all over her face, almost shamelessly. The woman had beautiful fiery red hair, it was messily thrown into a side ponytail, some front strands sculpted her face. Her nose was probably Belles favorite feature, the woman had a button nose which Belle adored.

Belle noticed the woman's plumped lips that were coated in a deep red shade, almost the same color as her hair. The mascara that coated the woman's eyelashes made her green eyes stand out more. The girls eyes raked over the outfit the woman was wearing. She wore a pair of black fitted jeans with just a plain white t-shirt. But she made it look adorable compared to Belles red dress that had tiny white flowers scattered all over it.

"Well, since you're here earlier than expected, I'll introduce myself to you first. I'm Ms. Selene, I'm your new Poetry teacher." Ms. Selene said with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Oh, um, nice to meet you, Ms. Selene. I'm Belle Farthing. May I ask what happened to Mrs. Ridgenton?" Belle couldn't help but feel her cheery mood dampen a little at the news of her favorite teacher being replaced. But she still made sure to smile warmly at the new teacher to welcome her to Newton High.

"She got an offer to work at the new private school, she was quick to say yes as any sane person would." Ms. Selene spoke with jealousy, she would much rather be getting paid more at the private school than to deal with a bunch of misbehaving seniors for minimum wage. The woman noticed the small frown that rested on the brunettes features. Her glossed lips pouted out slightly as her finger started to twist around a strand of hair.

"Oh. Well, I hope it makes her happy I guess." Belle couldn't help but to also speak with jealousy. Jealous that the kids at the private school get to have such a loving teacher. She noticed her new teacher nod at her as a way of ending the conversation as the bell rung. Many students started pouring into the classroom, already causing too much noise so early in the morning.

Belle could hear some of the jocks whistle at the sight of Ms. Selene, causing her face to contort into disgust.

"Alright class, settle down." Ms. Selene spoke powerfully over the now silent classroom. "My name is Ms. Selene, I will be replacing Mrs. Ridgenton for the remaining of the school year. The seats you're sitting in now are permanent for this semester. You may switch seats after it ends." Ms. Selene paused for a minute to make sure everyone understood. Her green eyes landed on Belle for a slight second, causing the girl to shy away and hide her flushed face behind her hair.

"Let's get started, shall we?" Ms. Selene said with a devilish smirk.