Who We Have

Chapter 8

Thursday morning, the twenty-third, Jennifer and Andy readied themselves for the day. They had two breaks and a study period to spend in the hall for preparations, and it was time to set up the tables and some decorations. Their excitement pushed at their seams, as all the work they planned was about to advance from theory to practice.

The girls settled into their first lesson of the day, English, and Adam explained their objective. He divided them into large groups, each sitting in a circle to work together. To Andy’s dismay, her team included a few girls she’d rather never speak to, and for the most part, actually didn’t. Tiffany was directly ahead of her, continuously gossiping, paying almost no attention to the work.

Nonetheless, work was accomplished, which was the only reason Adam didn’t fully stop them from communicating. He could still hear some of the things they were saying.

One of the girls giggled, saying something that drew Andy’s attention. “That new kid Jack seems pretty cute.”

Tiffany snorted, “Maybe for a homeless circus freak.”

That struck a nerve for Andy, and she looked up at her with a glare. She couldn’t stand it, listening to a few irritable people speaking negatively about someone like that, especially not him. Adam could hear it from his desk, and he looked up at them disapprovingly, ready to speak up. Tiffany caught her staring, and she looked back with a significant smirk.

 “What are you looking at?”

After a few seconds of clear glaring, Andy spoke with a raised, indignant tone.

 “Why do you have to be such a bitch?”

Tiffany barked an incredulous laugh, looking at Andy with a smug expression.

 “At least I’m not known as the local slut.”

Andy was about to respond with at full blast, if it weren’t for the intervention.

“GIRLS!” Adam yelled, standing up. “Outside. Now!” The anger was clear in his expression and it startled the two, as well as a few others.

Jennifer silently regarded her best friend as Andy sighed heavily and stood up to storm outside. Tiffany haughtily followed. When they left, Adam joined them, closed the door, and frowned.

“I am extremely disappointed in you both,” he started, his voice reverberating through the halls.

Tiffany stood with her hands on her hips, looking away as though she were disinterested; Andy looked down, feeling terrible that it came to this.

“I expected better from both of you. This is no way to behave for ladies of your age, and in no way sets an example for others.” His voice had lowered and calmed, but his irritation was incredibly visible. “You two will return in break for detention, that’s as far as it’ll go for now. If this happens again, however, I’m afraid I’ll have to send you both to the principal. Consider this a fair warning.” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, “I don’t want to see something like this happen again, are we clear?” He took on an assertive tone, firm and harsh, and his words empty of any biased thoughts.

Tiffany nodded and replied, “Yes, sir.”

Andy gave a nod and looked at him – her biggest mistake. She could see the way his eyebrows were furrowed, the look in his eyes, the clear disappointment and irritation, and she immediately looked away. He was one person she didn’t want to ever piss off. Guilt ate at her, and she wished she had never started it. Even though they had both agreed to be nothing more than student and teacher, Andy still liked him as a person, and harbored an intense respect for him. To let down someone she respected was a big deal for her.