Teacher's Pet

CH4

I wake up, expecting it to be noon. I look outside, though, and it's still dark. I check my phone. 4:03 AM. I don't quite know what I was expecting, going to bed at only 9:00. 'Whatever' I think. I grab my computer and a blanket, setting them on the table next to the balcony door in my bedroom. I go back to my desk, grabbing my notebook and pencil, along with an eraser.

I crack open the door, feeling the cold morning air. It's refreshing, honestly. I set everything down on the cold cement floor, turning the fairy lights on. They're so pretty. And bright, too. Really bright. I sketch out the skylines, admiring the view of the Atlantic ocean. How the fuck did we afford Boston anyway? We moved from St Petersburg to Minisota a year ago, then here over the summer. How did we-? Never mind. Don't question, just appreciate. That was what my mom said whenever I asked how we afforded shit. I shake it off, literally. I shake my shoulders and neck a bit, wrapping the blanket around me. I go back to sketching the beautiful buildings.

After a bit of shading, I think about whether or not I should colour it in. I decide to do so, getting up to grab my colouring pencils. I know I probably shouldn't leave so much of my shit out on the balcony, considering it's shared by the whole floor, but considering how early it is, I doubt anyone would be out at this hour. My curls are probably a mess, so I grab a scrunchie with the box of pencils. I go back outside, resuming my activities. I check my phone, just out of habit.

From: Trixie (1:09 AM)

'Hey Katya, I know you're probably asleep, and I'm absurdly tired, so it's probably best you ignore me, but I just wanna say that you're like really really really pretty n hot.'

I smile. I like that Trixie thinks of me. Another text from her, 30 minutes after reads

'So I know you just wanna be friends and yesterday night was a one-off thing, I wanna let you know that I'm not like expecting it to be a regular thing or anything. I liked it, and I'm glad you liked it, if you wanna do it again I'm down, but I'm fully ok if you never wanna do it ever again. As a teacher, as your teacher, that was incredibly wrong of me.'

My heart sinks a little. I know she meant it as more of "if you don't want to it's fine" but it feels like she's beating herself up in a way. I agreed to it, so theres no reason for her to be feeling beat up.

'Honestly, I'm fully down for it again. I dont think I can be more down. If you see this when you wake up and decide it'd be better to never do it again, I get it, but I like you domming me. It was fun.' I type. I close my eyes, and hit send. Immediately, Trixie's seen it, and she's typing.

'Oh'

'Alright'

'I'm still down, as long as you don't say a word of it to anyone, not that I think you would, though.'

I nod, even though she can't see me.

'Yeah, of course. We're still hanging out on Friday, yes?'

'Yeah, if you can.'

Trixie and I talk for a bit, mainly about school and how weird it'll probably be for us on Monday. The sun starts to rise, which means I'll be able to actually leave the house pretty soon. I pack everything up, and go back into my room.

I put some clothes on, as well as some makeup. The bruise is still covered, which is all I need. I slip a $20 into my phone case, grabbing my smaller backpack and packing it with my notebook, my pencil and eraser, and a pack of gum. I never plan to buy anything, it always kind of just happens. Either way, I'll need to buy more gum.

I get my phone, and quietly sneak over to my mom's room. She's not there, meaning she's sleeping on the couch. I tiptoe over, and sure enough, there she is, laying there with the tv casting shadows on her pale face. She'd sound asleep, which is just what I need. I turn the phone flashlight on, going into her room. I dig around her shelf for a moment before I find what I was looking for- the packages of cigarettes. I pull one out, careful to put everything back where it was prior. I turn the flashlight off, and leave her room to go back to mine.