SILHOUETTE

Chapter 25

Parent teacher conferences always felt like the bane of Simone's existence. Her father was always the one that was available to go but now the tables were turned. She was the one giving the student evaluations and listening to parents all night long. It was one thing to be stuck on school grounds for eight hours but it was another to be stuck there at night time.

She only had enough time to shower and eat something before heading to a nail appointment then back to the school. She had seen a few parents already. Introductions were always weird. They never expected her to be the teacher until they realized her face had been plastered over the six o'clock news. She managed to keep the focus on her students showing their work so far and discussing their individual behaviors and grades.

She even had a few snacks just in case the ones in cafeteria was going to be gone. Fifteen minutes with each parent felt like time went by slow. Simone was anxious to get home and just lay in bed doing nothing. She popped a cookie in her mouth and dusted off her hands waiting the next parent.

"Are you Ms. Hicks?"

Simone stopped replying to the text message and looked up seeing an older gentleman. She smiled walking to introduce herself. He was the grandparent of one of her students. She went over their artwork and how they were doing in her class.

"She really loves your class. I can see why." He glanced at her up and down.

"Oh, yeah she really gets into the different mediums and work really hard."  Simone changed the subject.

"I know but I am not talking about that." He took a hold of her hand.

"Okay, I have other parents to see. Thank you for coming, you can grab a cookie on your way out." She took her hand back.

Men were such vile creatures.  It wasn't  the first time she was complemented this evening but this was the first time it felt like crossing the lines.

"And what if I wanted your cookie?" He grinned.

"Sir, you gotta go." Simone walked past him to get to the door and felt his hand grab her backside.

"Oh, come on." He pleaded.

"Get out of my classroom."

"You enjoyed that."

"Have you been drinking?" She went to her classroom phone about to dial school security.

"Don't be like that." He started walking towards her.

"You are out of your mind and need to leave."

She was thankful when she got a hold of  security. The more closer he got, the more she reached into her drawer for the small bottle of pepper spray. She wasn't even worried about herself at this point. All she could think about was her student that was possibly living with this creep and she wanted to throw up.

"Simoneeee, can I get some cookies!" Landon walked in.

"There you are! I was looking for you." Simone rushed to him giving him a hug.

"Is he bothering you?" Landon whispered.

"He grabbed my ass! I am waiting for security but they are taking forever."

"I got it because lord knows Jordan would kill him." He replied.

"Thank you." She released him and moved to the side.

"Is this your little boyfriend? You need to be with a real man sweetheart." The man shouted. Simone never thought she would cringe at the nickname Jordan affectionately called her.

"Ni-Sir, let's go!" Landon pulled his arm.  The man was making him forget he was on school grounds.

Ava looked at Landon pulling some man with him and the head nod he gave in the direction of Simone's classroom. She ran down the hall and the classroom was empty. She waited and looked up seeing Simone come returned more like Simone jumped not expecting anybody in her classroom. She had only left to pull herself together in the classroom.