More Than a Teacher - Ashton Irwin

32

It took two men and a hell of a lot of persuading to get me out of bed this morning. Ashton sat on the edge of the bed next to me and Calum stood at the foot as my face was shoved into the pillow.

I whined and persistently refused to get up and go to school. Yeah, Monday mornings sucked but have you ever had to get up Monday morning knowing the boy that tried to get in your pants was going roaming around somewhere? Also not to mention I have first period with Mr Parker.

I tried everything. Every possible phrase to try and lift the dread off my shoulders but those boys weren't going to give up that easy. They knew exactly why I wanted to avoid going to school and I knew deep down Ashton wanted to let me stay home but it's not the right way to go about things. Avoidance never is.

Eventually I complied as I realized I won't be getting out of this. I shuffled around getting dressed, brushing my teeth and taking my vitamins like I do every morning.

That explains how I'm here sitting in Mr Parker's class, against my will may I add.

He's giving me dirty looks as always and I just shrug my shoulders back at him. He has no good reason to be staring me down like I have some kind of disease.

What did I ever do to him to make him treat me like this? I say it every time but I just can't get my head around it.  The man just met me at the beginning of the year and within the first week he grew to despise me. We started in February and now it's September. That was eight months ago.

"So I have marked your exam papers from
Friday," He slowly walks back and forth across the front of the room with arms folded over his chest. "And I have to say I'm very pleased with all the results as I would expect from most of the class. There is an exception of one that didn't perform as well but I did anticipate that so it's no surprise."

He narrows his eyes at me and my lips part in disgust. If I remember correctly he was the one who took my exam off me for no good reason.

"Let's not focus on the negative and give attention to those who have actually worked hard to achieve outstanding results so as I call your name out, come up and collect your mark." He slides his glasses from his graying hair on to the bridge of his nose to read the names on each test paper.

"This is in order from highest percentage to lowest." He explains, making my stomach sink.

What kind of a teacher does that?

Clearly a man who has no heart or feelings.

Does he not understand that maybe some students don't like their scores exposed to the class? Some people are self conscious about that.

Oh that's right, because everyone performed extremely well except for me, he couldn't give a shit.

"Hailey 99 percent, well done," He holds out the paper for the studious blonde girl at the desk beside me to collect.

He continues reading the high ranking scores and I just sit back and roll my eyes.

"... Abby 77 percent, Jayden 70 percent and Ava," His face forms a scowl and his voice is a lot more monotone. "A low 10 percent. That's only three marks and a prime example to the others of what type of student not to be."

I shakily get out of my seat, letting my head hang in shame. The way he makes me feel reminds me of my father. Both men humiliate me and treat me like I'm nothing. Literally nothing.

"I would say I'm disappointed but I honestly didn't expect much more from someone like you." He sickeningly smirks down at me as I snatch the paper off him and crumple it into a ball once I sit back down.