So High School

Chapter 1

Taylor sat at her desk in the front of the classroom as she glanced through her student's newly turned in homework. The students were anticipating the bell with joy, ecstatic to go home after a long day's learning.

The volume level rose as a few boys tossed a paper ball in the trash can and made it.

"Students, until the bell goes off I want each of you seated in your seats and quiet. You guys are in high school, not elementary school", Taylor said sternly. She honestly didn't care if her students left early but she had to keep them seated because it was school rules.

Groans spread throughout the classroom but to Taylor, that was just a sign that she was doing her job as a teacher correctly.

The bell suddenly rang and the students filed out of the classroom. "Oh, and don't forget that your essays on "To Kill A Mockingbird" are due tomorrow!". Taylor's voice was drowned out by the noise of bustling students eager to leave for the day.

Taylor sighed and set the stack of papers down on her desk, leaning back in her chair. She glanced over her notes for the day and realized that she had forgotten to remind one of her more lagging students that he had forgotten to turn in his late homework.

"Oh, shoot!", She muttered under her breath.

Taylor fled out of her empty classroom and surveyed the full hallways for the student.

Suddenly, she saw him talking with the football coach, aka the PE teacher, by his locker.

Taylor rolled her eyes. The PE teacher and football coach was overpaid for his job of simply making kids run and he would do anything so his players could play football with bad grades.

"Mr. Holland?" Taylor asked, interrupting the conversation between player and coach. Taylor was a taller woman but she felt short standing beside such a tall man and her tall student.

"How perfect! Mr. Holland and I were just needing to talk to you", The coach said with a grin.

Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Ok then. Follow me to my classroom then. It's quieter in there".

Once all three members were in her classroom, Taylor shut the door and sat at her desk.

"I know why you needed to speak with me. And I'd venture to guess that it's for the same reasons I needed to speak with you, Mr. Holland", Taylor said. Her attitude on the outside was much more confidence than how she felt on the inside.

"Is it about my grades?" the student asked meekly.

"Yes. You have repeatedly not turned in assignments even though I've extended the due dates for you multiple times. I've tried to help you succeed, but at the end of the day, it's only you who can choose to succeed in school. And I hate to break it to you, but you can't play this Friday", Taylor said calmly. She hated disappointing her students but this had to happen.

"No! Please, football is my life. Please, Miss Swift! I'll do anything", begged the student.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, but you brought this on yourself", Taylor said with her lips pursed.

"If I may, Miss Swift, but Charlie has been working very hard in practice so maybe that's why he's not turning his homework in?" Coach Travis suggested.

"The way schools should be is academics first, then sports. I'm sorry, but no. The only way he could possibly play on your team is if he turned in everything he's missing and that is almost impossible".

"Almost?" Travis asked, rubbing his fingers through his whiskers.

"I apologize, but I have to go pick up my son from daycare. You two can stay and chat in your little sporty talk if you want in my classroom, but please lock up when you're done", Taylor said. She put her coat on and grabbed her black leather purse, clicking her heels as she walked out.