[wattys2015] Omega

Mr.Shank

When the bell for first period started, i finally gathered up the courage to take a peek at my new schedule. And of course their it was, like a vast shadow waiting to suck me in. First period, or a sentence to hell itself: AP literature with Mr. Shank.
Mr.Shank was an old man with a scruffy grey beard and a balding head, which, at times, he would blame his students for. He had worked for the military for 10 years, and the adjustment from war to literature was anything but poetic. When Romeo pronounced his love to Juliet: "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep the more i give to thee..." the only thing drowning deep, would be my eardrums. Mr.Shank liked to scream, a lot, i mean couldn't blame the guy, he had spent 10 years next to bombs and shrieks of terror, but he was no Romeo. No one understood the contradiction that was Mr.Shank, he claimed to hate children; yet he taught at a high school, he claimed to hate his love life, when all he read aloud consisted of Shakespeare, and he claimed to despise me most of all, yet i was the only student to ace every test.

I loved English literature, it was like an escape to my own personal movie, and Mr.Shank, well, he was the rope of disdain that always brought me running back to reality.

The rest of my schedule consisted of an endless supply of AP. AP organic chemistry, AP calculus, and AP quantum mechanics. I had hoped enough AP classes meant a ticket to a full ride at Harvard, or something prestigious like that; so i could stick it up my fathers ass. I grinned at the thought of returning one of his cheesy "I'm happier than ever" Christmas postcards with a picture of my acceptance letter. I could just imagine the look on his face when he read "Thanks dad tell your new daughter Steph that i like extra cheese on my burger"

I entered the cool classroom with a smile on my face and made my way over to the very front where i liked to sit

"What are you smiling about Rosie? Miss me already?"

I looked up to find Tony Brooks; the captain of the football team smirking at me.

"I'm sorry Tony i was just going over my facial expression at your funeral"

He laughed in delight muttering oooooh, and winked throwing me the football that was practically glued to his hands

"Catch!" I let the football enter seamlessly in my hands and fumbled back. Tony Brooks was the cutest guy at our school; little to say his face made up for his lack of decency.
I leaned the fingers grasping the football backward and was about to give Tony Brooks a piece of my mind; and a hit to the head, when a light grasp pulled at my wrist.
"My first day here and I've already got a troublemaker huh"
I turned around to the sweet scent, the familiar voice.
"Elias?"
His eyes grew wide and his breath hitched in his throat
"Rose--"
Tony looked between us, confused at the situation "Who are you?"
Elias rolled up the sleeves to his fancy shirt exposing more muscle "I'm your new teacher. Mr. Shank got into a terrible car accident so I'm filling in for the year" his manner was simple and composed
Tony laughed like he was on show for a sitcom "Year right bro, don't play, you're like 20 tops!"
"24, and no throwing in my class"
He glanced over at me and a little smile flitted across his face, disappearing just as fast as it appeared. I couldn't tell what was more ironic, that right as I inexalted the mere idea of Mr.Shank he had gotten into a car accident; or the guy I had practically made love too in my dreams, was now a rule not to be meddled with. Elias Crispian, was my teacher? The idea sunk in more and more as he lectured his way into every girls hearts. His lesson was, to say the least, amazing. He answered questions with bright smiles, told stories with passion, taught in a way that captivated the whole room to be silenced at his mere presence. Elias Crispian radiated courage and knowledge, and received trepidation and respect in return. It seemed the more I tried to solve him the more the maze shifted.
"That'll be all today class--"
Loud groans of disappointment traveled across the class (for the very first time might I add) and as the awestruck girls and boys made their way out, Elias stared at me, I could feel his gaze burning into my cowered head. I finished writing the essay he had assigned for homework in class; Elias had read us the ending of The Great Gatsby. And by now I was short of a professional at dissecting that book.
"You're finished?" He asked as I handed it in
"Well I'm short of professional at this particular book" I smiled coyly
"So... That assignment you had-- for um what was it?" He smiled mischievously , leaning in beside my desk
I cleared my throat and couldn't help but bite my lip in nervousness "English"
He shook with laughter, and it was about as magical as laughing could get. His laugh was one that spread like joy on Christmas and I urged myself to keep a cool manner
"AP to be precise right?" He winked
"Yeah about that--" I stuttered "You just-- I was-- it's hard too-- It's --"
He inched his head towards mine and whispered
"It's attraction"
I think my cheeks turned a shade of Crimson unknown to the natural world. I flushed into my seat, wanting to disappear into thin air. I had been in many embarrassing situations; but this... This wasn't even something I could conjure up in my imagination.
"I know this is wrong and I wouldn't ever do anything to put your job a risk, I get the system I know how it works, and I totally can forget the whole library thing ever happened, i mean it wasn't anything but you know, now that I think of it we did flirt a lot, oh god, I can't believe I just said that... I didn't mean flirt, I don't think you were even... But I can totally forget about you, us, well there is no us, but you know the whole incident and my um. You know. Attraction. And--"
He cut me off by steering his lips so close to mine I could practically smell the mint gum he had threw out earlier.
"You can do that?"
"Do what?" I whispered
"Forget about your attraction to me?"
My heartbeat fumbled inside of me and I'm pretty sure it tripped over his mere existence
"Well.. Yes"
He stood back up crossing his arms and smirked
"We'll see about that. Have a good day Rosie"
I was going to tell him that if anyone found out that the English teacher took and interest in calling me Rosie; we would be in a lot of trouble, but something told me he said it knowing the rules and boundaries set between us.
"You too Eli-- um, Mr.Crispian" the title of Mr, send a foul feeling through me. It felt wrong calling him Mr. Crispian. The title itself was so formal but for some reason It felt so informal; It felt like Elias had already reached me in personal levels, ones that took time patience and virtue to cross, in a matter of one meeting.
"Oh and Rosie-" he called out
"Yeah?"
"You're totally getting an A if you used my words "
I clenched my teeth and walked out knowing damn well, he was amused of the situation.