Beyond the Lesson (TXS)

Detention

Class ends and everyone has turned in their papers. "Thank you everyone for your entries. I will read them all and we'll start the first lesson tomorrow. Have a good rest of your day." She says and the bell rings right on time and everyone gets up to leave. Everyone except me.

"Good luck on your meet." I tell Lucas and we dap up. The two leave and then it's me and her. "This is so unfair you know." I say and she turns around from closing the door and raises a brow.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah it is. I had no idea you were the new English teacher, but you did. I wouldn't have acted the way I did if I knew." I say and she chuckles. She leans back on to her desk folding her arms over chest.

"Ms. Kingston, respecting an adult period should be a common courtesy regardless your relationship with them. I didn't know I was your teacher but I had a guess since you were walking in the senior hall. Now if you're taking back your apology then by all means I can extend this detention." She says and I sigh.

"Do you not have like papers to read or something?" I ask and she nods.

"Yes I do actually. Let's start with yours shall we?" She says and goes to her desk. She looks through the papers. "Aha! Now let's get to know Talia Kingston." She starts reading it and my jaw clenches as her smug smile leaves her face reading my paper. I know she was going to read it but it's the fact that she's doing it infront of me that just makes it almost like it was a secret I wanted to keep that has now gotten out. She sits the paper down and then purse her lips to look at me.

"No need to feel sorry for me. It was just the assignment." I say now looking out the window to avoid the eyes that I've gotten to know a lot during my time in therapy.

I hear the sound of her heels clicking in the floor coming closer me and then I see her reflection in the window. "I'm sorry you had to witness that Talia." I sigh.

I shrug. "It is what it is." I say plainly and I see her nod. Her hand touches my shoulder.

"Are you ok?" I scoff at the question.

"Yeah I'm perfect. Look not to be rude, again, but isn't detention supposed to be quiet so I can reflect on what I did wrong?" I say smartly and she nods.

"Of course. Just do any homework you may have for other classes." She says and removes her hand from me and walks away. I sigh and just continue looking out the window watching people get on the bus for the track team. Bzzz! I take my phone out my pocket and look at the message from Maira.

MJ: how's it going
Me: going exactly how you'd expect detention to go
MJ: want me to save you? President has it perks like getting out of class and getting my friends out too
Me: nah I'll be good see you in the gym

I put my phone in my pocket and look up to see her looking at me. "Yes?"

She shakes her head. "Just wondering when I said you could be on your phone." I sigh rolling my eyes.

"It's boring in here and I have no homework."

She hums. "Well if you're bored, come here." She says and I raised a brow. "It wasn't a question Ms. Kingston, come here." She says again and I get up from my desk and walk to hers. She gestures to the small stool next to her chair and I roll my eyes and sit down.

"If you want me by you, all you had to do was ask Ms. Romano. But I don't think it's quite appropriate." I say sarcastically and she scoffs.

"Please do not flatter yourself with me. Mr. Carter left this whole place in disarray so everything is unorganized."

I nod. "I know what disarray means Ms. Romano. I'm not top of my class for nothing." I say and she nods.

"Of course but nonetheless I need help figuring out his plans so I can teach you guys and not going back on lessons." She says and I nod understanding. She opens the cabinet to her desk and my eyes go wide at the bunched up papers and folders.

"Jeez I knew he was a hoarder by how he dressed but this is ridiculous." I say and she laughs and I look at her finding myself smiling too.

"Yes well can you help?" I nod. I have no idea how to help her but if I can find a way I will just to make her happy. The hell? I shake those simping ass thoughts away and grab a folder and look through it. I chuckle shaking my head. "What?" She asks.

I hold it up and show her the date. "He hasn't cleaned out this drawer since 2020, Covid time." I say and she sighs running her hand through her hair.

"Well this is going to take longer than I thought. Just do as much as you can today and then I'll figure it out." She says and I nod even though I know he has like 3 to 4 other cabinets just like this one. We start looking through the folder and papers finding lesson plans we've already done and some for the other grades she'll be teaching.

"Is this your first teaching job?" I ask hating the silence.

She shakes her head. "Oh no. I've taught three different schools." My brows shoot up and then I look at her and she still has the blemishes of someone who is young.

"You're quite young for a teacher." I say and she chuckles.

"Well thank you for making me feel young but I'm probably 5 years older than what you think I am." She says and I tilt my head mentally guessing. "Trying to guess a woman's age is rude even mentally Ms. Kingston." She says and I chuckle looking back down. Ring! The school bell goes off and I look at her as she continues to look through the folder she has.

"Ms. Romano?" I call her and she looks up. Her eyes look into mine and I forget how to speak. "Um the bell just rang and I have to go to basketball practice." I say and she blinks fast like snapping out of a thought.

"Oh yes of course, go." She says and I nod and get up to get my stuff. I put on my book bag and she gets up from her seat to walk me to the door. "Let's not do this again, ok?"

I smirk. "I don't know. I think you could use some more help. It'll take the whole school year before you find the right lesson plans." I joke and she chuckles nodding.

She puts a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes well I'm sure I'll figure it out or have another poor soul in detention to help me."

"It wasn't that bad." I say and she smiles.

"Yes well get to practice. I won't be the cause of you being late." She says and I nod and leave. I smile to myself as I run to the gym arriving just when everyone does.

Whistle! "Get ready to hurt!" Coach yells and everyone groans. Great.