Love At First Spike (GirlxGirl) (TeacherxStudent)

14

It's been a couple days since the confrontation with Miss Hart, and my anger and confusion toward her had become a constant companion. It simmered beneath the surface, bubbling up at the most inconvenient times, and I was quick to snap at anyone who dared to cross my path.

Mia had noticed my change in behaviour. I could feel her worried glances during classes, the way her brows knitted together every time I made a sarcastic comment or rolled my eyes at a teacher's lecture. But she didn't say anything. Instead, she stayed quiet, probably hoping I'd eventually cool off. She had enough on her plate without taking on my issues, but her concern was evident.

Sitting in chemistry class, I could feel the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Mr. Jenkins was droning on about chemical reactions, and I was in no mood to listen. The moment he called on me, I knew I was in trouble.

"Stacey, can you explain the difference between an exothermic and an endothermic reaction?" he asked, his voice dripping with that patronizing tone teachers always used when they thought they were being clever.

I rolled my eyes, throwing my head back dramatically. "Why don't you just Google it? It's not like you're going to get a Nobel Prize for this lecture."

"Detention," Mr. Jenkins replied without missing a beat, though I could see the irritation growing on his face. "And I expect you to take this class seriously."

"Sure, because that's going to change anything," I shot back, my voice laced with sarcasm. "I'll just add it to my growing list of detentions. Maybe I should start a frequent flyer program."

The rest of the class snickered, and Mr. Jenkins's face turned a deep shade of red. "Stacey, you need to pay attention or you're going to fail this class."

"Failing would require me to care," I retorted, my heart racing with a mix of anger and thrill at pushing back. With that, I gathered my things, storming out of the classroom, fully aware that my rebellion only seemed to fuel his annoyance.

As the day wore on, I found myself dreading the game against Wingman. Instead of the usual excitement that came with a home game, I felt the familiar knot of anger tightening in my chest. I had put up a front, trying to act as if everything was fine, but inside, I was a whirlwind of frustration.

Now, in the gym, as we warmed up, I could feel the tension radiating off me like heat. The squeaking of sneakers and the rhythm of volleyballs being volleyed back and forth seemed to echo my inner turmoil. Mia was beside me, stretching, but I couldn't focus on the routine. Instead, my mind kept drifting back to Miss Hart.

"Stacey, can you keep your head in the game?" Mia called out, watching as I nearly missed a pass.

I shot her a glare, my annoyance bubbling over. "I'm fine, Mia. Just let me warm up in peace, okay?"

"Alright, but you seem a little off today," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm just tired of being treated like crap," I snapped, my words sharper than intended.

Mia raised her hands in mock surrender, her expression a mix of surprise and empathy. "Okay, okay, no need to bite my head off. Just trying to help."

I shook my head, frustration boiling over. "I don't need help and I don't need you to tell me what to do." I could feel the eyes of my teammates on me, and I hated that I was making a scene, but I couldn't help it.

As we lined up for drills, I could see Miss Hart watching from the side-lines, her expression unreadable. I felt my heart race, a mix of anger and adrenaline coursing through me. This was supposed to be a game, something I loved, but instead, it was another reminder of the tension hanging between us.