Saving The Soldier (boyxboy) |BOOK TWO|

Chapter 54

I walked into my classroom and flipped the lights on. This was my new beginning, my new life. Though to the teens I would be teaching I was just another person giving out homework and essays, they would all mean something to me. I was the person making a difference in these kids lives.

God, this was terrifying.

I put my things away and went to stand out in the hallway as all teachers were supposed to do to prevent fights and bullying. The teens who flooded into my classroom were all different. A few of them wore band shirts while others wore more proper clothing. Most of the boys wore khaki pants and plain shirts.

After the bell rang, I walked back into the classroom. Every student was having a conversation with another but they all fell silent and looked up at me when I stepped in the room. Having twenty four pairs of eyes on you all at the same time was nerve wracking.

I turned to the white board and wrote my name neatly then writing the words 'carpe diem' under it.

"Who can tell me what this means?" I asked the class and pointed to it.

They all gave me puzzled looks and not a single one of them raised their hands.

"Really? Not a single one of you has seen Dead Poet's Society?" I asked.

No response.

"Perhaps this will refresh your memory." I grabbed a chair and stood on the table in front of my class. "Oh captain, my captain." I uttered then jumped down.

One of the nerdy looking kids shyly raised his hand and I motioned to him. "It means 'seize the day', sir."

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"Landon Morgen."

"Well, Landon, have you seized the day yet?"

"No."

I closed the cap on the marker in my hand and looked at all twenty four faces. "I am not here just to teach you English and give you assignments. I'm also here to teach you about life." I leaned back against the table. "Yes, I know that you're teenagers and you'd rather be anywhere but here. Believe it or not, I was a teenager not too long ago and I know what it's like.

"I know what it's like to have to wake up at six in the morning and come to a place that much resembles a prison. That was my life too six years ago. Though I was a major nerd and only had a single friend that ended up hating my guts by graduation, I survived. And though I was picked on constantly by dumbasses who thought they were better than anyone else, I went to god damn Harvard and the last guy who picked on me is now working in a McDonalds in Tennessee. Trust me, it gets better."

I turned and erased the board.

"I want to tell you something about stereotypes too." I turned again. "A few of you may or may not be thinking 'wow, Mr. Evens talks so prestigiously or he dresses so sharply, he must be really gay'. Trust me, I've gotten that a lot, from adults too even. If you want to know, I am gay and I have a wonderful boyfriend at home that came home from Afghanistan a few months ago whom I love very much. So there, your wondrous thoughts can now settle."

The bell rang and all of them packed their things.

"Seize the day before it's too late." I told them as they filed out of the classroom.

Damn, that was tiring. Now I just had to do it four more times and I would be done.

.     .      .

I collapsed on the couch next to Danny who was watching TV.

"Long day?" My boyfriend asked with a chuckle and put his arm around me.

"Who knew teaching could take up so much energy?" I groaned and rested my head in his lap.

"Do you want me to carry you to bed, baby?"

"Please."

He scooped me up in his arms and carried me to bed, then taking off my clothes and leaving me in only my boxers. Danny stripped off his clothes and threw a pair of pajama bottoms on, not putting on a shirt. He then got into bed with me and pulled me in close so my back was pressed against his bare chest.

"I love you, my little teacher." He said.

"Love you too, my little soldier." I yawned and drifted off into sleep.