Echoes Down The Corridor

The General Studies Lesson

A/N: As requested :)

Oh, Dear Lord, this is gonna be an interesting lesson...

I sit down, opening my textbook, and proceed to read the articles on 'North Atlantic Fishing', and start to answer the questions. Just as I reach the third, Mrs Parris comes over to my desk.

"How are you getting on, Miss Williams? Trust you're getting on with it?" She says, smiling. Obviously, she's out to get a response, but I refuse to give in.

"Fine Miss - it's a bit dull, but welcome to General Studies, eh?" I say nonchalantly. Again, Mrs Parris' grin widens.

"Yep, just like the English Language exams - they always set such dull topics, don't they? Nothing to really get your teeth into. Anyway, you shouldn't have any problems, you're a bright girl, and I've heard nothing but praise ever since I stopped teaching you. You were a bit wobbly about your ability, weren't you, but I think you're getting better. Mrs Corey says you're exactly the same in Maths! How is English going, just out of interest? What did you get in the Mock?" She finishes, refusing to leave my gaze.

"Good, yeah, Mrs Nurse and Mrs Proctor are both great - kinda miss our lunchtime chats from Year 9! Erm, I got 62 on the Mock, which I think was an A*, so yeah, just need to do that in June, and all is well." I say, maintaining my non-committal tone, desperate for the very awkward conversation to end. Thirsty, I reach for my water bottle, hoping that she'll get the hint that I don't particularly want to talk. Despite my telepathic pleas to just leave me alone, Mrs Parris continues.

"Yeah, you're so diligent, I always loved teaching you. Good times...anyway, you never answered my question after the coursework in Year 9 - have you read 50 Shades of Grey yet?" A wicked grin flashes across her face.

At this, I choke on the mouthful of water I'd just taken. It takes every ounce of self-restraint not to spit it out all over her. Swallowing hastily, I cough loudly before replying.

"Erm...no, I haven't...never seen any reason to? Not my kind of novel, Miss. I take it you have?" I say, flipping the tables on the situation, my own cheeky smile gracing my face. Gleefully, I see I've finally managed to render the woman in front of me speechless. After a few moments of our 'silent staring contest', Mrs Parris begins to speak again.

"Well, I caught some of the Lower 6th with it, and just felt I had to. Waste of a weekend though, all the hype ruined it; the 'whips, chains and handcuffs' weren't even that racy - real life sex is so much more...stimulating...although I'm sure your aware of that!" She finishes, a triumphant look crossing her face.

My eyebrows shoot into my forehead at this - how is a [teacher] allowed to say this? Then I remember that my Girlfriend has actually said a lot worse to me, under very different circumstances of course, but we're dating, so it doesn't count - Mrs Parris doesn't even teach me! Face returning from 'Tomato Red' to 'Normal Human' in colour, I collect my thoughts and attempt to answer in such a way that doesn't give my relationship away. Even if she does know, I think Sarah would actually lock me in the store cupboard if I cemented Mrs Parris' suspicions.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Miss. Unless you mean..." As she realises exactly what event I'm eluding to, a knowing smile crosses her face. "FOR THE LAST TIME, I WASN'T PREGNANT IN YEAR 9, for heaven's sake!!! I do have some moral standards, Miss." I yell in frustration as the whole class stares at me, silenced by my outburst. I survey the room, and see every pair of eyes on me. I look to the door, and to my absolute horror, I see my Girlfriend stood in the doorway, shaking with laughter. Mrs Parris turns to face the door, and slowly crosses over to her, attempting to restore some normality to the room.

"Ah, Mrs Proctor, how can I help you?" she says, subtly shifting the focus away from our conversation. The rest of the class, aware that they aren't gonna get an explanation, resume with their previous conversations, the classwork forgotten.

"I just wanted to see if you have the coursework for moderation from your Set 3's yet? I'd like to get it all done before Easter for once, avoiding the usual panic on the 8th of May, right at the submission deadline." Sarah says calmly, throwing a subtle smile in my direction. I smile back sheepishly, knowing full well I was going to be interrogated about my outburst later. I wasn't looking forward to it; I resume the classwork task, desperate for a distraction from the disaster of a General Studies lesson.

When the bell rings, relief floods me as I pack to leave. However, my quest for freedom is momentarily halted by the very person I'd been at loggerheads with all lesson.

"You know, Abby, I don't think you were pregnant. Well, I kinda did...and I hoped not, but when I got to know you, I knew you were telling me the truth that day - there's no way someone as cute and naive as you could get pregnant at 13." Mrs Parris says with a half-smile, her attempt at an apology.

Not wanting to prolong it any further, I respond with a "See you around, Miss" and head out of the door with Georgie and Beth, who are unable to contain their laughter the second we step out onto the corridor.

******

Panting heavily, I flop onto the bed, exhausted and satiated. Round 3 had really taken it out of me; as Sarah begins to kiss her way up my stomach, back to my mouth, I don't understand how she still has the energy to move her being.

"Now, do tell me, Madam - what the Hell did I walk in on this afternoon in your General lesson? It certainly was an interesting conversation to enter in to at that moment." She says with a sultry grin, placing soft, gentle kisses along my clavicle and jawline.

Sighing, I respond: "Basically, before the Year 9 SATs, we had to do this practice script thingy. Anyway, mine and Lois' was like a soap opera featuring us two, and as a twist, we put that my character was pregnant at the end. Mrs Parris came to check our work, and Lois mentioned that most of the piece was actually true, except Mrs Parris took it the wrong way, and was left speechless. Her eyes looked from my face, to my stomach, to the paper, again and again, until I said quickly that I definitely wasn't pregnant. She was like "Of course not...", but her expression suggested otherwise. So yeah, it's been a running joke since that I was pregnant in Year 9!" I finish with a sigh, thankful to explain the whole incident to Sarah without interruptions.

At first, she doesn't respond, but then a small giggle escapes her lips, which turns into a full laugh, until we're both laughing our heads off.

"That's just fabulous...oh, you are just brilliant, baby girl! I can't believe you did that - actually, yes I can!" She says, unable to contain her laughter.

"Well," she starts again, moving fully on top of me "I promise I won't get you pregnant, sweetie. Time for Round 4, methinks..."

A/N 2: So yeah, my big secret is out on the internet - my Year 9 English teacher actually thought that I was pregnant at 13 *hides*. Was wholly mortifying, and she hasn't acted the same around me since :\ So, @smudgewatch, this satisfy you for including the Y9 stuff? Think Mrs Parris is my favourite character - she's just a legend (the real one and the pretend one!). Will have to find a way to include her more...anyway, keep the ideas rolling! Till next time, Amiee xxx