Mr Lingham ~ teacher\student

The lines of conformity

I woke up at 7 naturally, I always woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off. I sighed and turned to my phone, checking my messages and then rolling over to hop out of bed. My feet pattered on the hardwood floors as I found my way to the bathroom. I made a mental note to myself that I must buy a rug, the floors were always too cold for my feet. I splashed cold water to my face and looked in the mirror. I looked okay today, albeit slightly tired looking with sunken eyes. I leaned into the mirror and examined my face. I had longish coppery brown hair and a small heart shaped face, my skin was tanned and my eyes were big and brown. I leaned into my make up bag and found some eyeliner and some concealer for under my eyes. That was all I needed or could be bothered to need for today. I brushed my teeth quickly. Back in my room I opened my wardrobe and pulled out some black skinny jeans and an oversized white tee. The weather was ok but I knew it would be silly to walk around in shorts. Besides, Im not sure that they suit me still anyway. I went downstairs for breakfast, said hi to my mum and chatted, until I had to go. I got in my little black fiat and drove to school.

My sixth form was full of different people and divided groups. I had no trouble making friends when I moved here for year 11, 2 years ago. People seemed to like me and I got a lot of attention from boys. They seemed to think I was pretty, but I never felt on the same level as anyone here, I never had with any school id been to. Despite that I still had friends that I could talk with and have lunch with, sometimes I went out with them at the weekend but I usually preferred to stay at home with my mum and draw or paint. My dad died when I was 12. Me and my mum miss him a lot - but we make a good family us two.

I walked into my form room to see everyone whispering and gossiping to eachother. Someone had obviously thrown up over someone else at some house party at the weekend, or maybe someone had had sex in the parents bed and got caught. Either way I didn't care. Gossip meant nothing to me. I sighed and sat down at my table next to Lisa and Hayley.

"Have you seen him?" Lisa asked me, excitement shining in her eyes.

"Seen who?" I asked, confused and only half listening.

"Mr rasborne has run away so they pulled in a replacement, mr Lingham or something, he's our new head of year and he's hot by the sounds of things".

"Seriously where have you been Ana" smirked Hayley, not unkindly though. It was normal for people to make those kind of remarks, I was always daydreaming and never really up to date with the new gossip like the others. ~ I guess I just didn't care. Sometimes I wished I was a bit more normal, it's easy to feel lonely when you're not on the same page as everyone else.

"Oh right" I said and got up as the bell went.

The day passed normally with nothing strange happening. That was good ~ but at the same time boring. I mentally shook myself out of a daydream of days when I wouldn't have the same routine, where I wouldn't be so bored. I could paint and write and things would all fall into place.

I got into my car and thought about the work id have to do when I get home. And id probably have to do the food shopping too since mum was probably going to be too tired to cook. I laughed to myself when I realised how role reversal is ever present in my house. I was the parent and mum was the child. I didn't mind though ~ mum worked hard and she was just forgetful.

I reversed out of my space thinking how i wish how I could reverse out of the restricting lines of my life for once and reach out from my boredom when I heard a bump and my body pushed forwards. Fuck.

I got out of the car quickly to see a oldish man doing the same. He stepped out of the car anger burning in his eyes. I looked at the expensive, pristine BMW in front of me. He leaned in front of it and looked at the ever so slight scratching at the very bottom of his sleek black car. He touched it and sighed. "Woops" I mumbled.

He looked up as if forgetting I was there for a moment and looked at me his brows furrowed. I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. "Um I'm sorry I didn't see you there, I was just thinking about something and then...." I trailed off as I realised I was mumbling and babbling like I always do. Especially infront of quite attractive men. I took a moment to drink in his beauty. He was no doubt one of the most attractive albeit slightly older men I had seen. He had slightly curling brown hair and blue eyes, he was very tall and slim and wore an expensive suit. A cog turned in my head as I realised he must be the new head of year replacement. Brilliant.

Suddenly he smiled and told me it was not a problem, it would only need a quick paint job. And with that he got back in the car and sped away, I was stunned as I realised how quickly that had happened. I shrugged and got back in my car to go home. I guessed I was off the hook. I made a mental note to stop thinking too much when I was driving. And then I reversed out of those conforming lines and drove home.

As I welcomed the warmth of my soft sheets that night I couldn't help but think of Mr Lingham. After all I was an 18 year old girl. I may not be on the same pages as everyone else but I still could recognise sex appeal in a man. And then I dozed off to sleep.