Spiner

Chapter 1 | Acting Class

The bell rang and I packed my things into my bag slowly. My next class was on the other side of the school... but I didn't care.

I HATED my next class. My next class was acting, or 'the art of acting'. Now- let me rephrase that... I don't HATE my acting class. Acting is fun, I like it a lot. If I didn't- I wouldn't be taking it in the first place. No, it was the teacher I hated. God.

My teacher got on my nerves. He was an older man. I don't even know how old... he had gray hair though so, somewhat old.

I was playing a major part in a play, which was still two months away. But he was being SO hard on me. I get he just wants me to so well but he overdoes it.

I've even talked to my friends about it and all they do is look at me genuinely confused, saying I was doing great. And they weren't just being nice, my acting really was good. I had been told by other local teachers and people who did theater at my old school.

I walked into my acting class and set my backpack up against the wall where everyone else's was. I was one of the last few people to arrive to class. My teacher Mr.Spiner looked up from the paper he had been looking at when I dropped my backpack.

I met his eyes and gave him a fake smile. He raised his eyebrows and returned my smile then looked back to his paper.

"Good morning y/n," he said calmly. "Good morning sir" I replied, walking to the rehearsal room, where everyone else was, getting ready to start practicing. Not everyone in my class was in the play. But most of us were so we all practiced anyway and did exercises related to the play.

If I'm being completely honest... I don't HATE Mr.Spiner... it was just that some days he really pissed me off. And today, in particular, I found myself just simply dreading his criticism.

I tried to do well for him. And well- for the play too. But it just never seemed to be good enough for him. He wasn't mean ... he just- it was just so upsetting to me that I couldn't do something without him finding fault in it.

"Hi y/n" my friend Sarah said. "Hi, Sarah" I replied smiling. I had friends in this class... everyone was pretty much friends. But I wasn't close with anyone. Me and Sarah were the closest, we talked the most but we never really hung out a lot outside of acting class... only occasionally.

"Hey so did memorize your lines for chapt-" then I was interrupted by Mr.Spiner walking in beginning class.

"Good morning class... I trust most of you have your lines memorized up to chapter 6" he said looking at everyone. His eyes falling on me a little longer than everyone else. I only had my lines perfectly up to chapter 4... and for the most part 5. For the most part.

I tried to seem unphased so he didn't pick up the fact that I was in fact not caught up.

"I would like to start class today with some acting exercises... you find a partner and I will give you a scenario, and you act it out" he explained walking closer to the group.

He stared at us all for a moment before saying "..well come on, partner up" he said waving his hands at us.

I looked at Sarah to see her already looking at me.

---

Mr.Spiner had given the first three groups scenarios of various different random situations. Me and Sarah were next. So far everyone else had done well...
Mr.Spiner gave them a few pointers then moved on to the next group.

Mr.Spiner got to me and Sarah. He looked at us before saying,

"A married couple fighting about something, go"

I thought quickly then turned to Sarah..we did warm up like these a lot sometimes. So I had gotten pretty good at being quick about it.

I pushed my finger roughly into her chest "I saw how you were looking at that girl!! How dare you! And then flirting with her?? Are you kidding me?! You know sometimes I wonder why I even married you!" I spat.

Sarah rolled her eyes and I grinned a little, then quickly whipped it off my face. "PUHHLEASE! You call that flirting?! You are just a paranoid jealous bitch!" I glanced nervously at Mr.Spiner who seemed unphased but noticed my nervous glance at him, so I quickly looked away and tried to look angry again. Sarah said a couple more things then finished. We both grinned.

Mr.Spiner knit his eyebrows, "Good job Sarah," he said to her.

Then he turned to me and made an unsure face. My jaw dropped.
Wow of course. I can't believe it. Honestly, I shouldn't be surprised.

I closed my mouth quickly and rolled my eyes.

He noticed that...
"Oh now come on, y/n. We both know you can do better." He said calmly but with a bit of annoyance.

He took a step closer to me and said,

"Let me show you." He said with a glint of excitement and mischief in his eyes that made me want to grin but I quickly bit the inside of my cheek.

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(Originally published Oct 3.
Edited Dec 21.)