You Wish

Chapter 9: Leverage

Rhiannon felt shivers run down her spine.

She never wanted to be on the receiving end of his anger that was for sure. It was like he was ready to gnaw Miss D's throat open with his bare teeth. He sounded savage.

A few guys turned around to glower at Kian, at being an asshole to the pretty teacher and Rhiannon glared back at them. Kian had a right to his own opinion against this teacher and she, for one respected his decision. She felt tendrils of something ancient inside her stir, she shuddered as it whipped at her heart. She watched the teacher squirm with a sadistic satisfaction.

She smirked humourlessly.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You must be getting faces mixed up, I’m said to have a very common face.” Miss D was completely emotionless, the smile gone.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes.

More than half of the guys would care to disagree with the latter. This lesson was turning out to be just one giant eye roll. She felt like throwing some ice water around the place. Maybe that would cool them down a bit.

It was completely disgraceful.

“I suppose.”

“Now, to choose a guide – she slid an elegant finger down the roll and every guy seemed to be on the edge of their seats, Miss D’s eyes never left Kian as she stopped at a name– Rhiannon Louisa Graceling. Rhiannon Graceling it is. Who’s Rhiannon Graceling?”

Rhiannon jumped like she had been shocked. Kian simply glared at Miss D as if she’d chosen her on purpose. But there was a calculating glint behind the teacher’s smile that made Rhiannon pause.

It didn’t occur to her that no one outside her family knew her middle name except Deidre. Her grandmother hadn’t even mentioned it when she enrolled Rhiannon into the high school.

Rhiannon watched as Miss D’s eyes slid from Kian’s to hers and held it. She could’ve sworn she felt a ticklish feeling in her brain but it disappeared as Miss D surveyed the room, looking for something.

A chorus of disappointment sounded as the guys slumped in their seats. The excitement in the room notably lost its lustre and Rhiannon couldn’t have been more relieved. But this obviously meant that Rhiannon was going to get a whole lot of glares after class because of this.

Guys could be so immature sometimes.

“That would be me.” Rhiannon raised her hand confidently. There was no way she was showing fear in front of the woman.

“Miss Graceling, I’d very much like it if you showed me around. If you wouldn’t mind.”

She minded. She minded a lot. Rhiannon nodded begrudgingly.

“Thank you, sweetheart when I need your help I’ll simply ask so you’re not too hassled by this added burden.”

She was definitely not this woman’s “sweet heart”. If she could be this woman’s anything she’d want to be her death wish. Miss D shot Rhiannon one of those ‘you can trust me’ smiles but she didn’t buy it for one minute.

“You’re welcome.” Rhiannon said, through gritted teeth. Miss D either didn’t hear or ignored the bitterness in her voice because she simply spun around and begun the lesson.  The tension of earlier was gone and the ticklish feeling in her brain had worn off.

“I can’t believe she’d do that.” Kian hissed under his breath. Rhiannon didn’t think he’d meant for her to hear him but she had.

“Do what?”