Lessons From Throne

Chapter One

I already had my keys in hand as I walked down the stairs of the house. I tried keeping quiet in the mornings so my family didn't wake up and bug me. I went to the left to my little brothers' room and opened the door. He was only a year behind me as a junior at this point but he was still the biggest sweetheart.

I walked over to his bed and gave him a kiss on his forehead so he'd wake up. Once I saw him moving around, I left the room, leaving it open just a crack to piss him off. Braden was the sweetest boy I've met; he hadn't reached the asshole age that his peers have.

Once I got in my car, I swung my backpack into the seat beside me and rubbed my hands over my face. It was still early but I wanted to get to the school early and get a feel for Mr. Stewart and hope he didn't hate me. I didn't really care what teachers think now since I'm graduating this year anyway, but I didn't need that affecting my grade.

I blasted some Tupac in my car as I drove mindlessly, driving the same road I've done every day. Typically, I didn't drive to school but took the bus. Why would I waste my gas, wear down my tires, and use my energy to drive to a place I didn't even want to be at. Yeah, no way in hell and this was rare.

---

I put my phone in the band of my leggings and dodged going through security. It was a waste of time in my opinion.

I had texted Sev to hurry up and get to school since I didn't want to be alone with Mr. Stewart for too long, but she only told me to shut up. I smirked to myself and went up the stairs two at a time. I wanted to be early to Mr. Stewart's class so I could make an impression for the first week and then start failing his class. By the time I was up the stairs, I was out of breath but kept walking until I shouldered the door to his class open.

He looked up at me immediately and gave a small smile. "Hi," I say, still catching my breath. "I decided to get here early you know, get the first impressions over and mend yesterday," I laughed awkwardly. Mr. Stewart stood up and walked past me to the board, writing a bunch of English writing terms on it.

"Well then, that's a first. I'm Mr. Stewart, Layla," He smiled, looking back at me briefly. I giggled to myself and nodded. I do that a lot. I pointed over to my seat and shrugged.

"I guess I'll sit down now," I dragged off slowly. He shrugged with me and held a hand out as he walked back to his right behind me. "Be my guest,"

"No, 'our guest'" I corrected him. He smiled and leaned an arm on his desk as I swerved towards him in my seat. "I don't get it," He tells me seeming amused.

"Beauty and the beast, the best Disney movie," I nearly yelled. As soon as I said that, Sev walked in. She shook her head and sat down next to me. "I'm so sorry about her and her obsessions," Sev said waving at him. He waved back and then waved it off.

"No problem, it doesn't bug me because I know the best Disney movie is Peter Pan," He smirked. I scoffed as Sev sat down next to me, giving a quick hug.

"Hi love," I mumbled before focusing my attention back on my conversation with Mr. Stewart. "Are you insulting Beauty and the Beast," I asked him, seriously offended.

"The truth isn't an insult. Sorry to burst your beautiful bubble," He said just as the bell rang and students ready to graduate walked in. He stood up and winked at me before going to the front of the class.

Sev looked at me and nearly pushed me out of my seat. "Ow," I yelled, making people in the class stare at me. "What was that for," I whispered to her angrily.

"Did you see that," She said, poking my face. I rolled my eyes and shrugged.

"What," I whispered again. She called me a dumbass under her breath, until I realized what she was fangirling about.

"The wink," I asked her, raising an eyebrow. She nodded furiously as a paper got tossed on our paper. We looked down and saw the test we had to take.

"Just a pre assessment. Do as good or bad as you want, it isn't my grade it affects," He laughed to himself. His laugh was the most adorable thing I've heard all year.

---

The test wasn't too hard since it was stuff we were supposed to learn last year. I turned it in after Sev since she was way smarter than me, making me second. I was about to get up when he spoke.

"Done," He asked, right behind me. I didn't really look back since it was awkward that he was that close, so I just nodded. I twisted slightly with my test in hand, handing it to him. Sev was now paying attention, waiting to talk to me. He looked at the two of us before speaking. "Good job you two," And went back to his grading.

I pulled out my phone and looked down while talking with Sev until the class was over.

---

"Sweet pie," Sev screamed to get my attention, heading towards me in the lunch line and cutting everyone. I was looking at Mr. Stewart, who was only a few people in front of me. I don't even know what I was thinking about, just him... kind of.

"Let's fix your schedule since they haven't done it yet. You can come over to mine after school," She said. We both got some fries and kept walking to the office. As soon as we walked in the office lady screeched about how there was no food in here but we kept going.

Sev pushed open Mrs. Miller's door. She was typing away at her keyboard, slightly looking at up at us. Before we could continue, the door slightly opened.

"Teacher duties, hold on girls," She said, we looked back and saw him. He walked in and gave me a big smile. I smiled back and laughed to myself.

"Hey, I was hoping you could stop adding student to my class. If they need a college course that's great, but there is another teacher and kids are switching out and into mine. I can't keep track of all these students," He said politely but he still seemed slightly annoyed and overwhelmed.

Sev scoffed and put a hand on her hip. "You can keep track of me though," She said. He laughed slightly, a little stress seeming to slide off his amazingly crisp black shirt.

"Yes, and I already love keeping track of you and your work, just no more," He said, still very rigid. Mrs. Miller nodded and told him she'd take note, him leaving soon after. I smiled at him as he left and he gave me a nod. We turned our attention to Mrs. Miller and talked about my schedule, getting rid of my PE class right after lunch.

"You still have to go today but it's gone after that," She smiled. We walked out after thanking her and looked at each other.

"Let's go get chipotle and go to my house," She suggested. We both started walking to the front of the school, passing by Mr. Stewart.

"Mr. Stewart," Sev called out as he walked past quickly, waving him over. His long legs could probably take him anywhere. He smiled at us and stopped right in front of us, noticing we stood by the front doors. I looked him up and down as he stood at the bottom of the stairs. His arms were huge in his shirt, the muscles showing through the shirt. His shoes were shiny, black and clean. His whole outfit was black and clean, pressed to perfection. It was really respectable that he kept himself clean.

"Leaving so soon," He asked, looking eye level at me and down at Sev. That's probably why she was so smart, the intelligence didn't have far to go.

"Yeah, I get tired of this place," I nodded.

"What did you switch out of, my class," He asked, laughing. I shook my head and gave Sev my keys, assuming she took the bus today. She took them and went to my car. "Never," I scoffed jokingly. "I just got rid of PE and changed it to where I'm only here for half of the day. It's what happens when you work your butt off for three years," I told him. He hummed and nodded.

"Okay. I've got to go to my class, have the little bit of time I have alone left," He laughed. I smiled and waved as I headed to my car, seeing Sev in my passenger seat.