Neon

Chapter 1

Toss me amongst my students and try to guess who the teacher is. I know you would guess wrong. I always receive praise for looking so youthful but it's not as great as it sounds when you're a professor at a prestigious university and the students feel no threat or intimidation. Not even a little. Today I tried exceptionally hard to channel my inner professor. My champagne bodysuit and black blazer fit my small curves perfectly. My dirty brown hair is tossed on top of my head in a messy bun and my nude cat-eyed glasses camouflage my soft eyes. Turns out, my mission was not accomplished once again.

The end of the day rolls in and the last bell serenades the halls of Brellington, initiating the usual Friday afternoon chatter. Unlike the typical university that swims in putrid beige, Brellingtons elegant white walls sparkle. Natural light beams through the glass windows while modern architecture and luxuriant green plants are stylishly placed throughout. Being a part of Brellington makes you feel superior. But that's the problem. My students did not have to crawl through the mud and take obstacle-filled paths to make it here. Instead, they used their rich daddies, who enable them to wear their un-educated opinions on their sleeves. I thought teaching here would be a hell of a lot different.

"Happy 21st you bastard! Are you celebrating at Sheppard's party tonight?" a student shouts from across the lecture theatre.

"Oh, you fucking know it!" Talin boasts. "Right after I buy my first case of beer", he says as he jumps up down waggling his ass. The class chuckles.

"One last thing!" I call out. "Don't forget to pick your criminal for Monday's class. I want us to discuss the different models that profilers used in your criminal case, so come prepared."

"Ms. Everson, being a huge buzz-kill once again." Jesus can I just make it through one week without Cass Powell throwing garbage my way?

"A buzz-kill?" I walk to the front of the lecture stage, folding my arms in dismay.

"Come out with us Ms. Everson. We're all friends here hey?" Talin jumps in while the rest of the class shout out yeahs and woos... except for Cass of course.

"Shockingly, I'm going to have to decline. None of those clubs supply my Friday night Bodegas Artevino." I uncross my arms and gather my loose papers.

"Boujee-Bitch-Artevino? Hilarious," Cass mocks.

"Is there a problem?" I question, pressing my folded arms tight into my chest.

"Oh, Ms. Bristow I have had a problem ever since Talin texted Nate yesterday about his birthday wish. You remember right Talin?" Cass wore a sardonic grin across her face and placed her hands on her hips. "Well Ms. Bristow, his one and only birthday wish was to bend you across your desk and..."

Talin panics. "What the fuck Cass? Ms. Bristow, that is the biggest lie!" Talin hops up with flushed cheeks, throwing his hands over his head. The whole class screamed with ous and no she didn'ts

I burst out into laughter, "Okay,  Mr. 21-year-old... perhaps you should go talk to your girlfriend in private so you can enjoy your birthday in peace.  Oh, and maybe you can try searching student/teacher in the pornhub search bar so you can combat those raging hormones of yours." The class roars as they push and pull at each other while shuffling out of the theater. "Oh and Cass, a little reminder. This is a second-year university course, not high-school. Chose your actions wisely."

I unconsciously fidget the entire drive home. The downtown perfume of fast food and car fuel nauseates me. With the twist of my doorknob, I take a long, slow, deep breath in, and sigh. I admire the quiet apartment that greets me. My dark brown, Italian vintage bookshelf is bursting with the perfect amount of color. The fresh white walls are covered in Pinterest inspired wooden-boho wall decor with pastel decorative pieces smartly placed throughout, providing just the right amount of warmth in this bachelor pad.