Lessons From Throne

Chapter Three

"How does the essay sound you guys," Mr. Stewart smiles at us. I was already in my first body paragraph; I chose to write about the war on drugs and how it failed. Everyone was either asleep, talking to their friends, or tapping a pencil. Sev was looking at my chrome book as I wrote, trying to get inspiration from mine.

The bell rang after a few minutes but since it was lunch and I wanted to check how my essay sounded, I stayed after.

"Anyone need help," Everyone skidded out of the class except Sev and I. She was staring at me, wondering why I didn't leave immediately.

Mr. Stewart looked over at me and sat down at his desk pointing a finger at me and moving it to him. I stood up and looked at Sev. She leaned over and whispered, "I'll come pick you up when you need me to, but call like ten minutes early so I can get us food. And get me a topic from mister hottie please," she told me before walking out, purse in hand.

He was still staring as I looked over at him. I pulled my chair over to the side of his desk, not in front, and put my chrome book on his desk. He looked over at me after glancing over my tiny computer with a blank face. It was dead silent in here and my chest was filled with a bunch of anxiety.

"Layla," he said quietly, seeming to be reading over what I had completely. "Lux," I corrected him quickly before he could continue. His eyes went back up to my face before cascading down to the Chromebook that sat on his desk. His pointer finger tapped on the laptop before he started talking.

"This essay, or what you have written, is perfect," he said, still training his eyes on the words. "Really," I asked excitedly, hoping for him to confirm it.

"Lay- Lux, yes. The idea is exquisite, the introductory paragraph could be a bit more attention grabbing, but that first paragraph really does it all," He went on and on. "But I'd like to talk to you about it more later," he smiled. "I'd like to talk about with you later also. I've always had trouble on introductory paragraphs," I interjected quickly. He nodded as I turned off my Chromebook and put it back in the cart. I stood back up and turned to look at Mr. Stewart but he was already looking at me. He nodded and Sev and I both walked out to head to our next class.

-----

I was already in Mr. Stewarts class, in a chair next to his at his desk with a Chromebook on my essay. It was lunch now and I had decided to use this time to perfect my essay with his advice. It also gave me time to talk to him more. I don't know what it was that draws me to him, his smile, his voice, it could be anything. I asked him to explain more of how to perfect my introductory paragraph. His hand went to the bottom of my seat where he could grab on and pull me closer.

His eyebrows raised a little and shook his head. "You're really light," He whispered underneath his breath. I left it at that and let him practically walk me through and tell me how to write my introductory paragraph. He was really good with his words on exactly what he wanted and why.

After fixing my introductory paragraph, I called Sev.

"Hello," she picked up, only her forehead being visible in the FaceTime. "You said you need a topic," I asked, looking over at Mr. Stewart. He looked back at me, an unreadable look on his face. "Yeah," she said, obviously occupied with something else.

"He said something important to us right,"

"Mhm"

"Can I do his face or style," she said very nonchalant. I snorted as Mr. Stewart quietly laughed. "Damn, can he hear me," she asked. I put my face back in the camera and nodded.

She sucked on her teeth and shrugged. Mr. Stewart grabbed my phone and started to talk to Sev, tapping his pen on the desk. "Sev, you've always shown interest in the Black Panther movement since we started talking about historical based essays," he mentioned. She nodded and they went back and forth of ideas of different paragraphs and what they could be about. In all honesty, I just wanted to talk to him so I sat there impatiently as they talked and bounced ideas around. It was only for 4 minutes, yes, I counted the time, but it felt like forever.

-

We must've been there for a long time since my essay was nearly done. I got a notification on my phone about an old text from Sev and as I looked down at my phone, Mr. Stewart and I both noticed the time. We finished lunch at 1:30 and it was now 1:25. The students would be coming any minute now.

Sev: I already got the food
1 pm

"Hm," he hummed, looking from my phone, the clock, and to me. "Mr. Stewart," I said to get him out of the daze he was stuck in. He was looking at my hand which held my phone and his eyes laid there for a while. He immediately looked up, snapping out of his trance. "Lux," he said quickly, then clearing his throat. "I mean, Layla," he said. I smiled at him and stood up.

"You got it right the first time," I said quietly, picking up my chrome book and putting it back in the cart. "No, I call you Layla," he mumbles. I shook my head and went back to his desk, grabbing my phone to call Sev as I put my chair back. She didn't answer.

"Oh, I hate her," I say to myself. He looked up from his computer and smiled. "What," Mr. Stewart asked. I shrugged on my sweatshirt and put on my backpack. "I know that girl fell asleep, I just know it," I said angrily, calling her again until it went to voicemail.

"And you took the bus," he asked me. I nodded furiously, tapping my fingers on his desk, his hand resting right next to mine. He grabbed his keys and jacket, standing up. "Layla,"

"Lux," I corrected, not in the mood to be called my real name. He walked to the door of his classroom, waving me over with a finger, telling me to get out. I walked behind him, into the hall as he locked the door. "Do you want a ride? They can get a sub if I'm not back in time for the class after this next one. It's my free period," he asked me, starting down the stairs of the school.

"Mr. Stewart, I don't think I can," I tell him. He laughs loudly before giving me a slight glance.

"What they don't know doesn't hurt. What do you think I'm going to do, kidnap you, marry you? No," he said, as if the idea of not going with him was stupid. I wish you'd marry me, I thought. "And if they do find out," I say slowly. He put his hand right between my scarily prominent shoulder blades as we walked out of the school. Mr. Stewart stopped on the steps, squinting his eyes at the sun as he turned towards me.

"Find out that I didn't let you walk in this heat and drove you directly home," the rhetorical question sold me. "It really isn't that h-" I start. He stares at me intensely. "You can only take a horse so far," Mr. Stewart said it so slowly and thoughtfully, his gaze peering into every aspect he'd want, it made me think he was examining me. It was only fair that he did since I did the same to him a lot.

"Take me with you," I nodded to reassure myself.

"Great," he smiled, leading me to his car. I got in the passenger seat once he unlocked it and set my backpack between my legs on the floorboard. "Just don't kill me," I said, putting on my seat belt as he backed out of his space. He laughed and quickly drove out of the school zone.

"Speaking of the heat, why are you wearing sweatpants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a sweatshirt in 82-degree weather, Layla," he asked me. I rested my hand on the door and tapped on it with three fingers. He noticed; I could tell.

"It's Lux, Mr. Stewart," I say, my heart racing. I don't know if it was because he didn't call me by my nickname or if it was because of his question. "Ms. Rignshe," he said like he was compromising but it was even worse.

"I'm cold, why else would I," I say, letting the name incident be. We stopped at a red light and he fully looked over at me, his eyes wide. "I repeat, 82 degrees out," I shrugged and smiled. "Low iron," I suggested. He kept staring at me and looked back. I could tell he wanted to say something but before he could, a sound cut him off.

It was a honk from behind us, the light had turned green. He put his hands back on the wheel, looking back at me quickly before driving.

"Where do you live, Lux?"