A Teacher's Envy

Chapter 12 - An Assembly to Remember

This last chapter was inspired by the song "White Room" by Cream. 

Ms. Harper's jaw dropped as she took in the video, completely stunned, she couldn't even speak. 

Jay put his hand on her shoulder, "Ms. Harper? Are you okay?"

She nodded in disbelief.

Jay dragged his feet to the chair across the table from her. He looked at her timidly, "We're going to have to switch the videos."

Her eyes met Jay's in terror, processing what he said. "No." She said firmly.

"No?" he questioned.

"Jay, you're good with computers right?"

"Yeah?" 

"What about editing videos?" she looked at him.

"I don't understand," he shook his head.

"The only way we show this video is if we can censor the students involved. The focus can only be on Mr. Vega. We must protest their identity."

"Jay looked at her and nodded, I can do it. Where's your computer?"

Ms. Harper stared out her window as evening was fast approaching as she waited for Jay to finish editing the video. Her mind buzzing with thoughts of disbelief of the predicament at hand.

"Done!" Jay shouted excitedly. He showed Ms. Harper the video, beaming with pride.

"Good. Now we need a plan."

They stayed up for 2 more hours discussing their plans of redemption.

The next morning, Ms. Harper woke up before her alarm clock, with nerves already growing in her stomach.She made her way to school, earlier than usual at 7:00am and sat at her desk reflecting on the plan her and Jay made last night. Then her phone buzzed. It was Jay

I'm here.

She turned to face the clock. Her stomach lurched at the sight of the big hand as it ticked faster than usual. It was 10:30am. Jay was on time just as planned.

The assembly was supposed to begin at 11am. She rose from her desk and grabbed her laptop, heading down the hall to the auditorium. As her heels clicked against the tile, the rhythm soothed her. Her mind at ease as she thought over the plan: Nick always takes a break 15-20 minutes before an assembly - which leaves his laptop unattended in the AV room when he projects from his laptop to the auditorium. If she could distract him, while he's out of the AV room, that gives Jay time to run up, delete their file and replace the new file. It seems foolproof, but every plan does until something goes wrong.

Students were beginning to fill into the auditorium and Ms. Harper very quickly walked past them unseen, and made her way around the back hallway to a black door. She opened it revealing a staircase, which led to the AV room.

"Ms. Harper?"

She turned startled, to find Mr. Vega just where she wanted him: out of the AV room.

She breathed in false relief and walked towards him, "Nick, just who I was looking for. I have to show you something - it's about my laptop."

He looked at her perturbed, "I see, can it wait until after the assembly? I still have some things to fix."

"No, it's important. Please Nick," she looked at him seductively, " I need you."