The Struggle of Ms. Carter (rewritten)

Chapter 20~

Payton's P. o. V.
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Monday came a little earlier than expected as had Tuesday. It was now Wednesday and Bailey stayed over at my house with Arthur so I drove them both to school. Luckily they didn't make any noise so I was able to sleep. I needed it after working all day Monday and Tuesday. Being in the water so much has really tired me out and I planned on only having it as a summer job so I guess I should start looking again. I love children so hopefully I can find work at a daycare or something. Or even volunteer work, it would be good on my applications, and I would love to in general. Whatever it is I still want to have some free time.
I now sit in second hour, Greek mythology, listening to my teacher explain something about Poseidon, but I was too in my head to really focus. I had the seat by the window and Bailey was in front of me now so we didn't really get to converse much.
I'd been in this dream like state since Monday and I've no idea why. I called my mother that day but it wasn't until the afternoon I just started to feel—I don't know. Whatever it is it's interfering with my work.
I shook my head and checked my phone.
20 minutes left and he just assigned our homework. Might as well try to take my mind off this feeling.
I ended up working right up until the bell and still would've been if Bailey hadn't turned and sighed, ready to be rid of this class. I couldn't blame him either, he had a hard time separating from Arthur this morning.
We stood to grab our things and we walked out together. More him locking hands with me and pulling me straight out but same difference. I didn't say anything today like I usually would've about him slowing down or anything, and I'm sure he didn't really notice. He dragged us into an empty hallway and pulled out his phone, racing to text Arthur. I leaned against a wall and waited like I did everyday, in my own little world and I heard him gasp.
A sign his guy had texted so I didn't bother asking.
"Ugh why does he have to be so freAKING CUTE." The corners of my mouth barely moved an inch before dropping back to their straight position.
When he was done and the first bell rang he looked up at me and put away his phone.
"What's up P?" I pushed off the wall and started to walk as I lazily said I was just super tired.
He knows I'll talk about it when I'm ready.
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The bell rang for the end of 3rd and Bailey grabbed me just as I was about to say goodbye and walked me to another empty hallway.
"What is it?" I asked him.

"What is up with you? Why are you acting so sad today?"

"Nothing, why?"

"Because you've been so quiet, you're spaced out, and you haven't yelled at me once." I almost laughed.

"You want me to yell at you?" I asked amused.

"I don't like it when you don't talk to me or tell me off—well look you know what I mean!" I waved my hand to stop him.

"Listen I'm alright, just thinking a lot okay? There's nothing wrong." I saw him visibly relax.

"Okay, good."

"I owe you a treat after school though for making you worry, don't I?" I half smiled.

"YuP." He smiled and punched my arm playfully.
We left the small hallway into a busy one and I ruffled his hair to say goodbye before I went to my last class. Knowing honestly, I didn't really feel like going. I got to her door and almost turned around. I just really don't feel like being near a lot of people or doing much, but I still managed to convince my feet to walk in and to an empty window seat.
Since it was still a little early there weren't many people in yet. Ms. Carter wasn't even in yet—or—Sydney.
The people that were in were on their phones or laughing about something. Two of the guys on the football team waved and I nodded back and sat down in my chosen seat.
It was beginning to rain again too so I put in my headphones and played Stan by Eminem. My go to is always old rap, so Eminem, Xzibit, Dr. Dre. I know I know, I have great taste.

I sat there until people slowly started to enter and then followed the bell. Two minutes later Ms. Carter walked and went straight to her desk but didn't sit down.

"Sorry sorry. Now, good morning—or afternoon whatever you want to call it—we are going to be taking a short quiz today. After that you will be taking some notes and talking about them afterward. Sound good?" The class hummed in response and she nodded grabbing the stack of tests to begin passing out. I pulled out my headphones and wrapped them up to put in my bag then waited for her to give me my quiz. In the meantime I looked her over as her style in school is very college professor vibes.
Today it's black, fitted, and pleated, pants with a forest green blouse tucked in, and a pair of black wedges. Her short, curled, hair is pulled half back and held together with a cute clip with rhinestones on it and her fringe is neatly scattered. It seems like she really dressed up today. Her eyes were concentrated as well, like she was trying to make this class go by faster.
I'm not complaining either, all I want is to lie down.
I finished that thought just as she came around and placed my test down, still focused on her hands, so I started. It was only a front and back quiz about some grammar stuff so I finished it quickly. While she'd gone back to her desk and sat down to grade what I assumed were quizzes from other hours. I put mine in the basket on the windowsill then put my headphones back in. Since there was nothing else to do yet and people were still quizzing I wrote a little. Just a little poem that came to mind and by the time I was finished, people were starting to turn in theirs. I just hung back until they were all turned in and we waited for Ms. Carter's head to find us sitting quietly, waiting for her notes. After a minute or two everyone started going on their phones and I took out my earbuds again.
Someone started coughing and her head eventually popped up so she pushed her papers to the side.

"Sorry to keep us waiting, the notes we're going to take are just the basics on grammar and correct pronunciation. Just what you'll need to know if I asked you to write a long paper or even a couple paragraphs. I know most of you know all of this but we have to go through this every year so—let's get this over with right?"

She turned on the projector for the board and everyone put their phones away while she got to explaining. We started taking notes and after a while I was just floating on autopilot. My mind was elsewhere and it's all just review anyway.
When we were about finished, she set up another writing prompt on the board. There were only two options this time but it had to be a page so I put my headphones in and started. Still feeling the sinking in my chest.
Ms. Carter's p. O. v.
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I finish my explanation and sat back behind my desk. My hands wanted to grade anything they could grab. I didn't want to be doing work while Olive was over, but this stuff needed to be done so I've been using all my extra time today and yesterday to grade. Even if I'm still working up until he gets here it should be the last of it and I can pass everything back tomorrow.