Always a Roommate by Michelle MacQueen

Author:Michelle MacQueen [MacQueen, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michelle MacQueen

18

Shane

In between each class of the day, I managed to snag a few blissful minutes of peace before teenage chatter once again invaded the room.

Though, I did love that chatter. There was something about these kids. Everything made them excited. Friday night football, school dances that consisted of a punch bowl in the gymnasium, nights without homework.

And they had sass, comebacks for everything.

There was life in them that had yet to be snuffed out by the trauma of becoming an adult. I called it trauma because that was what it amounted to. Going from a coddled existence to one where suddenly the bills were due, the relationships were harder to nurture, and age made parts of our bodies ache we didn’t even know we had.

“No homework tonight,” I said, switching off the Smartboard.

My last class of the day cheered at the news, and I shook my head with a laugh. The final bell rang. “All right, ya heathens, get out of my classroom.”

I plunked myself down at my desk, planning to get some papers graded before I left for the evening. A presence loomed in front of me, and I looked up, meeting the flirty gaze of Riley Adams. I knew it was flirty because she had a tendency to corner me at school.

The girl was sixteen.

Trying to be nice, I set my pen down. “Hey, Riley, what can I help you with?”

She fluttered false eyelashes at me. “I didn’t really understand today’s lesson and was wondering if I could get some tutoring.”

Today had been a fluff lesson. Stuff I had to cover but nothing of real consequence. When someone dropped something at the back of the room, I realized Riley wasn’t the only student still here.

“I think it’s wonderful you want some extra help, Riley, and I’d love to provide it. Trevor!”

He jerked his head up. “Yeah, Mr. K?”

“Riley here needs a bit of help. You aced the last test. Want to lend a hand?”

“Sure thing. Rae has my dog anyway. I’m sure she won’t mind an extra hour or so. He’s really a lot of fun.”

“Did you say Rae has your dog? My Rae?”

“Who is Rae?” Riley asked, her voice half curious and half angry.

What was I doing? These were students. They didn’t get to see into my personal life. “Riley, what do you say about this arrangement?”

She looked back over her shoulder at Trevor, her eyes narrowing. “No, thanks.” With that, she strode from the room.

Trevor only gave me a shrug I took to mean “girls” and followed her out.

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes. Most of the time, this teacher thing was the best. But sometimes, it made me want to rip my hair out.

A slow clap came from the doorway. “Well played, Mr. Kelly.”

I recognized Diana’s voice immediately. Great, just what I needed today.

Despite my intentions to stick around and get some work done, I started packing up. “I’m just heading out, Diana.”

“It must be hard having every female student in this school dying to be in your class.

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