Bound to You

Chapter 3: A Good First Day

You're doing great. Sierra told herself as she made the black marker's tip slide on the whiteboard, writing several mathematical formulas in her natural cursive handwriting. She tried to ignore the murmurs of the Grade 12 as they were so closely watching her every move. 

She wouldn't lie. She was nervous and uncomfortable. It was her first time teaching a class of senior high-schoolers and even better, an elite class. She turned rapidly to them, attempted a brief forced smile and continued with her explanation in a clear and smooth voice.

It's been already half an hour now. They did not look excited. Their stoned face, still judging her... She felt the chill in her spine but nonetheless she carried on. Sigh, seemed it'd take them a while to warm up to her. With a clear voice and composed face, she made eye contact with them while they listened and jotted down the important things she was saying. They seemed to be paying attention though. All good. 

The door opened abruptly, all eyes turned to a single direction as a boy appeared, carrying a military design backpack over his shoulder and wearing jeans and a black shirt with a superman symbol. His black hair with tints of brown was all messy. He gave her an awkward judgmental look and he walked pass her without saying a word, a faint scent of cigarette following him. She cleared her voice, "Ahem, why are you late?" 

He stopped, tossed her a bored look, "Could as well ask for my name and introduce yourself?" 

She was stunned, not expecting that kind of response from a student, "Well, I'm Ms Danvers, your new mathematics teacher." He was almost the same height as her. 

He burst into a mocking laugh, "You? So you're replacing Driscoll? You know, that lady ran off?" The name rang a bell in her head. Maria Driscoll was known to be an excellent and strict teacher in the industry. She was literally a personality known for her severity and disciplinary actions. The impudent boy then chuckled and approached her, "I was driving her nuts." 

Sierra didn't think she wanted to know that, didn't need to feel more uncomfortable than she already was. She took a step back, "Daring behaviors will not be acceptable in my class, Mr...?" 

He smiled defiantly, "Who are you to make the rules anyway? I'm Jace Torres." 

"Alright, Jace. Get back to your seat." She would not have a student throw stones on her path and definitely not on her first day.

He lightly said, amused, "You clearly did not catch my point here. Just came to get my jacket." There were a lot of whispering going on in the class and she was confused. 

"Your name is on the register." 

"I know." 

"Then you better stay in my class, Jace. Kindly take your seat." 

He walked to an empty desk, performed a fist bump with a nearby classmate, winked at two girls who were eagerly gesturing and whispering at him, grabbed his leather jacket and proceeded to go out again much to her surprise. She would not allow that. She needed to display a little bit of authority with that turbulence. She quickly grabbed his shoulder as he so deliberately ignored her, stopping him, "I don't give you permission to shirk my classes, mister." 

He impatiently snapped, not liking that, "Back off, miss." 

She stood on her ground, "One last time—" 

"In simply five...four...three..." The whole class began to count with him in a whisper and the moment they reached the first syllable of 'zero', the bell screeched out loud, announcing break time. He gave her a playful wink, "Too bad for you, teach'!" 

He brushed off her hand and walked out of the classroom, slamming the door behind as the school bell still rang in the corridors. The students chuckled when he was gone. Was that something normal? So much disrespect! Ugh. Annoyed, she asked, crossing her arms, wondering what just happened, "What's up with him?"