Bad Teacher

Chapter 2

Holly was the one to find me in the end and I ended up fifteen minutes late to class.

I take a deep breath as I stand behind the closed door, gathering myself for better first impression. The three first button of my shirt are now open and my tie is long forgotten deep in my messenger bag, underneath the pile of books and documents I have brought.

One more deep breath and I twist the handle and the door swings wide open, all eyes fall on me at the same moment and for the first time, I understand what stage fright actually feels like.

I walk into the room, closing the door behind me and put my bag on the desk. Without looking at the crowd, I pick up a pen and write my name on the white board, then I turn around, and I start to say something but the words go lost on me, leaving my mouth gaping as my eyes catch the same piercing emerald orbs, standing out among the crowd.

She looks back at me and we exchange a brief eye contact before she turns her head to the person next to her and laughs at whatever the girl whispers to her.

I swallow past this strange lump in my throat that has suddenly formed-the kind of lump you get when you are sitting are your desk during a test, waiting for the paper to drop in front of you-and clear my throat before I say:

-Hi, I'm the new history professor and I will be substituting Professor Davis for as long as necessary. I hope that we get through the year with no hiccups along the way and I am here for any questions. Please don't hesitate if something remains unclear during class.

I could feel her eyes on me during the whole two-hour-class and for the first time since forever, I felt self-conscious, aware of every move I make and every word that leaves my mouth. I was nervous, like a school boy with a crush. And now that I am finally out of that room, I can finally take a breather, a long deep one.

I hear the door creaks, like someone is fumbling with the knob and I snap my head up to see a woman struggling to get in with both arms full of papers. I put down the mug of coffee I served myself in the teachers' room and rush to the door to open it.

-Thank you, you saved me, the woman says as she hurries towards the round table in the middle of the room and lets everything she's been holding drop.

-You're the new professor, right? She asks flipping her hair over her shoulder in a not so attractive way.

-Yes, I'm Isaac Finn, I reply offering my hand. We shake hands and she sits on the chair opposite of mine while I regain my seat

-I'm Gabriella Palmer. Yeah, I took my husband's last name, she adds with a roll of her eyes. You can call me Gabi. Everyone else does.

-Does everyone else also know that I'm the new professor? I ask with a smirk and she catches on the joke and laughs.

-Oh no, only I know. Privileged, aren't I? She says with a high pitched laugh. No, seriously, my father is the chief of this department. That's the only reason why I know.

-Oh! I say with a chuckle of my own.

-So, how is your first, so far? She asks, standing up to pour herself a cup of coffee.

-Strange. Is that normal? I ask, hoping that it would be, otherwise, I'm in real trouble if the days get any rougher.

-Yes, trust me, you're doing far better than I did if you didn't throw up. I was a mess on my first day, though it was a long time ago.

-I didn't, but maybe I will, I reply with a nervous snicker, I still have a few hours to go.

-Good luck, she says in a sing sang voice before she heads towards the door. I'm going to the restaurant to grab something to eat. Do you want to join us? You will get to know the others.

-No, thank you. I don't feel like eating though I sure need a smoke, I reply before getting up and starting to pack my stuff. Any advice on my first day?

-Well, you've made it this far. You will be fine. But just don't let them under your skin, college isn't like high school, sometimes it's worse.