I was seriously considering getting my schedule changed. As much as I loved acting, I don’t know if I could handle the entire year with Mr. Tomlinson, he already hated me. With the teacher, and the kids in the class, was it really worth it? I walked into the auditorium.
“Morning, Malory!”
“Hey Mr. Andrews.” I smiled. “How long is that student teacher going to be here?”
“Tommo?” He laughed. “Sadly, only a few months. He’s fun, isn’t he?”
“A blast.” I muttered.
I slumped down to my seat and pulled out my phone, texting away. The other kids were talking amongst themselves before the class started, but I wasn’t nor did I want to be involved with any of them. Hell, I didn’t want to be involved with this entire class.
“Can’t you listen? Put the phone away.” Mr. Tomlinson walked up to me, looking down on me disapprovingly.
I rolled my eyes. “Class isn’t started yet!”
“What’s the matter? Are you too good for everyone here?” He raised his eyebrows at me.
My mouth opened slightly as I furrowed my eyebrows. What was he trying to say? Who did he think he was? Wasn’t he a teacher, he’s supposed to be mature.
“Good morning class!” Mr. Andrews appeared on the stage.
“Morning!” The students said enthusiastically, I rolled my eyes, avoiding looking at Mr. Tomlinson, still staring at me.
“Let’s start with a fun activity.” He smiled. “We’ll call up two students and they close their eyes and pick a script. It’ll be a random page from a play, you won’t know what’s going on but it’s their job to deliver it to you as if they knew exactly what was happening!”
I sighed. This class wasn’t as fun as I remembered it was, maybe it was better last year when all of these people were my friends.
“Let’s have… Jeremy. And… Malory!”
No. no. No.. No. Are you kidding me? Jeremy? Only the weirdest kid in the entire school. He was a good 3 inches shorter than me, skinny and tiny. He hopped on the stage, smiling excitedly to me.
“Who wants to pick the script?” Mr. Andrews looked at me.
“He can.” I muttered.
Jeremy closed his eyes and reached into the bucket of loose sheets of paper, pulling out a packet. Mr. Andrews pulled the sheets apart and handed me one.
“You two don’t know what’s happening, but I want emotion.” He laughed and hopped off the stage. “And… action!”
Jeremy glanced at his paper. “What shall we do?” He read.
I looked at mine. “I don’t know.” I said blankly.
“Emotion, Malory!” Mr. Andrews yelled from offstage.
“I should probably go.” Jeremy read.
“Wait, please-“ I glanced at Mr. Andrews, giving me a thumbs up. No. He expected me to say this? Are you kidding me.. “Please, don’t leave me.” I am quitting this class, oh my god. “I-I’m in love with you.” I mumbled.
The entire class burst into laughter. I gave a death stare into the crowd as they tried to stifle down their giggles. I glanced at Mr. Tomlinson, who gave me the most amused look ever. Ugh.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t feel the same way.’’ Jeremy smirked at me.
“But, dearest-“ I smacked myself in the forehead and gave Mr. Andrews an annoyed look. “I can’t bear to live without you.”
The scene continued on with me looking as pathetic as ever, pleading for Jeremy to give me a chance. I was absolutely humiliated, and every time I looked at Mr. Tomlinson he seemed to be enjoying every moment of my embarrassment.
“End scene.” I finally muttered, jumping off the stage.
The auditorium filled with claps and laughter as I handed my paper back to Mr. Andrews, also joining in on the laughter. I rolled my eyes and stomped back to my seat, passing Mr. Tomlinson, not bothering to look at his face, I knew he was laughing at my humiliation.
I sat there alone, in silence. Mr. Tomlinson sat a few seats away from me, but I didn’t say another word the entire period. Skit after skit, the class dragged on. A few minutes before it was over, Mr. Andrews made an announcement to the class.
“We’re going to start individual practice today, you can do it once a week or every day, but you must have a total of 30 practices by the end of the school year to pass this class. Would anyone be interested in starting today?” The class remained silent. Individual practices were probably my favorite part of this class, you just get to goof off and act with the best teacher in the world.
My hand shot up. “I’ll do it today, Mr. A!”
He smiled at me. “Perfect! I actually have a meeting to go to after school, so Tommo will be your mentor! You’re in good hands, Mal. If anyone else wants to sign up for later this week, come to my office and we’ll put you in!”
My stomach dropped. The only good part of this class, and I had to do it with him? I glanced over to him, who was smirking at me. I turned away quickly, focusing my eyes on the clock. 3, 2, 1. The bell rang, and I get up out of my seat as fast as possible.
“Meet here at 3:30.” Mr. Tomlinson told me.
“About that,” I muttered. “I think I’m actually going to reschedule.”
“Come on, Malory. Just one lesson with me, then you can schedule the rest with Mr. Andrews.” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t bite.”
No, you’re just arrogant and rude.
“Fine, 3:30.” I mumbled and walked out the door.
**
“Now who is that?” Claire giggled.
I looked across the hall, trying to see who she was talking about, when I realized she was talking about Mr. Tomlinson.
“Ew, Claire, don’t even.” I said dramatically. “He’s my teacher.”
“A teacher?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Student teacher.”
“Oh. Well then so what?” She smirked at him. He finally looked over to see Claire practically drooling over him, gave a slight smirk, and turned towards his mailbox again, shuffling papers.
“Claire, ew.” I mumbled, looking at my phone, pretending to type as we passed him.
“Why don’t you like him?” She asked after we passed by.
“Because he’s an asshole, and he hates me.”
“Doesn’t seem like he hates you.” She giggled.
“What are you talking about?” I muttered.
“He was definitely just checking you out, Mal.” She flipped her hair and winked at me.