Ms. Reed's POV
There's no place I'd rather be at 8:30 every morning than being at school teaching a bunch of freshmen.
I'm just joking...a little.
I love my job but my student's do piss me off sometimes.
It's a few months into the school year and I think I've got all of my students names down. There are a few I'm still iffy about but if I haven't remembered them yet, I don't think I ever will.
There's one person who's not my student but I will forever remember their name.
Jules.
Speaking of her, it's now time for me to call of the students down to the lower gym so I can watch half the kids not even fucking try to hit the volleyball. Should be interesting.
"Alright volleyball kids lets go!"
I turn to look at Jules who is already looking at me.
It would seem out of place for her to be looking anywhere but me.
Jules and I haven't been on exactly the greatest terms lately ever since she left Texas unannounced. Yesterday was a big step in the right direction for us though. I think those detentions are helping her more than she thinks.
The moment we enter the lower gym, my mood starts changing.
Because now Jules isn't looking at me.
She's looking at Payton.
Laughing with her, getting awfully close with her, just everything seems fishy. A week ago I had never seen them speak to each other. Now all of a sudden they can't seem to get their hands off of each other.
Students shouldn't be touchy in school.
"Alright everyone, stand by the bleachers." I say this to everyone but I am still looking at Jules and Payton.
I set my stuff down by my side as I pull up the google chart which has everyone's names for attendance. There's one person's name who I see and I can't help but click 'present' for attendance today even though I haven't started attendance yet.
"Settle down everyone. If I see a phone, it comes to me. No second warnings." I look to the sea of students whose eyes are all on me. Well, everyone excepts Jules who are too busy on blondie girl Payton.
"Say 'here' when you hear your name called. If you try to be funny and say nonsense you get an automatic zero for the day."
One by one the students say 'here' when I call there name. I still look up at the student to make sure it is them but I can't help but notice my eyes immediately go to Jules whenever I begin to look up from my laptop.
Maybe because she's directly in front of me.
I try to keep my focus on the list of attendance because I'm halfway done but it's getting difficult to ignore the way that Jules and blondie bitch are sharing space with each other.
I shouldn't call kids a bitch but she's technically not my student so it's not my problem.
Payton laughs at something Jules says which is ridiculous because Jules never says anything funny. Still, I can feel this strange, sharp, turn in my chest. It shouldn't matter but for some reason it does.
"Jules," I call her name, hoping for her to finally pay attention.
I always say my students name loud so I only have to say it once and they'll actually respond. So I actually am a nice person. But Jules doesn't seem to hear when I call her name.
Or maybe she does but is just too busy with that girl.
"Jules Oliver!" I yell it again and this time her attention turns to me.
"Oh right. Here! Sorry."
She only spares me one millisecond glance.
"Well maybe if you stopped flirting with Payton you would be able to hear me the first time I say your name."
Jules gets silent and turns back at me and her eyes actually linger on me. Her eyes are on me, everyone else's are on her.
It's funny to me how she can't seem to stop staring at me before we go down for activities but as soon as we enter the lower gym, she forgets I even exist.
I soon finished everyone's name for attendance and I just told everyone to get in their usual groups for warmups. Everyone is following my order except one person.
"Way to call me out Ms. Reed." I turn to hear the most familiar voice ever. Jules trailing behind me with the most irritated face ever. "Seriously, that was so embarrassing."
There's bitterness in her voice. The bitterness she's had for weeks but I still haven't gotten used to. I'm not exactly sure what she is expecting me to say but whatever it is I know we're just going to end up arguing.
More than a teacher and student should be.
I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm and keep my voice steady. "Jules, you were ignoring me. I had no other choice." I cross my arms over my chest. "I had to call your name twice, Jules. Twice."
"Yes because you love to embarrass me in front of the 30 something kids down here with us."
She shoots me this look which I can tell there's something more than just frustration behind them.
Is it just me or does this girl think she's so full of herself?
"I'm not here to embarrass you Jules. You should know that more than anybody in here." I use my strict voice so that maybe Jules will actually get a grip and finally pay attention to what I'm saying. "I'm here so I can make sure that you're here, present in class both mentally and physically."
Jules nods at me and then looks away. I don't know what she's thinking right now because she is the most unpredictable person I have ever met. One minute she's so joyful the next she looks like she's about to cry.
I think that's why I find her so intriguing.
"You could've just yelled my name thousands of times. I would've been fine with that." She's still looking down at the floor. "Instead of calling me out in front of everyone here."
I do feel a little guilty about what I said earlier. I definitely could've approached the situation better but what's done is done.
But Jules has been so distant lately. Even when I feel like she's on good terms with me again, something always happens. I just don't know how to reach her anymore.
"I didn't call you out Jules." Despite feeling a little guilty, I'm still keeping my stern and cold face and voice on but not too harshly. "I just needed you to pay attention and you weren't."
Jules is finally looking back up at me, her eyes softer than they were before. The kind of eyes I feel like I haven't received from her in a while. She's making sure to keep them still guarded though.
"Yeah well maybe try not to make every single thing I do a big deal." Her voice a little quieter as she says that.
I feel fury building up in me but I'm trying to keep a low voice instead of snapping at her as well. "Then give me the attention now that you give me when you're staring at me every day at the beginning of gym class, acting like I can't see you staring."
I caught her.
Jules freezes in place and I know she realizes it. She opens her mouth but nothing seems to come out.
"I-uh, I don't know what you're talking about?" I know she's trying to remain nonchalant and cool but I can see right through her.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Jules." I still keep my voice low but I'm still direct with what I'm saying. "Your eyes can't seem to wander anywhere else but me in those first 10 minutes of gym class. Don't act like I haven't noticed. You're not that slick."
There's a moment of silence and it's making me worry incase any of the other kids are watching so I need to act fast and quick. But before I get the chance to say anything, Jules begins to open her mouth.
Hopefully something comes out of it this time.
"I didn't, I didn't mean to Ms. Reed. I'm sorry." But before she can say anything more, I cut her off.
"I don't know why you do it Jules, nor do I want to know why. But if you want me to stop 'embarrassing' you, maybe start listening to me when it actually matters."
Jules looks around the room then at the ground, upset. Her leg is shaking rapidly so I know she's feeling distressed right now.
"Now go Jules, go have fun."
She looks at me once and then starts running towards Payton.
I should be happy seeing my students having fun so why does my chest feel so uneasy?
Watching Jules go straight to Payton makes me wonder if the tension between us will ever break.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all and let her have her little moment but then that will show I have favoritism for one student and not the rest.
Which I do not have favoritism.
In the bad, there's good.
Maybe Payton being there to distract Jules will finally help me figure out why the fuck I'm feeling things I shouldn't towards Jules.
Authors Words:
Thank you for all being patient w/ the slow burn!
I promise it will get more fast paced from here. <3