Page 26 of The Teacher

Why should I care?

Was I actually envious of Becky Taylor talking to Skipper so seductively? Flirting with him? Why should I even care who he talks to? He’s not my boyfriend.

But I do feel envious. I do feel a touch of panic as Becky Taylor flirts with Skipper. I want to go over there and push her out the way. He’s mine.

No.

NO.

I can’t be jealous of her. Skipper Deep is not my boyfriend. He screwed me over all those years ago, and now I want nothing to do with him. Seeing him in bed, with my best friend, all those years ago completely devastated me to the point that he nearly ruined everything. I want nothing to do with him ever again. I’m supposed to be angry he’s waltzed back into my life like he has with no care for my feelings, I shouldn’t be jealous of some attractive single mother with big tits talking to him.

I should not be caring about this nearly as half as I currently am.

But I still can’t take my eyes off my former lover. I still can’t get him, or his naked body, out of my head. His hung cock. My memories.

No. Stop it, Sandy.

Have I really reverted back to being a giddy schoolgirl with a crush?

A crush on Skipper Deep? The man who betrayed my trust, the man who ruined the last year of high school for me?

God, Sandy. You’re so stupid.

“So, Miss Finn, how are you feeling about the exams?”

My attention shoots back to the group of the parents I’ve been talking to when I escaped from Skipper earlier. They surround me in a semi-circle, waiting for my response. Miss Tweed has joined the conversation and now she’s asking me a question. I forgot what it was, I was too focused on that Becky talking to Skipper.

“Pardon?” I ask.

“The exams,” Miss Tweed repeats, her usual patronizing smile plastered over her face. “How are you feeling about them? They’re very important for the students, and for you.”

Ugh. Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid.

“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about the exams,” I reply. I turn to include all the listening parents. “We actually started on Romeo and Juliet today. It’s my favorite of all Shakespeare’s plays. Two households and all that. It’s so romantic and, yet, tragic.”

There’s a murmur of approval from the gathered parents. They love it when I talk about classic literature. Miss Tweed doesn’t look pleased with how I handled that question. I’ve outshone her.

Good. Suck it up.

“Well, I have a feeling mathematics will be the top average class this year in the exams,” Miss Tweed remarks loudly, scanning her beady brown eyes over the parents. She wants them to pay attention to her. “I’ve worked them extra hard this year. I pride myself on my students’ marks and how well they do every year. Mathematics is the cornerstone of a good education. We can all sit around reading stories all day to our heart’s content, but mathematics is what expands a young child’s mind.”

Another round of approval from the parents and I take a drink from my wine. Miss Tweed absolutely loves the sound of her own voice.

“And if you will please excuse me,” the teacher says, nodding towards me. “I need to have a private word with Miss Finn here. Lovely to meet you all, hopefully, you can all speak to Mr. Brown and donate tonight.”

She takes me by the arm and pulls me away from the group. She’s all smiles at the parents, but I feel her cold hard grip around my arm digging into me. Her fingers are like talons. She drags me away to a corner of the hotel conference room so that we’re safely out of earshot from everyone else.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, pulling my arm away from Miss Tweed’s grip.

“You see that man over there?” She points a bony finger towards Skipper. He’s still talking to Becky. She’s placed her slender hand on his shoulder and is incredibly close to his tall body. He doesn’t look uncomfortable at all despite how they’re nearly touching. Well, he’s always been a massive flirt so they’re perfect together. But, despite my anger, another pang of jealousy runs through my heart.

Please stop talking to her.

“Yeah, that’s Skipper Finn,” I say to the teacher.

“Good that you know who he is,” Miss Tweed continues. “And I’m sure that you know why he’s here, don’t you? It is absolutely imperative that he invests in our school. We need those finances under control.”

“Yeah.”