Page 82 of The Silent Note

I clear my throat. “But here’s a secret. Romeo and Juliet know what’s about to happen too. They knew from the moment they first laid eyes on each other.”

A hand raises.

“Yes, Maisy.”

“How are you so sure?” Maisy asks stiffly. “There’s no foreshadowing in the book that they knew they were going to die before the end.”

I smile in relief. The students have been distracted all day, just as they were back when Jinx spread rumors about me and Zane. Maisy’s the first person to actually participate and not just glare at me while I teach.

“That’s a great question. And it’s also the thesis of the essay I’m assigning you for Wednesday.”

I hear a murmur of dissatisfaction but no one outright protests.

After I give more detailed instructions, I let the class out early. Attendance has been down across the board and those who do turn up to my classes are disengaged. At this point, it’s better the kids be outside than here. If they’re just glaring darts at me, they’re not learning anything anyway.

“Maisy, can I see you a moment?”

Maisy frowns but obediently walks up to my table.

The class clears out, everyone whispering as they leave.

Maisy looks uncomfortable when it’s just me and her left and, as I step forward to speak to her, she draws back.

Stunned, I remain in place. My breath is shaky but I manage to sound professional when I say, “Maisy, I stopped by the office after lunch and I was told you’re dropping this class.”

Her eyes dart away.

“If you have an issue, why don’t you discuss it with me?”

“Miss Jamieson, I’m not comfortable taking classes from you.”

I dig my fingers into the edge of the desk, my heart racing. “Why not?”

Maisy pushes her glasses up with her pinkie finger. “I’ll be honest. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course.”

“Jinx calls you Sexy Teach in her app. Did you know that?”

I squirm.

“Even before Jinx gave you a name, the guys called you ‘the hot teacher’.” She stares at me intently, as if I’m supposed to know my transgression.

“Maisy, I don’t encourage this behavior, but I also can’t control what others do outside of my classroom. I’m not sure why this is relevant to?—”

“I ignored that.” Maisy tips her chin up. “Because youareattractive and that’s not your fault.”

I’m not sure whether to be flattered or insulted.

“Despite how you look, I thought you were a good teacher. Someone who could help me ace my college entrance exams. Unlike the bozos around here,” her shrewd eyes contract, “I actually want to run my parents’ company and to do that, I need two MBAs.”

I smile proudly. My AP class isn’t like my general lectures. It’s filled with a different caliber of students. Maisy’s mindset is exactly why I keep entrance so strict. These are whip-smart students who—for their own individual reasons—are invested in their education.

“But after your speech last week and what happened with Harris, I realized that you’re not here to teach us, Miss Jamieson.”

“I—”

“And honestly, I don’t care why you’re really here.” Maisy lifts a hand. “But my future matters to me. It matters enough that I sacrifice everyday for it. That’s not true for you and that’s why I need to drop your class.”

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