Page 116 of The Teacher of Nothing
“You’re eighteen now, kid. I think we both do know.”Not my Willa, fuckface.You.I’m seconds from bashing your face against the desk.“Get out.”
I release him and take a step back. A few kids have their phones out, recording the outburst. It’s not the worst thing I’ve done, but certainly not something that will look good plastered all over social media.
Ignoring everyone, I stalk back to the front of the room to continue my lecture. Levi takes his sweet-ass time gathering his stuff. He stops in front of me with his phone in hand.
“Oops.” He makes an exaggerated show of pressing something on his phone.
My blood runs cold. “Out.”
“Testy.” He snorts. “See you soon, Mr. Park.”
I glower after him until the door closes. Then, I drag my stare back to the girl who calms me and makes every bad thing in life manageable because she’s so fucking perfect.
Her brows are pinched, eyes darting all over me in that concerned, assessing way she has down to an art. “Are you okay?” she mouths.
I exhale, letting all the fury rush out of me at once and then give her a clipped nod. Somehow, I manage to finish my lecture and am explaining the homework when the classroom door opens.
Wayne, red-faced and wearing a scowl, enters the room. “Mr. Park.”
“Mr. Erickson.” My voice is icy cold. “How may I help you?”
His nostrils flare. “I need to see you in my office. Now.”
The class bursts out into commotion and laughter. It’s not every day the teacher gets called to the office by the principal.I don’t give a shit about them, but Willa’s eyes are wide with horror. I want to take her hand and promise her everything will be fine. Of course, I don’t.
“Miss Reyes,” Wayne grumbles. “I’ll need to see you as well.”
This sets the classroom off even more. I clench my teeth together and give Willa a small nod to join me.
I wait until she’s gathered her bag and then follow after her. Wayne watches me with narrowed eyes, lip slightly curled as though I disgust him. I don’t miss the fact that he purposefully puts his body between us once we’re in the hallway. Like he’s protecting her from me.
This can’t be good.
Our walk to the office is silent aside from the squeaking of our shoes. Wayne guides us past a couple of curious student aides and into his office. Inside, Levi sits in one chair, feigning innocence.
I seriously want to fuck this kid up.
“Take a seat, Miss Reyes,” Wayne says, voice tight as he closes the door. “Mr. Park. You won’t need to get too comfortable.”
Willa glances over at me, eyes wide with fear.
“She can stand with me,” I clip out. “Mr. Paulson continues to torment her and I won’t subject her to more of it by you forcing her to sit next to him.”
Wayne scrubs a palm over his face. “Fine. Suit yourself.” He sighs heavily. “It has been anonymously brought to my attention that you’ve been in a relationship with Miss Reyes.”
Anonymously my ass…
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I state, features impassive.
Wayne picks up his phone and hits play. It’s me and Willa. The video Levi took of us that he’s been holding onto for months.
“This was sent to me this afternoon,” Wayne grumbles. “It’s a video of you in a highly inappropriate act with a student on school grounds.”
Levi smirks at me.
Willa, on the other hand, visibly shakes and pales at his words.
“I see,” I say in a calm voice. “And?”
