Chapter Five:
I had a raging headache and I was ready to kill anyone who as much talked to me today.
It was been a week since Mr. Varner had called me to his office. He refused to even look at me in the hallway— which was really fine by me. More than fine, actually.
Mike had so kindly graced us with his presence in the mornings now, unable to find the perseverance to actually pick up the slack. Honestly, I was fed up with his character— I was moments away from tearing his head off.
To add to that ball of frustration, none of the guys had picked up what I had been teaching. Each day, I pelted rubber balls at them, giving new bruises and every day, none could cross half the distance to get past me. I began to wonder if this was a joke to them, their expression of determination quashed that theory.
This only left one explanation.
They truly were that defenseless and useless.
I sighed, blowing the whistle, watching at the boys collapsed in a heap. I didn't pay attention to the dramatics— they were worse than a group of girls, "Explain something to me," I growled, tapping my foot impatiently.
Their eyes swiveled up to my face, warily awaiting my words, "How is it," I seethed, "That we have been doing this exercise for a week now and none of you can get halfway?" I ended up yelling. It wasn't my intention to scream at them constantly, but it kind of ended up that way.
I hated that I was so frustrated. This exercise was fairly simple— I didn't think it would be that hard!
"All due respect, Coach," Jasper spoke up, "But this exercise is hard!" he whined.
My entire boy froze at this, unable to believe the disgraceful words that left his mouth, "Would you like a demonstration?" I asked in a quiet tone.
I didn't mean to sound threatening. For once, I was being completely genuine. Maybe they had no concept of how to accomplish a simple task because they had not seen how it was done yet.
It was plausible.
Hesitantly, Jasper nodded and I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face, resigned. I began taking off the faculty ID that hung around my neck and the whistle that hung on me, tossing it over to the side. I looked up to see that the boys had remained unmoving.
I rolled my eyes, "Well come on then! Grab a ball or two!" I yelled at them, watching them jump into action.
Taking my leisure time, I strolled to the black line they had been standing at. All the boys lined up at the center, rubber balls in hand. Quickly I began a series of stretches, relishing in the relief my calf muscles and biceps received.
I stood up straight, lolling my head from side to side to ease the tendons in the back of my neck. I watched as the boys shifted their weight from foot to foot, eager to get started.
I rolled my eyes, "You know the rules!" I yelled, watching the happiness etch on their faces.
I smirked, stretching my right leg back and crouching into a runner's position. It was funny that they thought I would be pelted so easily.
"Begin!" I spoke clearly, taking off, my torso aligns with the rest of my body and my hands held up so I could control them easily. Rather than running, I was walking. I didn't feel the need to rush, but to educate them how to dodge.
To me, it seemed like such a simple task— but maybe they knew nothing.
Just as I expected, a flurry of blue rubber balls came in my direction. With ease, I sidestepped almost all of them, sighting a flash of blue in my peripheral vision, ducking just as it flew over my head.
I took note of that as I stood straight again. I needed to take into account that all the boys really knew was strategy. Maybe they weren't completely useless!
The flurry faded and only a handful of weapons were left, and I was still untouched. I listened as a ball bounced on the linoleum with a sharp crack, gunning straight for my midsection.
Using the adrenaline that was still pumping in my veins, I threw myself in a backbend with ease, my hand planting themselves firmly onto the glossy floor as the rubber ball flew over my lean body.
Carefully, I pulled myself up, listening to my unused muscles praise at their use. I continued my careful steps to my destination— I was now only two yards away from my target and I could see that the boys were antsy.
I watched as two rubber balls came whirling at me; my ears perked up as I heard rubber smack the wall behind me, bouncing off.
As if in slow motion, I could feel the speed of the three spheres hurling towards me. I couldn't help but smile at it— it was an ingenious tactic for an attack.
Taking initiative, I fell to the floor, hugging the gymnasium floor, watching as the two balls went overhead and the third one flying over from behind me, hitting a confused Mike, taking him down. I snickered, scrambling to my feet and passing the line of boys that were suddenly out of weapons.
"That," I said calmly, "is how you finish the exercise. Any questions?"
"You're not out of breath," Tyler gaped.
"That's not a question," I teased, but no one spoke after him, staring at me in quiet awe.
I sighed, "of course I'm not exhausted, this is a beginners' exercise. I've done much harder exercises in less amount of time. So yeah— I'm not out of breath because this was easy," I ended with a growl.
The boys blinked at me, stuck in their trance of awe. Overhead the bell began to ring in a shrill tone, "Class dismissed!" I bellowed, walking over to the bleachers to pick up my ID and whistle I had taken off.
I listened to the pointless chatter as the boys filed out. As soon as I straightened from picking up my things, I turned up to bump into Mike.
"Hey baby," he purred, one hand trailing down my arm.
I inhaled sharply, unable to believe the gall of this boy, "Walk away, Mr. Newton," I said coldly, brushing past him in a rigid way to get away.
A pair of arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into a solid chest. His grimy breath came at my ear, causing me to shudder in disgust, "Don't be like that; I know you want this," he murmured his hands ghosting on the hem of my jeans, touching the sliver of skin that was exposed.
I stiffened, unable to control my next actions.
I whipped around, grabbing a hold of Mike's arm and flipped him so that he landed on the gymnasium floor with a loud crack. I walked over to Mr. Newton, watching as he blinked rapidly to focus in, "This is your only warning, Mr. Newton," I whispered frostily, "Watch yourself, or I will be forced to report you to Mr. Varner and ultimately expelled from The Academy," I said, leaving in a whirl, listening to his pitiful groans as I exited the gym doors.
~TMW01~
It was dinner time and the headache had not decided to take its leave yet. I grabbed my tray before sitting down next to Carlisle, his ocean eyes always lit with joy.
Carlisle had been my only companion in this torture camp, listening to my gripe about my class and even offering tips on how to control a particular student.
"What had you so agitated?" he asked, spearing a stalk of broccoli, bringing it to his lips.
I sighed dramatically, my stomach doing somersaults, "Mike Newton made a move on me," I growled, my chin falling into my hands, gauging Carlisle's reaction.
Carlisle stopped chewing, processed my words for a moment. After swallowing thickly he asked in a hushed tone, "What did you do?" he seemed worried.
I snorted at his apprehension. Did he truly take me for an idiot? "What, after I flipped him? I told him that the next time he tried to pull that stunt, I would report him to Mr. Varner and he would be expelled from—" I cut myself off as Carlisle covered his eyes and groaned.
"Is something the matter?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow at my friend.
"Isabella, you must understand something. Mike Newton is the only boy at The Academy that is not here out of tragedy," he sighed, his warm ocean eyes pleading with me to understand something.
Whatever he was trying to convey, I didn't understand, "But his mother died when he—"
"That was completely unrelated to anything. Mike Newton has a very rich father who sponsors half of the activities at The Academy. Mr. Varner refuses to lay a finger on the boy," he explained gently.
It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks as I processed his words, "So what I said…."
"Was basically an empty threat," Carlisle finished grimly.
I groaned, pushing my food away— suddenly I wasn't very hungry, "What do I do?" I begged to Carlisle, the very thought of Newton's grimy hands on me sickening me to the very core.
Carlisle gazed at me sadly, "What do you think you should do?" he asked softly.
I groaned, slumping in my chair, "You sound like a fucking therapist," I growled, crossing my arms across my chest.
Carlisle chuckled, his eyes holding some mirth, "Someone has to be," he allowed.
I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face— what a mess, "I can kick his ass and make him regret hitting on me," I muttered, looking to Carlisle for agreement.
Instead he shook his head, "I'm afraid that will only cause him to pursuer you more, dear," he said gently.
I huffed, hating this more than anything.
Carlisle sighed, leaning towards me, "Isabella, you must realize that this is a school full of boys and there are no female teachers— until you came along, that is. No one is allowed to leave the school grounds, except for twice a month to the next town that is seven miles away, and they are not allowed to stay over night," he informed me, allowing the weight of the information to sink in.
I groaned as I realized what he was getting at, "So how do I tell a horny teenage boy to back the hell off without turning him on even more?" I thought out loud, gazing at the white wash ceiling in despair.
Suddenly, I had an idea. I shot up from my seat, grinning like a fool, "I have an idea," I sang gleefully, taking off to the gym.
"You need to eat sometime!" Carlisle bellowed; a laugh in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah!" I called back, beginning to sprint to the gym.
~TMW01~
When I arrived, I found the door was unlocked and the hospital like lights was on. Instantly, I was cautious to who was inside. Quietly, I crept inside, gently closing the doors and hiding my form in the shadows. What I saw inadvertently put a smile on my face.
Edward, Jasper and Emmett were in the gym, practicing the exercise that I had given them. Jasper and Edward stood in the center throwing the blue rubber balls at Emmett. It was quite funny to watch.
Emmett was made of pure muscle, his cropped dark hair flat against the top of his head, so when he dodged, it was awkward and seemed silly. I didn't judge too much though. I liked Emmett. He didn't complain, and he didn't ask too many questions.
As a reward, I didn't beat him too badly.
Emmett came more than halfway before he was pelted with blue rubber balls, sending him careening backwards. Both Edward and Jasper sighed, placing the balls down and going to check on their friend, "Hey man, you okay?" Edward asked, pulling Emmett into a sitting position.
Emmett shook his head like a dog, grinning up at his friends, "Yeah. I almost made it!" he grinned.
Jasper shook his head sadly, "Yeah, from us. Coach throws way harder and faster."
Emmett groaned at his friend's words, "We'll never pass her class at this rate," he moaned, his head falling into his hands.
At that moment, I decided to make my appearance known, "Let's make a deal," I called, stepping out from the shadows.
All of the boys jumped at the sound of my voice, whirling around to see me. They flushed a deep red, "Coach, I'm sorry we—" Jasper tried to explain, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.
"I don't care," I said, gazing at the three boys.
My gaze zeroed in on Edward, his copper hair ruffled and plastered to his forehead, "How long have you been in here?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
The boys glanced at each other before Edward spoke up, "Close to two hours," he called back, his voice steady and without a tremor.
I nodded at that, secretly impressed with them.
It seemed that they were the only group of students that cared whether they passed or failed my class. They were aiming to be better than average, or half assed.
They wanted to be the best.
Pride at my students circulated through me as I watched them, beginning to step towards them, "I couldn't help but overhear your 'dilemma'," I said, putting air quotations around the word 'dilemma'.
All the boys tensed at my words and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their reactions, "At ease," I soothed, "I want to help. I'll tutor the three of you in exchange for a favor," I said, stopping in front of them.
Edward gave me a sideways glance, "Explain," he said slowly.
My smile grew wider as I explained the terms of agreement— the only fool proof way to get Mike off of my back and a permanent make of humility on his face.
A/N: A plan! A plan is set!
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Themidnightwriter01