Thorne sat behind the cheap metal desk that was standard for teachers at Blackjack High, ankles crossed as he watched kids trickle in after lunch. Today was Friday and kids had been itching for the day to be over as soon as it started but this class would be different. There were a few new faces, but he recognized, and had taught, most of them before. This was the AP pre-calc class, and there were only a couple of kids who’d switched schools or moved to the area over the summer.
The last kid came in and found his seat seconds before the bell rang. Thorne might look careless, however, he’d been keeping track of not just his students but also the pretty new teacher across the hall.
“Good afternoon. I hope you’re not full and sleepy because we’ve got a lot to cover this semester and we’re g
