How to Hate Your Crush - My Teacher is the Devil

Chapter 8

I rolled around on my bed, my eyes burning from a mixture of tears and fatigue. I cannot let this keep going. I can't handle much more of this. I can't just keep letting him tease me and play around with me like this. I can't just go along with his teasing anymore, I am tired of crying, and I am tired of this growing pain in my chest. I wish I could simply stop being in love with Mr. Brady. My chest tightened almost as if my heart had heard me and was desperately trying to hold onto the warm feeling his hug left me. For a few seconds, I allowed myself to drown in that loving feeling of fervor and affection, but I immediately averted my attention and rolled on my bed energetically to shake the feeling off. This, of course, was not the brightest idea, for I instantly fell on the hard floor with a thud.

I sat up, rubbing my sore behind, and that was when the lightbulb hit me and my eyes widened. What if I did stop? What if I were no longer in love with him? Would he still tease me? Would he still kiss me? After all, he holds no feelings for me, and he only teases to watch me blush. Hence, if I no longer react to his provocations, he will grow bored and discard me. He is sure to move on to the next girl... the next girl... The clenching in my chest somehow tightened, but I shook my head and decided to ignore it. It is for the best.

That is it! That is just what I must do! He won't keep kissing some random person who is indifferent towards him, so all I must do is abandon my feelings towards him. But how do I do that? I quickly scanned through the pages of my memory book, reviewing all my tricks and habits. No more peaking over my textbook to steal glances of him, no more fantasizing about him, but most importantly, no more kissing him!

Could it be that easy?

I shivered all over, thinking of the 'punishment' he would decide to give me once he found out. However, I shook my head once again and pumped my fists, smiling with determination. From now on, I am no longer in love with him!

Operation: Forget about Alec Brady!

My face softened into a smile, feeling victorious of my new conviction. I then climbed onto my bed lazily, pulling myself up and flopping onto the mattress, climbing instead of standing. I closed my eyes as the smile still lingered on my lips, ready to finally fall asleep for my big day tomorrow. I am going to need all the energy I need to avoid that demon, that fiend, that devil of a man.

However, as soon as my head grew heavier and the dark void was about to consume me, a loud, disrupting sound went off. It seemed like it would consume the entire house, loud enough to compete with the construction workers down the street. But, as I grew more conscious, the sound became clearer and less obnoxious. It was a song of birds chirping and the ocean swaying with a harp playing. It was my phone's alarm. The moment I realized this, my eyes tightened and a migraine formed. Why did that random article have to convince me to place my alarm so far away from my bed? What's the point of a snooze button if I cannot reach it? I tightened the pillow around my ears and refused to accept that it was already morning. I feel like crying, and this time it has nothing to do with Mr. Brady.

A soft knock sounded at my door. I chose to ignore it and hid under the bed sheets. However, I could still hear everything, from the squeaking of the knob turning and the gentle footsteps of my father walking into the bedroom. He softly tapped on my shoulder and rubbed my back. I could picture the usual, kind smile that always occupied his lips. The image filled me with warmth, but it was not enough to get me onto my feet. Instead, I groaned and shook my head.

He shook me gently once more, but his soothing and reassuring voice lulled me, until it said, “Ellie, honey, it’s eight o’clock already. You’re going to be late.”

I sprang up like an overly anxious zombie and yelled my lungs out. “What do you mean I’m going to be late? I am late!” I blamed him even though it was not his fault.

I then pushed my father out of the room to get dressed and washed. The moment I walked out of the bathroom, Dad handed me my lunchbox, some books I forgot to pack and lastly, handed me a toast with jam, knowing I would not have time to sit down and eat. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have such an amazing father like him in my life. But today, like most days, I remembered, and so I hugged him tight and kissed his cheek before walking out the door.

I dragged my steps to school with ginormous panda eyes and greeted everyone like an undead, forgetting that I was walking into a room mid-class… it was the wrong room too… The teacher, whoever it was, yelled at me and the remaining strangers laughed. This did the trick and awoke me as my eyes instantly widened and I sprinted out of the classroom and towards the secretary’s office to get a late pass.

Just my luck… I buried my head in my desk and hid my face with the Biology textbook. Why must I have this class today? Can someone just toss me a gun or a rope? I feel like crying, but I am pretty sure my eyes have no more tears left in them. That made me tilt my head in wonder. Is that even possible? Can eyes run out of tears? Ugh, biology…

“Ellison!”

My back sprang straight as the sound of my name roared from across the room. Mr. Brady smirked, ready to tease. Right, I cannot get distracted in this class since he is always ready to make fun of me.

“I have never seen you working your brain so hard. Surely you are not thinking about matters on the syllabus, are you?” His arms crossed over his chest and he leaned on one leg, assuming a cool posture as students snickered. The moment the word ‘handsome’ began to float into my mind, I instantly looked away and avoided looking at him or anything around him. This certainly silenced him.

It was nearly impossible to pay attention to the class without looking at the teacher or the board behind him. It is not like I usually pay attention in this class, but I keep myself awake by spying on Mr. Brady. Today, I did not even have that to keep me alert. Thus, the Sandman kept visiting me throughout the class time, but I continuously rejected his invitations. My head tumbled occasionally and jolted back up as I fought my urges to lay my head on the desk.

“This next question is for Ellison to answer.”

The class fell silent and that was when I realized I was Ellison. My eyes widened, and I looked at the grinning demon.

“Huh?” was the only sound that seemed to be able to escape my lips. I cursed at myself for this, for it did not even give me time to pretend I was paying attention all along.

Mr. Brady sighed as a cover, but I knew he was feeling victorious.

“Make sure to stay afterschool for detention.”  he said, raising his chin ever so slightly, but high enough for me to see the giant, golden crown filled with jewels that he was envisioning himself wearing.

N-no way! There is no way I am staying for detention right on the first day of Operation: Forget about Alec Brady! Please think of an excuse… and excuse… an excuse…

“I – I can’t.” I blurted out without thinking. “I have plans for today.” I was clearly lying and I knew it was impossible to believe, but I simply decided to go along with it.

“What kind of plans?” Mr. Brady shot up an eyebrow at me as his arms crossed over his chest once again. His smirk grew, and this made it harder for me to focus and come up with a lie.

“A funeral.” the words were out of my mouth quicker than I could stop them, and I cursed at myself. Out of all things… a funeral? Brain, why must you be so stupid?

“Oh? Sorry to hear that. You have my condolences.” his words were apologetic, but the grin on his cheeks only grew.

After that, Mr. Brady proceeded with the lesson. He no longer called on me, despite the fact that I kept avoiding eye contact and that I was paying no attention whatsoever. I kept brooding over my lie, regretting I ever said it. What if he – being the devil he is – decides to mention it to other teachers, or even my father? They will all know I am lying. And Father… It’s bad enough that I get the grades I have. Well, all I can do now is hope for the best and bolt out of this classroom. At least Mr. Brady now knows I’m keeping a distance from him, which can either work wonders and make him untie his leash, or backfire and provoke his hunting pursuit.

I took in a large, nervous gulp and packed my things early, ready to dart out of here as soon as the bell rang.

As it did, I immediately sprang up to my feet. Mr. Brady called out to me, but I pretended not to hear him over the shifting chairs and rustling of my classmates. Thankfully – making it seem like it was fate for me to escape without being stopped by him – a group of eager girls surrounded him, asking dumb questions they knew the answers to and laughing loudly while twirling their hair. I praised the lords for teenage libido and used the chance to escape.

“What was that?” I was startled by the sudden voice of Maia, who seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

“What was what?” I laughed nervously, knowing exactly what she was referring to.

“That obvious lie. You’re totally avoiding Mr. Brady.” she crossed her arms over her chest and popped her hip to one side – she did this whenever she doubted someone.

“You mean the funeral thing wasn’t true?” Noy looked confused.

“Of course it wasn’t, you idiot.” Maia nudged her and they started bickering, as usual.

“So? What’s up with that?” she insisted.

I gulped once again. “I just… don’t want to see him.”

“Huhh…” Noy snickered playfully. “Someone has a crush on Mr. Brady…”

“I do not!” I objected, louder than I had intended. This gave my secret away and the twins giggled into each other’s faces.

After so much lying at once, my sleep deprivation kicked back in and I went through the rest of the day sluggishly. I consumed all of my energy attempting to avoid Mr. Brady and, by the time I got home, I felt dead. I flopped onto the mattress and drowned into profound sleep right away. Cancelling out all sounds, forgetting about my homework, and unable to feel hunger, I did not wake up until the next morning. But, somehow, a soft smile lingered on my lips. Operation: Forget about Alec Brady day one was a success.