A New Student
1147 Words
The school corridors buzzed with life that morning. Students in crisp uniforms hurried along with books clutched to their chests, laughter bouncing off the cream-colored walls.
The sharp scent of disinfectant lingered faintly in the air, mixed with the chalky dust that always seemed to settle no matter how much the classrooms were cleaned.
Rae adjusted the strap of her leather bag higher on her shoulder and quickened her pace.
It was the first week of the semester, and though she had taught here for years, the beginning always carried a certain weight—fresh faces, nervous energy, expectations heavy in the air.
She smoothed the front of her blouse with a hand that trembled faintly, willing herself into calm.
“Rae! Wait up!”
The voice pulled her from her thoughts as she turned around to see Mrs. Kate Collins hurrying toward her, balancing a stack of exercise books that threatened to topple from her arms.
Her cheeks were flushed, her glasses sliding down her nose, but her smile was bright.
“Good morning, Kate,” Rae greeted warmly, stepping aside as a group of students brushed past.
“You look like you’ve been buried in grading already. Don’t tell me you’re drowning them in homework this early?”
Kate let out a laugh, shifting the books to her other hip. “If I don’t, they’ll drown me. You know how it is.”
She said with a roll of her eyes, then looked Rae up and down, before continuing
“Well look at you she said,—fresh-faced, and looking neat as ever how was your break?” She asked.
As Rae’s lips pressed into a small smile before replying.
“Well Quiet as always,” she murmured. “Books, tea, and more books.”
Kate groaned dramatically at her response,
“Typical Rae,at least you had time to yourself Kate said with a shrug of her shoulders
Meanwhile, mine was chaos—family reunions, endless cooking, nieces and nephews running wild like I barely survived” She continued chuckling softly, then lowered her voice, leaning closer as though the hallway itself had ears.
“But, speaking of chaos… have you heard?”
Rae tilted her head, curious. “Heard what?”
Kate glanced around, her tone conspiratorial now.
“We’re getting a new student this term.”
Rae arched an eyebrow. “That’s hardly unusual, we get transfers every year.”
Kate’s eyes glimmered at Rae “Yes, but this one is different and he is not just a student he is a celebrity.” She said with a, savoring the moment.”
Rae blinked, stopping mid-step. “A celebrity? Here? You can’t be serious.”
Kate nodded vigorously, hugging the books tighter. “I’m completely serious.
Principal Hart told me herself and he’s enrolling this semester like just Imagine—a celebrity sitting through our boring classes like everyone else.”
She said while giving Rae a knowing look. “And, if the whispers are right she continued, he ought to be in your class.”
Immediately the strap of Rae’s bag creaked under the pressure of her tightening grip.
“In my class?” she echoed softly, almost to herself.
Kate grinned “ Yes, lucky you, you’ll be teaching in front of a star.
Just wait until the girls see him—they’ll lose their minds.”
Rae forced a chuckle, though the sound was thinner than she intended.
“Well… thank you for letting me know at least I won’t be completely unprepared.”
“See you at lunch, Rae,” Kate called as she hurried off, already being flagged down by another teacher.
Left standing in the corridor, Rae drew in a slow breath as unease prickled at her chest, though she shook it off quickly and walked toward her classroom.
As she entered the classroom her students rose to their feet. “Good morning, Miss Rae,” they chorused.
“Good morning,” she replied, her voice steady though her pulse had picked up.
She set her bag on the desk, picked up the chalk, and began writing the day’s topic on the board.
The soft scrape of chalk steadied her and for a while, she almost forgot Kate’s words.
Then the classroom door opened.
And Rae turned, her lips already curving into a polite smile when she saw Principal Hart step in.
“Good morning, class,” the principal announced, her heels clicking against the floor.
Before she then turned to Rae, her expression warm but apologetic.
“Miss Rae, forgive me for the late notice. You’ll be having a new student this term.
He’s repeating the class so I expect you to treat him like any other—with fairness, equality, and above all, privacy because he’s something of a public figure.”
Rae dipped her head respectfully. “Yes, Principal Hart.”
The principal smiled and motioned to the doorway. “You may come in.”
And immediately the world stilled.
Ken Draven stepped into the room.
And for one frozen heartbeat, Rae couldn’t move.
Her breath hitched, her fingers slackened, and the chalk slipped from her hand, clattering against the tray.
No… no, it can’t be.
The same dark eyes, the same jawline she had traced with trembling fingers in the shadows of her bedroom.
The same lips that had pressed against hers—again and again—for three reckless, stolen weeks.
The classroom erupted.
“Oh my God, it’s him—Ken Draven!”
“He’s even more handsome in real life!”
“Is he really in our class?”
Rae’s stomach lurched violently three weeks, three weeks of nights tangled together.
And now—now he’s standing here as my student?
Her throat burned, as her eyeballs dilated does that mean I’ve been sleeping with a minor? she asked herself
As heat crawled up her neck, flooding her cheeks.
Fury, humiliation, and fear clashed inside her chest, leaving her trembling
Her voice, when it came, was clipped and sharp
“Take your seat, Mr. Draven.” She said
As Ken’s gaze lifted at last, locking onto hers
His stare was steady, at first but then when it locked on hers he all but almost fell to the floor, but he seemed to get a grip of himself as she turned around and walked to the empty seat.
While Rae gripped the edge of the desk until her knuckles whitened and somehow, she dragged herself through the rest of the lesson, her mind a storm.
But the moment the bell rang, she swept out of the classroom.
Her heels struck the floor sharply, echoing down the hall.
She barely made it to the staff room before she heard his voice behind her.
“Miss Rae.” he called out,
And she froze, as she slowly,turned around to face him her eyes burning.
- Writer
