My Insensitive Professor

Chapter 2

I arrive home dripping with sweat from the scorching heat, pass by my mother, just shouting, "Hey, I'm back!" and head straight to my room. I toss my bag onto the bed and go to the bathroom.

I turn on the water to warm up while I undress in front of the mirror, and once completely naked, I look at myself in the mirror and feel disappointed with what I see.

Too skinny, too pale, too strange.

I think that's why I've never had a boyfriend. Well, I did have one, Brandon Mayers, but he doesn't count, it was all a complete lie, just a bet. How could the captain of the football team want to be with me? In the end, he won a lot of money because I was naive enough to think a handsome, popular guy like him would actually be with me.

I recall crying for a whole week, not for him but for being foolish enough to believe it. I was the butt of jokes for weeks, but I don't care anymore, it happened in the first year of high school, and I don't like to remember it.

When I get under the warm water, I feel my body relax instantly, and my thoughts drift to Joshua. His name suits him, strong and imposing. I still can't believe I have his number on my phone. I think I would never be able to call him, but just knowing that I have the number of a handsome, hot guy on my phone excites me.

Eve! Stop thinking about him. You'll never see him again!

And with that, I push him out of my mind and finish my shower.

[...]

"Can I see what you drew today, Eve?" My mother asks, pulling my attention away from the food, and I look at her, startled by the direction of my thoughts.

"I didn't draw anything today, mom. I didn't find anything interesting" actually, I found the most interesting thing in my life. I could show it to my mom, after all, he's just some guy I met at the park. I don't know why, but I just can't show the drawing to my mom.

"Maybe next time you'll find something, dear " I nod, and my mom finishes her dinner and gets up from the table "I need to go, Eve. Take care, alright? The money is on the counter" I get up and give her a hug, a tight hug, because I know I won't see her for a few days. She kisses my forehead, grabs her backpack, and heads to work.

She's a flight attendant. She doesn't like her job much because she's away from home and consequently away from me. She always spends days away from home, however, it's the only job she could find that pays well, the only job she says will be able to pay for my college. My mom is leaving today, Monday, and will probably return on Wednesday or Thursday, staying home for two or three days before having to leave again.

I remember when I was 15, she was so happy to have found a job with a great salary. Then her routes started, and I was left alone. I remember missing her, but over time it became routine and normal.

I finish eating, clear the table, and wash the few dishes. When I'm done, I head to my room, ready to sleep and face another torturous day of school.

As I lie down, I set my phone alarm and slowly drift off to sleep.

[...]

Joshua

I get home and kick aside the boxes blocking my way aside, go to the bathroom, take a quick shower, and head to the kitchen to have breakfast.

Lying in bed, my thoughts drift to the young woman who drew me today, and a mischievous smile appears on my lips. I would absolutely love to pose nude for her.

Her name is Everly. She is shy, so shy that she blushes all the time, and I don't know why that excites me. She has the perfect proportions for my hands, which would love to wander over her body.

I've never been with a younger girl, only older ones, but I would love to have an experience with her.

I may have given her my number, but I know she won't call. She's too shy, but who knows, maybe a miracle will happen?

I set my alarm clock, I don't want to be late for my first day of work. That would be completely unethical.

Soon, if my plans work out, this will be my last year as a teacher.

[...]

Everly

I wake up and do my usual morning hygiene and put on the clothes I normally wear to school.

A pair of jeans, a simple white blouse, my hoodie, and sneakers.

The first thing I notice when I arrive at school is several cars lined up side by side, and several girls who look like they've stepped out of a fashion magazine, usually staying in groups, and if they're not in groups, they will definitely be after boys.

I go to my locker and get my materials for the day. The bell rings, signaling all students to go to class. I head to my first English literature class and feel relieved to be understanding everything that Professor Margô explains.

[...]

I head to the last class and sit at the back, in the last desk where I feel comfortable and away from the gazes of the boys and girls at the front, who like to tease me, especially during this class.

Ten minutes pass and Professor Roberts doesn't enter. He probably missed, and my insides are thrilled about it.

Before I can complete this thought, the school principal enters the room and everyone falls silent.

"Folks, I'm here to bring the news that Professor Roberts will no longer be teaching calculus to you. He had a family issue and won't return for the rest of the school year. Now I will introduce you to the new teacher. He will teach you for the rest of the year. I want everyone to show him respect; he is a great teacher and you will love his teaching style" I think it's better to have another teacher. I never understood anything Roberts said; maybe another teacher is for the best.

The principal leaves the room, making way for the new teacher. I lower my head and open my notebook to the calculus section, which I usually call the notebook of worst nightmares.

"Hello, folks. As the principal said, I'm the new calculus teacher. My name is Joshua Carter."

Whoa

Hold on!

I know that voice and I definitely know that name! I look up and swallow hard several times, it's him!

Oh my God!

I look around the room and see the girls standing like statues, admiring him, and it's no wonder. He's wearing a white shirt and jeans that show off all his wonderful attributes!

I can't believe Joshua will be my teacher!

He turns to the board and starts writing something. Besides being handsome, Joshua also has perfect handwriting. This man is definitely the epitome of perfection.

Then he turns to the class, but he's not actually looking at a specific point.

"Now I will explain my teaching method: I assign a project and a test, each worth five points, and I should warn you that there are no makeup tests."

He speaks sternly, unlike the man I met.

And then I realize I'm in trouble. Calculus has always been a difficult subject for me to understand.

"I don't give surprise tests. I always notify in advance. I'll explain the subject, assign exercises, and answer questions. That's how we'll operate for the rest of the year."

He writes "trigonometry" on the board. It's one of the toughest subjects for me, and because I have dyslexia, I struggle to understand it. The numbers get jumbled in my mind, and the signs leave me completely confused.

I can read and write normally. The treatment helped me a lot during elementary school, but numbers still confuse me, even after being discharged by the doctor. He said it would always be a battle and that I'd need people to help me along the way.

He picks up the chalk and starts writing. I quickly begin to copy, jotting down the numbers before I get confused. However, my mind becomes a mess as he writes more and more numbers in sequence.

Joshua begins to explain the subject. Everyone is focused, and I try to understand, but it becomes increasingly difficult when he demonstrates a calculation.

After his explanation, the girls start calling him over with questions, trying to flirt. However, he remains completely polite. I see him walking towards Julia, who sits next to me. She was waving her hand like crazy. I lower my head, pretending to focus on my notebook, which has very little copied material.

He answers Julia's question, and then my heart nearly leaps into my throat as he positions himself next to me.

"Are you able to do it?" Joshua asks, and I raise my head to look at him.

I see his eyes widen, and I blush. Damn!

"Everly," he says softly.

I turn my attention back to the notebook, and he follows my gaze.

"I see you couldn't do it, you barely copied the lesson," he says, not angrily, and I thank him internally.

Then the bell rings, and I grab my materials from the desk as quickly as the Flash.

"I'm sorry, I'll get it from someone," I say, and leave the room as quickly as possible.