MARRIED TO THE ALPHA

Frustrated Ryder

"You should be in your class," she stated, leaving the board marker on her desk and walking towards him.

Evan vigorously shook his head and looked outside the window. "This is not your class, Evan," she tried to explain to him. Evan instantly held her hand and shook his head again. He pointed towards Tasha and wrapped her in a hug. "Aww," she stated. "Let's do one thing," she knelt on the ground. "Let's talk to the principal about it," Evan's eyes twinkled with the idea of the principal letting Tasha be his teacher.

Tasha gave another teacher the responsibility of her class and walked towards the principals office with Evan. She sympathised with the boy but she also knew his father was a nut c***k.

"We have to talk to his father first," the principal sighed and removed his big spectacles from his eyes to the desk. "Let's see how this will work out," he continued as he removed his phone from the pocket and dialled a number. His hands were trembling considering the ruckus Ryder created to remove Tasha from Evan's batch.

"Umm, hello sir," he started immediately after the call was received. However, he did not get a response. "Your son has creating a minor issue, please come...," before he could continue, the call was hung up. It took time for his brain to process how rude Ryder was. He wanted to vent, let it out and shout to express his anger.

His eyes turned to Evan. Instantly, he took loud breaths. Giving a reaction would mean teaching a child wrong things. It would leave a bad impression of him as a principal. With a forced smile he looked at Tasha. "He cut the call."

Tasha rolled her eyes at his response. "This man is just too much." Evan looked at her with pleading eyes. He shook his head as if favouring his dad.

"Evan!" A loud broad voice shouted. The loud voice shook Evan. His eyes widened. He quickly moved behind Tasha. Tasha realised the fear within Evan. She could feel his thumping heart.

"Don't shout, you're scaring the kid," Ryder glared at her with furious eyes.

"Don't teach me how to handle my kid," he rolled his eyes and turned towards Evan. "Come here," he ordered. Instead of listening to his father, Evan remained in the same place wrapping his arms around Tasha.

"You shouldn't have changed the class, Evan wants Tasha to teach him." The principal spoke. Rage built up like deep water currents. Ryder stood still, A wrinkle formed on his nose, with tightened muscled and jaws clenched, he locked his eyes on Tasha.

Tasha swallowed saliva built up in her mouth. Her eyes nervously shifted to the ground. Evan held her hand and looked at her, as if reassuring her not to be afraid. Tasha looked back at him and after taking a deep breath, turned to Evan. "You should always listen to your child," she started. "Let me teach him if that's what he wants," a smirk appeared on Ryders mouth. He raised his eyebrows and spoke, "you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

"Keep your threats to yourself Mr," she squinted her eyes. She grabbed Evans hand and walked towards class three. "I'll teach you from now," a warm smile appeared on her face. Anger built up within Ryder. Not being able to stop himself, he hit the wall at the office. Crumbs of cement fell on the floor, leaving cracks on the wall. The principal was left astonished. Slowly, he staggered backwards to avoid the wrath of Ryder. In a fit of rage, Ryder stormed out of the office.

"Hey," Tasha signalled to Harry who was teaching Evans batch.

"Excuse me class," he raised his hand and walked towards the door.

"Slight change of plans," Tasha chuckled.

Harry's eyes fell on Evan before he spoke, "anha,"

"I am coming back to this class," she raised her eyebrows and gave a forced smile. She felt embarrassed of the constant changes.

Harry shook his head and giggled. "People would assume we are crazy," he handed out the board marker to Tasha. "You're still coming with me after school, right?" Evan pulled Tasha in the class. Tasha suspected something was seemingly strange about Evan's pull. He had strength which a normal kid his age did not have.

Just after Evan ran to his seat, Tasha's eyes turned towards the door. Harry was still standing by the door waiting for a reply. Slowly, she nodded as she tucked hair strands behind her ear. Holding his heart, Harry moved away from the door with a smile which came from deep inside to lighten up his eyes.

Shaking her head, Tasha began teaching the class... "Who can answer this question?" She asked. Everyone raised their hands up excitedly, some students even stood up from their chairs for the teacher to see them. However, one kid did not even bother to listen. His head facing the book on his table. "Evan, can you try to answer?" She asked with hope in her eyes. However, Evan did not even try to speak. Instead, he blankly stared at her.

"No problem," she smiled. "You try to answer," she pointed to another student with the same friendly approach. Soon, the bell rang for break. All the kids rushed outside the door but one.

"Come here, Evan," she signalled him towards her. In a blink of an eye, Evan was beside Tasha, smiling from eye to eye.

"Let's try saying this letter," she started, pointing towards the 'A' written in a book while looking at Evan with struggling eyes. "Come on," she whispered. A blank face was the only response Tasha received. "Okay," she nodded while keeping the book aside. She opened the drawer on her table and removed a small notebook with the pen. "Here, this is for you." Evan took the book with questioning eyes.

"Whenever you have something to tell me, write it in this book," Evan nodded and placed it on the desk to write something.

'I want to show you something,' Tasha read and frowned her eyebrows.

"What is it?"

'It's at my house,' She smiled and stated, "it's okay, you can bring it tomorrow." Evan instantly shook his head and wrote again, 'come with me today so I can show you.' He continuously blinked his eyes and maintained a puppy face infront of Tasha. That was how he usually would get something he wanted from his dad.

"You know your dad, he would kill me if he saw me at your place," Tasha chuckled. Thinking of that man brought bitterness within herself but that immediately disappeared as soon as Evan showed her the notebook again.

'Just this once, I'll do whatever you say then.' Tasha saw this as an opportunity to help Evan begin speaking. She knew his speaking problem was all due to a trauma. Love and care could make his problem disappear. "Okay," a tight lipped smile formed on her lips. Evan moved back to his desk and removed the books for another lesson.

'I hope Ryder doesn't kill me for this,' she thought to herself as she walked outside the class towards the staffroom. The staffroom was a small area with fifty desks joint together. Each teacher had a separate desk allocated to him. Her eyes looked for Harry who was leaning against the wall beside his desk, probably preparing to go for his next class. "Harry," she called out to him. He quickly fixed his posture as soon as he saw her.

"Yeah?" He asked, maintaining a nervous smile.

"I have something urgent to tackle after school," she started with a folded face. "I'm afraid I can't," Harry instantly stopped her. He raised his hand to signal her to stop.

"It's okay if you can't make it," he said in a hoarse and cracky voice. All the nervousness and excitement disappeared by then.

"I'm sorry," she bit her lips to show disappointment. Internally, Tasha was a bit relieved. She didn't know how to put down his offer because she didn't want to offend him. All of a sudden, she had all the guts. Slowly, she walked away from the staffroom for her next class with a cup of tea in her hand.