The truth was, boys had been the last thing on my mind since the accident. Mr. Reid was the first guy I’d actually let myself be attracted to. That scared me a little, but knowing it wouldn’t go anywhere was comforting.
On the way home, I stopped to use the bathroom. I was about to leave the stall when the door opened. Fucking great: it was Paige and her buddies. I quietly sat down, not game enough to leave until they had.
“How hot is Mr. Reid? I’d let him fuck me any day of the week,” giggled Paige. Her friends laughed and agreed he was hot, arguing over who would have the best chance with him.
“Have you seen my tits? Obviously I’m going to win. No guy can resist these.”
I covered my mouth, smothering a laugh. That had to be Stacie. She was always going on about her breasts, which, in my opinion, weren’t all that.
“Whatevs. You’ll all be paying up when I win. And I’ll be using that money to buy some sexy lingerie for when I fuck him,” Paige retorted. They all laughed and left the bathroom.
What the hell was that about? Fumbling in my backpack for my phone, I texted Kass.
Held up in the bathroom. Bitches talking about a bet and Mr. Reid. Gossip?
Kass might be an outcast, but she knew everything that was going on in this place, and usually right after it happened. My phone beeped.
Lol yeah. Who is going to kiss him first. Puke. Winner gets close to a grand. Think I’ll win? ;)
I sniggered and shoved my phone in my pocket. Only here would this happen. These girls were insane. Someone should really warn the poor guy. He really had no idea what he was in for.
Chapter Three
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Dalton
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I pulled the classroom door shut, trying to ignore the group of giggling girls standing to my left, staring at me. I was slowly getting used to the attention—being the only male teacher at this school under the age of fifty, it sort of came with the territory. They eventually moved off down the hall, but not before more whispering and giggling. I shook my head and locked the door.
“They have a pool, you know.”
I turned around. She was leaning against the opposite wall, her head tilted to the side as she studied me with her deep green eyes. Her long dark hair hung in waves down her back. She looked familiar, but that wasn’t surprising, considering she was probably in one of my classes.
“A pool?” I repeated, bemused.
“Yes. Like, a betting pool. On who is going to be the first to kiss you.” She shook her head and smiled as she rolled her eyes. “The winner gets nearly a thousand dollars.”
I laughed. That explained a lot, actually.
A week ago I was an unemployed teacher fresh out of college. Ready to take on the world, I could handle anything—at least, I’d thought I could. After less than a week here, I was beginning to regret my decision to teach high school students—especially when those students consisted only of hormonal teenage girls. This place was my idea of hell.
What the fuck had I been thinking?
Teaching at a prestigious girls’ boarding school was a role I hadn’t contemplated, nor did I think I’d ever stand a chance in hell of getting—and I probably wouldn’t have, if it hadn’t been for the headmistress being an old friend of my mother’s. Yes, even though I was twenty-three, Mom was still interfering in my life. One call had gotten me an interview, and from there I had scored the job. My perfect grades, outstanding recommendations, and great outlook on life were just what they needed, apparently.
It was ironic, all things considered, that they saw me as a fresh, look-on-the-bright-side kind of guy when the reality was so different. I guess I was better at internalizing my feelings than I thought.
I looked at the girl again, trying to place her. She was in one of my classes, but so early on, all the girls blended into one another.
That’s right. Wrenn . . . something.
Quiet and studious, she was one of the few girls I had crossed here who seemed to have some sort of plan for her future. Of course, that assessment was based off a couple of lessons and one homework assignment, but I got the feeling that most of the girls couldn’t plan past their outfits for the next weekend.
“You’re in my history class, right?” I asked her.
She nodded and smiled, adjusting the strap on her backpack over her shoulder. “Wrenn. I’m in your Monday morning and Thursday afternoon classes. History and Sociology.” She blushed suddenly, her eyes growing wide with horror. “I’m not part of the pool,” she added quickly.
I laughed as her face went red.
“I mean, not that I don’t think you’re attractive, but—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted—mostly to stop her from digging a deeper hole for herself. “Just quit while you’re ahead.” I chuckled as she cringed again. “Anyway, I appreciate the heads up.” I winked and walked past her down the now empty hall. “See you Monday,” I called.
I made my way to the teacher’s lounge, thinking about what Wrenn had told me.