Page 3 of Jain

“Jain with an I. Got it. Thank you, Jain,with an I.”

There was a snicker around the classroom as I sank back into my seat. So, Mr Silver had a smart mouth. I wasused to the comments about my strangely spelt name, another sign my mum was too young when she had me.

He told us to get out our books, and I noticed everyone did so somewhat obediently, which was unusual. Since mine was already out, I raised my hand cautiously.

His green eyes glanced over to me before he spoke.

“Is there a problem?”

“Uh, no. I just wanted to know what happened to Mrs Fern?” I asked innocently, wondering where my favourite teacher had gone.

He blinked before he answered.

“Well, all you need to know is that she isn’t here. Any other mundane questions? Or do you mind if I continue with the class?”

His voice was devilishly deep and fierce, and I felt like he had slapped me in the face.

What the hell was his problem?

“No,” I whispered.

“No, what?” Mr Silver drawled as whispers flew around the class.

“No,thank you?” I offered, shrugging my shoulders with disinterest.

“I didn’t offer you a cup of coffee; I answered your question. You can refer to me as Sir. So, noSirwould suffice. I didn’t realise I was teaching basic manners today. I thought this was the final year of school?”

I tried to find my voice when I heard someone call out from the back of the class.

“I make her call me Sir when she’s on her knees.”

I scowled, turning around to see Harley pouting at me playfully.

“You wish,” I spat back, as a loud clap from the front of the table made me jump.

“Your extracurricular activities do not concernme,Harley.But if a girl were on her knees before you, I would imagine she would only need to call you ‘Sir’ if you were teaching her something, so I’ll leave that there, shall I?”

There were cries of laughter and hoots at Harley’s expense as he flushed furiously.

I couldn’t help but grin as I turned back to the front.

“Presentations are delayed. I’d rather do a test to see where you are knowledge-wise.”

There were curious murmurs around me, some happy as they hadn’t prepared for the presentation, the others pissed that they had a test.

Me? I’d rather not do any.

The test seemed to take forever as I gazed at my paper. I had no idea what half of the questions he was asking me even meant, let alone what the answers were.

We handed it in at the end of class, and I left it on his table, conscious that everyone else had written more than me.

“Anything else, Jain?”

I looked up in surprise, yet again finding myself staring at him. His eyes were flecked with grey, and they were narrowed at me.

“No,” I stammered as Harley walked up behind me, his arm around my shoulders as we walked away.

Mr Silver dropped his gaze immediately, collecting the papers into his hands as I turned away.