Page 39 of Student Seduction

She averted her gaze away from mine.

Kelsey folded her arms across her chest and I couldn’t help but notice the top two buttons of her shirt were left intentionally undone. This girl. Trying so damn hard. For what? Who the hell was she trying to impress?

“It was a harmless prank, Mr. Singleton. We were just messing around.”

“Nothing is harmless, Ms. Atwell. And I can assure you, if youmess aroundin my class ever again, there will be consequences. Beyond this school. You can be sued for harassment, and I’d be happy to testify that I witnessed the harassment first hand. Think your parents would be okay with being dragged into court?”

I was bluffing a little, but apprehension flickered across her face.

“I doubt my parents care either way,” she said quietly.

Ah, so there it was. Negative attention was better than no attention.

“Okay,” I said easily, reaching for the office door. “Let’s go then.”

“Wait,” Kelsey broke in. “We just leave her alone and that’s it, right?”

I nodded. “For the rest of the year.”

She glanced at Annika who looked bored.

“Okay, fine.”

“And you apologize to Emersyn. I happen to know that rumor is false and I want you both to think about something.”

Kelsey frowned but I had her attention.

“In the future, maybe think about how very little you know about anyone else’s life, about what they might be going through. Then think about the things in your own lives you hope no one ever finds out. And remember, karma is very real.” I let that sink in. “For the record, when your entire existence revolves around making other people miserable, trust me, from an adult perspective, it says a lot more about you than them.” I look them both of them in the eyes, Annika first then Kelsey. “And what it says is that your life, and what you think of yourself, must be really, really sad.”

My voice drips with false sympathy and disdain. Kelsey’s eyes widen and I hope she gets the point. But more than anything, I hope she leaves Emersyn the hell alone.

“Can we go back to class now?” Annika asked quietly.

I gave a quick upward jerk of my chin. “Yeah. Go.”

They both moved quickly, which I appreciated.

I took a deep breath, hoping the crisis has been averted and began trudging back to my room. Shit, it was only first period.

When I passed the doors to the back stairwell, I heard it.

A soft sobbing sound, like someone whimpering.

I was told no one ever used this stairwell since the newer part of the building had been added on.

I stopped, pulled the heavy metal door open and the noice cut off immediately.

But I knew she was here. I could feel her.

“Emersyn?” I called out gently.

A sniffle. Then shuffling.

“I’m fine,” she said from below me.

I glanced down to see her peeking out from under the stairs with red-rimmed eyes. The pit, the students called it. I remembered from new teacher orientation that the Principal said some kids sneak down there to smoke but no one really ever bothered policing it. The faint scent of ashes clung to the air.

I jogged down the stairs to the pit and just like the carnival last month, I wanted to fix this for her. I wanted to take her pain away and console her.