Page 52 of Apparently, I’m Torture

“You did?”

I nodded, forgetting he couldn’t see me. “Yep.”

“Right. So you’re all caught up then,” he muttered, and it, oddly enough, didn’t seem like he was happy.

I threw him something else. (Oh, but before I continue this conversation, let me add it to my awesomeness list).

2. The module was almost done.

“I’m up to date on the module too. And I’ve created a plan to raise my student exam scores.”

“You… have?” Oof, he sounded more disappointed than ever.

“Yes, but I can’t take all the credit. I showed my notes to Shawn and he helped me put them into an actionable plan. He gave me some resources too, and walked me through how the module could fit into my teaching style, which is great because I didn’t want to overhaul everything about my practice just to suit this one goal–”

I must’ve been rambling, because Trevor felt the need to cut me off. “Shawn helped you? Shawn Jackson?”

“Uh… yes?”

I peeked at Shawn over my cubicle wall, and there he was, clapping Mark (another teacher), on the shoulder for a job well done. He was such a great leader. It did swelly-growy things to my chest to see him like that.

“I thought you hated each other.” Trevor’s voice was like a foghorn in my ear.

“We did, but we called a truce, and now I think we’re maybe, almost, friends again?”

“Even after he pretended you didn’t exist for years?”

“Um… I guess so.”

“Well, did he at least tell you why he did it?”

I stiffened in my seat. “Trevor, you know why.”

“No. All I know is what you and Mia told me. That he said working with you was torture, which, trust me, I can relate to. But it doesn’t explain why he went out of his way to avoid you for so long.”

And that made me grind my teeth. I ended the call, and it wasn’t fair, because I should’ve felt great after telling the head teacher of my faculty about the goals I managed to score. Instead, I was feeling shitty and low. And to add to that? Awesomeness point number three:

3. Stacey was treating me like a regular human being.

Like I said earlier, Stacey came by my desk to thank me for my gesture, and we talked over a few things from our college years.

It felt nice. It felt like a clean slate.

That was until Mia sidled up alongside us holding her nose.

Stacey was wary as she asked, “Does something smell?”

Mia leaned in, hair swishing along her shoulders, and whispered, “Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but your pit-stains are a bit hard to ignore. You might want to freshen up a bit before Shawn notices.”

Stacey’s eyes went wide as she turned and almost ran to the elevator, arms rigid by her sides. Mia cackled.

“Mia, that was low.”

She wiped away a tear. “Oh, I know, isn’t it wonderful? One of my freshmen gave me the idea.”

I cocked my head and drawled, “Well that makes sense. Only you would take inspiration from a freshman.”

She only laughed harder, so I shifted in my seat and tried again. “Do you think maybe we could try being nicer to her? She really saved my ass with the whole tutor thing. Maybe she’s changed.”