Page 20 of My Family

"Hey, Ms. Sparks," he calls out. "Is it true you used to be a stripper? 'Cause my boy here says he saw you dancing in Queens."

Every eye turns to her, some boys laughing.

She turns, not concerned at all. "You ever seen a stripper in real life?"

He grins, thinking he's won.

She keeps going. "Because I can assure you, none of them look like me. I don't even own a push-up bra, let alone the kind of heels that would send me straight to the ER. But I admire the question. You really took a risk there." She walks over, so she's standing right in front of him. "Do you want to see me strip? Or is this just you trying to look cool for your friends?"

Nick looks flabbergasted.

She lowers her voice, but the whole room can hear. "Let me make something really clear. I survived four years of foster care, two years teaching kids more dangerous than any of you in juvie, kids who actually stabbed someone, and a whole-ass master's degree where my thesis was literally about dealing with boys who try to get a rise out of women teachers. So unless you have something genuinely new and original, you can save your attempts for the next teacher, because I will send your ass to Mr. Griff's office faster than you can say 'sexism.'"

She turns to the rest of the room. "Anyone else want to try it? I have no problem sending disrespectful guys to the Hole. It's a lot quieter there, from what I hear. Otherwise, let's keep it above the belt. Metaphorically and literally."

Nobody says a word. A few heads go down, some faces flush red, but the energy in the room shifts instantly. She's not just in control, she's un-fuck-withable.

Jack catches my eye and mouths "Holy shit" with a grin.

Nick tries to recover, mumbling, "Sorry," but she's already back at the front, completely ignoring him.

I look over at Ethan, expecting him to be impressed. Instead, he's got that tight-jawed look, suspicion radiating from every line of his body. I remember what happened with Shadow. Ethan doesn't trust adults who act like they want to help. Especially in here.

The rest of the period goes by in a blur. Vikki circulates, giving actual feedback, positive, specific. She also tells people to shut up twice more and has to break up an argument between two guys, Robinson and Sammi, before it could become a fight. But no one else challenges her and things go as smoothly as they can in here.

As the bell for lunch sounds, Vikki stands at the door, high-fiving any kid who will take it. Not everybody does. Some scowl, others give her mocking looks, but she manages a few high-fives.

When I pass her, she says to me, while looking at Ethan, "Tell your friend at the back he can sit this class out, but I'm going to keep trying. Everyone has an art form. Maybe his is intimidating people. Which is an art, in its own way."

"Yeah," I say, still grinning. Ethan's face is still blank. "He's got that down."

"Here, for you." Vikki hands Jack a reference book. "Study."

Jack holds it as if it's the Holy Bible and can't even muster the strength to say thanks.

I slip into the hallway, catch up to the others. Jack is practically floating, already flipping through the reference book like it's contraband.

"That was the best class I've had in this place," he declares. "Ever."

Miles, uncharacteristically, agrees. "She's smart," he says. "Knows her stuff."

I look back through the classroom window. Vikki is already cleaning up, humming to herself, boots tapping the floor in time to a song only she hears.

Ethan's waiting by the lockers. He gives me a once-over.

"People like her don't usually last here. Don't get too attached."

I want to argue, but I know him too well. It won't change his mind. I'd rather just see if she can actually survive us.

"You're being too bitter," Jack says. "Not every new teacher is going to be another Shadow." Miles actually nods. Ethan doesn't say anything but keeps his sour expression.

Chapter 8. Liam

Later, I try to shut up about Vikki's class, but I can't stop replaying the hour. Vikki's hair, her boots, the way she burned down Harry and Nick without even raising her voice. The way she talked to Miles, like he was an actual person, and let him draw stuff he cares about, and how she allowed Ethan to do other stuff.

Ethan is walking next to me, and every time I start talking, he answers with less than the minimum number of words required to acknowledge my existence. We're going to the gym, after Quiet Time and before MMA.

"Did you see how she got Harry to shut up?" I ask. "Like, in one sentence. He's never been quiet that fast in his life."