Clashing Titans

Mr. Williams eyed Andy curiously as he trudged into the staff room, slumping into a chair. 

"How'd your first day go?" Andy sighed heavily. 

"Well, it was...interesting, I guess." He paused, searching for the right words. 

"There's this girl, I felt so anxious just having her in my class. Her piercing gaze gave me chills." Williams chuckled. 

"Since when did you become such a poet? I thought you were just a simple music man."

"The thing is," Andy continued, "that girl was the same one from the wallet incident. I never expected her to be one of my students." He shook his head slowly. 

"I spent all day racked with guilt over how I treated her. But after finally speaking to Ashley in person... I don't feel bad anymore."

Williams cocked an eyebrow. "Ashley??? Did you say Ashley?... Her name wouldn't happen to be Ashley Whitmore, would it?" 

Andy froze, ice water flooding his veins. "Y-Yeah, I believe that's the name her friend used. Why?"

"Oh, Andy..." Williams grimaced. "If you're not mistaken, you could be in serious trouble. 

Ashley's father is Baron Whitmore - one of the wealthiest businessmen in all of Deux and a major investor in this school. If she decides to make a fuss about this, her dad could have you fired like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis.

Andy's heart pounded in his ears as the weight of William's words washed over him. 

This prestigious job he had worked his whole life for was now hanging by a thread because of one entitled student. 

He clasped his clammy hands together, nails digging into his skin.

"W-What do I do?" he asked desperately. "I can't lose this position over some spoiled brat holding a grudge!"

"In my opinion?" Williams said with a sigh. "Your only hope is to apologise to her or maybe grovel at her feet and pray she decides to forgive and forget..."

***

The doorbell rang at the Whitmore mansion. Ashley instructed the butler to see who it was. She wasn't expecting anyone other than her friend Hannah.

As soon as Hannah arrived, the two girls hurried up to Ashley's room - the only place they could talk freely without the household staff or Ashley's strict bodyguards listening in. 

Even the air felt like it had ears in that stifling prison of a mansion.

Hannah shut the door behind them. 

"There you are reading a magazine as usual," she teased, plopping down on the plush chaise. 

"While the rest of us are obsessing over the new music teacher's good looks."

Ashley rolled her eyes as she tossed the magazine aside. 

"Oh please, that's exactly why I keep my phone off. I don't need to be part of those silly conversations."

"Well they're not wrong - Mr. Andy is quite handsome," Hannah went on with a sly grin. "I heard he seemed really nervous during class today, but it was almost...cute?"

Ashley's eyes narrowed as she joined her friend out on the balcony. "He was anxious because of his guilty conscience. That's the man from the wallet incident I told you about - the one who loudly accused me of being a thief in front of everyone!"

Hannah's jaw dropped in surprise. "Wait, seriously? But Mr. Andy doesn't look nearly as old as you described!"

"Exactly," Ashley said darkly. "So now that I've met my false accuser again, what should I do? Get my parents to fire him or..."

"Why would you do that?" Hannah's eyes widened. "Just make him suffer with your icy cold shoulder. That'll be punishment enough!"

Ashley smirked, admiring her friend's deviousness. "You're right. Just despising him is payback enough."

The next morning, Mr. Andy strode into the school feeling determined. 

He clutched a gift bag containing an expensive bouquet and box of chocolates - his offerings to get back in Ashley's good graces after the wallet fiasco. 

He had planned to give her the gifts after class, but couldn't wait that long to try making amends. So during his free period, he tracked down the cafeteria attendant.

"Please make sure Miss Ashley receives this," he said, handing over an envelope with a handwritten note and some cash to cover her lunch fee. "It's very important."

At lunchtime, the cafeteria line was brutally long as usual. Ashley got in queue with Hannah, not noticing the whispering lunch ladies gesturing their way.

"No need to pay today, miss," the attendant told Ashley when she reached the front. She passed over the envelope from Andy. "Your meal has been covered, with this note for you."

Ashley froze as soon as she saw the familiar scratchy handwriting. 

She ripped open the envelope and pulled out the note, hands trembling with anger:

## Please meet me in the music room before 5th period. I won't take long. - Mr. Andy.

How dare he summon her like a dog after the humiliation he put her through! Ashley crumpled the note in disgust and shoved it back into the envelope, storming off without a word as a confused Hannah trailed behind.

When 5th period arrived, the students filed into the music room. Ashley strode in confidently, head held high, pretending not to notice Andy's hopeful gaze in her direction. 

Throughout the engaging lecture, she had to admit - Andy was quite a skilled instructor. 

For a few fleeting moments, she almost forgot her loathing towards him as she became immersed in music theory.

But then Andy started quizzing the class. "Ashley, what are the names of the lines and spaces of the treble clef?" he asked pointedly.

Ashley sighed, seeing right through his tactic, but answered correctly. To her mortification, Andy demanded the whole class give her a round of applause. 

Then, he strode over and pushed the bag of chocolates into her hands as a "reward."

Was he out of HIS MIND?

Cheeks burning, Ashley wanted to melt into the floor as all her classmates gawked at her - some envious, some snickering. 

Especially her rival, Angel, who looked like she was seconds away from erupting into a jealous tantrum.

Ashley knew this "reward" wasn't about her right answer at all. Mr. Andy was just making another pathetic attempt to buy back her good graces in front of everyone, only serving to further embarrass and demean her in the process.

She opened her mouth, ready to unleash her fury upon him. The oblivious teacher had just made an extremely dangerous enemy.