Former Teacher

I'm sitting in class as I wait for the new teacher to arrive to cover for Mrs. Channing. Mrs. Channing is due to give birth in a month or so. She is having a little boy, and I cannot wait till she comes back. Before she left for maternity leave, she promised the class that we are going to meet the little pumpkin.

In the meantime, I spent my time waiting for the new teacher by daydreaming of the dream I had last night. I could not get it out of my head. I have been having these same dreams of my six-grade elementary teacher ever since I graduated from elementary, but they have been appearing more often for the past couple of months, and now I know why.

My former teacher from elementary walks in. It didn't take a second guess to see if it was him or not. I could never forget his face and his looks haven't changed one bit. He is wearing khaki pants and a red plaid button-up shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. I lower my head, covering myself with a biology book. I chose the wrong seat to sit at.

Mrs. Channing had us pick our seats at the beginning of the year. I chose to sit by the teacher's desk because she and I are close, and I was her favorite. Mrs. Channing is also friends with my mom, so we are like family towards each other.

I see Mr. Till pass me. He turns around and comes up to me, peaking over the book. "Glad to see you like biology Bella."

He thinks I'm reading the god damn book. I awkwardly sit up. "Ha...ha yeah me too... Go biology!" I say, smiling, help me.

I was never good at science. Mrs. Channing would always come over and tutor me. I have become better since, so I'm glad that I'm approving. Back in sixth grade, Mr. Till was the science teacher and my homeroom teacher, and I would always get a D or C on a test and possibly a B if I was lucky. All the other classes I did well in.

"Hey, wake up."

I hear a soft voice in my ear. I open my eyes to almost falling out of my stool.

"Relax, it's just me." He says, grabbing my arm and catching me.

I rub my druel off my mouth. "Sorry, Mr. Till. It won't happen again..." I look around. "Where is everyone?"

"School ended minutes ago."

"And no one woke me up?"

"I just came back from the science lounge. I left with everyone that walked out."

I look at the clock. "Shit my bus!" I say, grabbing my open bag. "Oh my gosh... I didn't mean to swear. I'm sorry."

"You're all good! Go catch your bus!"

"Thanks!" I say, rushing out and running to the closest exit to the bus lane.

I made it just in time. The bus was ready to turn onto the main road. I plopped my sweaty self down next to a girl. I wipe the sweat off of my head. Gosh, I feel so embarrassed. My old teacher saw me sleeping on the first day he came in. Though, I have done it before in his class a few times. And It's also not new to my classmates. People know me as the girl that always falls asleep in science. Science doesn't excite me. I literally have no interest in it. I don't understand the cell and DNA crap. Like what the hell is tRNA. I mean, people can't blame me for dozing off. It is the last period of the day.

Anyway I made it home. I went up to my room and dropped my bag at the door, and hopped in the shower. My parents are at work, so I have the whole house to myself. I'm considering watching tv or getting into the junk food. My mom is strict on me. She only gives me three hours of screen time, and I hardly get any junk food. For my dad, he is strict but my mom is stricter.

I hop out the shower, and I put on a tank top and sweats. I blow-dried my hair and fixed it into a messy bun. I walk downstairs into the kitchen to get in my mom's craving stash. I took a little of everything. MnM's, small donuts bites from the Tim Hortons box, chips, and chocolate-covered pretzels. I made sure she wouldn't know that I touch it. I took a bite of the messy glazed donut when the doorbell ranged.

I walk over to the front door with my bowl of delicious food. "Mr. Till?" I say, questioning.

He points to his mouth. "You've something there."

"I do? Oh, I do!" I say, turning around, setting my bowl of junk food on the table outside of the front door, and wiping my face with my hand. I turn back around. "What can I help you with?"

"You dropped this earlier." He says, handing me back my phone.

"Oh, wow, thanks! I didn't know it was missing. How did you get my address?"

"School records."

"Right. Well, thank you."

"No problem. I will see you tomorrow."

"You too Mr.- Oh god, it's my mom! She's home early. I can't be seen with this junk food."

She shuts the car door. "Bella baby, could you get the groceries from the trunk."

"Uh... yeah, mom," I say, looking embarrassed.

My mom walks up to the porch with groceries in her hands. "Oh, is this your replacement tutor? Hi I'm-"

"Mom, no, he's my new science teacher that is filling in for Mrs. Channing."

"Well, nice to meet you! I'm Lisa. Bella's mom. You look familiar." She says, trying to remember.

"Yes, I was your daughters six grade teacher."

"Oh, wow! She talked about you all the time. You were her favorite. She showed me you in the yearbook once or twice. I wanted to meet you all those times in the parent meetings, but I got too busy."

"All understandable, Mrs. Campbell."

"Well, I'm going to go get those bags..." I say, walking away in humiliation.

"Bella! Are you eating junk food again! I told you not too!"

"Shit." I say, shutting the trunk."

"Oh, it's my food, Mrs. Campbell. Bella gave me a snack."

"That is unhealthy for you!"

I walk back up to the front porch carrying two bags full of food. "Mom it's like you don't eat it too."

"Mr. Till let me make you a healthy dinner. I'm sure Bella doesn't mind you staying."

"Please call me Lucas, and that sounds wonderful."

"Come along now." My mother says, walking inside.

"Let me take one." Mr. Till says, taking a bag from my arms.

"Oh, okay, thanks."

We step into the kitchen. I set the bag on the island. Mr. Till sets his next to me.

"What should we make." My mother says as she puts away the groceries in the fridge.

"Anything. I'm starving."

"Let me cook something up. I haven't used my cooking skills in a while." Mr. Till suggests.

"Sure! Make yourself at home. I will be in my office down the hall." My mom says, leaving me and Mr. Till alone.

He walks around the kitchen, opening random drawers. He turns around and faces me. "Do you have chicken breast, eggs, crumbs, and seasonings?"

"Uh yeah. Let me get by you real quick." I say, squeezing by him. I open the cupboard with the seasonings and crumbs, leaving Lucas to grab what he wants. I grabbed out the chicken and eggs from the fridge. I set them on the island.

"Thanks. And your pans...?"

"There in the oven. Want me to get them?"

"No, you're good." He says, walking over to the stove. He sets the pan on the stove. "Shoot my phone is going to die, and I need it for the recipe. Do you have a phone charger."

"What type of phone?"

"iPhone XR."

"Sorry I don't, I have a Samsung."

"I think I might have one in the car. I will be right back." He says, walking out.

This is my chance to eat the rest of my junk food. I look out the window next to the front door. He hasn't reached his car yet, and my mom is busy in her office. I shove the food inside my mouth, chewing it quickly. The door opens to Mr. Till staring at me. With the full mouth of food, I smile and say hi.

He laughs. "Couldn't wait till dinner?"

I swallow the last bite. "Don't tell my mom, please. She doesn't let me eat junk food, and I was craving it."

"I could see. Everyone needs junk food once in a while."

We walk back into the kitchen. I sit down at the diner table, watching him get prepared. "Thanks for saving me earlier."

"No problem Bella." He says, cutting up the parsley.

"What are you cooking?" I say, curiously.

"You will see. Now tell me about you. I haven't seen you in about five years. What's new?"

"Nothing has changed. Still sucking in science."

"I could help if you want. High school grades are important."

"That is right Bella." My mom says, walking in. "Where is your tutor?"

"I don't know," I say, going on my phone.

"Maybe Lucas could be your tutor. I never trusted the other one-off that website."

"I don't mind." He says.

"Great! It is settled." She says, smiling.

"Okay, then..." I say with no choice.

"Go get appropriate clothes on young lady."

"These are cozy though."

"Don't argue. Upstairs now."

I walk upstairs to my room to change into something more suitable for my mother's taste. I put on a bra, jeans, and a comfortable sweater. I stayed in my room for a while until dinner was done. Making conversation was weird enough, but now he is my tutor, and teacher, this is going to be great. I jump into my bed with earbuds in my ears to watch my Netflix show. The Vampire Diaries. Damon is such a hottie. I want him sooo bad.

"Dinner is done." Mr. Till says, tapping me on the shoulder.

"Oh, hi! Uh great. I will be down in a sec." I say, taking out my earbuds from my ears.

"Dinner looks marvelous." My mom says as she cuts into her chicken.

"Mom wheres dad?" I say, pulling out the chair.

"He had to work late."

"Again?"

"You know his job."

I sigh.

"So Lucas, how old are you?" My mom says, drinking her champagne.

"Twenty-nine, but I will turn thirty in August."

"Big thirties. Miss those days. Bella is turning 17 in August."

He takes a bite of his food. "Wow, seventeen. I remember her being such a young age."

"Oh, I know! I miss her young. My baby is far gone."

"She is 17 and going into senior year, correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

He looked at me. "Looks like you're late to the party. "

"Tell me about it," I say, getting a word in before my mom disrupted.

I pick at my food as I watch my mom and Mr. Till have a conversation.

"Hunny, you hardly touched your plate. You said you were starving." My mom butts in.

"I'm not that hungry anymore. I had a wonderful snack earlier." I say, trying to keep it normal.

I look at Mr. Till across from me. He is about to burst out a laugh. I know what he is thinking. I kick his leg so he wouldn't expose me.

"Eat your food. Don't be rude. Lucas made a wonderful meal for us." My mom says, strictly.

"Oh, it's okay. No worries." He says without a fuss.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, ma'am." He replies.

It was time for Mr. Till to leave. I'm kind of thrilled and sad. It was nice to see him again, but It's awkward.

"Thanks for dinner, it was lovely," I say, standing with Lucas by the front door.

"You barely tasted it." He says, laughing.

"From what I did taste, it was lovely."

"I will take that."

"Well, I don't feel good. I think I ingested too many sweets."

"Go get some rest. And before I leave, your mom and I talked about me coming every Monday, Wednesdays, and Friday for me to tutor."

"Three days? Sheesh. Mrs. Channing did two."

"Well, she wants me to keep a watch on you."

"A watch on me? You're sounding like a babysitter."

"Well she said something about a trip, and they want me to watch over you."

"You are confusing me."

"Go talk to your mom about it. I think she is planning it soon."

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Till."

"I will see you tomorrow and please call me Lucas outside of school. You make me sound old."

"You are getting old..."

"Don't remind me."

"Alright, drive safe," I say, shutting the door.