I had heard stories about Mrs. Ripley. My older brothers had left the college now that I had started but they would always go on about her tight skirts and low buttoned shirts. I can still remember them fighting over which one she might like more. Attention from her was hard fought, and never lasting. She seemed to have a power over the boys in the college that none would dare acknowledge until off school grounds. Whether she knew this or not was a mystery. I didn't think much of it. She was only a teacher, what's the worst she could do?
But then I joined her class. I remember the first day vividly. I was in no rush so I joined the herd into the classroom. English. It was a relatively small room with small windows and large blinds. When the last few stragglers hurried in and the door shut behind us it felt like we were locked off from the rest of the school.
Maybe a part of me was eager to see if the rumours from my brothers were true, if Mrs. Ripley really was as alluring as they said. So, unconsciously I found myself beelining for a front seat. I dropped my bag, and that's when I looked up.
There she was. Sat at her desk. She hadn't looked up yet. She had the deepest nut-brown hair, curly and frizzy though you could tell some effort was made to tame it. She wore thick black rimmed glasses that sat above a feminine button nose. And her lips -- a subtle red that could only inspire the imagination as to the secrets she could whisper.
I couldn't help it, a strong force, a gravity was drawing my eyeline down.
Her white shirt collar feathered against her neck. I traced the buttons down until I could make out the elegance of her collar bone. The single ray of sunshine from the small windows fell upon her, allowing her pale chest to stand out like marble. I glanced at the bottom of her collar; the gentle curves of her breasts being outlined by the fabric.
I felt a shame grow inside me. Had I been so easily absorbed by this woman already?