Constructive criticism is always welcome :)
Something about the way Mr. Ferguson leered at me in the school hallways set my teeth on edge. It might have had something to do with the hungry look in his eyes or the obvious bulge in his pants. I wanted to tell someone, anyone, but being the new kid transferring in the middle of her second attempt at senior year, I didn't want to upset anybody. Besides, I only had a few more months of high school before graduation.
My grades were ok, barring the disastrous year before when my GPA was too low to graduate with the the rest of my class. My mom ended up having to move again, and this time, she promised this was the last time. I wanted to believe her, so I allowed myself to settle. Part of settling meant not making any waves and reporting the beloved teacher, pervert or not, would make some pretty big waves.
I shoved my notebook into my book bag and pointedly ignored the teacher as I passed him, leaving his public speaking class. I'd resorted to wearing long skirts and turtlenecks. Nothing helped. He still looked at me as if he had X-ray vision and could see my naked body beneath my layers and layers of clothes.
I walked the block or so to our apartment building in a rundown part of town and after changing into an oversized t shirt and sweatpants, I fixed myself a bowl of cereal and sat down to work on my presentation for my next class.
My mom came clattering in a few minutes after six. We looked alike, same round face, strawberry blonde hair and large blue eyes, same lithe athletic body from our daily 5k runs.
"I know I promised to cook tonight..." She began, sounding apologetic. "But I picked up some take out. There's something I want to talk to you about." By then my presentation was long done, so I trailed my way to the kitchen table while she gathered plates and forks.
"I had some cereal so I'm not that hungry." I told her even though the smell of the sweet and sour pork was making my mouth water. She handed me a fork and some chopsticks.
"Sit. Eat." I did as I was told, and she sat down opposite me. We began to eat. Clearing my throat, I decided to broach the subject of my school troubles to the one person I knew I could trust.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"I have a little issue at school..."
"Well, I know just the person who can help." I frowned. "James?" She called and the front door opened. All too aware of my fucked-up luck, I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew exactly who was walking into the kitchen. "Sammy, you remember James? Or you probably know him as Mr. Ferguson." I looked up into his dark brown eyes.
"Hi Mr. Ferguson."
"Please, when I'm on my own time I'm just James."
"This was part of what I wanted to talk to you about, Sammy." My mom, ever the romantic, had stars in her eyes. "We bumped into each other at your orientation and it's been kismet." I grit my teeth. "He says you've been doing so well at school."
"Oh, good." I swallowed thickly. I had no doubt that Mr. Ferguson had ulterior motives for befriending my mother. I wanted to scream but instead, I chased a piece of pork around my plate. James and my mother continued chattering but I couldn't bear to listen.
"Sammy was just telling me about an issue she was having at school."
"No." I said immediately. "It will solve itself, mom. Don't worry about it." My mom placed her hand on top of mine and gave me one of her patented 'concerned parent' looks.
"Are you sure?" She wanted to know. "James will be able to help."
"I'm sure."
We wrapped up dinner quickly. Mom seemed to realize that I wasn't the best company. I sat down on the sofa and listened to them talk. When James excused himself to go to the bathroom, I saw my opportunity.
"Mom..." I began. I walked towards her and sat opposite her. She looked up from her cellphone. "I don't think James is the best person." I grit my teeth when she narrowed her eyes. "I mean, I don't think he's with you for the right reasons..."
"What does that mean?" Her voice was brittle, but I was hopeful I could make her see what I was talking about. I kept one ear trained on the bathroom door, but I couldn't hear anything.
"I just mean I see the way he looks at me at school." My mom's eyes widened. "I think he might be using you to get to me." She scoffed and I felt all my hope dash away.
"Samantha..." I wanted to groan. Using my full name was never a good sign. "Why on earth do you think a grown man, a teacher at that, would be trying to get with a 19 year old student?" She looked genuinely questioning. "Do you hear how insane that sounds?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but you should see the way he looks at me!"
"How?"
"Like he wants to eat me!" I felt the blush creeping up my face. "He has this hungry look in his eyes, I can't explain it."
"Maybe you can't explain it because you're completely misreading the situation." She pointed out blithely. "James has been talking about how anxious he was to meet you in this capacity. Could you be mistaking that anxiety for whatever it is you think you're seeing?" I deflated completely and laid my head on the table. She was never going to believe me. I had to resort to extreme measures. She placed a gentle hand on my arm and I glanced back up at her. "I want this thing with James to lead to some stability in your life Sammy, give him a chance."
The bathroom door opened, and James walked out, smiling at mom and then me.
"Everything ok?" He wanted to know, and my mom glanced at me and grinned. I silently willed her not to do what I knew she was considering. I held back a groan when she said it anyway.
"Sammy here seems to think you have a little crush on her." James seemed stunned and my mother seemed to think that was hilarious. "If you ask me, it might be the other way around..." She spoke in a deliberate stage whisper and I put my head in my hands.
"I'm flattered, Samantha." James shrugged. "Maybe if you were a few years older and not the daughter of the woman I was falling in love with..." Mom seemed to melt. "I might consider it."
They laughed and laughed as though I was the biggest joke, and the rest of the night flew by. I finished my homework, stubbornly refused to take a shower with that man under the same roof as me and, in a fit of divine inspiration, set up my laptop's webcam to have an unobstructed view of my entire bedroom. I listened to music and painted my toenails, waiting. I wasn't entirely sure what for, but I felt like something was going to happen.
Closer to midnight, after I was sure my mother had either left the house or gone to bed, there was a knock at my door. I hurriedly shed my t shirt, threw it into the laundry basket and ruffled my hair so it looked a little like bedhead.
"Come in..." My voice was gravelly. The door opened and just as I suspected, James stepped into my bedroom looking sheepish. "Mr. Ferguson," My voice was deliberately low, bordering on seductive. I wanted to tempt him into revealing his true intentions.