The Jerk Of A Science Teacher

Tutoring

I rush into science just before the late bell rings. Mr Harris was in the back of the room setting up an experiment. My best friend quickly tiptoed over to me. "You're late again!"

"I know, sorry. My idiot of a brother decided to turn off my alarm after I fell asleep." She laughed.

"Still getting you back after that prank?" I laughed and nodded my head.

"He's not letting it go." A week ago Riley and I had dyed my brother's hair green when he was asleep, he's a very deep sleeper. He went to work with it and now everyone calls him Shrek. So you could say he hates me just now. "Play that song to him."

"What song?"

"The one from frozen." I chuckled.

"I've already tried that. He was not amused." She grinned at me. She opened her mouth to say something when Mr Harris walked to the front of the classroom. "Morning guys." He was returned with grumbles. "I see you're all very energetic this morning." He chuckled. "Well, I have something that you will all love." He paused for dramatic effect and I rolled my eyes. "A pop quiz!" The classroom filled with groans. He started to hand out the test papers. As he got to my desk he whispered in my ear.

"Don't think I didn't notice you coming in late." I shivered, why is it always cold in here?

After we finished our pop quizzes we had five minutes left of free time while he marked them. "How do you think you did?" Riley asked.

"I failed. I know I did."

"Did you understand any of it?"

"Well, I mean some of...Nope, nothing." I stammered. She laughed just as the bell rang.

"I'll see you at lunch." I call after her as she rushes to her next class. She has Miss Thompson who's the strictest teacher in the school. "Hold it right there Miss Miller." I froze in the doorway. I turned and smiled at him. "Yes sir?"

"I've marked your test." That was all it took for me to groan.

"Look, I know I did terrible but I'll try harder." I gave him the answer I thought he would want to hear. He sighed. "That's not going to do it this time Miss Miller. Your exams are this year. You're going to have to be tutored."

"Why?"

"Because unless you want to fail and have to retake this course you're going to have to study."

"Who's going to be my tutor?" Please not some shy kid. Please.

"Me."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll be your tutor."

"When do we start?"

"Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after school if that's ok for you."

"I can't do Monday after school but I've got a free period now if it's ok with you."

"Sure, take a seat." I sat in the second row in the middle. He sat on the desk in front of me. His feet on the chair. "What do you not get?"

"Everything."

"Lets start with the topic we're on just now, the nature of a solvent." I sighed and flipped my textbook to that page. "See, alcohol is a solvent used in preparing some cosmetics because it can dissolve some organic substances. It can do this because one endow the alcohol molecule is non-polar. Meaning that the electronegativities are equal." It kinda made sense. "See it shows you in that picture." He came closer to point out the diagram.

Mr Harris bent over my shoulder. I watched him as he spoke His eyes were bright this time. He didn't seem to notice my watching as he talked, moving his hands around. It seemed he couldn't talk without using his hands. "You get it?" He asked turning his head.

Our noses were suddenly touching. We stood there watching each other, waiting for someone to make a move. He was the first one, he moved forward. "Sir." I whispered. With that he had jumped back. And I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "I think you should go Miss Miller. I'll see you tomorrow." He breathed, running his hand through his hair. "Mr Harris."

"Just go Scarlett." This was the first time he had called me by my first name. I quickly gathered my things and left. I turned back at the doorway to see him sitting behind his desk with his eyes closed, breathing deeply. I turned and walked away