Malik For Student Body President {Ziam Student/Teacher}

IV

"The first thing you have to keep in mind when it comes to public speaking is that there is always someone more scared than you are," Mr. Payne said, circling me very predatory. I swallowed nervously and gave him a shaky nod, even though I didn't understand exactly what he meant. "Louis is your closest friend, yes?" I nodded again, "Well, then, for example, Louis is going to be more nervous than you for the speech. He'll want what is best for you and hope you do well,"

  "Louis isn't going to be nervous for me," I breathed pathetically.

Mr. Payne had placed me in the middle of his classroom and stood by his white board, watching my every move.   "Yes, he will be, Zayn,"  

"I seriously doubt it," I shook my head, staring at the floor, "If anything, he is going to be laughing at me,"  

Mr. Payne pressed his lips into a tight line and I tried to get myself to look away from them, but I couldn't. "Then think about me," He said.  

"What?"

"I will be the one worrying about you Zayn," Mr. Payne smiled, walking towards me slowly, "Now, next step, feeling confident,"  

"That's impossible for me," I shook my head, "Honestly, Mr. Payne, thank you for offering your help and trying, but I'm hopeless. I would screw Wednesday up even if I had a professional public speaker teacher helping me. I'm impossible,"  

"Stop that," Mr. Payne snapped, closing the gap between us and putting one hand at the small of my back. It caught me off-guard, but it got even worse when his other hand laid flat against my lower abdomen. I took a shaky inhale of breath and clenched my eyes shut. "This is where your power comes from," Mr. Payne whispered right against my face. He pressed his hand harder into my stomach, leaving a flaming sensation, "Right here. If you speak with confidence and believe in what you say then you can't go wrong, do you hear me?"   He didn't move his hands and my body trembled in his grasp.   "Do you hear me?" He repeated.  

I nodded and mumbled, "Yes, sir,"  

"Good," He let go of me and walked a few steps away before turning again to face me, "Now, I take it you brought note cards with your speech on it?" I nodded again. "Let me see them, Zayn,"   I took the cards out of my pocket and timidly handed them to Mr. Payne. He read them over quickly mumbling, 'this is good' or 'great point' every once in awhile. It was thrilling that he liked my writing so much. I loved making him happy, or seeing him smile at the words I wrote. God, I needed to get a grip. Suddenly he looked up at me, took the cards and ripped them in half.  

"No!" I yelled, stepping forward, grabbing his hands, "Mr. Payne!"

"Yes, Zayn?" He smirked.  

"Those...those were my only cards," I suddenly felt like crying. He then ripped the cards again and again, holding them over my head where I couldn't reach. I grabbed his dress shirt and pushed my head into his chest as I began to cry. "Mr. Payne, please, stop," I begged. I barely saw the pieces of my cards flutter to the ground around my feet, and then Mr. Payne's arms were around me, holding tight.   

"You don't need them," He cooed in my ear as he caressed me, "Stop crying,"  

"I do...I do need them. They were my only ones," I sobbed. I felt like a stupid little baby, crying at the smallest little thing. But I was stressed and scared, and now, upset.   

"No," He whispered, "Shh,"  His lips were suddenly on the top of my head and I closed my eyes, completely not able to believe that this was happening. Mr. Payne was kissing me. I know it was only my head, but he was still kissing me and it was amazing. I savored the feeling, completely forgetting about how upset I had been only seconds ago. "There," He breathed, pulling away, "No more tears,"