Teach Me

Chapter Five

"You have fifty minutes to complete the test. No cell phones out at any time, please," Mrs. Walkins explains, pacing in front of the class.

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and I hear about ten other people in the room do the same.

You know this material, relax...

I make eye contact with Chelsea who's a couple rows over and we both nod our heads, silently saying good luck.

The room goes silent except for the sound of pens against paper. I never had test anxiety before but for some reason, it's hitting me like a ton of bricks right now. I glance around the room to everyone else dutifully writing.

Focus, Allie...

My eyes land on my paper and I slowly start answering question after question. I push the fact that my scholarship rides on these grades into the back of my mind but then James comes waltzing into my thoughts.

Not right now...

Remembering his promise, I squirm in my seat as the feelings flood back to me. Not only do I want him physically more than anything in my whole life, I also want to make him proud.

More determined than ever, I finish the test confident that I will get the grade I need. I hand it in and work on some extra homework until the fifty minutes is up.

***
Everyone hands their tests in and you can see there's about a 50/50 divide in the expressions on everyone's faces as they think about how they did. There's the 'that was easy look' and the 'holy shit, I should just drop out now' look.

The instructor is just about to begin going over the next chapter when the door opens and my mouth drops along with every other girl in the room.

James strolls in, casually walking up to Mrs. Walkins and there's an outbreak of whispers. He's in black slacks with a dark blue button up that's peaking out from under a white lab coat. A stethoscope draped around his neck, he looks like the doctor every girl hopes walks in their room.

Dear Lord, I'll be your patient...

They quietly exchange words and I'm trying to read their lips to figure out why he's there.

"OK everyone, this is Mr. Riley. He's a graduate from this program and is now in our pre-med program. He will be helping me with class today,"

Mr. Riley...

As she's speaking, his eyes scan the room.

I know what you're looking for...

His face is serious until his eyes land on mine. A devious grin spreads across his face and I find myself squirming again.

I glance at Chelsea and she's looking at me with her brows furrowed.

What's that about?

"I'll let him take over for a few while I start grading these tests," she says to us and then smiles and nods at James, cueing him to take over.

"I remember that first test. I was sweating bullets," he says and everyone laughs. "I hope you all did well," his eyes land on mine again.

Fuck me...

"So, I'm just here to help with some basics," he walks over to the skeleton on wheels and pulls it to the front. "Wouldn't it be easy if all of our patients looked like this?" He points at it. "Hopefully, they don't," who knew he was funny?