Jain
Jain
" Y ou've got to be shitting me. You're Miss Martin?"
The voice that demanded my attention came from the surly teenager who stood in the doorway, frowning at me with a disgusted expression on his face. I clocked his unironed clothes, the scuffed shoes. The piercings in his ear that I knew he wasn't old enough to have.
"Kellan Clarke?" I asked smoothly, moving my attention back to the papers before me. "Fifteen years old—"
"I'll be blunt with you. I've slept with women older than you," Kellan declared, not moving from the classroom door.
"That's great, Kellan, but I didn't ask for your sexual history. Can you take a seat?"
"Why do I have to call you Miss Martin if you get to call me by my first name?" He pointed out, refusing to move from the doorway.
I'd read a lot about kids like Kellan, and it was my job to help him learn, not make him my friend.
"Because apparently, it's respectful. But you know what, you're right. While we are in this room, you can call me Jain. Now, will you take a seat?" I sighed as he eyed me suspiciously.
"That's a shit name."
"I agree with you again, but please don't swear in front of me. So, Kellan, what's your favourite subject?"
He was swift and witty. I had to give him that. His eyes drifted over me as he chewed on his inner cheek, as though he was weighing me up.
"Sex Education."
"Of course it is. What do you want to do when you leave school?"
"Fuck hoes and sleep."
"Kellan," I began, as his face contorted into a yawn, which he exhaled all over me. I tried not to grimace and instead reached for my coffee.
"Jain?" He smirked back coolly.
"What do your parents do?"
His smile vanished, instantly replaced by a sneer. "Mum's on the dole, and fuck knows where my dad is. Why? Gonna do that psycho shit on me?"
"Psychology, you mean?"
"Don't patronise me. I'm not thick," Kellan thundered, folding his arms angrily across his chest.
"I didn't think you were."
He was silent then, and he nodded at the papers in front of me. "So, what's that shit then?"
"Language, please, Kellan..." I said as he rolled his eyes.
"Fine, Jain . What's with the paperwork?"
"It's all about you. Your scores, marks, and predictions. It's not looking great, but you know that," I said gently, as he raised an eyebrow at me.
"And? I don't care. I can go on the dole too. "
"Is that it, though? Is that what you want for yourself?"
"What are you, a fucking career advisor?" Kellan snapped, jumping to his feet as I sighed internally.
Sometimes I wondered why I chose this line of work when I could've worked with severe special needs or younger children. But, unfortunately, challenging teenagers with needs was beyond difficult.
"Favourite film?" I asked as he stared down at me in surprise.
"What the fuck?"
"Kellan, I'm not going to ask you again. Stop swearing."
"It's how I talk. I can't help it."
I felt for him then because as much as he was trying to make himself a joke, I didn't doubt that he had probably been sworn at daily since he was young.
"I'm not like you, Jain. I come from a single mum household where we have nothing. I never knew my dad, and we never have a big old Turkey at Christmas. We aren't that family," he yelled at me as I nodded.
"Well then, you are like me. Because I came from a single mum, and I never knew my father either."
His eyes narrowed as he looked away, probably more annoyed that I could empathise with him. "So fucking what?"
"So, you can be whatever you want to be.” I shrugged, sitting back and folding my arms. "You can go on benefits like your mother did."
"Are you calling her scum?" Kellan spat now, jumping up again.
"No, Kellan, and you know I'm not," I continued quietly. "Sit down."
He sat back down reluctantly before exhaling .
"Or you can do well in school, go to university and get a damn good job with tons of money. What do you think?"
"8 mile."
I looked at him in confusion before it dawned on me.
"The film?"
He nodded before leaning forward.
"Cus, he came from nothing, built himself up, and still fucked pretty girls." He smiled, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Fair point."
"So, what do we do now, you know my favourite film, and I'm bored. Why don't you tell me your favourite sex position? You look like a doggy kinda girl."
"Kellan! Come on; you can't be inappropriate like that. Stop, or I won't see you again," I warned as he began to smile.
"Oh, I like seeing you, Jain."
"Good. Now I've got some homework for you."
He snorted then as he burst out laughing. "Yeah, right."
"It's up to you if you do it—"
"Which I won't."
I eyed him carefully before I continued. "I want you to write about your favourite film."
"What? Write what?" Kellan said, and I shrugged.
"Write whatever you want. I just want to read it."
He stared at me before standing up and walking towards the door. "When are we next alone together?" He smirked, and I rolled my eyes.
"Be back here tomorrow, same time. With your homework, if you choose to do it."
"Nope. But I might be back. I like you."
With that, he walked away, calling someone's name immediately as he ran down the hallway .
"No running." I sighed to myself before sitting back and thinking about Kellan Clarke.
The door opened, and I looked up with surprise to see a young girl with bright blue eyes looking at me in confusion, a timetable clutched in her hand.
"Oh! Sorry Miss, I'm looking for a Mr Silver? I've got English next, and I've no idea where his class is. I'm new, and I've heard he is mean and—" suddenly, the girl started to cry, and I stood up, handing her a tissue from my desk.
She was startlingly pretty, and she must've been about Kellan's age.
"That's quite alright, don't cry."
The bell rang, and she stared at me in horror as I smiled reassuringly. "I'll take you there, don't worry. You won't be in trouble."
"But—"
"You won't. What's your name?" I kindly smiled as she looked up at me.
"Tamara Oldstein," she answered obediently, her eyes wide.
"Ok, Tamara, let's go."