Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
SIMONE
“Mr. Ruiz. Can I see you for a moment?”
Xander’s head popped up from the book he’d been looking at.
It was a rule in my classroom that if you finished your test early, you had to find something quiet to do while the rest of the students finished.
Phones didn’t count, and would be confiscated, so most students read a book or doodled to pass the time.
Pushing out of his seat, he shuffled past the lines of desk, snickering as one of his friends tried to trip him.
I shot the boy a look and he quickly gave his attention back to his test. I was known to be a little strict and none of the students wanted my attention solely on them if they could help it.
“Yeah?” Xander asked in a hushed tone as he stopped on the opposite side of my desk.
Sliding his test back to him, I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve improved a lot. Have you been studying with your brother?”
He looked down at his test, then beamed at me. “Nah, Mattias sucks at math. Prez has been helping me with math. Mel helps me with science.”
I nodded slowly. When he first arrived, Xander had been through a difficult time in his home life and was struggling to catch up with the coursework he’d missed while living in an abusive household.
He joined my study group closer to testing times, but he’d been improving on his own lately.
I was glad he had adults in his life supporting him now.
“Well, keep doing what you’re doing. And maybe get Mr. Michaels to study with you from time to time. Perhaps a motorcycle crew would get through to him more than I have.”
Xander snickered, heading back to his desk with his chin lifted proudly and a smile on his face.
I felt a smile tug at my lips. When he first arrived, covering his bruises with makeup and hiding under too large hoodies, I’d been worried for him.
He was thriving now, thanks to his brother’s influence.
And the influence of the motorcycle club, apparently.
He’d put weight on, his hair had grown out, and he no longer looked moments from running out the door.
Maybe I needed to mention that to Zero. The crew had a positive influence on Xander.
They might be able to help with Jasper as well.
My gaze flicked to the troubled boy automatically.
Considering his hunched position and the way he was staring at his lap, I assumed he was looking at his phone.
And while Zero might not be willing to take it, I couldn’t allow him to have it in class.
He tucked it away when I stood, but I put my hand out anyway, giving him a long look until he gave in and slapped the device into my palm.
“You can have this back after class. Have you finished your test?”
He glanced at the test, then back at me, eyes narrowing slightly. “I wasn’t cheating.”
Handing him back the phone, I raised my eyebrows. “Prove it.”
He looked startled, but I remembered what Zero said about Jasper’s phone. He said Jasper needed updates on his baby sister to feel more secure. If he opened the phone and there was a text thread from Zero, I’d assume he was telling the truth. If not, then I’d need to dig a little deeper.
Begrudgingly, he typed in his password and handed it back. The phone opened to a picture sent earlier in the day if the time stamp was correct. Jasper’s little sister chewing on a toy and looking at something outside the picture. So Zero was right then.
“Like I said, you can have this after class. Stick to using it between classes or next time it’ll go to the principal.”
He grumbled and slumped in his seat, arms crossed, but didn’t argue. The threat Zero had given him must have been enough to keep his head on straight for now.
Returning to my desk, I tucked Jasper’s phone in the top drawer and locked it to ensure no one tried to take it when I wasn’t paying attention. Then, because I had his contact information, I sent an email to Zero.
Dear Mr. Fletcher,
While I understand the device is meant to help ease Jasper’s anxiety, it might be best to not send him messages during class hours.
It’s a distraction and I’ve had to take it away so he could focus on his work.
I suggest messaging him at lunch. A copy of his class schedule can be found on the parent portal for more information.
Sincerely,
Simone Brooks
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned to watch two students lean closer to whisper to each other. They were done with their tests, but talking wasn’t allowed.
“Students, let me remind you that if you’re caught talking, you’ll receive a zero on this test, whether or not you’ve finished it. If you are done, find something quiet to do.”
The pair jerked apart, feigning innocence, and pulled out notebooks instead.
I knew they’d eventually start trying to pass notes, but until they were caught in the act, I could do nothing about it.
I turned back to my computer when an alert dinged, pulling up the newest email from Jasper’s guardian.
Dear Ms. Brooks,
Noted.
P.S. If I say pretty please, will you call me Zero?
A smile threatened and I had to work to hide it.
If my students saw me smiling at my computer, they’d likely think I was designing some new way to torture them.
I typed out a reply while simultaneously shooting a warning look at one of the girls in the back who was fishing in her backpack for her phone.
I knew that’s what she was looking for because I’d caught her doing it several times prior.
She removed her hand slowly, looking anywhere but at me.
Mr. Fletcher,
I’m a math teacher. Calling someone Zero sounds like a bad word problem. Unless you’re willing to tell me the importance of the name?
Simone Brooks
The reply came within minutes, and I very nearly laughed out loud.
Nope. Not gonna happen. That’s not an appropriate story.
But if Zero isn’t working for you, call me Elias.
Copying his reply from before, I sent one last email before returning my attention to my students.
Elias,
Noted.
Simone
I was finishing my lunch when I noticed Jasper peeking into my classroom.
He jerked back when he saw me, likely hoping he’d gone unnoticed.
Wiping my hands on my napkin, I stood and walked to the door, poking my head out.
He was trying to tiptoe away and froze with one foot still lifted when I spoke to him.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Reed?”
Turning comically slowly, he faced me, quickly donning his mask of irritation. “No!”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Want to try again, or should I be speaking with your guardian about your behavior. This would be strike two today.”
Horror flashed across his face and he deflated, shoving his hands into his pockets and glaring at the floor. “Sorry, Ms. Brooks,” he grumbled.
“Apology accepted. Now, how can I help you? Shouldn’t you be at lunch right now?”
His face twisted and I could tell he wanted to lash out again, but he seemed to think better of it, his words sharp as he did his best to maintain politeness. “I was wondering if I could see my phone. I want to check on my sister.”
Studying him for a moment, I considered his request. For most students, I wouldn’t allow it.
Taking away a student’s phone was a punishment that often only happened once or twice.
An entire day without their device was usually enough for them to learn their lesson.
Remembering Elias’s thoughts on why Jasper was so attached to the device and on his sister’s wellbeing made me soften.
“You can call your guardian for an update on your sister, but I’ll need it back once you’re done.”
He didn’t argue for once, nodding sharply and following me back into my classroom.
He sat at a chair in front of my desk, accepting his phone when I handed it to him.
I wondered for a moment if he’d do something stupid like try to run off with it, but he stayed put, texting instead of calling for an update.
While he waited on a reply, I finished my lunch and packed it away, turning my attention to the rest of the tests I hadn’t gotten to grading from earlier.
Jasper’s coincidentally was on top, and I pulled it closer, looking over the work he’d done.
It was obvious at first glance that he was faking that he didn’t understand.
He chose to pick a few questions to answer and leave the rest blank, likely to make it look like he didn’t understand the material.
He didn’t seem to realize he picked the harder questions to answer instead of only answering the easier ones.
Most students thought teachers put the hard questions at the end, but I mixed them in with easier ones so those who weren’t interested in trying, like Jasper, wouldn’t realize what was happening.
He answered several of the harder questions, including a bonus I put in there just to test how much my students had learned thus far.
He didn’t show his work on all of it, but the answers were correct and I could tell he erased some of the notes to pretend he was just answering randomly.
A buzz drew my attention back to Jasper, who stared at his phone with an irritated scowl, shooting back a reply with extra relish like whatever Elias had sent him wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
“Is everything alright?”
“It’s fine,” he grumbled, slouching a little lower in his chair. He wouldn’t go anywhere until he got the update he wanted, which gave me the perfect opportunity to go over the test with him.
“Is there a reason you’re pretending to not understand the problems, Mr. Reed?”
His head whipped up and he looked almost panicked for a moment before glaring at me. “Who said I’m pretending?”
I could tell he was thinking his guardian sold him out, so I put that to rest before he could get too worked up, tapping my pen on the paper.
“Your efforts to pretend are valiant, but maybe if you want to pretend you don’t understand, you should look at all the questions first. You answered all the difficult ones and ignored the easier ones. ”
He looked confused for a moment before pulling a face. “The hard ones are supposed to be at the end.”
“Not in my classroom. I understand that you’re going through a difficult time right now, but–”
“You don’t understand shit!” he snarled, cutting me off. He shoved to his feet, his glare so dark, if looks could kill, I would be on the floor already. “You don’t know anything about me!”
Most adults would take exception to his tone and likely would shout back. I refused to sink to his level, keeping my tone even as I told him, “Lower your tone, Mr. Reed. You’ve been warned about this already.”
He made a frustrated sound, slamming his phone on the desk. “Ugh, whatever! Just expel me already! I don’t give a shit!”
“No, Mr. Reed. I’m not going to do that. Nor am I going to let you dig yourself so deep that you can’t get free either. I haven’t had to expel a single student in my career, and I’m not starting with you.”