I wanted a drink after my first day, but I needed merit points to purchase alcohol. What a cruel system.
According to the handbook the dean gave me, I earn one merit point for every student who scores 80% or higher on their midterms and final exams.
Midterms are months away, though, and the only other way to earn merit points is for a student to present an experiment that impresses the board members. That's even less likely to happen.
I flopped down in my desk chair and spun around in my swivel chair a few times. Then I got to work on tomorrow's lesson plan.
When first period began the next day, I felt a wave of affection toward my students. It was only about fifteen of them, but these students were the key! All of them were remarkable, so I was sure they'd pass their exams, and I'd be able to spend my nights at the bar in no time.
When Veil walked in, two female students were trailing close behind.
"It's my turn to sit next to him today," one whispered.
The other one sneered at her and said,
"That's up to him. Who do you want to sit beside?" she asked Veil directly.
He shrugged. I couldn't remember where he had sat yesterday, but today he chose a desk in the second row, near the center of the classroom. So they both got to sit at the empty desks around him.
The interaction was strange... but not my business, so I carried on with class as if I saw nothing.
When I asked questions, he never raised his hand to give any answers; I even caught him yawning a few times.
"Today's experiment is called Dancing Spaghetti. Have any of you done this before?" I inquired.
The students looked around, confused, so I guess none of them had.
"There are some materials inside your desks. I want you to get into groups of three and follow my instructions."
All the students pulled out the jars, baking soda, and spaghetti I had prepared for them. Then one by one, they all turned to Veil without saying anything.
"Who are you teaming up with?" one male student asked cautiously, from the desk behind him. Veil hummed to himself, then replied,
"Ember and Cero."
There were disappointed sighs around the room, but the two he chose had big smiles. They weren't sitting near him at all, so they had to walk past many disappointed classmates to reach Veil.
After that, the other students got into groups without any fuss. No one had trouble following my instructions. Once it was over, I explained the significance and possible real-life applications of the experiment until class ended.
As Veil was packing up to leave, I said,
"Wait, Veil, I want to talk to you for a moment."
He glanced up at me, and about five other students paused in the doorway.
"Go on ahead, I'll catch up later," he called. Only then did they leave.
Once we were alone, I spoke again.
"Would you be interested in becoming my assistant this semester?"
He tapped his chin and tilted his head for a few moments.
"... Does it come with any benefits?" he asked.
I smiled and replied,
"Yes, you get access to the lab, and bonus merit points to spend after every test."
Something I said seemed to pique his interest.
"... Can I have a desk isolated from the others? Perhaps near yours?"
His request stunned me for a moment.
"You see... I would rather sit alone, so I can focus during class. I feel like it'll make the situation less stressful for everyone, too," he added.
I thought it over. So he wants to remove the option to sit next to him, completely. I'm surprised someone so well-liked wants this, but I shouldn't pry for his reasons.
"I can arrange that for you," I answered.
Veil smiled brightly.
"Oh, cool. Then I'll take the job."
It felt like a weight had been lifted off of me.
"Do you need me to do anything today?" he continued. I shook my head.
"No, you're free to go."
He grabbed his bookbag and walked out the door.
Not much later, I heard faint voices echo through the hall.
One belonged to a girl.
"What did she want?" she asked, sounding perturbed.
Another voice belonged to a boy.
"You're not in trouble already, are you?"
The boy's voice was playful and teasing.
Veil replied,
"You'll find out tomorrow."
I heard cries of,
"It's not fair!"
followed by several voices pressing him for an answer, but soon they faded as the group moved farther away.
When I made a request for a desk for my assistant, the school board didn't seem to want to comply, but when I mentioned my assistant's name, they quickly changed their tune. The very next day, I had a brand new wooden desk, slightly smaller than mine. It had a desk wedge with Veil's full name carved into it... I didn't even have one of those!
It was then that I realized he wasn't just loved by the students, but by the staff as well.
When he entered the next day, his eyes lit up at the sight of his new desk. There was a different group fighting for the right to sit beside him today, but he smiled at both girls.
"I have to sit there from now on," he said while pointing at his new desk. Their mouths dropped open, and they glanced at me. When I nodded in confirmation, Veil took his seat, and the two girls stomped off.
He was an excellent assistant. Whenever someone was confused about a subject, he helped them understand with patience. He also helped to guide everyone during experiments in class. My first period was always smooth because of him, and when midterms finally came around, almost every student scored above 90%, and not one scored below 80!
My other classes did well, too. Partially because Veil created a study guide and a copy of his notes, which he asked me to give out to all my students. I was loaded with Merit Points!
I went to the bar that very night and saw Ms. Emerald. I hadn't seen her since my first day. When she noticed me, she waved. It was obvious she was very drunk at this point. I sat beside her regardless and ordered a margarita.
"Hey, it's you... uh... Catherine?" she slurred. She was practically lying across the bartop.
"... It's Cantarella." I corrected. She chuckled and replied,
"Bitch, I don't care what your name is."
I jolted in my seat, but she didn't seem aware of my reaction and merely waved the bartender over, asking for more shots of Vodka.
"I heard your classes went really well... lucky you," she mumbled once her drink arrived. I sighed and decided to dismiss my irritation toward her, because she wasn't sober.
"Yeah, it did, and I have a great assistant, so I know finals will be even better," I answered. She drank her shot and hiccuped.
"... Who... is... your little helper?" Ms. Emerald inquired.
"... It's Veil Havoc."
She started giggling when I answered.
"Oh~! I know why you chose him!"
She then leaned to my ear and whispered, "He's really hot, right?"
My stomach twisted.
"What?! He's my student, I don't think of him like that!" I argued, feeling disturbed.
She rolled her eyes.
"Why not? Your eyes work, don't they?" She sounded more clear-headed as she continued, "He was in my classroom last year, so I know... Well, he's not the only attractive guy in this school... but there's something extraordinary about him. Don't you agree?" she asked with a wide grin. I quickly finished my drink and decided I'd had enough for one night.
It was dark, and on the way home, I noticed a couple near the school's fountain. They were cuddled up, and I felt a twinge of happiness for them. I decided to wait before getting closer so they wouldn't be disturbed too suddenly, then I realized the boy was Veil. I didn't recognize the girl, but he had his hand resting on her cheek and was staring at her with an amorous gaze. Her face was flushed red as he leaned in to kiss her, not just once or twice. The passion between them grew so intense that I feared it might escalate too far. That's when I made my presence known and stepped forward.
"Just passing through! Sorry to disturb you!" I shouted. Their lips parted, and she put her hands over her face in embarrassment, while he looked up at me with a smirk.
"Goodnight, Madam," He greeted, as he lowered his hand down to the hip of his partner. I gave a small nod and rushed off to my room.
It felt like the perfect image I'd built of him had cracked in that instant, and I didn't know how to feel about it.
Things were back to normal the next day, and I tried to keep myself from thinking about last night. Though when class ended, I couldn't contain the busybody in me any longer and asked Veil to stay behind.
"Is there something you need?"
As he asked this, his head tilted to the side slightly.
"No... I mean, yes." I cleared my throat, "It's fine for you to have a love life. In fact, I support you, but you should remain aware of your surroundings. There's a time and place for everything, do you understand?"
He smiled politely.
"I'm aware... It was late, so I didn't expect anyone to pass by... but I was pleasantly surprised to see you last night," he replied. Was that interaction pleasant for him?!
"What I'm saying is... You should go somewhere private with your girlfriend, next time," I muttered.
"Yes, I got that the first time," he replied calmly, then he added, "But... that wasn't my girlfriend."
"What?!" I took a deep breath, then quieted my voice to say, "What?! I clearly saw you two... you know."
"... Kissing?" he stated bluntly. My face got hot involuntarily, and a mischievous grin appeared on his face, "Are you blushing? I'm surprised someone your age is so... reserved. Yes, I did kiss her... but we're not a couple, I haven't decided if I like her yet... so we're still in the talking stage," he explained. Veil then looked at the door, "I'm only telling you because I think we've become fairly close these past few months."
"Oh... w-well, regardless, keep the PDA to a minimum," I replied shyly.
"... It's not against any rules, especially since classes were already over for the day. So I'll continue to do whatever I want." This time, he didn't give me a chance to reply before leaving. I didn't have time to go after him, since it was almost time for the next batch of students to arrive, so I decided to let it go.