teacher x student | wlw
Emily had to take a year off from school because of her mental health, and now she's 18 and ready to start fresh. She's always been a straight-A student and plans to keep it that way by focusing on her studies this year.
But...
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———⋆ ∘ 𖤓 ∘ ⋆———
Walking into school on Monday morning, I take a breath, steadying myself for the day. The familiar noise of lockers clanging shut, scattered laughter, and the dull hum of early morning conversations fills the hall. I navigate through the crowd, making my way to my locker, already planning out the first few hours in my head, trying to keep a sense of calm. Just as I turn the corner, I spot Jennifer leaning against my locker, her arms crossed and a warm smile on her face.
"Good morning, stranger," she greets, her tone playful, brushing her blonde hair back.
"Hey," I say, returning the smile as I open my locker. I grab my English book, getting ready for the first class of the day. "English first. Austen. What a way to start the week, right?"
She gives me a knowing look. "Ms. Anderson and Jane Austen—it's like they're secretly trying to make us all experts in sarcasm and irony."
I laugh softly, glancing her way. "If anyone can make it work, it's Ms. Anderson."
With my bag slung over my shoulder, we walk down the hall together, the familiar sounds of morning easing me a bit. When we reach the classroom, Ms. Anderson is already seated at her desk, flipping through a worn copy of Emma, her focus intense and uninterrupted by the bustle of students filing in.
She's dressed casually today in a loose forest-green blouse and jeans, a departure from her usual more formal attire, and there's a kind of effortless warmth to her look that softens her usual intensity. Her hair is tied up in a relaxed bun, and a few loose strands fall around her face.
Jennifer and I settle into our seats, just as Ms. Anderson raises her eyes and surveys the class, her face calm but entirely unreadable. "Good morning, everyone," she begins, her voice steady and even. She closes her book and stands, moving toward the front of her desk, folding her arms slightly as she continues. "Today, we're looking at the social intricacies in Emma—how Austen uses humor and irony to point out the flaws in her society's expectations."
As her words fill the room, the class quiets, each of us pulled into her lecture. She has a way of making it all feel like an invitation—drawing us into the complexities of Austen's world with a subtle intensity that makes me want to listen closely.
She pauses, scanning the room with a careful gaze. "Why do you think Emma feels the need to interfere in other people's lives, despite all the signs she's misreading? What does that say about her?"
After a second, I raise my hand, feeling a flicker of nerves but pushing past it. "Maybe she wants control? Like, she thinks she knows best, but really, it's... it's covering up her own insecurities."
Ms. Anderson's gaze sharpens, and for a split second, I wonder if she'll challenge me. But then she gives a slight nod, her expression softening just enough to acknowledge my answer. "Exactly, Ms. Wilson. She's trying to assert control, but Austen wants us to see that her control is... flawed. And that's where growth begins, right?"
