Yep, I’m late.
The secretary chuckles behind me and I turn around to look at her. “Like I said, dear. Late. Now, get, before I have to call your second period, as well.”
Great. This is a great way to start the day. I shoulder my backpack and started down the hall, hoping I’m going in the right direction. I had kinda thought that there would be a guide who could help me find my classes, but it looks like things are done a little differently at Trinity Prep.
Even though I walk quickly, it still takes almost ten minutes to find my classroom. Leaning against the door, I hear the teacher inside droning on. Nobody wants to start out Monday morning with accounting, but I take a deep breath and push open the door.
Immediately, everyone in the class turns to look at me, but my eyes fall on a guy in the back row and my stomach immediately flips over. Holy shit.
“You must be Abigail. We were told that you would be a few minutes late to class, but I had no idea that you would take your sweet time in getting here. I’m Professor Thiel.” I have to rip my eyes away from the guy in the back of the room to look at the teacher talking to me.
He’s tall and thin, just like you’d expect from an accounting teacher. His tie is a little crooked, but other than that, he looks like he fits right in with the rest of the preppy people that Trinity Prep attracts.
Also, he sounds a little like a dick. Good to know.
“Hi, I’m Abby. And I’m sorry about getting delayed, it’s just that I got a little turned around.” Putting on my brightest smile, I grin at him, trying to soften the tension in the room.
The guy in the back seat lets out a laugh, and I whip around, pinning him in place with my eyes.
“Mr. Quinn, do you have something you want to share with the class?” The teacher’s voice is incredibly dry, and I already know that I’m going to struggle to stay away every morning.
“No, I’m good. Just wondering how someone can be so stupid as to get turned around here. It’s not like it’s hard to find your way around.” The guy – Quinn – leans back in his chair and stretches his arms above his head. Immediately, all of the girls in the room let out a collective sigh.
Except me. What a jerk. I have no idea what I did to piss him off, but I’m not interested in playing games. I’m here to learn from the best so that I can get an internship and get the hell out of my hometown.
“Well, we always forgive people the first time they make a mistake, right? So now that Abigail has made a mistake, we can all assume that she’ll be able to find us more easily tomorrow morning.” Professor Thiel turns from Quinn to face me. “Why don’t you sit right up front here by Madeline? That way I can make sure that you’re paying attention and that you won’t be a distraction.”
My face burning, I throw a tight smile at Madeline and then slide into the seat next to her. She gives me a small smile back but then quickly turns to face the front of the classroom again. Okay. That’s how this is going to go, huh?
This is supposed to be a beginning accounting class, but just fifteen minutes into the class and I realize that it’s way over my head.
“Abigail, do you have any idea how to use a double-entry accounting method in order to facilitate the recording of these transactions?”
I’m barely paying attention, but my head snaps up from my paper when he calls on me. Glancing down, I realize that he’d gone completely off-book and that I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“I’m…sorry. I don’t. This is actually my first accounting class, so I’m just doing my best to keep up.” My mom had always told me to smile and be as friendly as possible, even if I didn’t know what was going on, so I flash him a huge smile, hoping to make the grumpy look on his face disappear.
It doesn’t work.
“This is not for beginners, Abigail.”
“It’s Abby.”
He ignores me. “This class is for students who see themselves moving on with accounting and know that a fundamental understanding of it will help them improve their lives. If you don’t feel the same way, then I suggest that you try to find another morning class to transfer into.”
I pause, unsure of how to continue this conversation without really upsetting him, but there’s no good way to tell him what I have to. “I already tried, sir, but this is the last 8 am class available.”
This time, when someone laughs, I don’t have to turn around to see who it is. Quinn’s laugh is easily recognizable, and if I weren’t in such an uncomfortable position, I would feel it thrum through my body. He’s hot, sure, but being hot isn’t an excuse for being a jerk.
Professor Thiel pauses, his eyes locked on mine. I can tell that he’s thinking about what he’s going to do with me. “Okay then, Abigail. It looks like the two of us are stuck together. I’m sure that someone here will be willing to tutor you, but that’s all that I can do to help you. Do you understand?”
Oh, I understand.
I understand that Trinity Prep is nothing like the high school I left behind. I nod, digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands. It would be too easy to break down and cry, and I don’t want to do that in front of all of these new students.
I can only imagine how hard Quinn would laugh at that.
Nodding my head, I
