The Education of Alice Wells by Sara Wolf

After he left the other night, I collapsed on the bed and left the mortification consume me. The more I think about him, the more embarrassed I get. Ranik’s lessons have taught me that much. Instead of running, or hiding my true feelings, I should’ve embraced them. I just tried to deny it ever happened in a shell-shocked, avoidance-heavy way. Charlotte glares daggers into his back, and I feel so relieved she’s angry on my behalf. He lingers a little too long near my desk, and I suppress a shudder. Mathers passes out a pop quiz, and he walks up and down the aisles as we complete them, making sure no one is cheating.

You can tell me whatever you want, okay? Seriously. I trail off, and Charlotte frowns, hugging me tighter. I just felt like…like I was overreacting. “I’m so sorry, Al,” Charlotte leans on my shoulder. He turns back after giving a quick glare to both of us. Mathers glances up at us and we quickly fall silent. “So that’s why you’ve been talking about him,” she brightens. “Or, I nearly wasn’t, but Ranik interrupted and…saved me, in a way.” “Remember what you said about me being his favorite student?” “Uh, you mean, the class you really like but haven’t been showing up to the last couple weeks? Why is that, exactly?” “You okay, sweetpea? You’ve been looking really down the past couple days.” I flinch, and repress the memory in the buzz of Mathers’ droning, irritating voice.Ĭharlotte notices my discomfort, and nudges me when Mathers’ back is turned. I can’t let her burn what little of a life I’ve built for myself here like she burned my poetry journals, like she burned my middle school life when she – What’s the use? If I fight, if I refuse to come to this class, Mom will just pull me out. What little fury brews in my heart at it is quickly extinguished. He holds my gaze for long, too long, the barest flicker of a smug smirk on his lips. Not even when they scream at me to get out of the classroom as Mathers’ cold, beady eyes make contact with mine during his lecture. They landed me in trouble with Ranik, my only willing teacher. I have no willpower to fight against my instincts, anymore. She’s fuckin’ me up, hard, without even fuckin’ me.Ĭonfused and exhausted by Mom, and Ranik, and everything else in my life, I attend Mathers’ class that week.

The Education of Alice Wells by Sara Wolf