Page 16 of Troublemaker: The Big Picture Edition

“I think I just heard the end of day bell,” I mutter.

“No you didn’t,” Ryder says, grinning. “Two more minutes.”

I try really hard not to be judge-y in class or to have irrational thoughts or to blame my adorable students for anything, but I blame him for all of this.

“My babysitter met her boyfriend doing Pokémon Go,” says the girl whose name I still can’t pronounce properly. “You should do that.”

“I don’t do Pokémon Go.”

She looks at me like I just told her I don’t breathe or eat or pee. “Why not?”

“Okay, class.” I clap my hands together. “Why don’t you tell me more about yourselves?”

“I’m living with my dad right now,” Ryder yells out. “His house is really nice, and he has a really, reallybiiiiig…”

I swear, he’s pausing for effect, and now I’m really sweating.

“TV! It’s the biggest TV I’ve ever seen, and it has its own room! With rows of soft chairs and a popcorn machine and a mini bar!”

Well, good for Ryder’s dad. I guess he’s too busy watching movies in the comfort of his home to write a decent response to my emails.

“That’s so cool, but we put our hands up and wait to be called on, remember? Anyone else?”

A sweet-faced boy named Miguel raises his hand.

“Yes, Miguel?”

“I think you’re really pretty.”

“Why, thank you.”

We also try not to pick a favorite, but Miguel just rocketed to the top of the charts.

“And I think you should wear shorter skirts so guys will ask you out.”

Aaaand there goes your Student of the Year award, Miguel.

“You should wear your hair down,” Chloe informs me. “Like the lady on the show.”

Great. I have a classroom full of Franklins. I would fail all of them, but then I’d have to deal with them again next year.

Thankfully, the end of day bell finally rings.

“Well, this has been such a wonderful first day, and I’m so happy to get to know all of you! Don’t forget to give the letters to your parents, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Class is dismissed.” I always have to bite my tongue to prevent myself from calling out,“love you, bye!”

Okay, so maybe next year I won’t ask them if they have any questions for me upfront.

I’m still pretty new at this.

Lesson learned.

After inhaling a protein bar and half of the salad that I’d put in the teachers’ lounge fridge this morning, I get up to leave for my one o’clock meeting with the principal. The lounge has been strangely empty aside from me, but as I’m walking out, a woman who looks to be around my age comes in and gives me the once-over. According to herHello, my name issticker, she’s Miss Farrell. I might be imagining it, but her eyes seem to narrow when she reads my sticker name.

“MissStiles?” she says with a big toothy smile. “You must be the new second-grade teacher. I’m Paige. First grade. Room Six.”

“Hello! Yes, I’m Room Fifteen. I mean, I’m Emilia. Hi.”

She offers me a cold, limp hand to shake. “Cute cardigan.”