1| Mr. Tesfaye
"Little did I know that in a short few months, I
would be more than familiar with my school's
basement and more than music would be heard bouncing off of the walls."
The blaring sound of "Rico Nasty" screaming on her popular track "Smack A Bitch" started loudly blaring through my Alexa speaker.
My head quickly popped up from the mountain of soft pillows that it was buried under.
"What the hell is happening?!" I murmured as I kept my eyes closed and swept my tousled curls out of my face.
I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and whined annoyedly when my iPhone alarm began to chime under my pillow, triggering my second alarm.
Both alarms indicated that it was time to wake up for the first day of junior year at my high school. I can't believe that my hot girl summer is officially over.
It seems like the past three months of half-naked pool parties, yacht parties, vacation, beach night bonfires, barbecues, amusement parks, and cool summer evenings spent with my friends groups and boyfriend seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye.
It pains me to think about the fact that I have to spend the next nine months of my life waking up at six o'clock in the morning just to sit in a boring classroom for eight long hours.
The thought alone is enough to make me want to drop out and become a stripper.
"Ugh! No! It can't be morning already, I just went to sleep! Alexa, stop! Shut the fuck up!"
I groaned and blindly felt all around my bedroom nightstand until I found the cord that connected Alexa and pulled it out of the wall.
I opened one eye to find my phone and silenced it as well, sighing in relief when my bedroom finally filled with silence once again.
I dropped my head back into the plushness of my pillows and pulled my covers up over my head to drift off again.
My bedroom doors burst open minutes later. I smelled the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and I could hear the sound of my mother's stiletto high heels click-clacking against the hardwood floors.
I heard cooing and gurgling soon after, verifying mom had my three-month-old baby sister cradled in her arms to help wake me.
"Sweetie, it's time for school! Wake up! I brewed you a cup of coffee and left your breakfast on the kitchen island."
"Savannah wants to say good morning to you too!" I hear her place the coffee mug on my nightstand.
I feel her gently tap against my leg, causing me to groan in response.
I pulled the covers tighter around me and curled into a ball.
I whined louder when she yanked the warm covers off of me, exposing my barely covered body to the brisk air conditioning escaping the vent.
"Mom seriously? Please can I have like five more minutes?! I am so exhausted." I covered my face with my hands when she yanked back the curtains, causing the bright sun to shine inside.
"Now whose fault is that? You decided to stay out past your curfew the night before the first day of school, so now you have to deal with all of the consequences."
"You knew your curfew was at ten and you stayed out anyway." She preaches.
She is referring to me walking in the house after four this morning, after attending my close friend Jhene's infamous end-of-summer house party at her parent's beach house.
With half-naked, unsupervised teenagers in a house full of liquor on the beach, you already know we had a ball, but I'm paying for it now with a hangover and cotton mouth.
My mom is very understanding, any other mom would've flipped out when their teenage child stumbled into the house at four in the morning before the first day of school.
Communication is key though and I called and explained myself and let them know that I was safe.
My mom and dad were pissed but listened when I explained that I didn't have a ride back home considering the party was in another town and it was much safer for me to stay put until morning, but now I'm paying for it.
My parents are considered "the cool parents" out of all the parents.
Don't get me wrong, they won't allow me or my siblings to walk all over them, they know how to be strict when necessary, but they both believe in allowing their children to make mistakes to learn valuable life lessons in the end.
I can always talk to them about anything without judgment or criticism, they're the best parents a girl could ever ask for.
Partying with friends the night before the first day of school and waking up at the crack of dawn for classes is today's life lesson.
"Momma, I swear if you let me miss the first day I'll never miss one day of class for the rest of the school year. Please! I need my sleep." I whined and pleaded.
"I'm not trying to hear it, Jayde. I'm not fussing with you this morning! Come on now, get up and into the bathroom before you're late for your first day."
She playfully swatted me on my leg, and I turned on my back in a huff.
"Come on, sweetie... there's a surprise for you on the counter. Trust me you want to wake up!" She tries to convince me, but I'm not buying it.
"Tell her to wake up, Savannah!" My mom talks in a baby voice to my baby sister.
I open one eye when I feel her sit, Savannah on my chest.
I look up at her and she's already smiling back at me with her little hand in her mouth.
I almost break into a small smile until I feel her butt vibrate against me and soon the worst smell invaded my nostrils.
Savannah begins giggling and smiling when she sees the mortified look on my face.
"Oh gross! Get her off of me! She pooped!" I gag and my mother laughs when I stumbled up from the bed to run into my connected bathroom.
"That's one way to get her up, good job sweetie!" She tells Vanna as she bounces her. "Now let's go change you, baby girl."
"You have an hour, Jay! Your dad and I are about to head to work and we are taking your sisters to the sitter and school. I love you, sweetie! Have a nice day and good luck with cheer!"
"Love you too, momma," I murmur in response tiredly.
I spend the next few minutes sitting on the side of my tub with my head in my hands, dreading having to go to school.
I was honestly in no hurry to see all of the groups of dumbasses from last year.
The only excitement for me at Pullman Bay High is cheerleading, dance, my close friends, and my boyfriend, Micheal.
I drag myself back into my room and sit on the edge of the bed, taking a much-needed sip from my coffee cup as I retrieve my iPhone from under my pillows.
After scrolling through my social media, I check my text messages to see I have a bunch from my friend's group chat, two from my best friends, and one from my baby, Mike.
Mimi👯♀️: Rise and shine hoeee! We pulling up on you at 7:00 a.m. sharp and I know you are still in bed with your hungover ass! Wake that ass up! 🗣
Me: 😑 I'm up bitch...
Mora🔮: Good morning bestie! I switched it up on these hoes, look! Blue-haired bitch give a fuck bout a nigga! 😜
Me: oh nahh! I'm gonna need to borrow your face cause you're way too fucking pretty! You can literally pull off any hair color sis, and let me borrow that Tyler sweatshirt!
If it weren't for my two best friends I have no clue how I would survive at my high school, it's full of nothing but thirsty fuck boys, jealous hoes, and wannabes.
I would rather drop out, but sis is destined to get into a good college.
I drag myself into the bathroom again and climb into the steamy hot shower with my eyes closed, in hopes of it waking me up a little bit.
I brushed my teeth and did my skincare routine when I stepped out thirty minutes later and slipped on my silk robe to do my makeup and curl my hair.
I head into my walk-in closet after and grab the simplest outfit I could find, which consisted of Nike track pants and a Nike cropped sweatshirt.
I don't see the sense in dressing up on the first day of school like everyone else.
The girls at my school dress like runway models on the first day and are bums for the rest of the year. I can keep my outfits cute and casual and still walk in looking like a baddie.
I toss my hair into a messy bun and jog down the stairs to see oatmeal and fresh fruits on the table sitting next to a brand-new iPhone 16 in Pink. I smile as I rip the packaging off of it.
My old iPhone has been glitching a lot lately and I have been begging my dad for the newest one.
I already knew my spoiled ass would eventually get it, but after that stunt that I pulled last night, I thought I would have to wait until Christmas.
I set it up as I warmed up and ate my breakfast and I took a smiling selfie to flex on Instagram before jogging out of the front door to Michelle's honking car in the driveway.
"Aye!! Real hot girl shit! Yeah, I'm in my bag, but I'm in his too, and that's why every time you see me I got some new shoes! Ahh! Mwah! Aye!"
"Look! Bitch I'm a star I got these niggas wishin'! He says he hungry this pussy the kitchen!" Mora and I bounce around in the back of Michelle's car and rap along to Meg while we record snaps on my new phone.
"I swear If y'all spill that Starbucks coffee on my momma's new leather seats, I'm tossing y'all out at the next red light!" Michelle warns.
We laughed and joked around as we pulled into the packed student parking lot of Pullman Bay High School.
Michelle pulls into a space in the lot and I'm the first one to jump out when I spot my baby Mike's car a few spaces away with him leaning on it, texting on his phone.
I start sprinting in his direction and I catch him off guard when I dive onto him, causing him to fall back against the car and grab onto my waist tightly.
He started laughing and kissing me as I squeezed him. He has been on vacation with his family for two long weeks so I missed him.
"Ah! Hey baby! I missed you so much." He smiles against my lips as he kisses them and his hands travel down to my hips.
"Hi, my boo bear! I missed you more." I kiss his nose softly, and he laughs.
Michael and I have been dating since freshman year, so we are going three years strong.
He truly makes me so happy and treats me like a princess, honestly, he is my first love.
He rises from his previous position in his car, and I am still wrapped tight around his waist and holding on.
"Am I carrying you around all day?" He smiles cutely as he begins to carry me toward the entrance of the school.
"Pretty much, you know your girl is lazy." I giggle as I lay against his chest like the big baby that I am. I'm so spoiled.
"Awww y'all are too cute." Mora gushes and Michelle playfully rolls her eyes with a dimpled smirk as they approach us. We all make our way out of the parking lot.
"Put her spoiled ass down, carrying around campus like she doesn't have legs." Michelle teases.
"Shut up, Michelle. If my baby doesn't want to walk then she doesn't have to walk. It's my job to cater to her." He kisses my forehead sweetly.
"That's right! You tell her baby." I smile brightly and pinch his cheek.
"Y'all are so aggravating, being all cute and shit." She rolls her eyes again and Mora laughs and tells her to leave us alone.
She has a bag of McDonald's breakfast in her hands that smells like heaven on earth, but we cheerleaders have to follow a strict diet. Those hash browns have my mouth watering though.
"We are so aggravating, and you're so single. Why're you mad, though?" Michael retorts as he finally puts me down onto my feet and Mich plucks his forehead.
"I could get a boyfriend if I wanted one nigga, I just love being a pimp."
She starts walking like a pimp, and we all laugh as we walk together.
"Babe, let's take a pic for my Instagram. I'm trying to make you my man crush Monday." I shove my phone into Michelle's hands, and Micheal chuckles at my eagerness.
"Girl! You almost made me drop my biscuit! I would have karate chopped your ass." She gets into a karate stance, and we crack up.
I smile and get up onto my tippy-toes to kiss Micheal again.
He pulls me closer to him, and we start making out. I can't stop kissing his lips as he wraps his strong and muscular arms around my waist.
"Ew, the fuck! Come on; I'm eating. Bout to have me regurgitate my food." She gives us a stank face as we have a kiss war.
Kimora cackles as she puts on her lipgloss. "Why you gotta hate on black love, sis? We need more of this in the world."
"Kimora don't you start, it is too damn early for your pro-blackness, okay?" Michelle retorts.
Mike and I continue to kiss, ignoring their back-and-forth rant and Michelle manages to get a picture of Mike and me as we hug each other.
"I love you." He mumbles against my lips and smiles.
I blush. "I love you too, with all my heart." I wipe my lipstick off of his lips, and we walk hand in hand into the school with my friends trailing us.
Michelle gives me back my iPhone, and I post one of the pics of us on Instagram. I won't tag him because I don't want bitches sliding into his DMs, you know hoes be lurking.
I caption it, "Finally got my baby back! Mine! Mine! Mine!" and put a bunch of heart emojis before I post it.
We walk into the school, saying hello to familiar faces and greeting our friends and teachers.
We meet up near our lockers after getting our class schedules and textbooks from the auditorium.
Michael comes running up to me and is now dressed in his black basketball shorts and our school t-shirt.
"Babe, I got gym for my first period, so I'm gonna catch you at lunch, aight?" He opens his locker, tossing his Nike backpack into it before slamming it.
"Okay, babe," I respond.
He leans down and kisses me before he takes off for the gymnasium, our crabby gym teacher Mr. Dimitri is an asshole about lateness.
I opened my locker and began neatly stacking my new textbooks into it along with my cheer duffle bag for practice.
"So who do you have for first period?" Michelle asks me as she walks up to me and opens up her locker that is right next to mine.
I lean my shoulder against my locker and glance down at my class schedule.
"Some new teacher named Mr. Tesfaye. I have him for advanced music theory." I shrugged and slipped the paper into my bag.
"Did you just say you have Mr. Tesfaye? I'm jealous!" Kimora says as she approaches us.
"Why?" I squinted. "This class is going to be hard as hell! Nothing like the music class that we all took at the beginning of my junior year."
"Girl, forget the class! She is talking about that sexy ass new teacher that is teaching it! I saw his picture on the school website last night and I nutted a little." Michelle squeaks.
Kimora bursts into laughter. "Facts, sis! I heard he was fine as hell and when I was in the line waiting for my schedule, I overhead these junior girls talking about him. They said that he used to be this popular dark R&B musician a few years ago and that he was underground for the most part, now he's teaching a new advanced music class here!" She says excitedly.
I shrug again. "I guess that's cool. I'm just geeked to be taking an advanced music class. Ya'll know that I love to sing. It will be cool to learn some instruments too." I tossed my glittery backpack onto my back and grabbed my pink Stanely water bottle.
Michelle shakes her head and looks at Kimora. "You know that she don't see nobody but that hairy-faced ass, Mike. Look at the poor child, she wanna be one of those annoying preppy girls so bad, she's just a lost soul." Kimora laughs.
"Shut the hell up, Mich! Why should I get my panties in a wad over a grown-ass teacher that I can't have? I would rather lust over someone my age like my, Mike." I smile just thinking about him.
"Girl, that sexy ass Mr. Tesfaye can tie my panties in a wad any day! Bitch he can rip them clean the fuck off!" Michelle chimes.
"Enough!" Kimora chuckles, interrupting our debate. "I have Forensics with Mr. Bates first period so I will catch you girls later."
"You better tell me all of the juicy details about the new teacher later! I have old-ass Mrs. Byrd first period for English 4, and you know her breath stinks. I have my tic-tacs handy, and if her wrinkly ass gets too close to me, I am popping two right in her mouth to kill all of those shitty-mouth demons. Her old hot breath ass." Michelle frowns her face, and we are almost on the floor laughing.
The bell rings. "Alright bitch, don't get suspended on the first day!" Kimora calls out to Michelle as we all start walking in opposite directions.
I hopped onto the student elevator and pressed B for the basement floor.
I don't understand why they would put a class down in the basement, but it's most likely because of all of the loud music and instruments, they probably don't want to disturb all of the other classes.
Little did I know that in a short few months, I would be more than familiar with my school's basement, and more than music would be heard bouncing off of the walls.
I walk down the empty and quiet hallways, passing a janitor's closet and a few storage supply rooms. I'm shocked to see that it's not too creepy down here, it's quiet and peaceful.
I reach the double doors with the words music room printed over it on a plaque.
I peek in through the small windows to see the room already filled with some students who are doing their own thing, the teacher is MIA.
The classroom is so vast and has another room that is attached to it that is filled with instruments.
I open the door and walk inside, saying hi to the few students that I know as I make my way to the back of the class.
I slide in my AirPod Pros and set Drake's playlist on shuffle while I wait for this teacher to show up. He's late on the first day.
The Latina girl next to me strikes up a conversation so I start to chat with her.
"First day and I'm already fucking late," I mumble to myself as I rushed up the steps of Pullman Bay High School.
The only reason why I am so late is that I tried to be on some professional bullshit and wear a proper suit and tie, but I ended up spilling my morning coffee all over it, so I had to go back home to change.
I didn't want to wear that uncomfortable formal shit anyway though cause it's not my style, so I settled on all black on black.
I rushed into the front doors of the school, before clocking into work inside of the office, and I quickly took the stairs down to the basement.
I walk towards the music classroom once I reach the basement and I can already hear the loudness of the students inside.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, I have no former experience working with teenagers and going to college to get my degree in education as well as all of my licenses couldn't have prepared me for what I would experience after just a few short months at the school.
I opened the door and entered the classroom, but my presence was ignored due to the rowdiness of the 25 to 30 students seated before me engrossed in their conversations.
Sitting my briefcase down on my desk in the corner, I stood in front of the class and cleared my throat in hopes of getting their attention, but I remained invisible to them.
"Excuse me," I say, in my usual soft-toned speaking voice, and I realize I'm talking to myself because I'm being ignored by all of these hyper-snot-nosed fucks.
"Excuse me!" I say a little bit louder, but it's so damn hectic in here, that they can't hear me.
I stick my tongue in my cheek, becoming agitated as fuck. "Yo! Shut up!" I slammed my hand against the desk, and all eyes were suddenly on me.
The classroom is dead silent for a few seconds before roars of laughter explode.
"Yo, it looks like that nigga got a bird's nest up on his head bruh." One ashy-ass little black dude says to his even ashier friend.
I smile at him without a response because I already know that I could most likely fuck his mother, sister, grandma, and future wife.
I may be a teacher now, but I always have been and always will be a savage.
I am sure that these young kids know nothing about my old music and the type of nigga that I was just a few years back.
The laughing begins to grow louder and my irritation worsens.
I sigh and roll my eyes, letting them all laugh it up at my hairdo. I'm used to people commenting on it, but I'm not changing it to satisfy anyone. I fold my arms and lean against the edge of my desk.
The laughing dies down, and I look around the room at all of the students. Some of them are still smirking and giggling.
"Are you all done now?" I questioned them as I stood up and walked towards the whiteboard. I begin to write my name on the board in black marker.
"Okay, now that you all got the childish ass laughing and shit out of your system, let us move forward and allow me to introduce myself," I mutter.
"Did he just swear?" I overheard one of the students in the front whisper to her classmate.
I turn towards her. "Yes I did, I may be your teacher, but I am not about to sugarcoat shit with all of you. I am only here to accomplish two things, and that is to teach you guys about music, and get my check." They look at me like I lost my damn mind.
"If you guys choose to not take this class seriously, I still get paid regardless, and you all will be the ones sitting here in summer school with a broken AC and a substitute, while I'm miles away vacationing on the island of Turks and Caicos."
They seem taken aback by my forwardness. I can tell by the lost looks on their faces. There is no laughing or smirking now; they are all just staring at me like I am crazy.
"My name is Mr. Tesfaye, but I want all of you to call me Abel. Many of you may not know this, but just a few years back I was a music artist, but I decided to step back from my music for a little while for a fresh start and a new outlet. So, I then decided to become a music teacher to help teens learn how to appreciate music."
I glance around the classroom and they still look lost as hell, but they're listening, so I decide to continue.
"I still write and produce new music for some of your favorite musical artists, and I am the musical genius behind some of the hottest music tracks that are out right now," I state in a cocky manner.
"Do any of you guys have any quick questions for me before we start today's lesson?"
I choose a dude in a red velvet du-rag who is sitting in the far corner of the class.
"Wait, hold up. So you're telling us that you're some rich and famous music industry bigshot?" He asked.
I smirk and shrug my shoulders. "Yeah, I guess you can say that."
"And you chose to give all of that up to come work in this boring ass school all day? No offense, but you're tripping, bro!" He states and the other students seem to agree.
I chuckled. "This isn't about money for me. All of my paychecks are being donated to the various charities of my choice. I chose this path because I believe I am standing amongst some of the future biggest names in the music industry history."
"All of you made it into this advanced music class for a reason, you each have the talent, and my main goal before the end of the semester is to bring that talent out of you. You're all seniors so who knows what you guys can accomplish musically when you graduate in June!"
Suddenly hands start shooting up to ask questions. I pick a girl that is sitting in the front left, smacking on her gum like a cow.
"So what music artists have you produced and written stuff for?" She asks.
"Any artist that you can think of! Rihanna, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, Drake, Bruno Mars. I have also worked with Justin Timberlake, Sia, and so many more artists." I responded. They gasped and seemed so impressed as I listed off names.
More hands suddenly begin shooting into the air and it's another dude this time. "Yo, Can you hook me up with Riri?" He asks me. I chuckled as the whole class erupted in laughter.
I shake my head. "I think that Rihanna is a little out of your league, bro." The whole class erupts in more laughter, and he slips down in his seat and tosses on his hoodie.
They raise their hands to ask more questions. "Okay guys, you all have the entire year to ask me questions alright! Let's get to work on your first assignment!" I hear a bunch of disappointed comments and groans.
"I will learn all of your names when I do attendance towards the end of class."
I start to hand out the class syllabus, telling students to reach them towards the back of the class.
"Take out your Music 101 textbooks and turn to page five. Our first lesson is going to be on musical notes."
I start writing down some notes and definitions on the board for them to jot down before I start.
The classroom falls silent as everyone falls into their work and begins to copy the notes.
I suddenly hear the loud sounds of Drake filling up the classroom and soft snores.
I turn from the board and look around in confusion.
Everyone turns around and stares at this girl sitting in the back of the classroom with her head down and a black jacket on her head. Her music is blaring loud, and she's fast asleep.
I shake my head as I approach her and the other kids are focused on me. I pulled one of her AirPods out of her ear.
"Hey! Wake up!" I shout, making her jump out of her sleep with a dazed look on her face and drool on her lip.
She looks up at me and rubs her eyes. "Am I boring you?" I question her, getting a good look at her face now.
She can't be a teenager; she looks like the type of girl that I would take home a few years ago. I slowly run my tongue over my bottom lip.
All the girls these days look full grown, their mature features can cause you to mistake them for the girls in their twenties easily, they will make my ass catch a case.
I wait for a response from her, and she has the nerve to look down at her phone and respond to a text with me right in front of her.
Alright, give me your phone." I hold my hand out for it, and she looks at my hand like it has a pile of shit in it.
"No, you don't pay my cell phone bill!" She snaps at me, and I raise my eyebrow at her.
It's clear this loud mouth little girl has me fucked up in so many ways.
I lean in closer to her. "Can you step outside with me for a second?" She rolls her eyes at me and stands up with an attitude.
I stand over to the side and let her walk in front. She stomps towards the front, and that ass starts to move and bounce around in her fitted track pants. It takes everything in me not to look.
She walks outside of the classroom, and I follow her and close the door behind us.
"What's your name?" I question her as she leans up against the wall with her arms crossed.
"Jayde Pierce." She says with an apparent attitude in her tone.
I sigh. "Listen, Jada-" she quickly cuts me off. "I said my is Jayde, not Jada!" She snapped, and I suddenly became frustrated.
"Your name is whatever the fuck I call you!" I snap at her, shocked by my response.
She looks at me in shock with her eyes widened, and I shut mine for a second and take in a deep breath to compose myself."Fuck, I need a cigarette," I mumbled under my breath, and she must have heard me because I hear her giggle a little.
I reopen my eyes and begin to speak. "Listen, can I keep it real with you really quick? Not even teacher to student, but human to human." I place my hand on her shoulder gently and ask her.
She tenses up a bit but shyly nods okay. Why is she all timid now? She was bold as fuck in the classroom.
"This is the very first day of school. I am still getting adjusted to this whole teacher thing, and I know that you don't want to be here, and neither do I! Let's not make shit complicated for each other ok? You show me respect, and I'll do the same." I stare at her when I finish my speech, and she's just staring at me with these unreadable brown eyes that you could get lost in.
She suddenly seems to snap out of her sudden daze and nods.
"I'm sorry for being disruptive. I will cooperate." She says with a small smile.
I smile too. "Thanks, I am sorry for snapping at you," I tell her.
We head back inside of the classroom and the rest of the period goes surprisingly well.
The bell finally rings, and the students start packing up to leave.
"Alright, remember to do questions one through ten in the music textbook for homework," I tell them as I shuffle through papers for my next class.
Jayde is one of the last few to leave the class, and she smiles and waves as she walks out I smile back at her and nod.
I walk to the door to watch her walk away, and I see a guy approaching her.
He wraps his arms around her small waist and kisses her lips, he must be her boyfriend.
I lean against the doorframe and watch them as they walk away hand in hand.
The little dude looks like a lame, to be honest, it's no way he's handling all of that ass that she has like it needs to be handled.
I head back to the classroom to prepare for my next class.
My first class went very well, and my students seemed interested in my lessons. I think this whole teaching thing will work out.
That's only if I can keep my thoughts in my head and don't allow them to turn into actions...
more chapters soon??