Chapter 1
Sometimes I wonder if school is an acronym for something darker. Seven consecutive hours of obvious lunacy. But it's not seven hours. Close enough though, right? As I stroll across the quad to meet my friends, the place is buzzing with scandal. As it turns out our English teacher Mr O'Donnell has been fired. Coincidentally right after Leah Green transferred schools. To put it plainly: they were fucking and got caught. I don't usually get involved or even listen to drama but you have to admit that even this is interesting. Tearing me from my thoughts, I hear my name being called.
"Earth to Gia... no? Alright full name it is. Gianna!" My bestfriend, Anniston, stares at me with her hip cocked and face unimpressed.
"Hmm?"
"Sleep, I hear it helps your brain work." Annie is probably the most sarcastic person I know and it took a lot of getting used to when we met in freshman year.
"Ah but if I sleep I'll have no need for coffee." My hand raises, holding a coffee cup before bringing it to my lips. "See, much better." I smile. Annie only shakes her head and giggles as she links her arm with mine. We make our way into the bustling corridors of Parker High and catch up as we walk to our first period: English.
"Have you heard the news? The ton is abuzz with the gossip."
"You rewatched bridgerton didn't you?" Annie laughs at Hayley who takes her seat next to us in the back row. Hayley transferred to the school in the middle of sophomore year. Her parents are divorced so she spends her summers in London with her dad and each time she comes back sounding more and more British. It's a quirk for sure.
"Yes I did and I'm not mad about it. Although it was a big disappointment to realise that most of the British men I've seen resemble Lord Burbrook and not Anthony Bridgerton." Hayley snacks on a bag of chips and continues to talk about her summer in London. I zone out as the classroom fills up.
"$5 says the new teacher is cute."
"I'll take that bet." Annie shakes Hayley's hand. "Gia?"
"Hmm? Yeah count me in." I try to pay attention to Hayley's London stories but can't keep up. She's described all the guys she's gotten to know and it's getting confusing. They all seem to wear tracksuits and big coats. I'm not sure how she tells the difference.
The classroom gets quiet and a tall man with broad shoulders, dark hair and hazel eyes walks in and sets down his jacket on the back of the chair.
"Fuck." I hear Annie mutter as she hands $5 to Hayley who is grinning from ear to ear. I pass along another $5 bill and turn my attention to our new teacher.
"Good morning, my name is Mr Wyatt and I'll be teaching you English this year." My Wyatt walks in front of his desk and sits on the edge, facing us all. "I'm sure you all have many questions but all I can say is that this year you will work hard. You'll take your SATs and then you'll be off to college. Put in the work and you get the rewards." Various hands fly into the air and I can already see some of the other girls practically giving him the 'fuck me' eyes.
"He can work me as hard as he wants." I hear Hayley say which earns an agreeing "mhm" from Annie.
"How old are you?" Someone in the middle asks.
"23, I graduated from U-Penn last year."
"Are you married?" Another person asks. I roll my eyes.
Mr Wyatt laughs awkwardly. "No. Since you all want to know me how about I get to know you all first? We'll make our way around the room and I want each of you to stand, say your name and an interesting fact about yourself."
Fuck. An interesting fact? I'm not one to raise my hand in class nor talk all that much either. I'm more of a 'keep your head down and let your friends do all the talking' kind of girl. I feel myself become uneasy as it's almost my turn. Anniston stands up after Hayley sits down and introduces herself.
"My name is Anniston Harris and I have an uncle in the movie business."
My turn. Think of an interesting fact.... Interesting.... Oh god they're staring. I rise to feet. "My name is Gianna Castillo and I prefer to go by Gia." That'll do, right? Mr Wyatt looks directly at me and folds his arms. "I'm sure everyone in here knows you prefer to be called Gia... dig a little deeper." His lips tug up into a smile. I think I might hate him. He can clearly see how uncomfortable I am.
"An interesting fact... I uh well.." I feel blood rush to my cheeks. Not only am I stuttering like an idiot, I resemble a tomato. Mr Wyatt narrows his eyes. "Do you play any sports? An instrument? Anything?" Now I really don't like him.
"I like to act." I manage to choke out. Mr Wyatt looks impressed, his eyes lingering for a second longer than needed before he clasps his hands and moves on with the lesson.
"Now that we're done I'd like to turn your attention to the text we will be studying this year." He reaches behind him and pulls a copy of Romeo and Juliet from his bag. A groan sounds across the whole class.
As the lesson goes on we cover act one, scenes one to three. I love Romeo and Juliet. It's tragic but also so beautiful. Just as the dismissal bell rings and everyone files out of the room, I hear Mr Wyatt call my name.
"Gia, a word please."
"Is everything alright?" I ask, fidgeting with the sleeve of my shirt.
"You're not very confident for someone who wants to be an actress."
"I just don't have a lot to say. That's all. When you've got a script you don't have to think about what to say. It's decided for you."
"You want to act because it's easy and has minimal decisions?" He raises an eyebrow and folds his arms. He may be my teacher but there's no denying that he's hot.
"No. I want to be an actor because I like it."
"So why didn't you say that in the first place?"
"I don't- have I done something wrong or can I go now?" My words come out a little sharper than I had intended. Mr Wyatt just nods and I make my way to my next period.
After school had ended I made my way home. As I pull up I notice my brother, Danny, has parked his car in the driveway which leaves me with parking on the street. Upon entering the house, I can hear Danny's music from upstairs blasting loudly which means one thing: he has a girl up there. I climb the stairs to my room and change my outfit before I head out to the acting group I'm apart of: The Hartford players. I don't even bother to make contact with my brother before I leave so I just leave a note on the fridge saying I'll be back later tonight.
The walk to the community centre is always something I look forward to. It takes me around thirty minutes to make it. As I walk across the parking lot I take note of all the cars- everyone seems to be here. I've been coming here for years as my mom was bombarded by one of the members, Mrs Lowry, an older woman who insisted that they needed more 'young people'. It was difficult at first because I didn't know any of these people and I'm not exactly an extrovert. But when we rehearse I become a different person, literally. That's the thing about acting, I'm no longer Gia Castillo, I'm whoever I've been cast as. It's freeing.
"Good afternoon everyone! I hope you had an amazing summer" Mrs Lowry welcomes us all as we take our seats in a circle. "I've gotten ahold of our scripts for the next play and by a unanimous decision we will be doing a modern take on Romeo and Juliet!"
Everyone seems pleased and honestly? I am too. It'll help me get ahead in my English class. Of course I'd audition for Juliet but I think I'd have to fight Mrs Lowry tooth and nail for the chance. She's a sweet old lady but sometimes she forgets just how old she is and manages to get cast as the young female ingenue in each play we do. My ears perk up as I hear someone enter the room behind me. Their strides cross the room quickly and Mrs Lowry smiles with delight as the newcomer takes their seat.
"Another young person! So glad we could recruit you Mr Wyatt." My eyes follow her eyes and land on the newest edition, Mr Wyatt?
"Pleasure to be here. And please, Call me Mason."
.:' Hey loves! Thanks for choosing to read this book! Just a warning that this is a student x teacher forbidden romance! I do not support or encourage relationships like this. This is a work of fiction and I reserve all rights to the characters in the story and the events.
I'm so excited to write this book and hope that you guys enjoy it too! Make sure to vote, comment and favourite the book!
- Attica x
