A sitting duck

As everyone else took their seats, I did my best to keep from getting anyone's attention, my midsection pressed as tight as it could be against the edge of my desktop. Lucky for me, I was seated in the back left, with only one seat behind my own, and it was usually empty anyway. In front of me sat Naomi-- and wouldn't you know it, she still hadn't noticed the problem with her skirt, flashing me a smile and then a lot more as she sat down. I felt bad for a moment for not telling her, but karma had already caught up with me, and then some. A few students snickered, and with a tinge of guilt I hoped it was at her and not me, but before I could even think to lean forward to tell her what was wrong, Ms. Hardison walked in and the class fell silent.

Ms. Hardison was a late-thirty something History teacher, well put together and on the stockier side, and while she wasn't an unfair teacher, she was very particular about the rules. I remembered once I checked my phone before the bell rang to end class, and she gave me an earful for that; I hated to imagine what my current dress code violation would get me.

"Alright everyone," she began, "take out your books and turn to chapter 8, we didn't get as far as we needed to last class, so... ah, Mina?" Ms. Hardison turned to look at the half-open door, and my eyes followed to see the dark hair and round facial features of Mina, another senior and, as it so happened, one of Camilla's best friends.

"Sorry Ms. Hardison," Mina said, and handed her a hall pass, "I had to stop by the nurse, and--"

"Fine, fine," Ms. Hardison said, "but I'm afraid your usual seat is already taken. Go sit behind Edward, and turn to chapter 8." The teacher kept talking, but my heart sank as Mina made her way behind me. Would she see? Did she already know, did Camilla tell her? I did my best to keep my face expressionless as she sat down. Maybe, if I was lucky, she'd be too focused on the lesson to see my situation.

I wasn't feeling hopeful.

I did my best to follow along with the lesson, turning my page on cue whenever I heard the rest of the class turn theirs, until one particular lady in class caught my attention...