Shot down

"Surprise quiz," Ms. Chadra announced when Matt had seated himself between Debby and Wendy. "This is important, you guys, so do your best."

Matt realized he probably should have spent more time on his math the previous day but he'd had a full afternoon and evening. He wasn't completely confident about his grasp of the concepts and, when Ms. Chadra passed him the quiz sheet, felt more than a little worried.

Fortunately, the quiz didn't just cover the material they'd been given the previous day and, building on the principles he'd learned, he was able to deduce the right approach to the remaining questions. He walked up to the front, passed Ms. Chadra his quiz, and said, "Listen, would you like to go out sometime?"

He had to give her this much credit. Ms. Chadra didn't laugh at him.

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be appropriate."

Who gave a shit about what was appropriate? It wasn't appropriate that any kid who qualified for the free lunch program got humiliated by students and faculty. It wasn't appropriate that girls like Cassandra were body-shamed for having a little more than the socially acceptable weight. It certainly wasn't appropriate that the only reason Matt had become popular was that a rumor had started that he was in the sex streaming business. Compared to those, dating Ms. Chadra seemed a model of appropriateness.

"I think we had this discussion. It's not a date. Just a couple of people getting together for coffee or something."

"How about two people who don't get together at all, Matt. I've heard about your porn scheme. I warned you against it and you ignored my advice. I'm certainly not going to let you rope me into it."

"But--"

"There are no buts. I could have survived without these huge tits the gods gave me but they're what I have. That doesn't mean I want to share them to complete strangers, let them lust after me, objectify me into some sort of cum-dump. I'm an intelligent woman. I'm an empathic and caring person. I'm a good mother. I'm a teacher who wants the best for her students. Those are the identities that matter to me. My tits are no more important than my nose or... I don't know. Not important at all except to males who haven't been able to outgrow whatever juvenile fetishes they're stuck with. I had hoped that you weren't one of those but the way you keep coming onto me makes me think--"

"That I like you? 'Cause I do."

"That's it, Matt. Back to your seat. And no, I'm not dating you."

Matt went back to his seat.

Wendy looked at him with concern while Debby was snickering.

Well, shit.