Sell the pitch, land the deal, fuck everything else

You took a moment to check your reflection in the glass door before you knocked on it and waited. A few moments later, her voice called out for you to enter and slowly you pushed open the door and stepped in. True to your memory, having been in the room your Sophomore year, Ms. Santos kept a very clean and tidy room that made you often wonder how people could say it was a hellish experience.

For boys, though, the reason was rather obvious. Especially when she looked up at you with an intrigued glance. "Yes?"

"Ms. Santos, not sure you remember me, I'm Tim Connors, you taught me 2 years ago?"

She smiled once you dropped your name and slowly she stood up and walked over to you, giving you a good view of her figure as she approached.

"Of course! I haven't been hit in the head by a car or anything!" (Interesting choice of words there) and she smothered you by cradling your head against her chest, something that she often did to some lucky students. You happened to be one of those, you supposed. "But Tim, before I begin...I'm sorry about your friend, Randall...I heard about the accident. I'm glad you're doing okay." She stepped back and looked at you in the eyes. "You are okay, right?"

Not trusting your mouth to say anything (and praying that she didn't notice how hard you were at the moment), you merely nodded your head. She took a few moments to compose herself before she looked at you. "So, what can I do for you?"

"I-I wanted to know if I can transfer into your AP US class? I have the forms, I just need you to approve and sign before I can do so." You slipped it out of your folder and stumbled a bit before finding your feet and handing it over to her. "I know you're already a week into the material but I promise I can catch up without too much trouble."

She looked at the papers before looking back at you. "I don't mind but why? I mean, you have some reading to do and it won't be hard, especially the way you did in my last class, but aren't you happy with Ms. Card?" You detected a hint of bitterness in her voice and internally smiled at that. "I can't see how anyone would transfer out of her class, heard it was like a feeding frenzy to get in last year."

You couldn't deny that, you were lucky on the draw. Randall had been clued in and maybe Allison had managed to get you in. Both were perfect reasons to get the hell out of there. You instead decided to lay it on for her. "I need a challenge. Ms. Card's class is okay but ever since the accident...well..it just seems different. Plus, it's a bit difficult to study with Randall not there..." Playing off her sympathy was a good bet as she immediately placed a hand reassuringly on your shoulder. "I look at that chair next to me and..."

"I understand. Didn't you talk with Ms. Card about this? I'm sure it would be easier for you to get this squared away with her."

You smiled slightly and angled in for the kill shot. "Ms. Card's been off since the beginning of the school year. It's just hard to see how I can let my last year rest partially in the hands of someone who isn't focused on teaching at a standard I need." You could see almost the wheels turning in Ms. Santos' head. She knew she was being played, you weren't even bothering to hide this, but she also couldn't give up something as tasty as a student defection, especially since it was also common knowledge that Ms. Card liked you (in exactly what way you kept close to you.) "Besides, she won't mind. Mr. Hansen's taking care of her in that sense."

The look in her eyes? Bingo.

Ms. Santos turned back to her desk to try and compose herself, the grin on her face threatening to break her jaws, before she dug out a book from her shelf and then signed the sheet and handed back to you. "Here, take this back to the office and say I'm okay with you. We're on Chapter 2 so you'll need to work with Jennifer on catching up. I won't call on you this week but be prepared, okay?"

You smiled and after securing the paper and book, reached over and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Ms. Santos." She nodded and after turning her attention back to the papers on her desk, obviously happy with your little slip on George, you slipped out of the room and grinned widely. If there was one skill you honed over the years, even Randall did not know this, you knew how to play around with people. Subtle, yes, but easy to move things for your advantage.

This was going to be interesting...