Whispers in the Hallways

^

"How was my cousin's teaching?" Peter turned to Jennifer, curious.

Jennifer didn't respond. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the boy sitting quietly at the edge of the group—Mateo. His eyes were half-lidded, the kind of bored that couldn't be faked. He hadn't spoken once since joining them.

"Mateo," Jennifer called, "that new teacher...she's strange."

He turned lazily toward her. "How?"

"You haven't met her?" she blinked.

"No."

Jennifer glanced back at Peter. "She's really your cousin?"

Peter nodded, already regretting this entire conversation. He could practically see the wheels turning in Jennifer's head.

"What are you thinking?" Isaac, the Mohawk-haired boy, asked.

The five of them—Peter, Jennifer, Isaac, Melanie, and Raymond were all seniors. Jennifer wasn't technically in their year, but she was the only outsider accepted into their group. No one else even tried to sit with them.

Jennifer grinned. "I think we should get that youngie into our circle."

Peter scoffed. "Don't. She's not like that. She doesn't like being involved."

"She's a teacher," Melanie added dryly.

Peter leaned back, eyes narrowing. He knew Jennifer well enough to know she didn't drop things easily.

"Sure," Isaac said with a mischievous smirk. "Let's see what happens."

⸻

Aurora stood in the school cafeteria, quietly waiting her turn in the line. Students swarmed around her, loud, energetic, and uninterested in anything but themselves.

She spotted Peter at a far table, surrounded by a group of students who clearly didn't mix with others. No one dared approach them. And seated nearby, of course, was Vivian, deep in her own clique...chewing gum, phone in hand.

Aurora noticed a familiar face from the crowd. Jennifer.

Their eyes met for a second. Then Jennifer turned back to her tray without a word.

Aurora took her food and walked over to the staff section. The energy shifted.

Most of the teachers were older than her, and the way they looked at her said everything.

"You're the young teacher," one woman snickered under her breath, tossing Aurora a dismissive glance.

Aurora offered a warm smile. "Hello. It's nice meeting you."

She was used to this. She'd faced it before—new environments, silent judgment, whispers. Eventually, they adjusted. But something about this place felt... colder.

"I'm Aurora," she introduced politely.

"Mr. Parker," an older man nodded kindly.

"Mr. David," another added.

The others offered brief greetings... polite but distant. Except for the woman who'd snickered.

She said nothing.

"Why are you being hard on the girl, Janet?" Mr. Parker finally spoke, frowning at the woman.

"She thinks she's better than us. I don't even understand why the headmistress hired her," Janet muttered bitterly.

"Be careful with your words," Mr. Parker warned gently. "She's just a young woman trying her best."

No one else said a word after that.

⸻

Later, Aurora stood in the restroom, washing her hands.

She stared at the faint injury on her palm...the mark from digging her nails into her skin again. It still stung when the water hit.

"That looks painful."

Aurora jumped slightly, startled.

Jennifer stood behind her, reflected in the mirror.

"Let me see," she said casually.

Aurora hesitated before extending her hand.

Jennifer studied the wound, frowning slightly. "How did this happen?"

"I—I was just nervous."

She bit her lip and tried not to feel ashamed.

"Everyone hurts themselves sometimes," Jennifer shrugged. "It's still fresh. You should put some ointment on it. Come by the clinic later...I work there."

Aurora nodded, surprised. "You work at the clinic?"

"Sort of," Jennifer smiled. "Part-time assistant."

Aurora noticed the faint tattoo on the girl's shoulder.

"Did you always have that tattoo?" she asked, curious.

Jennifer blinked. "You can see it?"

"It's right there..." Aurora said, a little confused.

Jennifer looked away for a second, lips pursed.

"See you later, young teacher," she said with a sudden smile, disappearing out of the restroom like mist.

⸻

Later that day, Aurora was summoned to the headmistress's office.

She knocked and entered to find Mrs. Gerald, as usual, locked into her computer screen.

The woman looked up, smiling. "Morning, Miss Aurora. Have a seat."

Aurora sat quietly.

"I wanted to ask if you could supervise the detention class. The previous math teacher used to handle it."

Aurora blinked. "Detention?"

"You'd only need to stay after regular lessons. Is that alright?"

Of course not, she thought silently.

"Yes, ma'am," she replied, forcing a calm smile.

As she left the office, her steps felt heavier. Delinquent students brought memories she'd buried—classmates who teased her, days she wished she could disappear.

But she shook off the thoughts.

This was different.

This time, she wasn't the girl hiding in the back of the class.

⸻

The final bell rang.

Aurora stood in front of the detention room, nerves crawling beneath her skin. She took a deep breath, then entered.

A few students were already there.

One girl caught her attention...quiet, hunched over a book. Her glasses were almost too large for her round face, and she didn't look up once. A ghost in the corner.

"Good afternoon," Aurora said softly, trying to break the silence.

A boy with a leather jacket looked up, eyebrows raised. "Who are you?"

"She's the new teacher," someone replied before Aurora could answer.

"She's too young to teach," the boy chuckled, leaning back in his chair.

Aurora sighed silently.

She had heard it all before.