Teacher's Pet

Carla nodded. “Of course. And I assume some sort of credit will be given? For the students who submit work? I’m just not sure we’ll have enough submissions for the first issue if there’s not some sort of incentive given.”

“That’s up to the individual teachers, and the amount of work the student puts forth. Simply contributing an article for consideration should not necessarily merit credit, in my opinion. But again, I’m willing to leave that up to the teacher’s discretion. We’re going to see how it goes for the next few semesters, and then I’ll talk with the dean about adding specific courses, say, formatting and layout for newsprint, or editing for publication.” Shannon’s gaze landed on me again. “And Leo, considering your past experience, I hope you’ll be willing to impart some of your knowledge on the students; not just when it comes to deciding which articles are going to be published.”

I gave her a big shit eating grin. Oh, if she only knew what Tessa and I had just talked about. “I’d be more than happy to,” I said.

7.

Tessa

Lindsey and I had a two-hour break in between classes, so we went out and got lunch at a Mediterranean place we both liked, so we could talk about whether or not I was actually going to sleep with a professor for a better grade.

“So,” she said, “do you think you’re really going to go through this whole thing with Leo?”

I took a sip of my water, which had a lemon slice floating on the top. The tartness made me wince. “I don’t know,” I said. “I keep going back and forth about it. It’s not really who I am. I’m not that sort of person.”

“He must actually like you,” Lindsey said, “because when I went and asked him about extra credit, he actually just told me to write something. Which I’m not doing. I don’t really need the extra credit. I’m satisfied with a B. I’d even be satisfied with a C+, to be totally honest. But he doesn’t know that. And he definitely did not suggest anything even remotely close to sex. So he must really like you.”

“I don’t think he likes me.”

“Of course he does. Why would he say no to me, but yes to you? Because he likes you.” She clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting!”

“It’s not exciting; I feel like a slut.”

“Have you done anything with him yet?”

“No.”

“Well, then, you’re not a slut. And even when you do do something with him, you’re still not a slut.”

“I’m not? Then what’s a slut? I mean, I’m basically whoring myself out for a better grade.”

Lindsey shrugged. “I think it’s hot. It’s not like he’s some nasty old man and this is the only way he could get la

id. Leo is completely fuckable, and you’re going to get to do it. I would keep this a secret, though, if I were you, because if word gets out that he’ll sleep with his students, then—”

“He’ll get fired?”

“I was going to say that there will be girls—and some guys—lined up at his door, just begging him for an extra credit assignment.”

“I’m not going to say anything. Maybe it’s not even going to happen. He told me to wear something to the next class that would let him know I was still interested in doing it. What do you think that even means?”

Lindsey stared at me. “Seriously, Tess? You don’t know what that means?”

“I mean, I could take a guess or two. He wants me to dress slutty, right? Because what I’m doing is something that a slut would do.”

“Ugh, stop it. You’ve got to get the idea that you’re being a slut out of your head, okay? Otherwise, it’s just going to mess with you the whole time you’re doing this. And this is something that should be fun. You should be getting some enjoyment out of this. Don’t look at it like you’re letting some guy use you. You take control of the situation, okay? You do this for you. Let him think that he’s the one getting all the pleasure out of it, but you make it about you. You’re basically manipulating him to get what you want, which is a good grade.”

“But what if I do all this and he doesn’t give me a good grade? What if he’s just saying that he will so he gets what he wants, and then in the end, he still gives me a shitty grade?”

“Hmm.” Lindsey frowned; I could tell that she hadn’t considered this as a possibility until now. “Well, I don’t think he seems like he would do something like that.”

“You don’t even know him. And he basically propositioned me, so I think it seems like something he would definitely do.”

“Then you need insurance.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You don’t know what insurance is?”