An Education like no other | Closed

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh helped to usher the students back inside for their classes, intending to go back to her classroom and read as she had a free period for the next hour, but when the noticed that Xavier was still seated outside she frowned a little in worry, waiting until everyone had returned inside before approaching him. She offered him a kind smile, hoping he wouldn't assume that she was there to get him in trouble. "Mr Sanchez, did you not hear the bell?" She asked, although she figured that he had heard it and was ignoring it. "If you're going to skip class, I recommend that you at least do so in a space where you won't get into more trouble if you get caught.. My classroom is always an option, as long as I'm not teaching a class." She offered politely. She had been bullied when she was in high school, and had wished that her teachers had been kinder to her, so she was trying to make up for their failings in helping him.

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Francis nodded a little, tucking her hair behind her ear as she finished packing up her things and stood. "I'll probably just go to the library and get some books to read over the weekend... Are you sure you don't want your paper? I'm sure you didn't finish it, and I can always read the one at home." She said with a little frown, holding out the carefully folded up paper to him, not wanting to deprive him of something she knew that he liked.

Xavier looked up at her and offered her a small smile. He shrugged gently, "I was just planning on sitting here reading, I was going to find my way to class eventually," he said softly. He slipped his book into his bag gently, before standing up. "Miss? do you not have a class now?" he asked quietly.

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Mr Kilburn thought for a moment, "well that sounds entertaining, can I make a suggestion?" he asked as he took the paper back from her with a smile. He sat back in his chair, "make one of the books you pick out non-fiction, if you weren't going to do that anyway," he suggested. He loved when students read, especially in their own time.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh smiled a little as she watched him stand, nodding a little when he said that he would eventually go to class. "Good, I'd hate for your grades to suffer because you skipped class." She smiled kindly, turning to head back inside, although she stopped and turned back to him when he asked if she had a class now, smiling before shaking her head. "No, I'm free right now, I was planning on catching up on some grading and work on a crossword puzzle... Would you like to sit and read in my classroom?" She asked with a kind smile.

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Francis smiled as he took the paper, nodding at his suggestion that she pick out a non-fiction book. "That was my plan... Do you have any suggestions? Maybe if I get one you've read, we could talk about it next week after I've finished it?" She suggestion with a little smile, excited at the prospect of him suggesting books to her, as she felt like he would actually challenge her intellectually, unlike the other teachers in this school.

Xavier watched her closely, thinking for a moment. He sighed, "You'd let me do that?" he asked confused, surely she'd want him to go to his classes. He moved to catch up with her. He was surprised that she seemed to understand what was going on, and actually seemed to want to help. It was the first time a teacher had even acknowledged Abernathy's bullying.

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Mr Kilburn smiled and thought for a moment. "Well that is very mature of you, what sort of subjects do you enjoy?" he asked her lightly. He quickly noted down the title of a book he thought she should start with, one on American history. He looked at her as he handed her the paper. "If you think about some subject's you'd be interested in, I'm happy to suggest some books for them, also feel free to suggest some to me," he admitted.
He sat back, "now you should probably get a move on, you don't want to be late to your next class, young lady," he said,

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

"Well, I'd prefer that you go to your classes, but if you are just going to skip class to read, I'd rather you do it in my classroom, that way if you get caught I can at least say that I was the one who allowed it, and maybe you won't get into as much trouble." Ms Walsh smiled, holding the door open for him before heading through the halls to her classroom, taking a seat at her desk.

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"I dont really like anything specific that I like.. I just like to read." Francis said, smiling as she took the paper that he offered her, looking at the title before nodding a little. "This seems interesting, thank you. If I think of anything else that I like, I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks for letting me stay after class Mr Kilburn, see you later." She said as she grabbed her things, giving a little wave before she headed out of his classroom and to her next class.

Xavier nodded softly, "Yeah, but i'd prefer to keep my distance from, certain people,' he commented quietly. He moved into her class, and sat down at one of the desks. He pulled his book out, thinking for a moment. "Ms Walsh, what was the homework for class again?" he asked.

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Mr Kilburn nodded, "anytime Francis, my door is always open," he called out to her. He sat back in his chair, and moved back to working on his lesson plan for the next week. He was glad she seemed so excited to learn, it was something very rare these days.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh had pulled out her own work, preparing future lessons and figuring out what assignments would be due when, although she paused and looked up when Xavier asked her about the homework assignment for tomorrow. "Read the first two chapters of the textbook, write down any terms or premises that you would like to have clarified, and write a few paragraphs of your thoughts on the reading." She explained. She knew it sounded like a lot, but the textbook chapters were easy reads, and it wasn't too hard to write down a paragraph or two response, and even if her students did find it hard, she'd rather have them get used to a lot of work, as they'd only have more work in the future.

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Francis spent the day in and out of her other classes, doing her best to pay attention and take good notes, although she kept thinking back on her earlier conversation with Mr Kilburn, and was excited that maybe she would finally have a teacher that would push her academically. Once the bell rang signalling the end of the school day she headed to the library to get the books that she had wanted, including the one that Mr Kilburn had recommended, before hurrying outside, although she ended up missing her bus, and with a heavy sigh began to walk home, knowing both her parents would be at work and not around to pick her up.

Xavier smiled and thanked her. He pulled out his textbook, and started to read over the chapters taking some quick notes. He was glad for the peace and quiet, even when he was at home, he didn't often get this much time undisturbed. He sat quietly, in the back reading away, eventually an hour had passed, and he still hadn't moved.

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Mr Kilburn spent the day, teaching his other students, who all seemed to hate being in school. He made it through, giving all his classes simple homework, and dismissing them to thier next lessons. He packed up his things, once his last class was over. He wasn't one for sticking around and socialising with the other teachers, most of what they did was bitch about thier students. He began making his way home, and saw Francis walking along the streets. He pulled over, "Francis, I thought you caught the bus?" he called.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh spent the hour productively, preparing some lessons for next week and reading through the textbook to pick out assignments for her students. She was happy to have Xavier's company, as even though he didn't say anything, the occasional sound of him shifting in his seat or flipping through his textbook made her feel happy. She was pulled away from her work when the bell rang, signalling the end of her free block and the beginning of her next class, although she was glad that it was the last class of the day. She let out a little sigh, putting away the things she had been working on before looking over at Xavier. "I'd hate to kick you out, but I have class this next period, and I strongly suggest that you at least go to your last class of the day." She smiled over at him.

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Francis had been flipping through the pages of one of her new books when Mr Kilburn had pulled over and called out to her, startling her a bit as she looked over at him. Although, when she realized it was him she offered him a kind smile. "Hi Mr Kilburn. I meant to, but I spent too long in the library and by the time I had gotten all of the books that I needed the bus had left, and because my parents are still at work walking was the only option." She explained, taking a few steps closer to his car as she spoke, so that that way they weren't yelling across the sidewalk at each other to have their conversation.

Xavier looked up from his work, when she spoke. He smiled softly, "it's okay, thanks for letting me stay as long as you did," he said softly. He started packing up his things, and moved towards her desk, "I finished the homework," he said softly, placing it on her desk gently. He turned making his way for the door.

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Mr Kilburn's face turned to a smile, as she told him what had happened. "That happened to me a lot while I was in school," he admitted. He paused for a moment, "would you like me to give you a ride home, I'm more than happy to," he suggested. He remembered, his long walks home, after missing the bus, they always made him so tired.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh nodded and offered him a kind smile as he thanked her for letting him stay. "It's not a problem. My door will always be open to you, Xavier." She said before turning to the board to begin writing her next class's assignments on it, although she turned back to him in surprise when he set the homework down on her desk. Just glancing it over she could tell that he was incredibly intelligent and thorough, and she wondered why he wasn't in an honors class. "Xavier," She called before he could leave. "I can give you a list of the assignments for the next few weeks, if you'd like to get ahead on some of them.." She offered, afraid that her classes would bore him if she didn't try to challenge him a little.

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Francis' eyes lit up when he offered her a ride, nodding as she took a step closer to the car. "That would be fantastic, thank you so much, Mr Kilburn." She said as she moved around to the passenger side of his car, opening the door and climbing in, just as a few drops of rain hit the windshield. "Looks like you showed up just in time to save me from the rain." She smiled, setting her bag in her lap as she looked over at him.

Xavier looked back at her, "thank you so much Ms Walsh," he said softly. He thought for a moment, "I'd like that," he began, he looked down, and blushed slightly, "could you try to get the assignments from my other teachers too?," he asked.

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Mr Kilburn nodded lightly, "yes it does seem like I arrived just in time," he mused, as he climbed back into his car. He pulled on his own seatbelt, as he waited for her to put on her own one. "So tell me where do you live Francis, I'll get you home safe," he said lightly.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh smiled at him, nodding as she turned to her desk to write a quick note to herself to remind her. "Of course, Xavier. I'll send you an email with the assignments later. Have a good day." She said, smiling as she looked back over at him.

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Francis buckled up her seatbelts before nodding. "I live at 327 Pembroke Lane." She gave him her address, looking down at her lap as she flipped through one of the books she had picked up from the library, skimming some of the pages as he drove her to her house.

Xavier grinned lightly, "thanks so much Ms, I'll see you tomorrow," he said cheerfully. It was an odd tone for him, he usually always felt miserable at school. But the break from being bullied was good today. He decided to head over to the classroom of the lesson he'd skipped, to speak with the teacher and apologize.

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Mr Kilburn kept his eyes on the road, as he pulled into traffic and started making his way to her place. "That's surprising, I only live a short way from there, about five minutes by foot," he informed her. He sat back deciding to let her read if she wanted too.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh smiled at his bright attitude, turning back to her desk to arrange the papers as her next class came in. By the end of the day, she'd managed to speak to if not email all of Xavier's teachers asking them to send the assignments for their classes to her, and by the time the final bell rang signalling the end of the school day she was seated at her desk once more, a pen dangling loosely between her teeth as she concentrated on reading through the document she had made containing all of his assignments in all of his classes for the next month, double checking to make sure her work was correct.

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"Really? I usually run after school, so I'm surprised that I've never seen you around, or that you've never seen me." Francis commented with a little smile, glancing over at him before focusing her attention back on her book. While she often got carsick from reading in the car, she could never resist the temptation, and always gave in, often resulting in a terrible headache later on, even if whatever it was that she read was brief.

Xavier Caught up on what he'd missed, and grabbed a copy of the homework. He sighed contemplating heading to Class, he really didn't want to bump into Abernathy, so he decided to skip out, and head home early. He was glad that Ms Walsh had been so nice to him today, it was something he didn't expect. He'd never expected a teacher would care.

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Mr Kilburn shrugged, "hmm odd, maybe I should pay more attention to the people on the street," he admitted. He usually was busy thinking about his day, or the latest political situation, when he drove home. So he assumed that would of been why he never noticed her before. He smiled softly at her, "well, I'm glad you take a break from studying each day, it's good to keep the mind fresh," he said. I thought quietly to himself, that her exercising everyday is probably why she had such a toned figure.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Once finished editing Ms Walsh sent the email to Xavier, along with a copy of her own schedule, so that he would know when her classroom would be empty and when it wouldnt be. With that, she packed up her things and headed home, ready to relax after a long day, thinking that a nice long bath would feel amazing.

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Francis nodded a little, giving up on her reading to look out the window. "It helps to clear my head, and I have found that I have a bit better luck with sleeping, although not by much, but I'm sure I'll figure out how to fix that at some point." She always pushed herself too hard, waking early and going to bed late, but even when she wanted to sleep and was more than ready she just seemed like she couldn't, which was terribly frustrating.

Xavier made it home, it was a quiet place, for now. He settled into his bedroom, and flicked on his laptop. He smiled as he saw he had an email from Ms Walsh, that had a list of his assignments, along with her schedule. He quickly, penned back a response, "thank you for the list, and your schedule, I take it you don't mind if I use your room to hide out, if it's empty. See you tomorrow Ms Walsh."
He printed out his assignments, and started to work on some.

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Mr Kilburn nodded, "yes fresh air is good to clear the mind," he admitted. He pulled into her street, and outside her home. "Well here we are, and perhaps skip the run today, it is awfully wet," he said. He smiled as he turned to look at her, "Besides it looks like you picked up plenty of reading," he said.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Ms Walsh smiled at the response he sent her once she checked her email, making up a quick dinner before taking a nice, long bath, nearly falling asleep a few times in the warm water.

The next morning she was at school like usual, sipping her morning cup of tea as she sat her desk, preparing today's lessons for her students.

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Francis began to carefully tuck the books into her bag by the time he arrived at her house, not wanting them to get wet in the rain. She smiled as she looked over at him, shaking her head. "A little water never hurt anyone. See you tomorrow, Mr Kilburn." She waved a little as she climbed out of the car, hurrying out of the rain and inside her home.

It wasnt terribly long until she reamerged, wearing her usual running clothes which consisted of leggings, her sneakers and a tank top over her sports bra and her hair pulled into a ponytail. She actually quite liked running in the rain, so she set off, needing the exercise in order to be able to focus later that night.

Xavier was up most of the night working on his schoolwork. Once his parents got home, the house grew loud and distracting. Making him take far longer than he wanted to too get everything done. By about one in the morning, he'd completed the first weeks assignments, and readings for all of his classes. He made his way to his bed and curled up into it.

The next morning he arrived at school and was tired, he found his way to his home room. Abernathy was there, and immediately began taunting him. Apparantly a story had only been circulated about where he'd been all of the lesson he missed yesterday, a not very pleasant one.

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Mr Kilburn nodded softly, "well be careful, see you tomorrow," he said lightly as she climbed out of his car. He waited a moment to check she made it inside okay, before pulling back out onto the road and heading home. He pulled into his driveway and headed inside.
He put the kettle on and began preparing himself something to eat. He usually spent his lunch hour reading or working with students, so he had stopped taking lunch to school awhile ago, preferring just to wait until he was home.
While he was in the kitchen he occassionally looked out at the sidewalk, to see if Francis ran past, and eventually she did, he couldn't help but stare, she really was a beautiful young woman, with a very shapely body. He hadn't really noticed it before.

@ katahdin