WHATEVER YOU LIKE, SIR

Elsie was bored. She was slumped over the back of her chair and was eyeing the chemistry teacher at the front of the classroom with an ill disguised loathing. The chemistry teacher was an ageing, grey haired woman who had clearly long ago lost the passion for her subject. The other students in the classroom all seemed to be half drugged and a good percentage of them had their heads on the desk. Christopher, a dark haired eagle nosed boy sitting next to Elsie gave her a wink. Elsie stared back stonily at him. Christopher proceeded to lick the space between his forefinger and index finger in a suggestive manner. Elsie sighed heavily and rested her chin on her right hand. Arguably it was easier being pretty than not but when it involved putting up with hormonal, greasy haired, teenage boys behaving inappropriately towards her it could hardly be called fun. Elsie started to curl her blonde hair between her fingers and let her mind wander as the chemistry teacher rumbled on and the time slowly crawled by. Elsie began to feel quite sleepy. 'Hey Elsie!' Elsie's eyes had been beginning to close. She forced them open and raised her head. Edward, one of her friends was waving one of his hands at her. As Elsie looked at him she couldn't help but notice the large display of spots that covered his face. It could well be claimed, Elsie reckoned as she looked at Ed out of her bleary eyes, that Ed has more spot than face! Ed was holding a bit of paper in his hand. He chucked it at her. It fluttered in the air for the moment then came to rest on her desk. Written on the strip of paper was 'Im bored out of my mind here. Entertain me.' Elsie frowned thoughtfully at the paper. She smiled back at Ed. She suddenly felt terribly mischievous. She started to suck on her pen. As she did so she closed her eyes as though she was lost in ecstasy. Ed's eyes bulged as he saw her do this. 'Elsie Mcyntre!' Elsie's head snapped up. The chemistry teacher was glaring straight at her. The others students began to wake up. 'Yes?' Elsie returned, feeling a bit of heat in her cheeks. 'What exactly are you doing?' 'Um...'said Elsie. Her cheeks were now burning. 'Well....' Elsie reddened further. 'Well, if you cant explain youself to me Im sure Mr Edgar will sort you out.' Elsie shook her head voicelessly. 'Unfourtunately he is otherwise engaged....' Elsie slowly released her breath in relief. 'So Mr Maddox, the head of year, will have to suffice.' 'Im sorry...'began Elsie, feeling her panic levels rising again. 'Off you go Elsie' the teacher returned sharply. Elsie slid off her seat and slowly made her way to the door. After she had left and the chemistry teacher had taken up her monotone once again, the students once more resumed their states of comatose. Elsie stood outside the study of Mr Maddox' and knocked on the door. The door opened and Mr Maddox was standing there. He was in his early twenties and was fresh out of Oxford. He was holding a cup of tea in his right hand. Elsie couldn't help but notice how thick and tanned his forearm was. She imagined his blood coursing steadily through it. 'Elsie Macs!' Mr Maddox greeted her. 'Sir, I have been sent here to talk to you about my behaviour in class.' 'Can it wait until tonight Elsie? Im a bit busy at the mo.' 'Alright.' Said Elsie. 'What time about?' 'What time is prep finished?' 'Nine.' 'Nine then.' Elsie arrived back at nine o clock on the dot. It was a dark and wet night and Elsie had gotten soaked during her walk through the precincts. Her toes felt cold, wet and cramped in her tight leather shoes and she couldnt wait to be by the fire in Mr Maddox' study despite the fact that she was in line for a scolding from him, a prospect she certainly did not savour. When Mr Maddox opened the door to his study a breath of warmth rushed out to greet her. Elsie shivered in pleasure as she was momentarily relieved from the painful bite of the cold night air. 'Come on in Elsie.' Said Mr Maddox. Elsie kicked off her shoes as soon as she was inside the doorway (without asking permission) and rushed towards the fire. She watched the flames flicker as they licked away at the logs in the grate. 'Have a seat Elsie.' Mr Maddox had a quiet voice. It had a whispery quality to it even. It reminded Elsie of Richard Harris'. Elsie let herself down onto one of the armchairs in the study. It was hard but only because it clearly had been stuffed with so much filling. Elsie began to feel a sense of relaxation spread through her. 'Well Elsie? ' Said Mr Maddox as he sat opposite her in another armchair. 'What exactly were you doing to annoy Mrs Wakeham?' Elsie felt her throat constrict slightly. 'I was behaving inappropriately.' She replied. There was a silence. Elsie stared fixedly at the grate. 'Were you being very inappropriate?' 'Well, technically no. Lots of people suck on their pens.' She made eye contact this time, so as to review his reaction. 'ah,' Mr Maddox said. 'I think I now understand.' Elsie went bright red. She sat there feeling very much as though he was judging her. 'I was doing it as a joke.' She said, her face now feeling prickly with the heat from the blush. 'Im sorry.' She said without looking at him. She then stood up very quickly. She took a step raised her hand to her head because her forehead was suddenly splitting apart with pain....then darkness overtook her. 'You fainted Elsie.' Came a whispery voice in her ear. Elsie forced her eyes open and found she was lying with her back on the carpet. Mr Maddox had her hand in his. It was warm and felt-and Elsie couldnt really explain this idea-but quite skin like. 'I think you must have stood up too fast.' Mr Maddox' face was directly over hers. She could smell his breath which had both a bitterness and a sweetness to it. 'like hay' thought Elsie as she looked up at Mr Maddox as he leaned over her. Suddenly Elsie's body shuddered violently then stopped.' Your clothes are sodden' said Mr Maddox matter-of-factly. 'I had better get out of them.'Elsie returned before she could stop herself. She expected an expression of shock from Mr Maddox. Instead he stood up and said 'ill get you a towel.' He left the room. Elsie pushed herself into a sitting position. There was cabinet opposite her with a glass front. She watched her reflection as her hand undid the top button of her blazer. Her eyes looked terribly dark, almost black and her hair was so lit up by the firelight it looked like a halo of sunlight. Mr Maddox returned to the room and sat down on the carpet with her, breaking Elsie's eye contact with her reflection. He passed her a folded up towel and as he did so he made eye contact with her. His eyes were glistening strangely and Elsie could read nothing from his facial expression. She couldnt help noticing as she looked at him how pink his lips looked....they added a touch of youthfullness to his face. Elsie began rubbing at her head with the towel. Strands of damp blonde hair fell across her face. END OF THE FIRST INSTALLMENT