Teacher is Off Limits

Warning

The following story will contain:
Blood
Human/Animal torture
Depictions of mental illness
Homophobic situations

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Hartman High School seemed to be hidden from the world among thick trees with well manicured lawns and beautifully kept gardens, so that it looked more like a nature preserve than the front lawns of an all-male private school. But rich parents sent their students here when the public school districts just wouldn't cut it, and they were too busy to homeschool or hire a private tutor. Even with the knowledge that these teenagers were possibly ignored and left to themselves, not necessarily living the way a normal teenager should, but it wasn't Leon's place to think too hard about their home life. Plenty of them had perfectly fine lives, and some preferred getting on by themselves. He'd been there for six years already and knew that perfectly well. Leon's drive took him the same way the buses and escorts took, which was a two-lane road bordered on either side by thick walls of very old trees, most covered in ivy and honey suckle, which while in bloom gave the entire road a fresh, sweet scent that would drift toward the school.

It was the first day, so not only was it extremely hot at not even seven in the morning, but he'd be getting new students. He knew many younger ones, but since he taught eleventh grade History, he'd been around most of the students for two previous years. He knew plenty by name, had made mostly friends, but a few enemies as well. Students seemed to like him more than most, and he was no idiot---it was because he was lenient, friendly, and more or less an overgrown kid himself.

Emerging into the open where the school sat among its roses, hydrangeas, decorative grasses and perfectly kept lawns, the road turned from asphalt to light beige-to-brown cobblestone that twisted both in front of the school and to the side, where a long parking lot sat. Leon had his own spot near the entrance, where he parked, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his black-clothed shoulder, grabbing up the huge mane of black hair he absolutely refused to cut and slamming the door to his green Jeep, which was less for preference and more for necessity since during the weekends he'd use it to get far away from town and deep into camping territory if he had nothing---or no one---better to do. He looked up to the school, its historical appearance and the heavy brass bell in its tower, and smiled. He hadn't seen it officially for a while now and was looking forward to getting back into class.

The cat screeched, its fur fluffing up and its eyes going wide before it ran from him. He frowned. He should have tied it down. He looked around him, getting his bearings and continuing down the alley to the bus stop. Even though his family was rich and he went to one of the most poshest schools in the city, no one had time to drop him off at school and he had to catch a bus. It was a silver one, which did the school run, picking up teens from Hartman High as well as Patty's - the local Catholic girl school. He got to the stop just as the bus pulled into his street, standing by the post so the driver could see he was from Hartman High and stop for him.

He stepped onto the bus and showed his ID, a card that let him have bus rides for a fee once a month. His dark eyes scanned the seats, over the multiple faces that looked scared that he might sit next to them. What would happen if he did? Would they get up and move? Why did people dislike him? They didn't know what he did when no one was looking. They didn't know about the razor blade under his mattress or the scars on his arms. Was it because he was so... odd?

Odd Todd was what he was called, even the teachers called him that. It wasn't a hurtful name, and some people might have found the nickname funny. Todd didn't care. He didn't have friends, and those he did once have, moved away or changed schools. He walked to an empty seat near the back, moving so he could lean against the window and watch the city go past him. It was only a 10 minute drive to the school.

In the break room near the cafeteria, where kids were gathered for breakfast or to find their friends for a new year of classes, Leon made his way to the back of the room where a literature teacher sat rubbing where his hair met his forehead, as if fighting off the urge to fall asleep over the half-mug of coffee in front of him. Leon smiled, slamming his bag down on the table and scaring the teacher into a frenzied gasp, looking around the room for the source of the noise and sighing in a mix of relief and annoyance. "Jesus, Leon, you couldn't say hi first!"

"Then I wouldn't have given you a mini stroke, would I have?" Leon grinned and sat across from Dean Sharp, taking the thermos out of his bag and unscrewing the lid. "Gotta stay awake, never know who's about to sneak up on you." He winked, pouring black coffee into the lid.

"It hasn't been safe around here for years." Dean sighed, holding out his mug for Leon, who obliged. "With you stalking the halls like a pervert, scaring the holy hell out of teacher and student alike---"

"Excuse me! I don't stalk the halls like a pervert! I just stalk your room." Leon snickered, looking up at the clock. "Ooh, lookie there, time to go! First day back, you excited!?"

Dean grumbled, twisting the lid back on his mug and standing with Leon. "You're like a kid on a sugar rush. I always feel for your students."

"I'm a fun teacher!" Leon pouted, following Dean out of the room and upstairs. Their classes were across the hall from one another, so they made a habit of walking to and from each morning. Leon gathered his hair, tying it up in a ponytail to keep it out of his eyes. There were only a few students in the room when he entered, but there was still ten minutes until the bell. He smiled at the familiar classroom. Six years here, and he loved every moment, even with a couple insufferable, asshole teachers on his back as much as they could stuck themselves there.

His face was emotionless as he walked up the path towards his school, people walking around him and glancing at him with curiosity or slight fear. Todd never had an issue with bullies, even though he was an unpopular kid. It seemed that even the bullies didn't want to be anywhere near him. He saw this as a shame, because then he had no excuse to hurt someone. He smiled lightly as he remembered the look of terror in the cat's eyes. He wondered if people had the same look about them when they were hurt.

He found his first class easily, going inside the unlocked classroom to sit down at a desk near the front of the class. His subjects had been picked for him by the school, they had reviewed his work from previous years and placed him into subjects that he's do well at. History wasn't something he would have willingly chosen, but he wouldn't complain.

He watched the other students talk and read books, not breaking eye contact if they looked at him. No one ever asked him why he was staring, but if they did, Todd wouldn't care. He liked watching people, and a few of the boys in his class were good looking. He wondered if they had girlfriends or if they were gay. He wanted to meet a gay boy.

The teacher had come into his class early, setting up his desk and notes and smiling around the class. Todd turned his attention to the teacher, someone he hadn't seen before. The man had long hair, but had it tied back. Todd wanted to see how long it was. He wanted to wear it like a blanket. He didn't blink when the teacher's eyes fell on him.

Leon's room was tall and more long than wide. Its tile floors were brown and light tan, the walls painted light beige-brown and accented with red. There were three large windows that faced the back of the school and gave a beautiful sight of the gardens and field beyond. His classroom was large, yes, but had only fifteen desks for fifteen students, which were always three seats across, spaced enough so that notes couldn't be passed or whispers couldn't be exchanged. Texting was easy to spot as well.

Sitting at his desk, in the far corner of the room so the ceiling projector didn't have anything to fight with, Leon studied the kids quickly before turning to his bag. He was glad to have gotten such a good job, not only with a good school but among an all-male cast of students and staff. Initially, he'd been worried that profiling would begin and he would be seen as a pervert or a threat because of his homosexuality, but only two teachers had a problem with that fact. And they had come to work at Hartman after he had.

Looking up from his books, which he set in front of him on the desk, Leon locked eyes with one of the early-riser students. A dark-haired young man with eyes like coal, and quite intense. He looked as if he were studying Leon, taking him in and assessing him. But Leon hadn't seen this student around. Didn't even know his name like he did most others. He offered a small smile.

The teacher had locked eyes with him, and smiled. It was the smile Todd got a lot from people who were unsure how to react to his staring. He didn't smile back, as he never really saw the point in the gesture. He was often asked if he was sad, because his face had a permanent frown. He would just shrug and not answer their questions. Was he sad? Lonely? Todd didn't know. He hadn't really seen the reason for friends, why people wanted them so badly. The need to socialise and be accepted seemed like a flaw in most humans. But he never said these thoughts out loud.

He didn't break eye contact and kept watching the teacher silently.

Leon tilted his head slightly and knitted his brow. Odd. He decided not to dwell on the curious student for more than a moment, and turned his focus back to the books. He had the history book the students had, which was marked with red notes, and a few gradebooks. Some folders marked with color codes that were specific to his room so he could keep assignments in order. Students were filing in more now, and Leon recognized many of them. He nodded hello when they said something in greeting, hopefully not dreading their first class since he was well known to be easy on them for the first couple days back in school, unlike many teachers who were infamous for giving a huge report or a ton of homework immediately. Whenever a student would remark that the teachers were 'taking their damn job waaaay too seriously', he'd have to stifle a laugh.

When the bell rang, Leon stood and surveyed the room with the attendance booklet under his arm. "Welcome back, boys." Leon said with a puff of air. "Most of you know me but for those that don't, I'm Leon Harvard, just call me Harvard. I'll probably be using your last names anyway. So let's get started, eh? Just raise your hand or yell out when I call your name." He flipped open the book and started down the list.

The teacher called out the students' names one by one, and as he did, they said "yes", "Present" or put their hands up. Todd turned to look at them all, making a few of them seem unsettled by how he stared. When the teacher came to Todd's name, he turned around slowly and stared at Leon. The students chuckled uncertainly, as Leon looked up and his eyes locked with Todd's. "I am here, Leon," Todd replied quietly, not breaking his unflinching stare.