The Math Teacher From Hell- "New Witch on Campus" 3rd draft excerpt

I haven't posted any excerpts in a while and I just added this scene to my story. This is Dr. Benedict. He is Tara's math professor and he's terrible. This won't be touched upon much in this story but, down the line, I'm planning on making it a plot point. Let me know what you think.

 

They walked into the classroom and took a seat. Before they could say anything more, the instructor walked into the room.

Dr. Benedict was a tall, lanky man with a nasally, but monotone voice. Not the kind of tone you need to keep a student’s interest in math at 8:00 in the morning. But, he seemed either not to notice or not to care that half the class was beginning to doze before he finished his introduction to the syllabus. Tara and Michael managed to stay awake by slipping notes to each other. And, their shock at the start of his lecture.

“This is Math 90,” he began. “Beginning Algebra. Or, more accurately, a refresher course of what you were too stupid to pay attention to in high school.” A few heads jerked up at this and students whispered to each other until Dr. Benedict took a ruler and smacked the podium with it, shocking the class back into silence. “I don’t dick around. I don’t tolerate talking. If you can’t keep up, there’s the tutoring center or you may as well leave now and drop the class. I move fast. You have 16 weeks to learn this shit and move on to the next level of actual college level math. If you’re not on time, you fail the day. I lock the door when I enter. You miss the lecture, tough shit. Everything’s laid out on the syllabus what we’re covering each day. You’ll just have to figure it out yourself if you expect to pass my class. Your cell phones will be silenced or turned off. If I see it out, you will be asked to leave and you’ll not be marked for a whole week. You’re that stupid and need a calculator, go buy one. Don’t use your phone. I’ll just assume you’re texting or on Facebook. Now, open your packets to page 1 and we’ll go over my rules and the curriculum for this semester.”

Story Snippet from New Witch On Campus

Here is a snippet from the first draft of my second book in my Witches of Coolersville series, New Witch on Campus. I'm having so much fun writing this and I've definitely turned up the drama level as this scene shows. Enjoy!

“You didn’t have to be so rude back there,” Tara continued. “You embarrassed me in front of my friends.”

“Oh, your new boyfriend?” Henry demanded.

“He’s not my boyfriend, you idiot,” said Tara. “You are. Michael’s just a friend.”

Henry let out a short laugh that sounded almost like a bark. “Oh, is he? He seemed to be getting pretty cozy over there. Applied for the same school as you. You and Marissa suggesting he work for your grandma. I saw the way he was looking at you. He’s got more than friendship on his mind. He might even be in love with you.”

Tara was taken aback at this statement. She tried to will herself to keep her expression indifferent but she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “And, how do you know that, Henry James?” He winced when she used his first and middle name. “Are you psychic all of a sudden?”

“I know because it’s the same way I feel about you!” he shouted.

Tara glared at him. “Well, aren’t you just…” Suddenly what he said hit her. “Wait… what?”

Henry sighed. “That’s not how I wanted to tell you. But, I love you, Tara. And, I’m pissed at you at the same time.” He waited for a minute. “Well, don’t just stare at me. Say something, damn you!”

Tara just gaped at him. Her mind was screaming a thousand different things but she couldn’t get her voice to work. Henry rolled his eyes and turned to go and she forced herself to speak. “Don’t get mad at me. You freakin’ blindsided me! I don’t know what to say. You can’t blame me for that.”

“Whatever,” grumbled Henry. “Let me know when you have something to say. See you in class.” He walked away and she stood rooted to the spot for what felt like an eternity.

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 11- Dream Scene

Making progress in my novel. This is a dream scene I came up with today. Keep in mind, this is a first draft. Let me know what you think!

She was in the middle of the woods. The moon was full and bright, shining through the trees to light her path. Leaves crunched underfoot as she walked. The trees were full and a deeper green than she had ever seen in her life.

The path led further and further into the woods. It felt like no time at all had passed, though. As she moved, sights and smells began to change. The trees began to thin out to reveal the entrance of a clearing. The distinct smell of a bonfire began to fill the air. Tara could smell herbs or some kind of insense being burned with the wood.

When she entered the clearing, she was amazed at what she saw. A huge bonfire fully blazing in the center of the clearing. The pile of wood was as tall as she was. The flames reached toward the tree tops. But they were ot the typical orange and yellow of the many backyard party fires Tara had experienced. It wa bright blue, and a bluish green in the center. A group of hooded figures stood in a circle around the blaze singing in a language Tara had ever heard. She did not understand but the perfect harmony if female voices as they chanted was beautiful. It sounded like some kind of prayer.

Tara was so wrapped up in the scene before her she was oblivious to the harsher sound coming through the trees. A gunshot pierced the serenity of the scene and shook her. She stood paralyzed as men with weapons and torches swarmed in from every direction. The women shrieked as they were aprehended. Some tried to run. Others tried to fight back, protecting those who were too young or too old. Sobs mixed with the screams as a pair of sisters were pulled apart by some of the men.

A log escaped the pile and the flames began to catch the grass and trees. Now, sheer panic erupted. Women screamed. Men shouted. And, somewhere in the distance, a voice called Tara's name.

"Tara!  Wake up!" Wake up? What? She felt a hand grab her. Fearing it was one of the men with weapons, she reacted. She cried out and thrashed with all her might...