The turtle tank had not been cleaned in a week and the odor was beginning to fill the room. Every once and a while, everyone would glance over at the turtle tank, praying someone would dispose of it. feeling their murderous gazes, the turtle hid behind the rock, careful not to make a sound. The windows had been closed, trapping the smell that fought, so desperately, to relieve the class of it’s lingering presence. The fan had not helped at all. It bounced the smell around from nose to nose, causing more and more students to look up from their test to glance at the turtle tank.

The smell, however, had not bothered Kelly. Or maybe, she just hadn’t noticed it. She clicked her pen as she stared into the the air, lost in thought. Her test half way completed, but this had not bothered her. She was pretty sure she wasn’t going to fail the test anyway. Her glasses slid to the tip of her nose, submitting to the force of gravity. Kelly used the tip of her pen to prop it back in place, full aware that she would have to repeat the process in probably the next three minutes.

“Five Minutes guys,” Mr. Brainshaw declared. Kelly couldn’t help but notice how unusually geeky he looked today. Geeky turned her on. Brainshaw’s ocean blue eyes drowned her thoughts. She was mesmerized. It was as if he had hypnotized her with his stern stare. He would always glance at her through the top of his glasses. She would smile, but only after he would look away. The top of his shirt had three unloosed buttons. The open shirt revealed his curly black hair that was pasted to his chest. She would always get a quick look at his butt, but he never turned around long enough  for her to enjoy it. It was as if he knew she was watching.

“Pens and pencils down,” Brainshaw declared. He quickly glanced at Kelly through the top of his glasses, the way he would do with everyone and then quickly looked away. Kelly, as faithfully as always, smiled. The bell rang and the class began to move. everyone began to pack there bags as if there had just been a fire drill.

“Alright, Alright,” Brainshaw declared. “School’s out, but my class isn’t. Please place your test on my desk on the way out. Helen! that better be your name that you are writing on that test!” Helen smiled and quickly put her pen away. She smiled and handed the test to Brainshaw, but not in any ordinary way. She smiled and seductively poked her chest out. She teased him with the paper, pulling it out of his hand as he attempted to take it. He smiled and snatched it.

“I hope I pass, Mr. Brainshaw,” She said sweetly, then exited the room.

“Whore,” Kelly whispered to herself. The room quickly cleared out. Brainshaw smiled at Kelly, still in her seat. He picked up the eraser and quickly cleared the board. Kelly caught the butt show, as he stretched and reached. She smiled as she placed her pen in her mouth.

“Anything I can help you out with, Kelly?” Brainshaw asked, clapping the chalk dust from his hands.

“I was actually looking for a little… extra credit,” Kelly declared. Brainshaw laughed and straightened the papers on his desk.

“Go home, Kelly.”

“I’m serious. I don’t think I have what it takes to succeed in this class. I was wondering if you could possibly help me out?” She twirled her hair, feeling more uncomfortable then she was sexy. She began to pop gum, that did not exist in her mouth. She slowly walked to the desk and rubbed her finger on a spec on his desk. Soon realizing the spec was a booger someone had left behind, she hysterically wiped it off on one of the test. She smiled, as she continued to try and seduce Brainshaw.

“Kelly, you’re new to this class. I mean for  God sakes, you’ve only been here two weeks. You don’t know me,” Brainshaw declared, teasing her, more than putting her in her place.

“I know you’re sexy,” She teased. Brainshaw smiled at the comment. “But I also know you’re kind of… not much man down there,” She declared. Brainshaw had not been smiling any longer. Confusion rang in his ear.

“Really? Is that what you think?” Brainshaw asked sternly. Kelly nodded, while placing her finger on her mouth and a hand on the desk. She stared at him through her thin glasses, as if to tease him. She smiled, humored by his response.

“A little birdie told me that… Well, that you have a little birdie.” She took a small piece of chalk and held it close to her face. She blew on the chalk and placed it back down.

“Your information is… Who told you this?” Brainshaw asked.

“Mr. Brainshaw, you misunderstand. I think you’re sexy, either way. Blessed, or not so blessed, you’re a sweet guy.”

“There’s nothing sweet about me,” Brainshaw declared.

“Tasha seems to think so,” Kelly declared.

“Tasha is a whore,” Brainshaw declared.

“Wanda thinks you’re a sweet guy too. She said you remind her of her little brother. Body parts and all,” Kelly continued to tease.

“Wanda’s an even bigger whore, Brainshaw stated with a smile.

“Ooo, I see a pattern here Brainshaw. I think you like whores. That or you have a low opinion of your students,” Kelly declared. She was now sitting on his desk. “She leaned in close, while pulling on his tie, until she was in his ear. “What if I want to be a whore too.” She leaned back and bit her bottom lip. Her lip stick had not smeared, but continued to gloss. Brainshaw smiled. He looked her up and down. He leaned in close, while placing his hand on the desk for support.

“I’ll try not to judge,” He declared, still smiling. “Wanda and Tasha spoke to you of a bird?” Brainshaw asked. Kelly laughed a little as she pulled on his tie once again.

“A rather small one,” She declared. She began to kiss his neck, he had not stopped her.

“Have you ever heard of the Cassowary?” Brainshaw asked as he played with Kelly’s lips. He grabbed her waist, outlining her hips with his finger. She glared in his eyes and shook her head no. She then kissed his chin.

“It’s an aggressive bird. One of the most aggressive birds actually.” He caressed her back as she submitted to his touch by arching her back. “If you’re not careful,” He began.

“It can kill you.” Kelly stopped and looked him in the eyes. She searched for the meaning behind his words. “But something tells me, you’re a predator yourself,” Brainshaw declared.

“I’m sixteen. What do I know about preying.” Kelly got up and walked away from Brainshaw. “You and Wanda… Are you done with her?” Brainshaw glared up at kelly. Now it was his turn to search her eyes for meaning. “She very unstable, I would hate to have detention for a stupid fight over you.”

“I love a girl who fights over me,” Brainshaw declared, walking over to Kelly. He placed his hands on her hip and quickly looked about the window and then back at her. “I’m done with all of them, especially Wanda. I see the way you look at me in class, as if you want to tell me something,” Brainshaw declared. He leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

“Now’s your time. What is it you want to say?” Brainshaw asked as he lightly nibbled on the top of her ear.

“You’re under arrest,” Kelly declared soft;y. They both stared each other, him still holding her. Kelly slowly brought her arm around and over his grip until she lightly placed the gun to his face along with her badge. “Hands off the hips and on the desk. NOW!” she declared. Brainshaw, confused, quickly followed her instructions. It wasn’t long before the cops came running through the door. They held Brainshaw head on the desk as they cuffed him. Braisnshaw looked up at kelly with hate and anger. Kelly returned the look with pity.

“Wanda… She was fourteen, Brainshaw. Fourteen!” kelly declared.

“Was?” Brainshaw asked.

“Was,” Kelly declared.

“I had nothing…”

“To do with her death?” Kelly asked . “You may have had nothing to do with killing her, but you were the reason for her suicide four weeks ago,” Kelly declared. She threw a stick on the desk near his head. He had not recognized it at first until they pulled his head from the desk. It was a pregnancy test.  He looked up at Kelly with even more confusion.

“Yes, it’s alive and it’s yours.” She turned around and the police began to take him away.

“Wait!” Kelly declared. The men stopped. Kelly walked up to Brainshaw  and gazed at his defeated  and ashamed face. She smiled at her victory. “Brainshaw, you and I both know, That was not a Cassowary down there,” She said looking down. The officers smirked.

“But be careful, because where you’re going, they have a lot of them there. So I’d take your own advice, because you said it best. if you’re not careful…” She began as she walked towards the door. She turned around and let her hair down. She removed the glasses and broke them in two.

“They can kill you.”