Page 1 of Shattered Crown
1ARIA
The anatomical modelstared back at me with its cross-sectioned uterus on full display. Twenty-three twelve-year-old girls stared at it too, most of them looking like they wanted the floor to swallow them whole. Safe to say that I felt the same way, too.
I didn’t quite enjoy this part of the job. But unfortunately, I’d agreed to come in before taking a look at the lesson notes for today. I’ll forever live to regret that decision.
"So," I cleared my throat and tapped the ovary with my pointer, "this is where the magic happens. And by magic, I mean the monthly reminder that your body is doing exactly what it's supposed to do, even when it feels like it’s betraying you."
A few nervous giggles filled the air. I would laugh, too, but that would be horribly inappropriate. I’m here to help these girls understand their bodies better.
If only I understood mine.
It would be correct to assume that my feminine parts had a mind of their own. I’d accepted that a while ago. Doesn’t mean I liked it.
One girl in the front row rolled her eyes. She looked bored. I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t a very inspiring teacher.
I moved through the room, weaving between desks as I spoke about all the ways a woman’s body changes within the month. My eyes traveled over the girls. It was hard to see past the navy blue uniforms, but I always liked to pay close attention.
By doing that, though, I couldn’t help but notice that they didn’t seem the least bit interested. Some of them sat with their legs crossed at the ankle, chins lifted, while others were hunched forward, arms folded across their chests.
Except one girl in particular. She hadn't moved since I'd started the lesson. She sat by the window. From the way she was staring out, I knew she wanted to be anywhere but here in the classroom. I wasn’t sure if she was just uncomfortable with the topic or the class in general.
“Miss Kealoha? Can we talk about something else?” I drew my attention away from the girl by the window to the one directly in front of her. Her thick, dark eyebrows were scrunched together in an intense frown. “The topic is kinda gross.”
I sighed and moved back to the board. “No, we can’t. We have to learn this today.”
“Why? I mean, I already know all about it,” the rolling-eyes girl in the front row added. “I’ve gotten my period already, so this is old news to me. You should pay attention to Evie, though.” She pointed at the girl by the window. “She has a few more years before she gets to that stage.”
The entire class burst into laughter. Evie cowered, shrinking into herself even more.
Oh, I thought. She wastheone. We always had at least one in each year. I had one in mine. She’d tried to bully me, and I’d shown her exactly where she could stick it.
I gave the girl another look. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a perfect clone ofRegina George. My eyes drifted, searching for her sidekicks. And just as I expected, there were two others, flanking each side of her.
Typical.
I leaned down and smiled sweetly. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
She exchanged a look with her girls. “Madison.”
“Madison. I think it’s lovely you’ve had this experience, and it just happens to make my job easier.”
She smirked. “Really?”
“Of course. Now, I don’t have to do a practical session when you can break it down for the entire class.” I turned to look at everyone. “Please, give Madison here a round of applause as she tells us all about her period.” I looked at Madison again. “Go on. And please don’t spare any details.”
“I…” she stammered. She remained seated, eyes flickering between me and her sidekicks. “I don’t want to do that.”
“Are you sure? This is your chance to educate others.”
We stared at each other for a second. I saw the moment it clicked that I was toying with her. She frowned. She hadn’t expected me to corner her that way. Maybe their actual teacher allowed her to have her way. But not while I was in charge.
I shrugged. “It seems Madison is a little shy. We’ll move on to other topics.”
Madison was no longer looking at me. Her eyes were fixed on Evie. I recognized the predatory manner in which she was staring at her. If I didn’t get control of this classroom soon, Madison was going to pull a mean stunt.
"Miss Kealoha?" A hand shot up near the window. It was the same dark-haired girl. "Is it true that periods attract sharks?"
I waited for a reaction from the class. I expected at least a few snickers, laughs, maybe a “boo” or two, and the usual snide remark from Madison. But there was nothing. Everyone was eerily quiet. Almost as if they were waiting for something to happen.
