The Secrets of Sin
Author
E. J. Lace
Reads
🔥17.1M
Chapters
78
Chapter 1
Mari
“Ms. Sinclair, stay a minute after class. I need a word with you.” Mr. Keats’s stone-like voice makes me nervous.
Out of all my teachers, Mr. Keats is the one who scares me the most. We never seem to get along, and every time I’m in his class, I feel guilty of some untold crime.
I nod my head and curse internally at my luck. I’ve never had the good kind. It’s like they say, if I didn’t have bad luck, then I wouldn’t have any luck at all.
Shuffling my books into my bag and grabbing my jacket, I watch the rest of my class leave me at his mercy.
I don’t know what it is with this man, but he always makes me feel like the worst kid. Like nothing I do is right.
My perfect grades hit a downward spiral in this man’s hands.
“Miss Sinclair, would you like for me to just go ahead and give you a failing grade and it’s over with? It’s like you’re not even trying.”
He sighs while leaning back on his metal desk, crossing his ankles and locking his fingers together, placing them down at his belt buckle.
Snapping my eyes back to him, I scramble for the right thing to say.
“N-no sir, I truly am trying my hardest. I’m working on my grade in your class, sir. I hope this next assignment will show you that effort.”
I nod again, watching his cold brown eyes wash over me.
Like he’s trying to tell if I’m lying, or maybe he is just not a fan of my fashion sense.
“I highly doubt you will be able to pass this class on your own, Miss Sinclair. Have you thought about getting a tutor?”
His whole presence makes me squirm.
I feel scrutinized and dismissed at every level with him.
“Mr. Keats, while that is an excellent idea, I couldn’t afford it. I’m not sure what I’m messing up. If you could please give me a little more time, I’m sure I will bring my grade up.”
I fiddle with my nails, clipping them together while I tip back on my heels to relieve some of this anxiety he causes.
“I don’t believe in optimism, Miss Sinclair. In fact, I think it’s an ill choice for you at this time.”
His tone makes it feel so final, like he has already made up his mind and that I can’t possibly pass his class, so why try.
“Sir, please. I’ll do whatever assignment for extra credit to bring my grade up. I can’t fail this class; I need every credit to pass. If I fail this class, I can’t graduate next year. Sir, please reconsider.”
I plead with him with my whole heart; I need this class to pass. I can’t fail. I have to graduate, so I can get to college.
I need college to make a living, and I need the money to help support my family. It’s just Erik and me. He has worked his butt off to even get us this far.
He works two jobs; I barely see him as is, and if I fail, then all his work is for nothing. If I fail this class, then I fail Erik, and that can’t happen. I owe him more than that.
After Mom died, he took the world on his shoulders for me. Dad left a long time ago. I don’t even remember him. It’s us against the world now.
I have to pull my own weight. I asked to get a job, but Erik nixed that idea and told me to focus on school.
Mr. Keats unlocks his hands, bringing his middle finger to his cheek and running it along his five o’clock shadow.
His gray suit bunches at the shoulders and pulls back at the side to show more of his white dress shirt that’s tucked into his matching gray slacks.
“Hmm, if you’re interested, I might have a way for you to secure your grade. Come to this address at five tonight and I’ll help you with your work. I won’t offer again, so take it or leave it.”
He turns from me, pulling a yellow Post-it note from his top desk. Using a black ink pen, he scribbles out an address and holds it out for me to take.
Slowly, I take hold of it and grip it for dear life. “Thank you, Mr. Keats. I promise I will be there. Thank you for this opportunity.” I flash a smile, my chest filling with gratitude.
Mr. Keats nods as he dismisses me officially. I practically skip out of the room and down the hall to my locker.
Finally, some good luck.
Yeah, it’s gonna be hard to work directly with Mr. Keats, but as long as I pass, then it will be worth the struggle.
I know how much is riding on my dedication to school.
My brother is only four years older than me. He can’t take care of the both of us forever. He didn’t even get to grieve over Mom before he had to go back to work.
He was just eighteen when she died, relinquishing me, his fifteen-year-old kid sister, completely into his care.
I know he tries so hard and he keeps most of it out of my way but taking care of me made him lose a lot.
He quit college and picked up another job. He even lost his longtime girlfriend, Dana, because he didn’t have any time for her. He gave up his scholarships and put his future on hold.
His list of friends dwindled to just Ross and Ben, who he doesn’t get to hang out with as much because he’s always working.
Erik is my personal superman. I can’t let him down.
I just can’t.
If he can handle the world, all the stress, the debt Mom left us, the bills, halting his life to taking full responsibility for me, the least I can do is deal with Mr. Keats.
Or whoever stands in my way.
If Erik can be tough, so can I.
