The Teaching Assistant

Chapter 34
The Teaching Assistant, Part 34

Part 34

”Good,” Ashley said, “Well, I think it’s about your bedtime.”

“What- umm, what time is it?” Millie asked. It couldn’t be that late. While she had definitely dragged her feet in the shower, it still felt way too early for her to go to bed. Although she was admittedly a little tired the moment Ashley suggested ‘bed.’ It had been a painfully early alarm that morning, and that was before the mortifying day of being mistaken as a student by literally everyone at the academy she was supposed to be interviewing for. 

Ignoring the question, Ashley walked back from the door until she was standing over Millie by the edge of the bed. “Hmm, I thought Claire would be back by now. She probably got caught up with some prefect something. Probably a girl breaking curfew. You won’t be causing that kind of trouble while you’re a student here, will you?”

Slightly blushing, Millie pushed herself to look up and meet Ashley’s eyes. “N-no. Of course not.” If she were actually a student, she wouldn’t be the rule breaking type. Plus what was the point of sneaking out of her dorm when she didn’t have her car keys? It had already been made pretty clear that she would be spending the night and trying to sort this whole thing out tomorrow.

“I hope not. Anyway, I guess we’ll have to bring by a clean uniform for you to wear tomorrow. You’re okay sleeping naked, right?”

Millie’s eyes widened. “What?” she asked. That wasn’t like her in the slightest, and the towel alone was enough for her to feel small and vulnerable. While sheets and a comforter were technically better at covering, it would be the first time ever she slept in anything less than at least underwear and a loose tee. For her, it wasn’t even about being modest. Light clothes were just more comfortable at night. 

“You heard me,” Ashley said, “Claire’s washing your stuff, remember? I don’t know when she’ll be done, and it’s not like you can wait up for her. You need your beauty sleep, Millie.”

“But- but I can’t-”

“Sure you can. Although, I guess if you really want something to sleep in . . . ”

“Yes! Amelia exclaimed. Squeaking in the back of her throat in awkwardness at how desperate and shrill her response sounded even to her, she averted her gaze and muttered, “I mean, yes. Please.”

“Hmm, I suppose I can track something down for you. But I have my own shit to take care of tonight, Millie. If you want my help, you’ll have to do something for me first.” 

Hadn’t she done enough? Although it’s not like the rest of it had been for Ashley. Either way, Millie didn’t hesitate very much before asking, “Umm, do what?” After already agreeing to attend Westridge for another full day, there couldn’t be that much more to sign up for. Or so she thought. 

Ever so casually, Ashley asked, “What’s your phone password?”

‘Wait, what?’ The petite blonde’s heart skipped a beat at the thought alone of handing out something so personal. Also, the mention of her phone was a reminder that Ashley had confiscated all of her things to begin with. A myriad of emotions hit Amelia as she temporarily found her more adult self being frustrated all over again by the current circumstances. At the same time, however, she had really been worn down over the last few hours. Studying the academy handbook, doing homework that was honestly way more difficult than she cared to admit, and even showering in what apparently her temporary dorm. After all her recent agreements to be a student for a little while longer, Millie was perpetually on her back foot, even when wrestling with the part of her mind that was trying to tell her that all of this was unacceptable. “That’s, umm- That’s personal,” she said. Being confrontational was difficult enough in her regular life, and doing so in only a towel while the dark haired eighteen year old towered over her made it all the worse. 

Not pushing the ask, Ashley simply shrugged. “That’s fine. Let’s get you tucked in and ready for bed, then. You already brushed your teeth, right?”

“Wait!” Millie protested. What about clothes?! Surely Ashley wasn’t setting up an entirely unfair ultimatum in regards to the password. “You said . . . “ What had she said? As always, the back and forth got so blurry so quickly. 

“I said you have to do something for me first. I don’t waste time on little girls that don’t cooperate, Millie. And after all that stuff you said about being mature and wanting to be a good student and all that.”

“I AM mature.”

“And a good student?”

“I- Yes. Of course I am.”

“Then you shouldn’t freak out about one little password, right?”

Millie fell silent for a moment. She knew it was a trap, somehow. A way more obvious one than some of the other tricks and manipulations Ashley had danced around with throughout the day. Or maybe it was just obvious because it was something that was more directly daunting, rather than the implication that going along with this or that was technically harmless. Still, she also found herself feeling as self conscious as ever as Ashley made it sound like Millie was the one being difficult. “But, why- I mean, it’s my phone. Why would you . . . You shouldn’t need that.” Millie’s blush deepened as she stammered through her reply. She had wanted to ask for a second, but the mature girl within her knew that asking would give the clever teen an excuse to answer in a way that ‘made sense’ like everything else Ashley had said throughout the day. 

Unfortunately, the partial question had been enough for Ashley to run with it anyway. “Think about it, Millie. What if someone important calls or texts, and you’re in class? I’d hate for anyone to worry about you. Really, I’m just trying to help.”

As usual, the logic somewhat tracked, but Millie wasn’t that dumb. Finding enough of a spark to push back, she said, “Or I could just hold onto it myself.”

“And be caught texting during class? We talked about this, Millie. If you want to make it through the whole day without any infractions, I don’t think you should have a temptation like that on you.”

The nonstop ‘Millie’ references were getting to the point where they were annoyingly noticeable, but Amelia had long abandoned that fight. Especially since she had affirmed the name along with the rest of the demeaning statements. “I don’t ever take out my phone during class,” she said. Another truth.

“Whatever,” Ashley rolled her eyes, “I should get going. Are you good for bed?”

That was that, then. Amelia had accepted a lot about her current predicament, but she wasn’t vulnerable enough to be naively compliant about everything. Giving her password to the very girl who set up this elaborate prank? Horrible idea. “I guess,” she muttered.

“Answer like a proper Westridge girl?”

“Yes, Ashley. I’m ready for bed.” 

“That’s better,” Ashley smiled, “Okay. Under the sheets, then. I can hang your towel up for you.” She turned around to face the opposite direction.

While Amelia wasn’t in love with the idea of being fully nude as she transitioned from the slightly damp towel to crawling into bed, she took a little solace in the fact that Ashley was giving her privacy to do so. Blushing up a storm, as Amelia couldn’t even remember the last time she had been naked around other girls due to how careful she normally was about her image and the enhancements required to make it work, she shifted down to the edge of the bed while clinging to the towel on the off chance that Ashley decided to turn back around. Only once she was poised with the corner of the twin bed’s comforter in her hand did Amelia dare to undo the towel. She hurriedly slipped underneath the sheets and instantly gripped the top of the covers as if the dark haired senior was going to pull them back for some reason. It’s not like Ashley had threatened to do so with the towel, as not having clothes was troublesome enough, but still. Couldn’t be too careful, right?

An awkward silence filled the room after Amelia was settled in the bed, until Ashley spoke up herself. Still facing the other way, she asked, “All good?”

“Oh, umm, yes,” Amelia replied. She had been so nervous–and still was nervous–that she hadn’t considered the fact that Ashley was probably waiting for her to give the all clear. Belatedly correcting her response to one that wasn’t so meek and improper, she said, “Yes, Ashley. I’m all set.” 

“Perfect.” Ashley turned around and scooped up the towel from where it had been set on the rather plain comforter. Seemingly content to invade Amelia’s space again, she sat down on the edge of the bed and pursed her lips in a small smile as she looked down at the petite girl’s blonde hair messily resting against the pillow. “Let’s go through this one more time. Be a mature girl and get it right on the first try, okay?”

Feeling smaller than ever, as she was literally being put to bed by an eighteen year old, Amelia said. “Okay.” She wasn’t even sure what she was agreeing to. 

“What’s your name, and how old are you?”

“ . . . My name is Millie, and I’m thirteen.”

“You’re thirteen years old.”

“Mm hmm.”

“You have to say it.”

“I’m thirteen years old.”

“You’re thirteen years old,” Ashley echoed, “What’s your name, and how old are you?”

Feeling her blush returning, Amelia glanced away, “My name is Millie, and I’m thirteen years old.”

Moving right along, Ashley asked, “And you’re a student here, aren’t you?”

Amelia nodded. “A transfer student.”

“That’s right. You’re a transfer student, and how long will you be here?”

“Until I, umm- until I . . . ”

“Until you develop physically, right?”

That didn’t sound right. It was a fragment of the former conversation, but it had sounded less insulting and unfair when it was paired with the rest. ‘Intellectually.’ Because, while the classes at the prestigious academy were challenging when thrown in the deep end with no preparation, Amelia had still been confident in her ability to grasp her temporary grade’s subjects after brushing up a bit on the details she had forgotten over the years. As for her body, however, that was obviously something that couldn’t be helped. She was well past puberty, and had resigned herself to the fact that she would probably be stuck at her annoyingly small size for the rest of her life. 

She was in way too deep at this point, however, and trying to deal with all of this was definitely going to be tomorrow’s task. “Physically and intellectually?” Amelia clarified. It’s the best she could do at the moment–watering down the jab about her body by mentioning the part she could control. 

“That’s right,” Ashley smirked. She leaned down and gave the blonde little girl a patronizing kiss on the cheek. “But until then, you have to be a student. Okay? Good.” Standing back up, she said, “Good night, Millie.”