Gwen blinked. The class slacker?
Then it dawned on her; he was talking about her.
Great, she thought to herself, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger, yet another flattering title I don't need.
Here she was, trying to make amends for her recently less-than-stellar academic performance, and he still wasn't cutting her any slack.
Gwen stifled a sigh. She knew it was her own fault for not pushing herself harder, and she knew, in spite of her newfound 'title', Mr. Harrison was simply trying to goad the rest of the class into doing better. He cared about all of his students—her included—and only wanted the best for them. He had told her himself that he saw great potential in her.
And if he sees great potential in me, then I can't really hold this against him, she reasoned, settling back in her seat. He was giving her a chance to make up for it, after all—something he didn't offer to just anyone.
Reminding herself to be grateful that he gave her the time of day at all, Gwen waited patiently for what she was sure was about to become a very long, stern lecture about how if they wanted to get anywhere in the future, they needed to apply themselves in the here and now.