4. Presentation

Vienna was in the library early morning studying. She needed to present her project for initial stage of the week long assessment. She was sitting in the warm library's top floor as she had a view of the playground. It was snowing but it didnt matter to the boys. They still played basketball. They liked to be rebels. It was freezing outside. She watched Tristan playing with the boys who were in the same year as him. Their school was different to other places. You could opt to go to college at seventeen or you could stay the year like Tristan had and transfer to second year of college doing assessments long distance. Tristan and Vincenzo had opted for the option alongside many other students who graduated from high school last year. Tristan wanted to go to college at the same year as Vienna. She didnt mind that. But she wasnt sure about how she felt about being in senior year and Tristan being one of her assessors.

Indeed, senior year students were being assessed non stop throughout the year to keep on top of the work. the students in the year above were involved in assessing them and giving feedback for improving their work. They were mostly top graduates of the high school who opted for the college preparation year. Tristan was one of them and his experties in many fields meant Vienna could see him at some point that day in her classes. It was abit awkward at times to see Tristan as lecturer or assessor. She hoped to see Vanessa visiting her class that day instead. She was an expert in medical physics which was the field her project was based on. But Tristan was expert in almost everything. So she could get any of them. Vincenzo was busy that day because he had to go offsite to the airport do some experiements. So Vincezno wasnt available either.

As the bell rang, Vienna collected her belongings and made her way to her class. She entered her classroom and sat down, waiting for the teacher. They studied some theory aspects and then when it was time to do some presentations, the lectuerer made an announcement "Class, you will have one of the college level assessors visiting you now to watch you present your findings so far in your projects. Make sure you take the feedback on board. I will be in the classroom next door overseeing some practical work."

Vienna took out her notes and started revising. Minutes later, she noticed the whoel class went quiet. She looked up and saw Tristan at the door. He was going to oversee them present work.

Vienna sighed and muttered under her breath "Oh great."

Tristan entered the room elegantly with his note pad and glanced at Vienna nodding "Its great to see you too..." He then stood in front of the class and instructed "Now class, you are the lucky ones today. I am assessing your presentation today. Listen to feedback because you wont be getting another one on your presentations from me. If you dont make the right adjustments by the end of the week, then its bye bye college in case of some of you who want to study science subjects. If you try to be funny, dont. I dont like it. You will listen to the presentations and ask questions. If you try to hide, it wont sit well with me. There is no where to hide in this collge. From day one until now that you have stepped into this school, you have been assessed to prepare you for college. You either are college material or you are not. If you cant handle this week, then choose another school. Do arts, music, theatre or anyting else not science related. Science is not for everybody. Only best survive it. If Science was easy, then all politicians would have had science degrees."

Vienna put her hand up. Tristan glanced at her "Yes Vienna."

Vienna cleared her throat "There are some politicians with science degrees. Margaret tatcher studied chemistry..."

Tristan looked amused "There are exceptions perhaps... Chemistry. Huh? They call her Iron lady for other reasons too then..." He looked at the class "Well. Then maybe she is not a true politician. She is a maverick as we call them... All politicians want the easy way out. They just talk. No one needs a brain to talk. Anyone is capable of doing it. Science is what challenges you to the brink of breaking point. If you feel like your brain is getting fried and you are struggling while you are studying then that shows you are learning something worth learning. Then that means you are learning some concept that can make a difference. What is the point of reading something you already know and aleardy understand? You are here because you are to learn. If you knew it all, then you did not need to attend school at all. This school does not penalise you on what you dont understand or cant do. The school penalises you for wasting time, resources and opportunities. If you are given help, take it." He was looking directly at Vienna.

Vienna bit her lip making his stare harden. She couldnt help it when she was nervous. When Tristan delivered a speech like this before assessing he meant it as a warning. He was going to destroy them completely. He just wanted to remind them why he was there.

Tristan stared at her kissable lips that she liked to tease him with. He was going to get occassion to taste those lips again later. For now it was back to business. He turned to the class "I will stand at the back of the class and will call your name in no particular order from the register. You will go to the board. Get yourself a note pad to write my feedback after you finish the presentation or I will send you to after school detention for wasting my time. if I give you feedback, you make notes."

Vienna wasnt sure why he felt the need to repeat his instructions. Everyone knew his rules. No one dared breath in that class at that moment and no one dared forget pen and paper unless they did it out of nervousness. Edward Blake sometimes did defy Tristan's instructions due to nervousness sometimes but he was in a different class that day. He wasn't doing a medical physics project. Vienna didnt find anyone she knew in the class actually. Viggo, Stefano and the pirreli sisters were in other classes.

The first person was called. Tristan liked to make the class expect the unexpected. He called the first name on the register. Then he randomly picked others. Sometimes from botom of register or the middle. It was hard to be last. She hoped he didnt keep her waiting. But again it was better than being first. The student who was called first was so nervous. His hands were shaking as he was writing on the white board. He then shakily walked to the flip chart and stuck his poster on the chart. He was not comfortable with presenting. But he tried.

Once he finished presenting, Tristan spoke in a bored tone "Give feedback and ask questions class. What are you waiting for? I will knock off marks if you dont ask anything. That means you werent listening."

Questions were fired at the student left and right. He was overwhelmed. Vienna decided to focus on the positive and didnt ask him tricky questions when it came her turn.

Tristan warned "Vienna. You mentioned what went well with the presention. You didnt touch on the areas for improvement. Mention a criticism point."

Vienna didnt like the intimidating approach to the student. He was already shaking like a leaf. She shrugged "I cant think of any?"

Tristan narrowed his eyes "Well then its a fail grade from me for this presnetation. if the top student in the class wasnt engaged enough with the presentation to pick the negative points and she wasnt paying attention, this presentation is worth nothing. You must engage your audience. Its your job to make your audience listen. When you go to science conferences, there will be hours and hours of presnetations. People will be having a nap here and there. if you prsent your work so well to convicne them to ask questions and be engaged then you have done somwthing worthwhile. A scientist who cant communicate his findings and research would be struggling in college. Sit down now..."

Vienna felt so sorry for the student who was now looking horrfied for the fail. He had to make his presentaton to a pass by the end of the week and Tristan personally had to give him a pass. The student only had one chance. Tristan was a harsh marker for sure.

Vienna quickly spoke as she turned around "I think I remember some negative points now...."

Tristan  glanced up at her "Its too late. You get a warning for speaking without permission. Put your hand up next time."

Vienna couldnt beleive this. She had rushed in to help. She hoped he didnt give her detention for this. She had so much work to do after school. She also didnt want to get anyone else in trouble so she decided not to hold anything back.

Tristan called the next name. He was glad to see Vienna not daring to hide the criticism. She had to learn to not feel sorry for the weak. If the boy earlier had bothered to do more work and had acted on guidence he didnt have to fail.

Vienna couldnt stand waiting. Time went on and Tristan didnt call her name. The bell rang and Tristan announced "I am now going to hand out my feedback notes that you can use with the notes I asked you to make after you presented. If you have a pass from me, you can frame it. Its rare." He then started handing out the papers as he went on "Those who's presnetations I have seen can got to the lab and work on their project. People I havent seen, I will see right after break in this room. Thats Vienna Rosario..." He then turned to her "You will be presneting to me after break and then I you can join everyone in the lab. I will be marking your practical work last too. So dont worry about not having enough time."

Vienna wasnt happy. Tristan was playing with her leaving her last. He had seen everybody's work except hers on purpose.

Tristan walked to the front of the class "You are all dismissed."

Vienna quickly grabbed her belongings and made her way quickly to the door. She heard him instruct "Not so fast Vienna. You have a warning in lesson from what I recall."

Vienna sighed and turned around. She walked upto Tristan "I am sorry for not putting my hand up."

Tristan nodded silently and walked to the board starting to wipe it off as he looked around and waited for the last student to leave the classroom before speaking "Well. Thats quite unforgivable Vienna. Dont you take my rules seriously?" He turned around staring he down "Yes or no."

Vienna swallowed hard "I am sorry. Can I go now?"

Tristan raised an eyebrow "Are you in a hurry? Its break time. We have plenty of time."

Vienna asked "Are you giving me lines to write? or is it detention this time?"

Tristan pretended to think as he walked towards Vienna. He stood in front of her as he stared into her eyes "Well, for interrupting me without putting your hand up, I should give you detention. But you learnt your lesson. Its ok... But for biting your lip..." He then leaned closer as he whispered "There crime is much heavier... You know what it does to me beautiful."