Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“I was too,” I smile. “It’s just,” I hesitate. “You did a number on me, Mr. Harrington.”
He flinches.
“I guess how you were scared before is how I am now. No one has ever broken me like you have, and it’s easy for me to let that happen with you again.”
“Sometimes, it takes for us to be completely broken to realize what it means to be whole.”
I open my mouth to respond, just as the waiter returns with out food.
“Okay,” he sighs. “No more seriousness,” he takes a bite. “Staying local for grad school - love, hate, or no opinion?”
I roll my eyes as I swallow.
“No opinion,” I challenge.
~*~*~*~*~
Yesterday was a holiday, so today marks my first day student teaching. I arrive at school early for orientation, and the cafeteria is already packed with faculty.
I head over to the most crowded area, which contains the table of food, and grab a bagel while greeting a couple of my past teachers.
I spot Josh in the corner, talking with another teacher, and I attempt to ignore all my usual bodily functions that occur, thanks to him being in close proximity. I begin to practice my calm breathing, secretly yelling at my heart to stop fluttering. We had such a wonderful time at the mall this weekend, and even though I’m still extremely guarded, I can’t help but think maybe there’s a reason I never moved on.
“Don’t even bother,” a voice I don’t recognize scares me, and I turn to find the culprit. She’s young, blonde, and pretty, and I wonder if she’s student teaching, or an actual teacher here.
“What?” I pretend I wasn’t awkwardly gawking, because maybe she’s talking about something else.
“Him,” she nods towards Josh.
Well, so much for her not noticing.
“Oh,” I smile shaking my head no. “I wasn’t- I don’t even-”
“It’s okay,” she laughs. “He’s hot.”
I take another bite of my bagel, not getting into this conversation.
“We kissed once,” she offers, and my face reddens. This is definitely not something I want to hear. “So stupid, ya know?” She looks at me and I nod in agreement. “He pulled away and called me Luci. Can you believe it?!”
“Luci?” A voice calls.
Shit. My eyes go wide. Please, God, let her think this is a complete coincidence.
I turn around, watching as Ms. Harrington approaches.
“Hi, Ms. Harrington,” I try to act casual, but after the last time I saw her, I’m extremely embarrassed and unsure. Should I apologize for leaving her party so abruptly?
“I told you,” she laughs. “Deb. We’re practically colleagues now.”
“I’m sorry,” I exhale.
“Hi Brittney,” Deb nods to the blonde next to me. Of course she has a name like Brittney, it’s so cutesy.
Oh my god, you’re so jealous!
I smile nervously at the silence. “I’m Luci by the way,” I introduce myself to her, trying to fix an already weird situation.
“Oh my goodness!” Deb exclaims. “I’m sorry, I thought you already met!”
I start to say no, but Deb doesn’t let me. “Luci used to be a student here!”
Fuck.
“Oh, really,” Bittney smiles. “I didn’t know.”
I meet Josh’s eye from across the room, and smile before looking away, trying not to focus on the glimmer that’s in them.
“Excuse me,” I slide between them, heading in the opposite direction of my once chemistry teacher.
Two seconds later, I hear Ms. Harrington - Deb - call my name.
“Is everything okay?” She asks.
“Yeah,” I lie, looking back towards Brittney, who is not looking very friendly towards me right now. Crap.
“I really wanted to apologize for what happened at my party, and I really hope we can be friends.”
My attention is immediately brought back to Ms- Deb.
“Really?” I ask. “Because I was just there as a friend-”
“I know,” she whispers.
“Okay,” I sigh, relieved.
“No,” she corrects. “I know.”
“What?” I don’t think I hear her correctly.
“The truth,” she says. “I know, and it’s okay.”
“Oh gosh,” I sigh. “This is awkward. I’m really sorry. I never meant for things-”
“Hey,” she places both hands on my shoulders. “I’m not here to judge. Trust me, I did enough of that on my brother already.”
I relax, and offer her a small smile. “I really do - did - I meant I did,” I laugh nervously. “I really did lo-like. I really did like him,” I wipe my forehead. Oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever been this uncomfortable before!
“It’s fine,” she laughs.
“No,” I protest. “I don’t want you to think that I was this slut, looking for a better grade or something. It wasn’t like that at all.”
“I don’t think that of you,” she assures me.
“Okay,” I smile. “Because I’m really not, I swear.”
“Okay,” she laughs, just as orientation is called to order.
Deb offers me another smile, and we take seats right next to each other.
Josh gets up on the podium and welcomes everyone. He exudes confidence, and I guess he really is the head of departments now, or whatever he calls it.