New term. New student.
1081 Words
Chapter 1
New term. New student
_Two months later_
She stares out her window, Becky's car revs out of the driveway, like she's fleeing a crime scene. Elaine grabs her bag from the table and storms out.
When she opens the the door, the first thing that kisses her face is the early morning summer breeze. Lash fluttering, nostril opening, face caressing breeze.
What a perfect way to start a new term.
The blaring of Becky's car horn snaps her out of it. No more basking in the sunlight and fresh air. She hurries to the car as she shoves her keys into her shoulder bag.
"El, for a moment when I saw you close your eyes... I thought it was the rapture". Becky says as she slides in.
Elaine laughs, fastening her seatbelt.
"Nah, it can't be today..." She takes in a sharp exhale of the fresh air one more time. "I've already dreamt about this day".
Becky gives her a long look. "You'll be fine".She says, shaking her head.
And she sure would. It has always been her dream to teach kids, now she's going to be teaching first graders.
It gives her that warm back-to-school feeling anytime it's a new term. She misses her students.
She hops out of the car, leaning over the window with a smile.
"Thanks Mama B. Whiskey tastes really nice..." She pouts her lips musing for a second. "I'm gonna have some this evening, care to join me?"
Becky doesn't batt an eyelid. She gives Elaine a long look. "So that's why you're grinning like a lunatic this morning?"
Elaine smirks eyeing her bump. "Just a little post-whiskey glow". She shrugs and Becky eye rolls.
"You won't stay single forever. I wish you twins and the worst morning sickness ever know to mankind".
Elaine gasps, dramatically clutching her chest ."Wow. You really just cursed me".
"Yup". Becky says, smug. "You deserve it. Now go shape young minds or whatever". She squints at her "And don't flirt with the janitor again".
She scoffs and then laughs as becky drives off, tires crunching hard against the school's staff lot. "I wasn't flirting". She mutters under her breath, trying to convince herself.
She adjusts her shoulder bag firmly and sighs. Being dissed on the first day of school, could her morning get any better?
She makes her way through the school gate, giving a quick wave to the security guard who is half asleep.
The halls are buzzing with low chatter_ teachers catching up, fresh bulletin boards and that new semester energy in the air.
She makes her way to the staff room, snags her welcome packet from the stack near the door, and finds her name written neatly on top: Miss Elaine Roosevelt— Grade 1.
Settling into her new corner seat, she flips the folder open.
Class list.
Schedule.
Notices.
And there it is— Leo N. Vance.
The name tugged at something, it sounds familiar. Huh?
She doesn't think too much of it, either way, she's having a new student.
Elaine steps into her classroom and takes a slow breath. In a matter of minutes, tiny humans will be filing in through that door.
Tiny humans.Heh.
The windows had already been cracked open, letting in that soft morning New York City breeze. Desks arranged in tidy rows, crayons still untouched in their plastic trays. The white board is spotless_but not for long.
She pops open one of the markers and writes her name boldly in the middle of the board followed by a welcome message.
"Let's help each other to be the best we can be this term!" Then she hears the shuffling of feet.
Tiny humans. Kids.
The new semester has officially begun.
"Miss Elaine!" Shouts the first tiny human she sees. The girl wraps her arm around Elaine's hips.
"Good to see you too Elinor" She says patting her head. This is the girl who proposed to her at graduation infront of over a hundred people.
The other kids also give her bone cracking hugs, telling her how they missed her. Some become the chatter box immediately they see her. While some are clutching their bags wide-eyed like they'd pass out the next minute. Their warm smiles are melting her heart.
She missed them too.
As the kids trickle in one by one, wide-eyed with curiosity_ he walks in.
Or rather, he stands in the doorway. Hesitant.
She can't particularly say she personally knows all the students because some were transferred from other classes. But, she can tell a new face when she sees one.
No doubt that's her Leo N. Vance.
Big sea blue eyes. Dark hair. A small neat uniform. He is holding the hand of an older woman_maybe his Nanny. But it's clear he isn't clinging. He doesn't look scared or surprised.
He looks... disappointed.
She offers him a smile. "Hey there, sweetheart. What's your name?" She asks in the warmest voice.
He flinches. Twice.Barely noticeable if you're not looking closely, but she was. He doesn't answer her right away. His eyes linger on her face then he shifts his gaze to his shoes, jaw tight.
That piqued her curiosity.
She smiles at his Nanny. She gives Elaine a quick nod. "This is Leo" she says. " First day jitters".
"Hi Leo". She says softly, "We are happy to have you. You can pick any seat you like ".
He still doesn't speak, but after a moment, he walks past her to a seat at the far corner_reserved, distant and observant.
Elaine watches him for a moment longer. The face looks familiar. Something about the way he looked at her.
Strange. She already likes him.
She watches him settle neatly into his seat_ back straight, eyes forward, tiny fingers relaxed on the wooden table and legs crossing at the ankles. There is something oddly mature about the way he sits.
Like a little gentle man.
She tilts her head slightly,narrowing her eyes at him. Trying to place the feeling nagging at her.
Have they met before?
He glances up, catching her looking. He doesn't flinch. He just stares back_ quiet, unreadable and entirely too knowing.
Behind those big blue eyes lies things bigger than a six year old.
No, she would have remembered a kid like him.
She blinks and offers him another small smile before turning to address the class.
"Good morning class...."
She steals one more glance. He's looking out the window.
The feeling still lingers....
- Writer
