As they reached the staircase, she turned to Max. ‘So, what is it about Mr Emery that’s bothering you today? He’s a good guy, you know. Really fair.’
Max shrugged again. ‘Dunno,’ he muttered after a pause. ‘I just don’t like him.’
Clara raised her eyebrows. ‘Sometimes we have personality clashes with people in life, but you had your restoration meeting, and you agreed to go back to class.’
Max shook his head, looking a bit red cheeked. ‘Whatever.’
They reached the classroom door, and Clara stood by. ‘Let’s see how it goes today. And if things still don’t feel right, we’ll get another meeting sorted.’
‘Yeah, ok.’ Max gave her a quick nod before heading in.
Clara approached Isaac, and he stepped aside to speak to her.
‘What’s up with him today?’ he asked.
‘I’m not sure, but he came up quite willingly, so let’s hope it’s just a flash in the pan.’
‘Ok, thanks.’ Isaac gave her a little smile and with a wave, she left.
As she headed down the corridor, she spotted Sam’s open door and peered inside. He was sitting alone, typing on his laptop. Knocking on the doorframe, she stepped inside.
‘Hey.’ He glanced up.
‘How are you?’ she asked. Somehow since the night out, she hadn’t seen him that often. Her insides squirmed. Maybe he’d been avoiding her.
‘I’m fine. I’ve been so busy getting the timetables organised for the next school year that I’ve hardly been in the staffroom.’ He leaned back and cocked his head. ‘I’ve missed our coffees and chats.’
She chuckled, and the world righted itself. ‘I have too. I was worried I’d scared you away.’
‘Not at all.’ He gave her one of his loveliest smiles, one that indented little dimples into his cheeks just beside his beard line.
‘I can’t wait for the holidays. Are you looking forward to them? You’ve got a wedding, right?’
He blinked and looked down like he wasn’t quite sure. ‘Yeah, it’ll be good to see my mum, my sister, and my nieces too.’
‘I’m sure you’ll have a good time.’
He pulled a face. ‘I’m not overly looking forward to this wedding, truth be told.’
‘Oh? Why not? You showed that you were a good dancer, so that won’t be a problem.’
‘It will be if I don’t have anyone to dance with. Going alone is always a bit… I don’t know, awkward. My friend can be annoying. He’ll rib me something silly for not having a date. It’s just his way. Part of me doesn’t care, but the other part wants to curl up and hide.’
‘Aw, Sam.’ Clara pulled a sad face. ‘I know exactly what you mean. It’s moments like that when being single hurts. But can’t you take your sister or your mum? You know, just as someone to chat to?’
Sam tapped his fingers on the desk, mulling it over. ‘Maybe I should. Thing is, my sister and her husband are both nurses, and they work such wild hours, she might not be around. And my mum has the girls if they’re both working. That’s the reason I’m not staying with her this time. I usually stay at my mum’s house, but she has the girls during the week and there’s not really enough room. Also, the wedding is in a different part of Somerset, so it was easier for me to book somewhere close to where the reception is.’
Clara smiled. ‘Is it a hotel?’
‘No, it’s a tiny little cottage. It looks very cute, I just hope the ceilings aren’t too low.’
She giggled, imagining him banging his head on the ceiling lights. ‘I never have problems like that. I’d be the right size for a hobbit hole.’
‘That’s true.’ He raised his eyebrows.
She checked the time. ‘Listen, we’ll chat more later. I have quite a few student meetings to get through.’ She let out a sigh.
‘Yeah, catch you later. Good luck.’
