I glance around the parking lot for any sign of her, just to be safe, before making the long trek to the main building. Before heading to my classroom, I need to drop off some paperwork at the front office. As I step inside, I immediately halt in my tracks.
“You’vegotto be kidding me.”
Leti’s voice and subsequent glare freezes me in the doorway, and every head swivels my way.
“I’m just dropping off some paperwork.” Clarissa, the receptionist, takes the folder I hand her. “I had no idea this was the school you worked at. Guess we didn’t cover that on Saturday night.”
“Ooh, what was Saturday night?” Clarissa is around our age and from what little I know of her, a huge gossip.
I bite down on my tongue as Leti’s glare intensifies.
She takes a drink from her iced latte and crosses her arms over her chest. “Are you Mr. Dawson’s replacement?”
My brows crease, but Clarissa answers for me. “He sure is. He was a student teacher last year. Glad to have you back, Julian.”
“Fine. You’re forgiven,” Leti tells me. “If only because I won’t have to cover his classes anymore. Any clue when Robin will be in?” She directs the last question to Clarissa, who eyes the time on her phone.
“She should be in soon. I can call you when she arrives. Did you— Oh.” Her face transforms with realization. “That’s right. You scheduled that meeting about the sub problem.”
“The problem being that I’mnota built-in substitute teacher for this school,” Leti says. “I’m full-time now with my own job and responsibilities that don’t include covering for the amount of teachers we lose in a year. I swear to god, if I’m tagged for another long-term sub position, she’s getting an earful.”
“I know, I know.” Clarissa nods, typing something on her computer. “I’ll let you know as soon as she’s in. Not that I think it’ll be a problem. All open positions last year are full now, and we have our lovely new teacher here taking over for Mr. Dawson.”
“Lovely.Sure.” Leti rolls her eyes, moving past me.
“So, do you always drive like that?” She stops short on the sidewalk outside, whipping around to face me. “We were in a school zone. It’s kinda unsafe.”
“How do you—” She quickly shakes her head as realization lightsher eyes. Under her breath, so low I can barely hear her, she curses. “I knew that car looked familiar.”
“I take it you were too busy breaking every traffic law in the book to realize you were tailgating me?”
“Too busy running late to notice you barging in on yet another area of my life.” She takes a sip from the latte in her hand. When I raise a brow at the plastic cup at her lips, she glowers and cuts me off before I can make a quip about knowing good and well why she was running late this morning. “It’s bad enough we live in the same apartment building. Now we work at the same school? Which god did I piss off to makethathappen?”
“The god of defensive driving, maybe?” Her glare turns even deadlier, but in the short time of our reintroduction I think I’ve gained some sort of immunity to it. “Looks like we have a lot more in common than we thought. How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been an assistant librarian for three years. No, wait, sorry. I’ve been a long-term sub forthreedifferent subjects, none of which have panned out because as much as this school likes to force anyone they can get into a classroom, teaching isn’t my calling.” She scoffs as I trail behind her. “This is my first year as a school librarian, but more likely my fourth year as a built-in sub.”
“That’s rough.” I wince in sympathy. “Wait, you were here in the spring?”
She nods.
“I was here for student teaching. I’m surprised we never bumped into each other.”
“I was in a portable for most of last year. Not a lot of reason to visit the teacher’s lounge when all the assignments I hand out have been printed and copied beforehand.” One thing I’ve learned since settling into my new classroom is that the portable classrooms at the far edge of campus tend to isolate you from the rest of the school, soI get why we never met until now. That reminds me, I still need to buy a wheely cart for the hellish trek between my classroom and the closest copy machine in the math building.
“That makes sense,” I say. “And I’m sure they can’t keep you away from the library for long if you’re the one running it this year.”
“Oh, sure they can.” Her smile is as sugary sweet as it is insincere. “They’ll have me lock up the building until the day I come to my senses and quit. Working anywhere elseasanything else is looking like the better option these days.” Whether that’s because of me or because the school could better use her as the sub she has no interest in being, I’m not sure. Both, probably.
“Right, well…” She heads up the path without so much as a goodbye. “Good luck!” She doesn’t turn back or acknowledge me as she disappears inside the library.
My first day flies by without further incident. I consider going out for my lunch break, wondering if I’ll bump into Leti again, but quickly squash that idea. No need to give her any more of a reason to be annoyed with me when the sight of my face alone does that just fine. Plus, I already packed a lunch and can’t afford to let it go to waste. If my mind wasn’t already made up, it is when the thunder of footsteps up the portable ramp is followed by the appearance of the football coach walking into my classroom holding two Whataburger bags.
“Put that sad excuse for a sandwich away.” Theo pulls up a chair in front of my desk before setting the bags down. “Figured you could use a good lunch on your first day.”
“You’re the best.” I tear through the bag and pull out a burger and onion rings. “How’s Marcela?”
“Still has no idea, if that’s what you mean.” A cheesy grin takes up his entire face. “I’m popping the question next weekend.”
