week before school starts is always my favorite. The hallways buzz with teachers excited to start the new year and get rooms ready for the young minds we will start molding the next week. I haven’t really spoken to any of my co workers since the end of last year, except a few lunch dates here and there with Rosie. After filling her in on all the craziness my summer brought, she offered to help with the baby anytime I need it now that she has a lot of time on her hands. I told her that I wouldn’t want to put that on her, but I would be more than happy to bring the little one over. Looking at her empty room makes me sad that I won’t have my mentor just across the way.
Principal Callow has us all meeting in the gymnasium for a welcome back lunch on Wednesday, our first day back. This is something the staff hates but I find myself absolutely starved and ready to take an hour of torturous reminders of rules and ethics just to get my hands on a sandwich or three. I unconsciously place my hand on my stomach while walking in a herd with the rest of the faculty and into the gym. The sweet smell of coffee causes me to grimace, wishing I could still drink it. The doctor told me one cup a day was okay, but why tease myself? And decaf is definitely out of the question.
Shoes scuffle on the newly finished floor making me curiously look down and check it out. The feedback from the microphone pulls me from the lame thought of how beautiful it looks and the Principal taps on the end of it. I find a seat in the second row close to the tables of food.
“Welcome back staff. I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are as excited about the new year as I am. We have a lot of changes coming our way here at Hudson and I want to start with our two fresh faces.” One of the seventh grade English teachers, Emma James, sits down next to me commenting on how much she cannot stand these little “parties.” Saying she is beautiful is an understatement. Her long curly auburn hair is laying halfway down her back and I’m instantly jealous. Even though she has next to no makeup on she is utterly flawless. Her green eyes smile my way and I am distracted by how they are the shade of a perfectly manicured lawn.
“Holy shit! Good thing you have Robert because I’m calling dibs on that right there.” I watch as her pools of green become lust filled at what lies in front of them.
Ignoring her Robert comment I follow her line of vision to her object of desire. I land on Callow who is still speaking loudly into the microphone. “This is our new 6 th grade math teacher, who will be mentored by Ms. Decker. Let’s welcome Walker Prescott, newly graduated out of Southern Illinois University.”
Walker.
My mind races. How many men have that name? It can’t be him. Panic seizes me and I can’t focus. When I finally lay my eyes on the man who was just introduced, he is zeroed in on me, his green eyes burning into my skin as his smile spreads so wide I think his face might split in two.
“Erin, would you come up here and introduce yourself to Mr. Prescott?” Principle Callow motions to me.
Emma huffs next to me shoving her shoulder into mine. “Lucky bitch! I guess I’ll be on your side of the school more often.”
I drag in a deep breath and hope my legs don’t give out on me as I stand up, about to face the father of my unborn child. His eyes never leave mine, and as I slowly walk toward the stage, they widen when he realizes that I’m going to be his first year mentor. Terror at the thought of speaking to him consumes me and I drag my gaze down to the floor. The steps seem steeper and higher, my legs struggle to climb them. When I am finally within arm’s length I raise my chin, sticking my hand out to shake his. His hand covers mine, and the electricity between them is profound. I can't help but remember how those hands felt elsewhere.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Prescott,” I say, stomach rising to my throat. Please don’t throw up on
Principal Callow has us all meeting in the gymnasium for a welcome back lunch on Wednesday, our first day back. This is something the staff hates but I find myself absolutely starved and ready to take an hour of torturous reminders of rules and ethics just to get my hands on a sandwich or three. I unconsciously place my hand on my stomach while walking in a herd with the rest of the faculty and into the gym. The sweet smell of coffee causes me to grimace, wishing I could still drink it. The doctor told me one cup a day was okay, but why tease myself? And decaf is definitely out of the question.
Shoes scuffle on the newly finished floor making me curiously look down and check it out. The feedback from the microphone pulls me from the lame thought of how beautiful it looks and the Principal taps on the end of it. I find a seat in the second row close to the tables of food.
“Welcome back staff. I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are as excited about the new year as I am. We have a lot of changes coming our way here at Hudson and I want to start with our two fresh faces.” One of the seventh grade English teachers, Emma James, sits down next to me commenting on how much she cannot stand these little “parties.” Saying she is beautiful is an understatement. Her long curly auburn hair is laying halfway down her back and I’m instantly jealous. Even though she has next to no makeup on she is utterly flawless. Her green eyes smile my way and I am distracted by how they are the shade of a perfectly manicured lawn.
“Holy shit! Good thing you have Robert because I’m calling dibs on that right there.” I watch as her pools of green become lust filled at what lies in front of them.
Ignoring her Robert comment I follow her line of vision to her object of desire. I land on Callow who is still speaking loudly into the microphone. “This is our new 6 th grade math teacher, who will be mentored by Ms. Decker. Let’s welcome Walker Prescott, newly graduated out of Southern Illinois University.”
Walker.
My mind races. How many men have that name? It can’t be him. Panic seizes me and I can’t focus. When I finally lay my eyes on the man who was just introduced, he is zeroed in on me, his green eyes burning into my skin as his smile spreads so wide I think his face might split in two.
“Erin, would you come up here and introduce yourself to Mr. Prescott?” Principle Callow motions to me.
Emma huffs next to me shoving her shoulder into mine. “Lucky bitch! I guess I’ll be on your side of the school more often.”
I drag in a deep breath and hope my legs don’t give out on me as I stand up, about to face the father of my unborn child. His eyes never leave mine, and as I slowly walk toward the stage, they widen when he realizes that I’m going to be his first year mentor. Terror at the thought of speaking to him consumes me and I drag my gaze down to the floor. The steps seem steeper and higher, my legs struggle to climb them. When I am finally within arm’s length I raise my chin, sticking my hand out to shake his. His hand covers mine, and the electricity between them is profound. I can't help but remember how those hands felt elsewhere.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Prescott,” I say, stomach rising to my throat. Please don’t throw up on
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