A second later, the room was a hive of activity as everyone jumped out of their seats and no doubt headed to grab a coffee and a brownie. Cheryl, Jacob’s PA, made the best brownies ever and always made a massive batch for staff on the first day back.
“Come on, let’s get out of here before the vultures get in first.” Alec tugged at my arm, hurrying me up. He didn’t need to tug twice.
“You get the brownies. I’ll grab coffee.”
“Deal,” he said, and he moved towards the staffroom eating area while I headed to the cupboard to grab us mugs.
In no time at all, we’d inhaled the chocolate, gooey goodness, scorched our tongues on the black coffee—apparently both of us needed a caffeine hit this morning—and I parted ways with Alec, all too aware I was meeting with Nick and the five other new members of staff.
It was like wading through quicksand with how slowly I moved. Being a grown-up sucked at times, as did rising above it and trying my hardest to give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Far too soon, I was back in the library, and thankfully, there were another few minutes to go until my session started. It gave me a chance to at least wipe off the splattering of rain that had managed to soak me despite wearing my raincoat.
I exhaled when I took in the empty library and headed into my small office space to grab my notes. As soon as my hand touched my notepad, I heard voices enter the quiet building. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, and resentful of the burst of unwanted nerves, I fixed a smile and stepped out into the main library, taking in the new teachers.
“G’day,” I said as I stepped behind the main counter. “Let’s head over to one of the workspaces first before I talk you through the basics and let you escape.”
One of the women grinned at me, her bright green eyes full of mirth and appreciation. “Absolutely take pity on us,” she said. “I can already feel the walls closing in with information overload.” She stuck out her hand once we’d reached one of the more comfortable workspaces with cushioned work chairs. “Name’s Brie. I’m the new science teacher.”
I shook her hand, liking her immediately. She was at least ten years my senior and had a friendly confidence about her. “Ross,” I answered. “I’ll try not to throw too much at you. I’ve also uploaded a cheat guide on the server, so if you come unstuck, just head there.”
“Brilliant.” She nodded and took a seat.
I turned my attention to a young guy who looked fresh from uni. His smile was pleasant and tinged with nerves. “Brent,” he said. “Business.” He shook my hand and quickly sat.
I deliberately focussed on the two other women, more than aware of Nick’s presence, but I prolonged the inevitable. After I greeted Katie and Lisa, both new English teachers, my focus settled on Nick.
While I’d caught sight of him earlier in the staff meeting, now before me, there was the opportunity to have a good look at the man who, as a kid, was a tosser.
“Nick.” I held out my hand to him, making a decision to not play games by pretending I hadn’t a clue who he was.
A tight smile formed on his mouth. He held my hand in a firm shake, surprising me that there wasn’t an attempt to crush it or whatever toxic masculine shit guys like him usually attempted. “Ross.” He dipped his head in acknowledgment, his eyes clear of animosity or any other emotion that I could garner.
And then he sat, leaving me both confused, relieved, and a fuckton of pissed off that after a three-hour build-up to this moment, that was it—the totality of the exchange.
Right. I cleared my throat, smiled again, and sat between Katie and Brent, which unfortunately put Nick directly across from me at the large round table.
“I work closely with every subject at least once a year,” I started to explain. “Some subjects like English—” I smiled at the new members of the English department. “—I inevitably work a little more closely with.” As I continued to explain my role, my link to research projects, booking systems, and the variety of curricula elements that went with it, I gradually relaxed.
The diversity initiative was my baby, though, and once I briefed them on the basics of bringing diversity in the classroom, I was a hundred percent in my element.
While I didn’t altogether avoid eye contact with Nick—on occasion, I did a cursory, polite sweep in his direction when speaking—I was very much focussed on the other four members of staff.
By the end of it, I was laughing with Brie about library shenanigans, having pretty much wrapped up the session and given a brief tour of the facilities in the library, when Nick’s voice pulled me short.
“So we’re done, right? We can get out of here?”
Wide-eyed, I looked at him, my brows dipping low a moment later. His tone was difficult to describe, though his eagerness to get out of here, and no doubt from me, was at the forefront of his question.
“Yeah, sure.” I nodded, not offering a smile. “If you need anything, just be sure to reach out to me,” I directed at the group at large.
“Thanks again,” Brie said. “And staff tend to gather for after-work drinks at which pub?”
I laughed. “The Big Gum right at the edge of town. Fewer students head that way, so it’s the safest bet.”
“Just tell me when and I’ll be there. Just staff, or do people bring their other halves too?”
A flutter let loose in my stomach at the question, my thoughts immediately going to Dan. “Some do. Staff usually meet straight after school, though, which means that many partners are still working. There’s always a few who stay out for longer, and then partners catch up.”
