Alright, have I got everything?
Purse, house keys, lessons plans, phone…where's my phone!
In my coat pocket… 'God calm down Alice' I mentally scold myself. I double check my bag again, just to give myself comfort. I'm aware everything is in there but my mind is so fried right now. Not to mention I'm a jumble of emotions.
Happy, excitement, nervousness, scared and angry.
I can't pick one to just flow with so I'm a mixture of all of them. I don't know whether to smile and laugh, jump around with glee, bite my nails till they bleed, hide in my bed with the covers tucked to my chin or growl and shout, so yeah I'm mentally mushed.
I'm happy because today school starts, my first day as a teacher begins. An official teacher! Not a TA. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy being a TA…slightly. It's just you can't officially call yourself a teacher when all you do is follow around the actual teacher and organize all the crap they couldn't be bothered to do themselves and 'assist' them in their lessons.
If you're a TA and your experience is better than what mine was then Yay for you. I had to follow a very old cynical Miss Marple wannabe that smelt of parsnips, she bossed me around and constantly preached like a nun.
I quit after two weeks.
Anyway, I'm officially a teacher, teaching English. This brings me to my second emotion.
Excitement. I get my own classroom with my name on the door, a name plaque on my desk, I decide what we do in the lessons, I assign homework, give out detentions; call out names of MY students on the register.
This brings me to my third emotion. Nervousness.
Questions are buzzing through my head. 'Will they like me? Will they listen to me? Will they take advantage of me because I'm new?' I remember being in high school and we locked the new teacher out of the classroom and watched The Breakfast Club instead and as soon as the bell rang we all scattered out of there. We never met the new teacher; we assumed they got let off. Being scared also ties in with this.
It's the first day back after the summer and I will be teaching the Seniors along with Juniors. The Juniors are all on the same page as me, the Newbie's. So I reckon that class will run smoothly. It's the Seniors I'm slightly apprehensive about. They will already be comfortable in the life of school, already aware of how the dynamics run. Plus it's the last stage for them before they go on to be a free adult in the Big Wide World. Some of them will be sure of themselves and will be confident. I won't have a clue on how to react to them. At least with the Juniors I can learn along with them on who they are going to become. So yeah, I'm pretty scared.
People might think it's quite pathetic to want acceptance from a bunch of teenagers but I can't help if like the thought of them wanting to turn to me for help and guidance.
Rose agrees with me on this.
Oh, which brings me to my last emotion.
Anger.
My beloved Porsche 911has been taken away from me by my husband. Apparently the meeting he HAD to go to would turn out much better if he had my car. It annoyed me that he showed no support or excitement over my first day. Plus he didn't even ask to borrow my car nor did he say goodbye or good luck.
I love Michael but his views on life are horrid. Even though its just a meeting with one of the manager's at one of the many stores he owns in Forks, he believes going in my pricey car will send a message to what he calls 'Hobo's' that work there.
He really needs to learn that there are people out there that don't give a damn about the 'finer things in life'
I'm one of them; my car is the only flashy thing I own. It was a gift from my parents to say congratulations for getting the teaching position. And I love the yellow machine like it's my baby. So being without a car means I had to hook Rosalie in for a ride. Which mean's she wasn't best pleased about having to get up early on her day off to drive me school. She believes waking up early is an honest hazard to her health. In other words, she's lazy.
"Cynthia! Are you ready? Rose will be here any minute!" a faint squeal rings upstairs followed by pounding footsteps as she bounces down the stairs. She is fixed with a huge smile, unlike me she was only one emotion. Excitement.
It's her first day as a Junior at Fork's high and unlike many teenagers, she cannot wait to start school. And oddly, she loves the idea of me teaching at the same school.
Wearing denim jeans, purple Nike high tops and her prized Justin Bieber 'Believe' hooded sweatshirt. Her black naturally waved hair is scrunched up in a messy bun. Finishing off with a black and purple patterned Justin Bieber messenger bag. As you've guessed, she loves the Bieb and isn't afraid to show her 'Bieber fever'. And if you want to make the mistake of insulting him in front of her then go right ahead. I'm still paying for the damages to my wardrobe by trying to get the offensive neon pink dye out of all of my white's. Lesson well and truly taught.
Me, I'm dressed with a mix of professional/casual. A deep purple shirt with a v-neck, my dark denim skinny jeans, deep purple heels to help with my height. I don't know why, but for some reason I was the only member in my family cursed with being short. 4.8. If I don't wear heels then my little sister would tower over me. Anyway to top off my outfit, I'm wearing my favoured black fitted blazer with leather elbows. I tried to tame my usually spiked raven hair yet the ends continue to defy the gel and poke out regardless.
I debate to double check everything but its cut short as Rosalie making her presence known to the entire neighbourhood by sounding the horn of her car repeatedly.
Cynthia is already sprinting for the door before I could even ask if she is ready. As I'm locking the door, Cynthia screams "SHOTGUN" at the top of her lungs.
"Damn it" I mutter as I watch her climb into the front seat with Rose.
Not happy with the situation, I show it by slamming the door after I get in.
"Hey! Don't take it out on my baby just because you forgot the rules" Rose tells me off.
"Well the rules are stupid. It's my first day teaching so excuse me for not looking forward to climbing out the back of the car while my baby sister gets out of the front of the student body. In full view of the student body might I add" I huff
"I could make it worse by putting the child locks on, which means Cynthia has to let you out"
The pair don't miss the flash of horror on my face and burst into laughter.
"Just drive" I growl not happy with the sympathy I'm NOT getting.
As we drive, I take the time to calm my nerves while Cynth happily expresses her glee to Rose, chatting about what could happen, the cliques and drooling over all the 'Hot senior boys'. I have zero worries for her, she'll settle right in and everyone will love her. Her laid back attitude over people is refreshing. So if someone wants to be her friend, no matter who they are, she'll accept. Well within reason. Like all my family we detest bigoted people, racists, homophobes, sexists ECT. If they fall in them categories she'll tell them where to go. We was brought up to believe that everyone should be treated equally and fairly, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality. Both our parents we're lawyers before they retired. The best. So I guess it helps to be open-minded in that field of work.
"BABY, BABY, BABY OH!" Justin Bieber booms through the cars speakers at an offensive level causing me Rose to swerve the car violently and me to scream and grip the door handle in fear.
"JESUS CYNTHIA! Turn it down!" Rose screams. Cynthia giggles and lowers the volume.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm excited I can't help it. The Prince helps me mellow" she giggles.
"Yeah well I like my eardrums not to bleed and unfortunately 'The Prince' causes that" I wince at Rose's words and she flinches when she realises the error she's just made.
"You know Rosalie, this is such a lovely colour you have on your car, I'd hate for it to change to a brighter colour, lets say orange, you love the colour orange right?" she replies coldly.
Rose's face drains of colour at the threat. Even though Rose can make a grown man cry and literally wet himself with her glares alone. Any threat involving her car can push her to fall to her knees, especially from Cynthia. Plus the colour orange, she despises, she even refuses to eat the fruit orange. Why? I have no clue.
"I'm sorry, I'm just thinking of Alice, she's already nervous and dreading today, I just didn't want to draw anymore attention to her and blasting 'The Prince' wont help that"
I have to bite my lip to stop the giggled from escaping. Its rare to see Rose 'The Ice-Queen' panic. Cynth seems to buy her excuse and shuts the CD off.
"So…Cynthia seems ready for today, what about you? You ready to fill the young minds with great knowledge?"
"I honestly can't decide, I'm scared they won't like me and I'll end up a handicapped water buffalo in the middle of a lion's den"
"C'mon big sis, they'll love you. You're a Brandon, everyone loves the Brandon's, your great, perfect even apart from your dislike of 'The Prince'"
For some reason I don't exactly gain any comfort from that.
"Al. You've always wanted to teach, don't let this minor issue ruin you. They will like you, sure some of them will take a crack at you that's normal teenage behaviour but some will also treat you like glass, afraid of what to say to you and how YOU will react to them. Set the pedestal. Show them your in charge. It's your classroom, your domain, not their's. Be firm but not enough so they fear you and react. Be soft but not too soft or they'll take advantage and walk all over you. Trust me, teenagers appreciate a strong hand to show them the rights and wrongs, you just have to create the right balance. Majority of teachers these days are asses and speak down to students. They'll like that your friendly"
"Wow Rose, those classes are defiantly worth every cent. Thank you" I squeeze her shoulder.
Rose and I met on our first week in college. She was and still is studying to become a therapist for teenagers. From what she told me, she didn't have the best childhood. Her parent we're never careerists and we're hardly home, meaning Rose grew up with numerous minders. And when they we're home all they did was constantly fight and neglect her. She longed for attention yet they never received it. Even when she was horrifically attacked by her teenage boyfriend as his friends, they showed no concern. So she made a promise to herself that when she was older she would dedicate her life helping children with ANY problem, no matter how big or small.
We eventually arrive at the school. It isn't a big school like I imagined, I shouldn't really be surprised. Fork's is a very small populated town.
"I'm going to sign in. Bye guys" Cynth quickly leans back and kisses my cheek then Rose's and bolts from the car. We both laugh at her eagerness and watch as she see her join a group of kids entering the school. Already locked in conversation as if they known each other for years.
"Is my little girl ready for big school? Do you have your lunch money?" Rose jokes in a motherly tone.
"Yes Mom and I wont talk to strangers nor will I accept any candy if they offer"
"You couldn't anyway. Isn't that classed as charity, Newt wouldn't be impressed" she scowls.
"Rose please don't 'Mike bash' right now, I have more pressing matters"
Rose's dislike towards my husband doesn't shock me, whenever she can she will beat his name into the dirt. Yes he can be a butt, but he's my husband and I love him,
"I know, I know. I'm just pissed he wasn't here for you today" she replies sighing.
"It's okay, he had a meeting and he needed my car…"
"A meeting he COULD of easily postponed and your car he NEEDED to rub in people's faces"
"Rose" I growl, irritation slowly building in my chest.
"Alright, I'll quit" she holds her hands up in mock surrender. I grab my bag and kiss her cheek. "Wish me luck" I say as I climb out.
"Good luck" she beeps the horn and speeds out of the parking lot, gaining a lot of student's eyes. Great
Well, Fork's High…here I come.