Okay, so here's the deal... I'm a horrible, horrible person for starting another story when I don't have the time to update any of my current stories, let alone this one. But it MADE me write it. It did. Besides, in case you haven't noticed, every once in awhile I like to write short chapter stories. They make me happy.

So this all came about during liturgy at school (possibly not the best time, but inspiration is inspiration), when I was waxing nostalgic about a time a while ago when it seemed like everybody on earth was writing a story about our favorite surgeons being in high school (even me, but that wasn't my scene). And then I thought, wouldn't it be an ironic twist if, yes, it's set in high school, but they're not students, they're teachers? And that's how this came about. Plus, I think Addison would make a pretty kickass AP Lit teacher.

The story is dedicated to one of my besties, Morgan, for listening to me ramble endlessly, and pointing out that Meredith as a guidance councilor would be possibly the funniest, most ironic twist in the whole story.

Also, I don't own any of the Grey's Anatomy characters, although I have expressed a desire for Addison's wardrobe (accessories included) many a time.

Addison sighs in frustration as she rakes a hand through her hair. "Stop acting like I've asked you to do something awful," she commands. "The only thing keeping you from understanding is that you've psyched yourself out."

A girl, Bridget Gold, raises her hand. This is probably uncharitable to even think, but of all of the kids in the class, Bridget is Addison's least favorite. The girl doesn't want to work, spends all her class time talking about the parties she went to last weekend, and expects Addison to totally carry her through the class, just like almost every other teacher has done. "But, Ms. Montgomery, Shakespeare doesn't make sense," she whines. "He, like, doesn't use words I understand."

It takes all of her willpower not to roll her eyes. "Shakespeare uses archaic language, Bridget, and it's what a dictionary is for. Or, if the dictionary takes up too much of your precious time, feel free to circle any words you don't know and ask me in class."

Bridget rolls her eyes. "Okay." She turns to her friends and murmurs under her breath, "No need to be so rude."

Addison doesn't react. She always has a Bridget Gold and there's no real way to effectively deal with that type of person. Instead, she looks up at the clock and sees that the bell is about to ring. "Okay, guys, you can pack up and go a couple of minutes early. Bridget, I need to talk to you."

Bridget slowly gets up and meanders to the front of the room, making a big show of how much she doesn't care. "Yeah?"

"Do you know what grade you're getting in this class?"

"I don't know. Maybe a C?"

Addison frowns at the way Bridget sounds like a C is the height of her capabilities. "A D. Almost an F, actually."

"What? Why?"

Addison pulls out her grade book. "You've gotten Cs on every essay you've written, you get Ds on all the reading quizzes, and you got an F on the last test."

"But I'm trying!"

"Are you?"

"Yes! You're being totally unfair! You grade too hard!"

"Bridget, most of the kids in this class get Bs and As on their essays, and you know I protect my students by adding points if nobody gets a hundred percent on tests. The issue isn't my grading."

"Yes it is! I try, I do everything you ask!"

"Bridget, you don't do the reading. Maybe if you actually picked up the book every once in awhile you'd get better scores. But, as it is, I need you to take this progress report home and get your parents to sign it."

"My mom is going to kill me!" Bridget moans, showing a rare glimpse of outwardly directed thought.

"You just need to try a little harder, and you can raise that grade easily," Addison encourages.

Unfortunately, her kindness backfires. Bridget snaps back into I Don't Care mode. "Whatever," she snaps as she snatches the paper from Addison's outstretched hand and strides out of the classroom.

Addison lays her head down on her desk as she realizes that she's going to have to hear another Why Do You Hate My Child? rant given by another Bridget Gold's Mother character. They never do believe their golden angel can do anything wrong.

0ooo0

Addison slides into a seat in the theater. She hates staff meetings, but, hey, she loves teaching and this is just part of the job.

Izzie Stevens, the art teacher, leans over. "You're late."

"So sue me," Addison whispers back. "I'm not so late that Richard or Miranda noticed."

"Ow!" someone yells from the back of the theater. Meredith Grey, one of the councilors on the staff, grimaces. "Sorry. I stubbed my toe. Sorry."

"Meredith, on the other hand, is," Addison continues, trying not to laugh.

Meredith keeps apologizing profusely as she slips into the seat next to Addison. "That was mortifying."

"Maybe you should start paying attention to where the steps are," Izzie suggests.

Meredith sticks her tongue out at her. "Who's the new guy?"

"New guy?" Addison asks. "What new guy?"

"That new guy," Cristina Yang, the calculus teacher, points out. Literally.

"Stop pointing," Addison chides. "He'll see you. Plus, it's rude."

Cristina gives Addison a look that very much says Bite Me. Izzie, sensing the tension, pronounces, "He's kind of really hot."

Addison's head whips back towards the newcomer. Izzie is so very right in this case. The new guy looks over and catches Addison's eye. She smiles and bites her lip before looking away.

"He was just totally checking you out," Meredith announces.

Addison blushes. "He was not."

"He was too," Izzie agrees.

"No, he wasn't."

"If we could all get started," Principal Webber says into the microphone. "First of all, I want to welcome you all to the monthly meeting." Everybody settles down and in for a long, tedious meeting. "Next, I want to introduce to you the newest member of our staff. Alex Karev is going to be taking over Mrs. Lee's world history classes while she is on maternity leave. He's also the new wrestling coach."

Meredith leans over to Addison. "We have a wrestling team?"

"Apparently. Who knew?"

Izzie nudges Addison. "He's a wrestler."

Addison turns a cold eye on her friend. "So?"

"So the man can move."

"If you're so interested, why don't you talk to him?"

"I'm not the one he was checking out."

"He wasn't checking me out!"

"He was checking you out," Meredith affirms apologetically.

"No, he wasn't!"

"Okay, we've established that he was checking Addison out and Izzie's either jealous or perversely interested in that fact. Now can we move on?" Cristina asks, with her signature annoyance pervading her voice.

The Chief continues to drone on about school related things, and most of the teachers tune him out. Then he gets to Homecoming and ears perk up. "I want to remind you all that the judging of the float and rally activities are based solely on merit. The seniors are in no way guaranteed to win."

There's a bit of an uproar in the room. Richard Webber is a relatively new principle and he wasn't around six years ago when the seniors lost homecoming. Life at Seattle Grace High School was absolutely miserable. For the four years when he wasn't here, homecoming was fixed so seniors always won. The fair competition is a little scary to think about.

"Also, Mr. Karev has volunteered to help supervise a float. I'm assigning him to the sophomore class, since it's the largest class."

Addison's eyes widen as both Meredith and Izzie nudge her. She always supervises a to fulfill the hours she has to serve at extracurricular activities. This year she had volunteered for none other than the sophomores.

"Oh my God, this is so perfect!" Izzie whispers.

Addison looks at her friend in amazement. Why won't she let this go? "Nothing is going to happen!" she laughs quietly.

"I bet you twenty bucks something does happen," Cristina says to Meredith.

"You're on," Meredith agrees.

Richard brings the meeting to a close, leaving the four women very much in the dark as to what the meeting was actually about.

"You're just lucky Webber hasn't decided to implement any dating policies," Cristina says.

"Nothing is going to happen!" Addison insists. "You are all pulling this out of the fact that he looked at me. You're being ridiculous!"

"But it could be like this grand, forbidden love!" Izzie sighs wistfully.

"You," Addison says to her friend, "need to reign in that imagination. Nothing is going happen, and even if it did, which I'm not saying there's even the remotest possibility of it happening, it wouldn't be forbidden, and I truly doubt it would be grand."

"You're no fun," Izzie pouts.

"And you're too much fun. We balance each other out."

They head out into the foyer of the theater. The four women stand in a circle, talking. "Why are you so stubborn?" Izzie asks.

"Why won't you let this go?"

"Because I want you happy."

"I am happy."

"You haven't been happy since Derek."

"I'm sorry I'm more serious since I got divorced," Addison apologizes sarcastically.

"I don't know how you do it," Meredith says.

"Do what?"

"Work with him. Every single day."

"It starts with the fact that I don't hate him. It ends with the fact that he teaches biology. Do you really think the AP Lit teacher and the Bio teacher cross paths very often?"

"I guess not," Meredith concedes.

"I'm just saying that maybe you need a fling," Izzie explains.

"A fling? Really? With someone I work with. Great idea, Izzie. That one's sure to win you the Nobel Prize."

"You need a guy."

"What I need is for you to stop pushing this. What I don't need is to give my students yet another reason to call me a whore behind my back."

"No one thinks you're a whore. Plus, that was like four years ago. Nobody from back then is still a student here."

"No, but their siblings are."

Izzie sighs. "You're right. I'm sorry, Addison."

Meredith nods, seemingly happy that the two women have stopped bickering, but Addison swears that she sees her and Izzie look at each other mischievously. "What do you two have up your sleeve?" she asks, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Nothing," they chorus. This worries Addison. She looks to see if Cristina has any idea, but Cristina has long since checked out of this conversation.

"I have to get to class," she finally says, excusing herself from the conversation.

"Okay," Izzie agrees. "I'm headed that way too, so I'll come with you."

Addison knows that Izzie's classroom is very close to hers, so she's not suspicious. Meredith and Cristina head off in the opposite direction, so they say goodbye for the moment.

As they walk away from their spot, Addison sees Alex Karev headed in their general directions. She gives him a small smile as they lock eyes. She refuses to credit the increase in her heartbeat to him.

She thinks that this encounter will just be a passing one, when, just as he's right in front of her, she feels someone step on the back of shoe and she trips. And, of course, falls straight into him. To his credit, he reaches out and steadies her.

She stares at him for a second, trying to get her bearings. "I, uh, sorry."

"No problem."

"Thanks." She pulls herself out of his arms and they stand in awkward silence for a moment. Addison looks to Izzie to help out, but Izzie is too busy looking around innocently to notice any plea for help. "Um, hi. I'm Addison Montgomery. I'm the AP Literature teacher."

She holds out her hand. He takes it. "Alex Karev. World History."

"It's nice to meet you," she says. "Um, this is my friend Izzie Stevens. She teaches art and photography."

"Hey."

"Hi," Izzie replies, pulling herself out of her innocent gaze long enough to pay enough attention to carry out a conversation.

"Actually," Addison says randomly. "We're going to be working together. I'm the other supervisor for the sophomore float."

"Cool. You should probably know that I have no idea what I'm doing," he laughs.

She laughs along with him. "Don't worry, I'll show you the ropes."

"I'm looking forward to it."

They smile at each other until Izzie clears her throat. "Well," Addison says. "I have to get to class, but I'll talk to you later."

"Wait," he says sheepishly. "Could you give me directions to room 6F? I still don't have a clue where the hell I'm going."

She laughs again. "That's the portables. You go out towards the swimming pool—you do know where the swimming pool is, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well, you know how in order to get into the pool, you have to turn left and go through the gate? Don't turn, just keep going straight and you'll see it."

"Could this school be any more confusing?" he asks rhetorically.

"If you want, we could meet after school… I can show you where your classrooms are and the fastest way to go."

"That would be good."

"Okay, I'll see you then."

"Yeah."

They stare at each other for another moment and head off in opposite directions. Izzie follows Addison, a smirk evident on her face. "You're right; absolutely nothing's going to happen."

"It's not!"

"Sure," Izzie laughs skeptically.

"Isobel Stevens, don't think for a moment that I don't know that you were the one who tripped me."

"And yet you're the one who just made a date with him after school."

"Shut up. I'm just helping him out. God knows the school's confusing enough."

"If that what helps you sleep at night."

"You're infuriating."

"Which is why we're friends."

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

"Really? We're being all of five years old?"

"I've got to go." As she says this, Addison delves into the crush of students arriving for the school day, and heads to her classroom.

First off, you should know that I modeled SGH after my school, where teachers don't teach in the same room all day, they move around, which is why Addison would clearly need to help Alex navigate the hallways.

Secondly, you should know that I would really love to hear feedback on this, because... well, because I spent a lot of time on it, and I would like to know if a continuation is worthwhile.

-Juli-