So I am really bad at keeping ideas at bay and then not continuing them timely when I do release them, but I did get a bunch of chapters for this story done since this idea was cooked up little less than a year ago during Christmas time and it is essentially just that, a Christmas-y story. It's kinda longer than I intended so I am starting to release it now so I can get the whole thing out before Christmas so here you all are! High School Teachers AU along with some OOC. Very cute in my opinion and kinda sad. I hope you all enjoy! -xoxo Tak

"Yes. Yes. Ugh. Yes mother. No. No. Of course I'll be home for Christmas." Jo Taylor had been talking, well more like answering her mother for 3 hours now. She was going to be late for work if she didn't end the call now. "Mom I have to go to work now. I'll call you back at lunch."

"Okay Joey, but don't forget, we aren't done talking about this." Her mother said. She reluctantly said goodbye to her eldest daughter, allowing Jo to finally get out of her bed and go to work.

It was nearing 7:30 a.m. and Jo had to be at the school by 8. Jo Taylor was a teacher at one of the local high schools in Duluth, Minnesota. It wasn't her first choice city, but it was the only one in dire need of a young English teacher at the time, so she packed up from her home in North Carolina and moved up to Minnesota. She lived in a small one-bedroom apartment near the school. She was alone and new and had no friends. Sometimes she regretted ever moving up there, but the pay was good. Better than most schools.

As her time there grew, she had met a few people who she could now call friends. Most of her colleagues were very fond of the young blonde. The school's drama teacher, Camille Roberts, had become one of Jo's best friends, especially since Jo was the only teacher who cared for the dramatic arts. The school's AP Chemistry and science department chair, Professor Logan Mitchel, had also become her friend, mostly by default because of the secret romance between him and Camille.

And then there was Kendall Knight, the school's hockey coach and chorus teacher, who was her guide for her orientation. He had been the first one to welcome her and the only one to treat her as if she had lived there her whole life. He never made her feel like she didn't belong in the slightest. He was always kind to her and made sure to visit her during his breaks to see if she was good. She enjoyed his company during lunches and he'd always invite her to hang out over the weekend, though she would usually decline.

The best part about Kendall Knight was that he wasn't fawning over her like most of the male teachers. All of her other male colleagues would try to make a pass at her or ask her out, but Kendall was always just genuinely nice and courteous when he would ask her to go out on the weekends. But she knew that was mostly because of his girlfriend and music teacher, Lucy Stone. Nonetheless, he was a great person and a good friend.

Jo checked her clock again. It read 7:41. She sighed and quickly jumped in the shower. The school was delayed today by 2 hours because the power had gone out the night before from heavy snow on a power line, meaning she was allowed to get there 2 hours later than usual. She didn't mind, but her mother took it as an opportunity to call her earlier than usual.

Most the time her mother would just call on the weekend to check up on Jo, but since Christmas was in a week, her mother had to call everyday to ask if Jo was still coming down and if she was going to bring someone with her. As usual the answer was yes to coming down and no to bringing someone. Ever since her sister had eloped at 21, earlier than anyone had expected, Jo's parents expected her to be married by now as well. Or at least in a relationship.

The last time Jo was in a relationship, it ended terribly. Her boyfriend at the time, Jett Stetson, was a law student, but he was working on more than cases on his long nights at the library. It turned out he had been sleeping with university's hot, young librarian. Jo had felt like such an idiot, and vowed to never get in a relationship again for the next 10 years.

Of Course her parents thought she was being ridiculous since they still adored Jett despite his betrayal. Recently they would usually call to try to get her to forgive Jett and move past what he did. She didn't understand why, and she honestly didn't want to because she knew perfectly well she would never have to deal with that creep again.

Jo rushed out of the shower, getting into her peach blouse and black pencil skirt. She put on her stockings and boots. She quickly blow dried her hair and put it in a bun. She put on her coat and grabbed her purse, phone and keys. She rushed out of the apartment, careful not to slip on any of the ice on her way out of the building. She started her car and waited for it to heat up.

She checked the time again. It read 7:55. She was going to be late no matter what she did. She took her phone and called Camille to let her know what was going on. Camille failed to pick up. She sighed and tried Logan. No reply. She ended up calling Kendall who was able to pick up.

"Hey Kendall, it's Jo. I'm going to be late, so can you let Arthur know?" Jo asked him.

"Of course Ms. Taylor, but tardiness is unacceptable. You'll be getting detention for this." Kendall joked. He could almost feel her eyes rolling as she chuckled into the phone.

"Sorry Mr. Knight but my mom wouldn't let me go!" She told him.

"Again? Isn't this the fourth time she called this week?" Kendal asked.

"Yeah it is. She keeps asking the same thing about Christmas." Jo said.

"You should just tell her no one day just to mess with her." He suggested.

"That would probably make things worse for me than anyone else. Anyways let Arthur know I'm on my way, and save me some coffee in the lounge."

"Will do. See you soon."

Jo hung up and began to drive now that the car was warmed up. When she finally arrived, she was 11 minutes late. She quickly swapped her boots for a pair of her work heels. She briskly walked into the building and straight to the staff room. She saw the coffee pot with her name labeled on it and just enough coffee for one cup. She couldn't thank Kendall enough for this. After she made herself some coffee, she went to her classroom.

Her room wasn't huge but it wasn't too small either. She taught 3 classes a day of twenty to thirty students. She taught two English classes, one creative writing class, and one journalism class. She had been the only teacher qualified to teach more than one subject, other than Logan of course. She taught mostly tenth grade honors English, but she had a vide array of students due to her other classes.

"Morning Ms. Taylor." One of her students greeted. Only a few had arrived to school since school wasn't supposed to begin until 9.

"Morning." Jo greeted cheerfully. As more students piled in, she began to get papers and lesson plans out, getting prepared for the day.