A/N: I know, I know, I'm doing it again. This is a one-shot (and not a one of you believes that I know…Not. A. One.) It was something I've been kicking around for awhile but a discussion with a friend (thanks Cas) got me thinking and here we are. I'm sure this has nothing to do with me running my daughter to forensics practices and competitions…nothing….you don't believe me, do you…you shouldn't. I work in education at the high school and college level in Kentucky. I have taken certain liberties with schedules, requirements, and all that jazz in the name of fiction. Since I don't want to harm anyone living I am making my own school that no one should attend…ever. Welcome to Buy More High School.

A/N2: A poster said how much they loved the Buy More High School, and so the name has changed...and the possibilities are now endless.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, I still go to school every day, it just depends on the day as to which school.

Charles Irving Bartowski walked into the principal's office at his alma matter. It had been several years since he had walked through these halls. It looked quite similar to the way he had left it. Charles, Chuck to his friends, had never had many visits to the principal's office, but today's was a bit of a surprise. Chuck had just started teaching at Echo Valley High, and he was looking forward to being the Computer Science teacher, it was kinda his thing. He entered the office and told the secretary who he was. He was ushered into a meeting with Principal Beckman.

"Good morning, Mr. Bartowski," Beckman said, greeting him.

"Good morning, Ma'am," Chuck replied. "Will Principal Graham be joining us today?"

"I'm afraid not, seems he died in an explosion," Beckman replied. Chuck blinked a few times. Beckman laughed. "Just joking, lighten up, Bartowski. He retired, one of the many cutbacks at the school." Chuck heaved a sigh of relief. "That's why I asked you to come today, to talk about these cutbacks." Chuck looked a little concerned. "It seems several teachers have retired rather than dealing with these changes, so you will be teaching other subjects." Chuck raised an eyebrow. "You will be teaching three Computer Science classes, and three classes of the arts." Chuck smiled and Beckman returned it, knowing Chuck's background dabbling in theater and singing. "You will teach one choir, and two theater classes, and since you don't have an actual degree in this subject you will have a co-teacher."

"Why doesn't a teacher with a degree just teach it?" Chuck asked. Beckman grimaced.

"Everyone with a degree in those fields retired," she admitted. "Your co-teacher doesn't have a degree in those fields either but has helped in many productions."

"That's good," Chuck replied. "I get along with everybody, well except one teacher yesterday at the faculty mixer, and that really wasn't my fault."

"What happened?" Beckman asked.

"I was getting some punch and turned into her and dumped it right on down the front of her purple blouse. It was a very nice blouse," Chuck said with regret. Beckman nodded. "Morgan then started on about her being Vicky Vale which annoyed her to no end."

"Mr. Grimes has that kind of affect on people," Beckman agreed.

"I've known Morgan for years," Chuck said. "What does he teach?"

"He teaches English with a concentration in critical thinking," Beckman answered. Chuck seemed confused, he knew his friend well, and teaching English…just not something he expected. "To be honest, he wings it most days, but his students do well on the state tests and he keeps order, so…." Chuck nodded.

"Principal Beckman, what about the teacher I…well…spilled my drink on? Any chance she would be my co-teacher." Chuck asked. Beckman waved her hand.

"Well, the chances of it being the same teacher are slim. Also, you'll need to work on an after school project so I have decided since you and Miss Walker will be co-teaching the arts classes, you will also help her with forensics."

"That's great, I always have loved those CSI shows," Chuck said.

"This forensics deals with speech and debate," Beckman replied.

"Then why not call it speech and debate?" Chuck asked. Beckman shrugged.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "I will also pair you with Miss Walker for covering required football games, basketball games, and dances. If the mood strikes the two of you, by all means, cut a rug."

"Sounds easy enough," Chuck replied. "What, no, no fraternizing rules?" he asked, grinning.

"Chuck, this is a high school, I don't care what you do on your own time, if you two dance, just be appropriate," Beckman said.

"Is that a problem with the kids at these dances?" Chuck asked. Beckman just stared at him. "I'll just YouTube it," he said, making a note. She nodded and proceeded.

"Just so you know many of the forensics matches will take place in other parts of the state and an overnight stay is required," Beckman said. Chuck nodded.

"One, question, you keep saying Miss Walker, what is her first name?"

"Sarah," Beckman replied. Chuck blanched.

"She wouldn't happen to be, oh, I don't know, tallish, say 5'9" without heels, blond hair, blue eyes that can turn very stormy when mad and some would call, oh, very attractive?"

"She was the woman you upset yesterday isn't she?" Beckman asked. Chuck nodded. Beckman shook her head. "It figures," she muttered.

"Anything else I should know?" Chuck asked.

"No," she began, then thought. "Oh, yes there is one more warning, stay away from the boiler room."

"What's wrong with the boiler room?"

"Jeff the maintenance man stays in there with his co-worker Lester Patel," Beckman said. She looked around and leaned forward. Chuck leaned in with her. "Those two are creepy." Chuck nodded.

"So about Miss Walker," Chuck said.

"Except for your computer science classes, you'll be with her," Beckman said.

"Including our planning period?" Chuck asked.

"Yes, two will have the language classroom and the computer lab side by side for the first three periods," Beckman explained. "She'll have two Spanish classes and a French class. Then you'll do choir during lunch, not ideal I know, planning during fifth, and theater in sixth and seventh." Chuck nodded.

"But she doesn't like me," Chuck said.

"Mr. Bartowski, what makes you think I like you?" Chuck stared at her. "I like you fine Chuck, and I'm sure as soon as Miss Walker gets over the fact you have her mentor's job that was basically forced to retire for you to be hired and that you spilled punch on her, it will all be fine." Chuck stood there with his mouth opened. "Oh come on, Chuck, we all know the big deal your mom was in this district and that you're her son."

"But my mother had nothing to do with me getting this job…did she?" Beckman shrugged.

}o{

Chuck found himself in the theater room where the last three classes of the day would be taught. He was looking at an old lesson plan from the past year and the books they could use in class. A couple of times he swore he saw a wisp of blonde pass the doorway, and the third time it went by, he had had enough.

"Hello, is someone there?" he called out. He saw a head peak around the corner, a scowl on her face.

"Did you need something?" she asked, the tone quite unpleasant.

"No, more like seeing if you needed something, since you seemed to be checking me out," Chuck said. As soon as the words left his mouth he knew…

"What are you trying to say?" she asked, walking into the room, looking more than a little irritated.

"Checking me out in the sense that you were trying to be a good coworker and make sure I was in the right room and had everything I needed to be a successful teacher for our students," he said, pulling that one straight from his backside.

"Oh? I didn't even know you were in here," she snapped off.

"My apologies," he said. She nodded and turned. "Also, again, I must apologize about your blouse, can I pay to have it cleaned, replaced." She turned back to him.

"That was my lucky blouse," she replied.

"Wasn't that lucky yesterday, was it?" Chuck said, grinning. The grin quickly fell from his face. What was with his terminal case of foot in mouth disease? The look on her face…he thought it would scare terrorists. "I was trying to be funny."

"Try harder," she said. "Look, I know you are a big deal around here," she began.

"I'm really not," he countered.

"Obviously you're use to talking over people," she went on, looking even more irritated. He opened his mouth to retort, found himself in a catch-22 and stopped, frustrated. He swore for a second she flashed a smile like she was proud of herself. "But, since I have experience, I'll handle these classes and you stay out of the way. Just act like one of the students and listen."

"Oh, you do that," Chuck said, turning to check out on of the music books. Sarah looked even madder, but Chuck didn't notice. She started to leave, but she couldn't. Chuck Bartowski, son of the legendary teacher Mary Bartowski, the one who she was sure got by on his name. Her mentor had been let go, and this guy comes along. He wasn't getting away that easily.

"I do what?" she snapped off. Chuck's head shot up, and a look of fear gripped his face. He slowly turned toward her.

"I'm sorry," he stammered.

"You just said, you do that, very hoity toitally, I might add," she replied.

"Is that a word?" he asked, and then saw her face and realized that was a dumb move on his part. "You use the Pedagogy method for teaching, that's all."

"Well, it does mean children, root word paidi, I am an expert in languages, might I add," she said. "Whereas Andragogy, andras root word for man, basically means adult education."

"Right," Chuck said, quickly. "And, in the languages you teach I'm sure you're the expert, I mean there are no children in your class who that's all their parents speak at home, right?" Chuck paused. "You do teach Spanish, right?" A thundercloud gripped Sarah's face. Chuck knew he had made his point, but he wasn't sure it was worth the cost. He raced ahead. "I'm not saying total Andragogy either, but you've got to admit, in these classes we're not always the experts and they have experiences that we don't. Like in Computer Science, I know a lot, but some of these teens…they know things I haven't even heard of." Sarah's face let go of some of the anger.

"I'll admit, I haven't thought of Andragogy in that sense," she said softly.

"Look, here's the one thing about the field I'm in, everything is constantly changing, I know languages aren't that fluid," he said. Sarah nodded. "So, you hear Andragogy and all you think of is "Adult learning" and while that's true, it's the concepts inside that make it work, so if I can take something from a concept and apply it to my classroom and help my students, why shouldn't I?" Sarah nodded reluctantly.

"You have a point," she conceded. He really was good, and that made her mad, thought she knew that made no sense.

"One other thing, and I'll shut up before I put my whole leg back in my mouth," he said. Sarah smiled, which made her mad. Why did he have to be so funny, and why was his hair so long, it looked unprofessional, a lot of those stupid teenage girls would want to run their fingers through it. "I never had my mom as a teacher. She stayed out of my way, educationally. She didn't want me pulled into her orbit. I am my own person. I didn't ask for any special favors to get this job. All I want to do is teach, and help kids." Sarah nodded again and decided to extend an olive branch for the day.

"So, how about I show you around," Sarah said. Chuck nodded.

"I'd like that," he replied. He stood and followed her. She took him down the hall and they saw a tall man, a little shorter than Chuck, but very bulky.

"That's John Casey," she said. "He's in charge of family sciences." Chuck gave her a look like she was pranking him. "Makes the best quiche you ever tasted."

"Really?" he asked, Sarah nodded. They passed another classroom.

"You already know Morgan, beside him is Roan Montgomery. He teaches history and political science, although he does tend to focus on some of the scandals in history," she said, giving him a look.

"Really?" he asked again. She nodded.

"Oh, he also drinks quite a bit, and we're all fairly certain he and Beckman have something going on." Chuck shook his head. "They've been rumored to be on and off for years. She was a dirty blonde back in the 80s."

"It was the 80s, everyone was a dirty blonde," Chuck replied. Sarah had to agree. They entered the gym.

"Over there, is Coach Big Mike," Sarah said, pointing to his office. "He's probably busy eating a sub, you don't want to see that. Come on, speaking of food, let's go to the cafeteria." They headed that direction. "Over there is Lou, she's in charge of the cafeteria, and she makes the best food in the world for what she's given."

"Square pizza on Fridays with a funny colored jell-o?" Chuck asked hopefully. Sarah shook her head.

"They did away with the square pizza," she replied sadly.

"What is this country coming to?" he lamented. They walked on, and Sarah's face began to grow angry. "Something wrong?"

"Oh, I'm coming up on five teachers that I just don't like for some reason," Sarah said. "The first is Calculus and Physics taught by Daniel Shaw. I think something exploded around him, making him have the personality of a block of wood."

"Seems a very attractive fellow," Chuck said.

"If you're into that sort of thing,'" Sarah replied. Chuck looked at her, and she was grinning. "He's okay to look at, but literally that's it. Now the next two men are attractive as well, but they have a superiority complex that is just overboard."

"Not a fan of any of them?" Chuck asked.

"Seriously, it's just exhausting to talk to them," Sarah said shaking her head. "Bryce Larkin is our accounting and business teacher, and Cole Barker is our other English teacher. He's always giving Morgan grief because of his English accent. Next up is Jill Roberts, Biology, and Chemistry teacher, she's very good, I just don't like her."

"Any reason?" Chuck asked. Sarah shook her head. "Maybe there's just bad chemistry there." Sarah stopped walking and just stared at him. "Right, no bad jokes, be funnier." She wanted to laugh, but that would just encourage him. She began walking again.

"The last is Hannah Yee, she is our Algebra teacher," Sarah said. "She's been looking for her ex for a while, don't ask why." Chuck stopped walking.

"Oh, thank God you're not a cannibal," Chuck said. Sarah just looked at him. "Well, I was trying to figure out why a smart, beautiful woman like you was single, and it was either you were a cannibal or not funny," he said grinning. Sarah didn't return his grin. Inside she was giggling, but he didn't get to know that. "You don't like me, do you?"

"I don't hate you, if that helps," she said, turned, and started walking again. He knew where they were going, and after that terrible joke, he knew she was going to rub it in his face. "Here is the trophy case, and as you can see, we have on display the national teacher of the year, Mary Bartowski."

"I know, I've seen it before," Chuck said. "I'm really sorry for whatever I've done."

"Chuck, we have to work together, not be best buds," Sarah said.

"Yeah, but I like people to like me," Chuck replied. Sarah shrugged.

"You don't get everything you want in life," she replied. "Go home, the next two days we need to get ready for the start of classes. Tomorrow we'll work on our joint classes and forensics." Chuck nodded and held out his hand. She shook it. "I'll try, Chuck. I've lived a life where I trust very few people, and just because you say you're trustworthy doesn't mean you are." Chuck snapped his mouth shut. "For the record, the cannibal, thing….it was funny." Chuck did a little "yes" fist pump with that. She shook her head at him. "Go home, I'm going to work your ass off tomorrow."

"Miss Walker, such language, in a school," Chuck said, grinning.

"Wait til the kids cuss you out, good-bye, Chuck," she said, turning and walking away. Chuck sighed, looked around, and headed home.

}o{

Chuck pulled into his new house he had just purchased. He got out of the car with his glass of lemonade. He had only been inside once, heck he had only been there once, the realtor had handled everything else. The one time he was there, no one was around, so he was excited to meet his neighbors.

"What the hell!?" he heard behind him. He spun, scared, and dumped his lemonade on the person right behind him…Sarah Walker.

"I'm so sorry!"

"What are you doing? Are you following me?" she asked. She was angry and her stormy blue eyes were blazing. He wondered what it was like for her to look at someone she had intense romantic feelings for….he remembered she had asked him a question.

"This is my house, I bought it," he said. "Why are you here?" Sarah's face was indescribable.

"This house," she said softly. "You bought…THIS house." She just nodded, turned, walked across the lawn to the house next door, opened the door, turned and looked at Chuck. "Nice to meet you….neighbor," and went inside leaving Chuck standing there.

"Oh, boy," he muttered.

A/N: I have basically just turned a high school into a Buy More….I would like to apologize to the entire education system….If you're interested, I could do more…take care…til next time

DC