Author's notes: I've had this idea for the longest time. I don't know if it has been done before and apologies if it has! I've seen the phrase 'Downton Comprehensive' elsewhere, but this is a fanfiction will focus on that idea of Downton being a school. It is going to be inaccurate in places obviously, for example, it is very unlikely for so many Crawley family members to work in the same school (I'm comforted by the fact married couples work at my current school though). A fanfiction on this scale has to have a main focus, and that'll be the Anna/Bates storyline!
I'm uploading this to see if there is much interest in more chapters. Other chapters will generally be longer, I'm aiming for 2000 words at least. Reviews would be nice but not necessary, we're all busy bees! I'll be posting information (eventually) on this fic on my DA tumblr sympathy-butters-no-parsnips - including a full list of characters and their roles, and how the school looks/is laid out. Like I said, it all depends on interest. I'll write more anyway, but it might not get published.
Nothing belongs to me, but I wish it did ;) (watch out Fellowes)
As John Bates made his cautious ascent of the school driveway in his slightly shabby car, he was beginning to wonder if this was all such a good idea. Of course, he'd rather be somewhere new than back in his previous job. It meant a fresh start, and obviously an escape from his ex-wife. However, the prospect of being amongst entirely new people was daunting. His mother was taken ill shortly before his initiation was to take place; luckily for John, the headmaster of Downton Comprehensive was an old friend. He was given access to the school to show him around during the summer, gave him his class timetables and warned him of troublesome students, and troublesome staff.
Still, even with this kind gesture from Robert, John felt uncomfortable. He parked and locked up quickly, walking away from the teacher's car park to a more open area that had the building on one side and the school field on the other. What if he had been given this job out of pity; perhaps he was just a sad case? He clutched his cane tighter suddenly. He could hear his mother's voice in his head, telling him he was being an utter numpty and he needed to pull himself together with her strong Irish enunciation. Robert had given him this job because he was thoroughly qualified. He strode towards reception as fast as his legs could handle with new found confidence, and was surprised how quiet the building was. He shouldn't have been quite so surprised, as it was an hour and a half before school began, but first impressions were everything and an early start would do him no harm on his first day.
Before he pushed his way through the glass doors, he straightened the tie on his navy work suit and ran a hand through his hair. Come on John; why in heaven are you nervous? At the desk located a few metres away from him when he had gotten inside, he noticed a small group of people talking quietly. The early birds, he thought. There was an older woman of about fifty, who was talking to a shorter, plumper woman of the same age. Close beside them were a young man, younger than thirty with jet black hair and a scowl that would frighten off any Year 7. The woman opposite him had a scowl that matched his perfectly, and she was around John's age. It took a moment or two for them to notice him. They all looked perplexed, a few eyes wandering to his cane. The older, taller woman stepped forward.
"Can I help you, sir?" she asked in her Scottish accent, which caught him off guard for a moment.
"I'm John Bates, new head of History" he announced. The woman relaxed completely and offered her hand for a handshake, of which he complied.
"Ah of course. Nice to meet you, Mr Bates. I'm Mrs Hughes, head of English and Key Stage 3. We'll be working closely together" she gave him a kind smile, though she too found her eyes wandering to his cane.
"Oh yes, I've been appointed head of Key Stage 5 as well" he breathed "I swear I didn't forget" he said with a nervous chuckle, earning a laugh from Mrs Hughes and the woman she had been speaking too previously. The declaration he was head of Key Stage 5 made the other man in the room flinch.
"This is Mrs Patmore, she's in complete control of the canteen" she said, directing her attentions to the short woman behind her. John shook her hand politely; he had reverence for kitchen staff. "Miss O'Brien here is deputy head of Maths, and Mr Barrow is head of Geography". The two refused to offer their hands. Instead, John received a half-hearted 'how do you do' from Miss O'Brien and a nod from Mr Barrow. He knew in that moment the two had an attitude and were going to be unpleasant.
Before anyone got a word in edgeways, there was a scuffle at a different pair of doors leading to a corridor. The young woman that shuffled backwards through that door with a tray dotted with mugs made John's already nervous legs go weak momentarily.
The first thing he noticed were the angelic locks of hair cascading over and below her shoulders. Her eyes met his as she turned around; they were the most divine shade of blue. She wore a light blue skirt that hugged her waist and a white blouse that suited her figure impeccably. She glanced across to Mrs Hughes in confusion.
"Anna, this is Mr Bates, the new head of History" she announced. Anna quickly passed her tray to the nearest open set of hands, which were Mrs Patmore's, so that she could offer her hand to him.
"Hi, I'm Miss Smith" she exclaimed with wide smile, "Deputy head of English". As John clasped her significantly smaller hand, he speculated about how hard she must've worked to be deputy at her apparent young age; and he admired her for it.
"I look forward to working with you" he retorted, matching her smile. She held his hand a little longer than she was supposed to and a glint appeared in her eye, which did not go unnoticed by John. They parted and Anna turned her attentions to the mugs on the tray. She picked one up and the older women took theirs.
"Didn't you think to ask us?" Miss O'Brien asked sharply. Mr Barrow chimed in with a deathly glare in Anna's direction.
"I was going to ask you both if you wanted tea earlier, but you were having a cigarette in the car park and one of your private conversations, so I thought it better to not disturb you" Anna exhaled calmly. "I can go fetch you both a cup of tea or coffee now?"
"I'll get my own" Mr Barrow stated in monotonous drawl. "We have to meet in the staff room in half an hour, no point you scurrying off to make one now". Miss O'Brien just mumbled in agreement and Anna, within the safety of her own mind, groaned at their unnecessary hostile natures.
"How about you, Mr Bates, would you like anything?" Anna inquired, once again looking directly into at the new History teacher's eyes. John had been in a bubble of curiosity about the young woman in front of him, and hearing her say his name made his heart quicken its pace. There was something about the way she said it. After having to blink hard to come to his senses, he shook his head.
"I'm quite alright, thank you". Anna wasn't too persuaded, but did not ask again. The group of teachers turned around at the abrupt entrance of an older man. He looked a little flustered.
"Good morning everyone" he called in a low voice. He received a chorus of good morning's back. "Have I missed the tea round?" he said to Anna with a chuckle before facing John. "You must be Mr Bates. Robert mentioned you and I saw your photo from your past school's newspaper articles" he explained. "I'm Charles Carson, head of Maths and Key Stage 4" he noted, shaking John's hand firmly. John had sensed that Mr Carson was an important figure, and his titles had confirmed that. Mrs Hughes peered at her wristwatch.
"We better go to our classrooms before the meeting. Mr Bates, do you remember where your classroom is?" she queried.
"Not really" he admitted, disappointed at himself.
"The History department is upstairs, you're in classroom W20" Mrs Hughes replied, pointing towards the steps. At the mention of the stairs, everyone looked down at his closely held cane.
"Are you going to be able to manage?" Mrs Patmore probed, perhaps a little insensitively airing most of the room's thoughts aloud. Mr Bates' lips curled downwards.
"I'll manage" he replied tried to sound as simple as possible.
"Of course you can" Anna cut in quickly with a smile, having sensed the man's uneasiness. John stared at her in surprise.
"It seems fitting that Thomas could show him to his classroom, Geography is upstairs too" Mr Carson suggested. Thomas begrudgingly shifted from his position of leaning against the reception desk.
"Follow me, Mr Bates" he said in what John assumed to be his usual drawl. John shared a final smile with Anna before beginning his climb up the nearby stairs.
"Well, I can't see that lasting long" Miss O'Brien stated grimly, unaware if John was out of earshot but not caring less if he was.
"Thank you, Miss O'Brien" Mr Carson grumbled, shutting down any further comment from his colleague. The group slowly departed from each other as the reception staff began to make themselves at home again. It was a new year and it meant new changes, not only to the curriculum but to each other, and the way the school ran. Not to mention the staffs' home lives, and how personal matters will manage to seep into the work environment. Everyone had different thoughts buzzing around their heads, but John and Anna were undoubtedly thinking about each other, and neither quite knew why.
