Thank you so much for all the amazing feedback I got for the first chapter. I'm studying for a teaching degree myself but the German system is probably different than the American one so please try to ignore eventual inaccuracies :p
Emma opened her eyes and realized with a quick view on her phone that she only had a couple minutes left until her alarm was supposed to ring. The woman let out an annoyed groan. She had barely gotten any sleep this night, which was partly because of her nerves, partly because a certain brunette has ghosted through her dreams. Not that she was complaining, but that dreams mostly ended quite… intense with her waking up all confused and needy but never actually giving her the release she was looking for.
Emma still couldn't understand why her former teacher had such a huge effect on her that she even influenced her subconscious enough to occupy her dreams. Since their brief encounter in the train almost three weeks have passed, yet she probably more present in Emma's thoughts than ever before. She clearly needs to get laid. At least that's how her best friend Ruby kept explaining her weird crush.
Well, she wasn't completely wrong. Right now Emma just had some more important things on her mind than spending her time on the dance floor or drinking in a bar, hoping to find a girl that would distract her mind from Miss Mills.
Speaking of Emma's current priorities – those were the second reason why she was struggling to get a decent amount of sleep that night. Today was her first day of her practical training as a teacher and even though she would never openly admit it, Emma was nervous as hell. Sure, this would bring her one step closer to becoming an actual teacher, but what if she messed this up? If she realized that she won't be a good teacher after all? If she wouldn't get along with her students?
She was so lost in her own thoughts that her alarm finally going off made her jump and accidentally hitting her head on her wooden bed frame. What a great start into the day… Well, at least she was awake now. Quietly cursing Emma got up and made her way into the shower hoping that the hot water would wash away the evidences of her sleepless night.
The shower actually worked miracles. Emma felt surprisingly refreshed and in a sudden outburst of confidence put on her favorite pair of dark jeans and a white blouse – she had worked so long for this and suddenly felt more than ready for that new part of her life. She quickly applied her daily makeup and brushed her hair that as a result fell in soft waves over her shoulder. One last look in the mirror, appreciating the unusual, almost professional look, and she was off to her first day in practical training.
As Emma entered the main building of Storybrooke High, she immediately felt like she has been put back in time. Everything looked just like she remembered, some overexcited Freshman chasing each other through the corridors, a couple of the older students standing together in groups right by the lockers, discussing their holidays and celebrating their reunion, the big bulletin board right in the center of the main hall on which different students and teachers promoted their project groups. She even recognized some of the artwork decorating the walls in the hall.
Emma confidentially made her way through the main hall and right to the administration area of the school. She had an appointment with Principal Gold in a couple of minutes and during her time as student Emma learned that this man hated nothing more than unpunctuality. She wasn't exactly looking forward of Gold being her boss since she never got along well with him in the past and always found him to be a bit shady, but Emma surely didn't want to piss him off on her first day.
She knocked on the office door and was greeted with a short "Come in." Emma took a last deep breath and entered the lion's den. Mr. Gold was sitting behind his desk, wearing an expensive suit, his face just as unreadable as Emma remembered. Only the hair had gotten shorter, she noticed.
"Well, Miss Swan. Have a seat", He gestured towards an empty chair right in front of his desk. "Who would have thought we would meet again under such interesting circumstances.", his face was still free of any emotions and Emma decided that a polite smile was the only appropriate reaction she could give.
"Apart from yours, we have also accepted two other applications. Miss Blanchard, who is going to support the art department and Mister Booth, who is going to teach maths. You are going to meet with them right after this meeting at the library and Mrs. French is going to give you a tour of the school and will settle all the administration matters with you." Emma nodded, a tour of the school was kind of unnecessary for her but she was still looking forward to meet her fellow students. She vaguely remembered August Booth from some of her classes, but had absolutely no clue about this Miss Blanchard.
Mr. Gold continued with lecturing her about the general behavior rules of the school and presented Emma her schedule for the next months. It was nothing new to Emma. She would get assigned a teacher, that would function as her mentor for her time at the school, later at the staff meeting. Then she would spend some time observing the lessons of her mentor, making notes on the behavior of both teacher and class and would after this finally get the chance to teach herself, at first always observed by her mentor and, as soon as she felt comfortable enough, completely on her own. The principal gave her a few more instructions, then dismissed her with nothing but a curt nod.
The rest of her morning went far more pleasant. Mrs. French, the school's librarian has always been one of Emma's favorite staff members. She was one of the kindest persons she has ever met, always there to help the students with finding the right books for their homework or just to have an open ear for the latest heartbreak. So, after a brief tour through the school, she spent the rest of the time before the staff meeting drinking coffee and chatting with the librarian, Mary Blanchard and August Booth, with whom she actually got along pretty well. The four were so deep in conversation that they almost missed to leave for the meeting. Emma grabbed her still half full cup of coffee and together they hurried out of the library in the direction of the teachers' room.
Emma could feel a new wave of excitement spreading through her body. The staff meeting was actually the part of the day she looked forward to the most. She was very curious who was going to be her mentor for the next few months and she was silently praying that it won't be Mr. Gold himself. On another note the staff meeting would give her the possibility to finally see Miss Mills again, maybe even get the chance to speak a few words with her, this time without doing something embarrassing.
She was so lost in her thoughts that the blonde almost didn't realize that she had fallen way behind her company. Trying to close the gap she walked a bit faster and was just about to turn around the corner when she fully crashed into another body.
"Fucking Shit", Emma cursed as she noticed that her coffee was no longer in her cup, but instead spread all over her blouse, leaving it dripping wet. "What the hell?! Mind where you are going. How the fuck am I supposed to walk around in this for the rest of the day?!"
"I don't really believe this is an appropriate language for a future English teacher, Miss Swan", an ice-cold voice replied and Emma's eyes shot up. "And if I recount this correctly, you were the one running around with your head in the clouds" Emma stared directly into the face of Miss Mills who was clearly not in the slightest amused by their encounter. Well, so much about not making a fool out of herself at the first day – great job, Swan.
The blonde woman cleared her throat.
"Oh gosh, Miss Mills I am so sorry. I was getting late to the staff meeting and was in such a hurry, I didn't mean to crash into you. Mr. Gold is going to kill me when he sees me like this and my blouse is ruined", Emma talked so fast she wasn't sure the older woman was even understanding a single word. Fantastic, that was even more embarrassing than not getting out a single word in her presence.
"Save it." Miss Mills snapped. Then she let her gaze wander downwards as if to examine the damage on Emma's blouse. Her blouse that was, as she realized, to her horror now no longer white, but instead completely see-through, her black bra clearly visible through the thin material.
"Though I have to agree on one thing", the teacher continued her tone almost teasing now, her gaze still lingering on Emma's chest. "Even though you're giving up quite the view, there is no way you can show up in the staff meeting like this." She hesitated for a moment, then handing Emma the black cotton cardigan, that was previously casually knotted around her hips, with a small wink. "Take this, now get yourself cleaned up. And don't be late Miss Swan.", she turned around and walked away without another word.
Emma nodded and stuttered a quiet thank you even though the other woman was already around the next corner, then quickly made her way to the next bathroom. She needed a moment to calm down anyway. If she didn't know better she would have said that Regina Mills just flirted with her? Well, she for sure stared at her boobs in a way that definitely wasn't appropriate anymore and gave Emma her cardigan. Before she could stop herself, Emma brought the piece of cloths up to her nose. Yep, she definitely didn't imagine the light smell of apples during their involuntary embrace in the train a couple of weeks ago.
Remembering that the staff meeting was supposed to start any minute Emma quickly changed into the black cardigan, her head still dizzy from the last few minutes, and hurried into the teachers' room.
She arrived just in time and was relieved to see that August had saved her a seat. "Where have you been, Emma?", He whispered. "Spilled coffee all over my blouse and had to change", she replied, purposely leaving out Miss Mills role in her little accident.
The latter was now sitting on the opposite side of the table, writing something down on the paper in front of her. Her other hand absently playing with a loose strand of her hair. Emma had to remind herself again to stop staring and focused her attention instead on Principal Gold who was standing at the front and already started his speech.
She really tried to concentrate on his presentation about the school budget and syllabi, but couldn't stop herself from letting her gaze wander to the dark haired woman at the other end of the table every now and then. When suddenly her eyes met Miss Mills' who was eyeing her curiously. Emma quickly put her attention back to Mr. Gold and didn't dare to turn her head another time for the rest of his speech.
It felt like hours until Mr. Gold finally started to talk about the new staff members.
"Apart from Mr. John, who is joining the Psychology department, we also welcome three student teachers at our school this year", Mr Gold now looked directly at the three young adults.
"First of all Mr. Booth, who is going to teach maths and will be mentored by Mr. Nolan"
Gold gave a short not in the direction of the blond maths teacher.
"Second Miss Blanchard, who will join Mrs. Arendale in the art department."
Another not this time directed at a young teacher with red hair that Emma didn't recognize.
"And last but not least Miss Swan – who will get trained to teach English Literature", Emma couldn't stop herself from holding her breath "and will get mentored by Miss Mills."