Monday was a fairly hot day, the sun shone through the window and woke Beth up that morning. She rose from her bed and gave a stretch once on her feet. She was feeling refreshed and excited about the day. After glancing in the mirror, she tried to cover up the bruise on her face as much as she could with concealer and foundation. She brushed her hair and put it into a high bun, letting out some strands on the sides to frame her face. She dressed in appropriate attire, a white blouse with a yellow cardigan over the top leaving it unbuttoned. She also wore a dark pair of jeans to go with it and threw on her usual calf high boots. She checked herself over in the mirror first, feeling that she looked just right, she left to head for her new job.
Beth arrived at her new job a little early so that she could go and meet everyone. Butterflies flew in her stomach and she greeted Lori Grimes, she was the head teacher, she was lovely and Beth learned that her son Carl was in the school. Beth knew that she would probably be teaching her son in music, and reminded herself to say hello to Carl. She was a bundle of nerves stepping into the teacher lounge. People glanced at her, and smiled warmly. Hopefully, this wouldn't be too bad. "I'd like for you all to meet Beth, she is the new assistance music teacher." Every waved hello and Lori took her around the large room, greeting her to everyone. She knew that a few people noticed the bruise on her face, but no one asked questioned which suited Beth.
Everyone was extremely nice and kind, all welcoming her in with open arms. Then she met the main music teacher and everything changed. "Hi." The women said, coldly.
Maybe things wouldn't go a smoothly as she hoped.
As they walked to the class room to start the day, Beth couldn't help but notice her tense shoulders and the way she walked a little ahead of Beth. She sighed and followed her into class. "I didn't catch your name." Beth said as she took in the room. It was beautifully decorated, with famous composers and musicians lining the walls, The woodwind, string and brass family hung on the walls, all members present to their groups. This was exactly how she imagined it. And then she saw the Piano. It was sitting in front of the many windows and Beth walked to it, like it was a long lost friend. She sat on the cold stool, running her fingers over the keys.
"That's cause i didn't give it to you." The other women said, taking a seat behind her desk which was littered with paper work and old food. "You can call me Miss Harrison."
Beth stared at her for a moment, taking in her tired eyes and long blonde hair pulled up in a loose pony tail. Beth began wondering if she was going to be this awkward for her duration at this school. She sighed and nodded turning back towards the piano just as the bell rang for lessons to begin.
Beth had a feeling that it was going to a be a long hard day.
The first lessons went relatively smoothly, all the children where great and excited to meet her. They sat at their desks and waited for Miss Harrison to start the lesson. Miss Harrison no doubt was once a brilliant teacher, she probably loved the thought of teaching children the wonder of music, teaching them notes and different tempos. But now, she was bored and thought the class as if reading a book. Beth didn't say anything though, and waited until the next class came in. She introduced herself before the class, and waited for them to finish asking any questions she asked before sitting at the piano again. Miss Harrison stood up and began repeating herself from the earlier lesson, handing out some paper work.
"Miss Greene?" One of the students said from behind her. She looked a noticed it was Carl, Lori's son. She smiled at him. Carl looked a little bit like his mother, but she felt that he got most of his features from his father. She wondered who his father was.
"Yes Carl?" Beth said and smiled at him.
He leaned towards her from his seat, trying to stay quite enough so that the other teacher wouldn't hear. "Do you play piano?" He asked, his voice low and hushed.
Beth nodded, "Yes, i love to play."
"Can you play something for us?" He asked.
"Oh yes, please play something." Another child said, she was sure her name was Sophia. All the children joined in, turning to face her, all waiting for her play a song.
Beth smiled at the excited faces staring at her, she was glad that they was already taking to her so well. Beth turned and noticed the way Miss Harrison stared at her. If looks could kill, then hers would be stabbing Beth a billion times over. She swallowed and spun around, placing her fingers over the right keys to make the right chords.
She knew what song she was going to play before she began playing, it was just such a beautiful song and the piano and the lyrics matched and mixed into a perfect blend. Beth relaxed and began singing.
Looking from the window above
It's like a story of love
Can you hear me?
Came back only yesterday
Moving farther away
Want you near me
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
Beth loved to play this song. The song just took over her being and she found that lyrics just flew out of her, and the chords practically played themselves.
Sometimes when I think of her name
When it's only a game
And I need you
Listen to the words that you say
It's getting harder to stay
When I see you
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
There was a instrumental here, but Beth could feel Miss Harrison's eyes sending daggers into her spine so she wrapped it up. Even if it went against her to do so.
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
This is gonna take a long time
And I wonder what's mine
Can't take no more
Wonder if you'll understand
It's just the touch of your hand
Behind closed door
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
She finished up and spun back around. The kids faces were full of awe, all staring at her with wide eyes. "That was beautiful Miss Greene." Carl said, leaning forward to her. She smiled at thanked him.
"I want to learn to play like that." Sophia said, and a few kids nodded in agreement. This made Beth so happy, she had always wanted to teach piano to children. At the end of the day, she would ask Lori if she could give some of the kids some lessons after classes finished one day a week.
After the kids poured out, Miss Harrison looked at her from her desk. "Where did you learn to play?"
"My mama taught me when i was little." Beth said. She remembered her lessons with her mother, usually on a Sunday evening. They would sit side by side at the piano, both joking and laughing as Beth took in the information her mother passed down to her. She missed her mother, more than she once thought. Beth's father would come in and tell them that it was getting late and that Beth needed rest ready for the school day tomorrow. She would usually ignore the smell of liquor on his Breathe, but Beth's mother wouldn't. And that was usually how the arguments started.
Miss Harrison nodded and gathered the paper from the desks, ready for the next class to come in.
The day passed fairly quickly. After it, she found Lori in her office and knocked before walking in. She found Carl in the office too, he was sat at one of the chairs, watching his mother as she packed up her things. "Hi Miss Greene, i hope you had a great first day." Lori said and walked around the her.
"Yes, i have a wonderful day. But, i was wondering if i could ask you a question." Beth smiled, and Lori nodded for her to continue. "Well, a few of the kids today asked if i could teach them some piano lessons, i know your son Carl was interested." Lori looked back and Carl nodded eagerly.
"I don't see the harm in it." Lori said and ruffled her sons hair. "It'll have to be a Wednesday after school, all the other days already have after school activities."
She was planning to meet Daryl on Wednesdays if she could, so that she didn't have to waste his time on Saturdays. But she wanted to teach the kids more than anything else in the world. She nodded and left, excited that she had already been given the opportunity to start an after school lesson. She practically skipped to her car.
As the week passed, Beth found her mind traveling to Daryl more and more. She was looking forward to her lessons on Saturday, ready to tackle a new skill. She never wanted a repeat of that day again, she never wanted to feel defenceless again. She knew Daryl would help her with that, and she couldn't wait to see him again.
Wednesday lesson went extremely well, about 5 students showed up and that was a great number to work with. It meant that all the kids could have their own time with Beth, all of them learning individually at their own pace, not in a group and rushed. Carl and Sophia was one of the 5, and they both thoroughly enjoyed it. She was glad that it was a success and hoped that it would grow, maybe one day she could take on more lessons after school.
As she woke up on Saturday morning, her heart hammering in her chest. She was excited and nervous about today. Beth had never fought in her life, she didn't want Daryl to think she was weak and laugh at her or something. But as she began walking to the Community Centre, her feet leading her the way, she pushed away the silly thought. Of course Daryl wouldn't laugh at her, he didn't seem like that type of guy. She hoped anyway.
As she walked down the street, she was warmed by the sun on her skin. It was such a beautiful day. She walked into the community centre and was greeted by an empty room. "Hello?" She called into the hall, her voice echoing back to her.
No one answered and she glanced at her phone, she was about 10 minutes early. Sighing, she decided to check the centre out. She heard her boots click on the floor as she walked around the back. She pushed open the door and walked into a kitchen area. The cupboard was beaten and old, defiantly hadn't been used in a long time.
She stepped inside and was rammed into from the side. The impact knocked breath out of her, she gasped and tried to grip something to stop them from hurting her further, but her back slammed into the wall and she groaned. She screamed and tried to push the attacker away.
Opening her eyes she saw Daryl face staring at her, his face centimeters from hers. She let out a sharp breath and relaxed.
"What the fuck?" She said, enjoying the cuss on her lips. She rarely cussed, but she felt it was needed in this situation. Her body was shaking with the events that had just happened, she really felt like someone had just attacked her. It was even more scary when you didn't see it coming.
He looked down at her for a moment, his hands on her hips from where he was still slightly pushing her against the wall. She noticed the way his eyes skimmed her body first before he backed away. Licking her lips, she stood straight and rubbed the back of her head where it had made impact with the wall.
"Ya need to be able to handle situation like this, not just panic like ya did." He leaned against the wall that was to their left and watched her with careful eyes.
She felt like she was being examined and didn't enjoy the way it made her skin itch. "I didn't panic." She said, trying to defend herself.
"Oh, is that right?" He didn't bother trying to hide the smirk on his face. "So you didn't scream and try and get away from me." He reacted the way she tried push him away. He over acted it, making her out to be worse that she was. Beth narrowed her eyes and walked up to him, she whacked him on the arm so hard that her hand stung afterwards.
He stared at her, surprise on his face. "That's more of what we need Beth… What is your last name?"
"Greene, you?" She answered as she stepped passed him. Her shoulder knocked his, causing him to turn to face her. She bit her lip and continued walking away.
"Dixon." He said and followed her into the hall. "Well, Greene. That was just something to waken you up a little." He walked past her and headed towards the main door that lead outside.
"Hey!" She called, he glanced back. She couldn't help but take him in, this frame against the light escaping in through the cracks of the door, it made him look like he was a ghost or perhaps and angel. She remembered his jacket. "Where are you going, I thought we had a lesson?"
"We do. But you need to work on your stamina. So, we're off for a run."
Beth looked down at her attire, she didn't really feel like she had dressed in clothes suitable for running. But Daryl continued walking towards the door. She obviously didn't have a say in this, so she followed him. Her heart still beating fast from what had just occurred.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for all the positive feedback, I'm so happy that you are all enjoying the story. :D
The song is called Only You by Yazoo if you want to listen.
Shunice x
