Karen
My new site manager gets more interesting by the minute. I caught him last night trying to write an essay and he said it was to go towards his PGCE. This I find interesting as now I know he wants to try and better himself. He certainly possesses all the qualities that would make a brilliant teacher; he's kind, caring and considerate. Last night when helping him with his homework he called me a girl, which I thought was quite sweet as it's been a long time since anyone has seen me like that. To most of the people around this school I'm sure I appear to be, a washed up Headmistress with old fashioned values. It was nice to be seen in the more sensitive light that is closer to who I really am away from my professional facade. I don't know whether I imagined this or not but last night there was a spark between us, a sort of deep rooted connection which I haven't felt with anyone since Charlie. The first day that he asked me out for a drink was the first day of term, and given my relationship history I didn't want to jump in too quickly. Don't get me wrong, I really like the guy; however I can't have people questioning my professionalism this early in the term. This year I know I have a lot of work to do in order to bring the school up to scratch. When I started here, the drama surrounding the school was what had dented its reputation. We all need to concentrate on making it the best school it can be, and it needs me to help it survive. I have got no time to think about love. After I was hurt; I need to be very careful where I place my heart in future. I know people think I am emotionless and that I have no thoughts and feelings of my own, but this is what I'm willing to sacrifice for the good of the school.
All of a sudden there were footsteps behind me, I turned around and there he was walking towards me with that lopsided puppy dog look that seems constantly to be with him. This is one of the things I find most endearing about him.
'Hey, had a good day?'
'Oh you know, paper work piling up around my ears yet again. It seems to be a never ending flow at the moment.'
'Yeah and there's always a stock pile of tables and chairs that need fixing. Honestly, some of these kids must be animals, I've no idea how they break so much furniture it's unbelievable. I think you should send notices round saying that if the kids are caught damaging school equipment they should have to spend time in the cooler, that would put the frighteners up them.'
'Excuse me; have you been working in the same school as me since the beginning of term? The kids won't listen to something like that; they don't like authority and being told what to do'.
'Surely they would listen to you, I know I would.'
'You are incredibly sweet, but you would be one of a select few.'
'Listen Karen, about that drink, are you sure I can't tempt you to come out with me tonight? Aiden's going out with some friends and I don't like the prospect of being on my own and if you wouldn't mind, I could do with someone taking a look at the alterations I made to my essay.'
'Alright then, where do you want to meet?'
'Well I say out, but what about mine for seven thirty? I just thought it would be quieter so I could study harder.'
That last comment flummoxed me a bit, I wasn't sure that studying was all he had on his mind. I decided that it would be okay and he'd probably receive no complaints from me. I know I'm contradicting myself but I see no harm in getting to know him a little bit better because who's to say it would lead to anything anyway? Even though I know that my main focus must be the school, it was at that moment I made a conscious decision that he could manage my personal site whenever and wherever the mood took him.
