Chapter 25

I knew it was going to be hard- But after the last week I had no idea how hard.

Here's how the morning went. Woke up at five a.m to the crankiest Christina yet (and it didn't help that I was just as cranky) We fought over everything- breakfast, what we were going to wear (I wanted her to wear the blue shirt she wanted to wear the green), who got the bathroom first, who went through the door first, who drove! What music was on in the car...

"I don't understand why you have to fight me on everything!" I shout, one of my hands gripping the wheel and the other being waved around like a mad woman.

"Me fighting you?" She asks shocked "Mother you are fighting me!"

"Why on earth would I fight you!?"

"I don't know, maybe because in our current sleep deprived state your irritability is cranked up forty notches, making it very difficult for you to see logical reasoning and explanations!" She suggest loudly, her accent so thick I can barely understand her.

"I can't understand you when you're talking angrily!" I say in frustration."I thought British people were supposed to be soft-spoken!"

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes"And now you're buying into stereotypes! Unbelievable..."

"Oh yes, because its my fault they 'programmed' me with the brain of an American."

"Well maybe it was!"

I pull into the school parking lot and we both jump out if the car slamming the door in the process.

"You're being ridiculous" I mutter opening the front door for her.

"You are too!" She says, her voice switching to an American accent.

"Oh goody now I can understand you." I smile with false enthusiasm.

She rolls her eyes and begins walking away "I have to get to class."

"I hope you have fun." I say sarcastically- deep down I probably mean it.

"Oh I will!" She shouts down the hallway.

"Good!" I yell back.

"Good!"

It's my turn to roll my eyes and head in the opposite direction to my class room. Apparently I haven't learned to be the responsible parent yet because that was just childish of me.

I shake my head with a deep breath and step through the door forcing a polite smile.

First period is seniors.

"Good morning everyone" I greet setting my purse on my desk. "Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving?"

Some say yes and some didn't hear me so they don't say anything. Then the bell rings and the day officially begins...

Like everyday the announcements come on and we say the pledge, which of course is extremely awkwardly for me now. Then, of course, the students minds were still in break mode so nothing really got done. And as expected second and third period went by about the same, except they were all juniors not listening to my class, not seniors.

Now, thankfully, its fourth period- my conference period, meaning a whole hour to myself, though the thought of actual alone time didn't even crossing my mind.

I pull out my phone.

Hello Myka, How's your day going? I text.

The response is instantaneous.

Bored out of my mind. She replies.

Oh? Do tell!

There's a pause.

Can you talk?

Yes of course.

Then my phone is ringing and her voice is filling my ear.

"Now tell me darling, what has you bored out of your mind?" I greet, charmingly.

"I'm stuck on this road trip to the top of North Dakota and Pete, my supposed partner, fell. asleep. Leaving me all alone."

"You could have called me you know." I say, suddenly feeling very self-consciences "I love talking to you..."

"I love talking to you too!" she says quickly "I just assumed you had classes to teach."

"Right, right." I nod, really hoping she's telling the truth. Over the phone its hard to tell.

Suddenly that voice in the back of my head speaks up. You have no right to be at the top of her 'Call-when-your-bored' list- not while you're in this gray area with her.

Gray area? What are talking about!

Oh please- if someone asked you what she was to you, what would you say?

I think it over- certainly not friend, but really we aren't anything more than that...I mean other than a few kisses on the cheek and my whole confession about her. We haven't even really talked about what we are...

Exactly my point. The voice says.

I clear my head of the thoughts and change the subject.

"So North Dakota hmm- what's in North Dakota?" I ask.

"Just some case..." she sighs, "Now what about you, how's your day going?"

"Well..." I sigh. "I had a very frustrating- very loud morning."

"Oh? Do tell!" she mimics playfully.

"Chrissy and I fought... about almost everything." I say fiddling with a piece of paper on my desk.

"That would have been fun to watch." Myka says amused.

"I beg your pardon" I exclaim, shocked by her lack of sympathy.

"Right I'm sorry- but I know how stubborn you can be especially in the mornings, and when your cranky you tend to argue over nothing." She says being very straight forward but not rude.

"Well I don't think that's very fair." I pout.

"And I'm also very sorry that you two fought." She continues "I know how much she means to you."

"She is a teenager, I suppose it's excepted..."

"You're right she is, so don't worry you'll make up soon enough." She assures me.

"You're very smart Myka." I praise, my spirit effectively lifted. If only she was sitting next to me and not a state or two away...

"So is this like your conference period?" She asks.

"Yep- I'm free for a whole hour" I say.

"And that's about how much longer I'll be in the car, so it works out well." I hear the smile in her voice.

"Yes it does!" I exclaim leaning back in my chair, "Now Myka, you must agree that a whole day without speaking really is too long" I say, sternly. "And two days without seeing you is even worse, so tell me- When are you free?"

"Well that depends, when are you free?"

"Oh darling you should know by now, there's not a time I'm not free" I laugh.

"Fine Fine" she says beginning to think. A moment later she speaks "This case should be over in about two days... What about Thursday afternoon?" Then she adds quickly, suddenly nervous, " ...or-or evening, either ones fine"

"Now that depends on how much time you'd like to spend with me." I smirk even though she can't see me.

"Well what time do you get to usually leave the school?" She asks.

"Around five, but that's only because Chrissy stays after school with me. The final bell rings at three."

Myka is silent for a minute, probably thinking out a plan. "Ok how about this- You and Chrissy meet me right after school at the ice cream shop we went to on Friday-"

"And when Chrissy has to go home?" I ask.

"I'm sure we can think of something to do..." I can just see her biting her lip.

"Sounds perfect." I say, my mind wandering already to the events of Thursday.

"Ok." She says, and I know there's an out of control smile on her face.

"Ok." I reply, trying to keep a lid on how excited I am.

"...so I know you're probably sitting in front of some poor kids worksheet-" she begins.

Please don't say you should go ahead and let me work, Please don't say you should go ahead and let me work.

"-So why don't you quiz me and grade at the same time." She suggests.

I sigh in relief "Darling you read my mind."

"Alright this one in is from English 1 so it should be easy." I say.

"I'm ready." Myka says with over dramatic preparation.

She's gotten everyone right so far and I know this one won't be any different.

"Who said- 'Life is real again, and the useless and cumbersome and mischievous have to die.'?"

The silence that follows the question is longer than I expected and I'm starting to think Myka hung up.

I can't believe you asked that. That annoying voice says.

What?

You know it's cruel to bring up past memories about you with her.

I wasn't-

Oh please- that quote is H.G Wells it snaps.

"Myka, I'm sorry I shouldn't have-" I began guiltily. "I mean I didn't mean to bring up-"

"No no Emily it's ok- Wait what?- what are you talking about?" She questions panicking a little.

I just implied I knew my nickname didn't I? I inwardly cringe.

Yep.

"Oh nothing really just something that floated through my head the other day, when we were talking about authors..." I try to explain casually.

"You remembered something." She states in realization and I know there's no way out of this. "What all did you remember?"

"Well I wouldn't say remembered..."

"Mykes! Come on!" Pete's voice yells from the other side of the phone call.

"Coming!" Myka shouts back, before whispering into the phone fiercely. "We'll talk about this later."

"Yes of course." I sigh. "It was nice speaking to you again."

Her tone softens "Likewise."

I smile "Goodbye Myka."

"Bye." She says.

And the line goes dead.

I set my phone down and put my head in my hands.

What have I done?

Maybe it's for the best.

Maybe, but what if me knowing just drives her away.

And of course the voice picks this time of all times to go silent.

I raise my head up to look at the clock. Thirty seconds till the lunch bell rings. I'm not even hungry...

Riiing!

I've never realized how annoying that sound can be. It's one of the most irritating noises in the entire would! I glance at the heavy text book on my desk. Out of no where the thought of throwing it at the bell thing in my room crosses my mind.

Don't you dare. The voice suddenly speaks up in warning tone. Myka will still want to spend time with you no matter what you remember, alright? There's no need to get violent.

I sigh, Whatever.

I hear my classroom door close lightly. Instantly I recognize the hesitant footsteps.

"Mother?"

I look up in time to see her run her hand through her curls.

"Yes darling?" I ask trying to manage a neutral tone- putting my sad, scared thoughts about Myka's reaction to the side.

"I- I'm sorry for insulting your Americanness.." She apologizes, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Well that was brave of her, coming straight in and apologizing. I know she didn't inherit that sense of responsibility from me...

I smile softly "And I'm sorry for insulting your Britishness."

Quickly she walks over and pulls me into a hug. "I'm also sorry for being so bratty in the mornings."

"Oh darling its alright, you obviously get it from me anyway." I laugh. If anything's going to put me in a good mood again it's Christina.

She leans back with a smile "Would it be alright if I had lunch in here with you?"

"That sounds wonderful." I say happy for an excuse not to talk to those other teachers. "I can't believe I've never thought of that before."

Once the bell rings signaling the end of lunch Christina stands up from the chair I had moved next to mine and says "I'll go get my books."

I nod, remembering 5th period is next, which means freshman. "See you in a minute."

She walks out the door and I go to throw my trash away.

A couple students come in and take their seats, still chatting loudly. I pull out my lesson plan for the day and begin reading it over.

"Ms. Lake?" A student says.

I look up to see Molly Cast standing in front of my desk. "What can I do for you" I ask, putting on my nice face.

Something you should know about Molly- she always has to be right, she thinks she knows everything, and anyone who contradicts her is just asking for it. And really I'd like nothing more then to put her in her place but I'm the teacher. No matter how immature I may be, so I'm going to listen to her and keep my judgement to myself...

Or at least try to.

"I learned something this break that I bet you don't know." She says with to much pride.

"Oh and what's that?" I don't let the annoyance show in my voice.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Christina take her seat at the front of the room, and from there I know she'll easily hear the conversation without even trying.

"I learned how to read this" Molly hands me a piece of paper with strange markings on it. Probably some made up language or something. "Do you know what it says?"

The words are out of my mouth before I can process whats going on, "My name is Molly Cast, I'm 15 years old and love to play basketball." I read.

When I look up Molly's eyes are wide and behind her Christina is staring at me confused.

"But- how- how did you?" Molly stutters and Christina stands up and comes over to see the piece of paper.

A look of realization spreads across my daughters face "Ohhhh"

"What?" I ask.

"It's a dead language." She answers.

"Alright?"

She smiles knowingly and says "Vous considérez langues, notamment des langues mortes pour être un hobby. Je pense que cette écriture est appelée Akkadien, j'ai vu quelque chose à ce sujet dans certains de vos notes une fois ."

And some how I understand her and hear. "You consider languages, particularly dead languages to be a hobby. I think this writing is called Akkadian, I saw something about it in some of your notes once."

She waits a moment for me to respond, silently pleading with me to understand.

Nodding I say "Je vois, merci mon chéri."

I don't know how I know I just said "I see, thank you darling" in French but I did so I'm going with it.

Apparently foreign languages stuck to my head when they erased my memories- fascinating. I wonder what other languages I know...

"What?" Molly asks still in shock, interrupting my thoughts.

I turn to the student "It's very impressive that you know how to read this Molly, and I'm sure I'm the only teacher here that knows what it says, so bravo."

"I uh- ok?" she is still confused.

I smile at her, and she goes to sit down. Christina gives me a smirk, which I roll my eyes at "Go sit down." I say.

I then silently make my way to the front of the room. "Hello class, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, and I know you're all back here ready to learn."

Some of them groan and others give a sarcastic word of agreement. I suppress a laugh and get right down to business.

"Right so were going to start this month off with a project, that will be due sometime in January" Some kids put their heads on their desk in dread. "Yes it will be a long project, that will require a whole lot of information. However I know some of you will actually enjoy doing this assignment." I glance briefly at Christina.

"The project will be over an author, and before you ask no you don't get to pick, I chose for you sorry." I pause clasping my hands together. "Now. You'll be writing an essay, and creating a description board that includes details of your authors childhood, such as how they grew up, who their family members were, and then their books- obviously- how what goes on in them ties to their life, where their inspiration came from, why they wrote what they wrote- things like that" Half the class groans."And I know it sounds difficult, but I've chosen authors that this will be easy to do with- all it will require is effort and actual work." Even more kids groan.

"Honestly there is no pleasing you" I mutter going to my desk to pick up their assigned authors.

"Tell you what, at the end of this you guys all get a lollipop." I say because it's worked in the past. Really what teenagers, of all people, will do for a small piece of candy.

"Not even worth it." A student, James, says from the back of the room. And this time I laugh.

I move around the room passing out the sheets "I have a published work of each of these men and women's in the back of the room so you guys should go ahead and get started."

They begin standing up one by one, talking as they head for the shelf in the back.

Then I come to Christina, smiling I hand her the assignment. She takes it not paying attention to my face. Looking at the paper she freezes, wided eyed.

"What's wrong" I ask- She was supposed to love this.

"I just- I uh- can I change my author?" She asks.

"...No, I'm sorry Chrissy. There will be no assignment changes." I say, still unsure about her reluctance.

"No matter what?"

I shake my head, "No matter what, there will be no changes." I say firmly.

She looks back down at her paper shifting uncomfortably.

I continue passing out the papers, patting her back as I pass her "Cheer up darling, really I thought you'd be trilled, H.G Wells will be a very interesting topic."

Sorry if my whole French part thing was off- blame the internet's translator!