Chapter 2
"Deep breath Isles. In and out. Just like you read in Robson's Anthology for Pulminary Attributes. Deep breaths help to regulate breathing…."
She was nervous. Maura Isles, the beautiful, confident bookworm who had out-smarted professors more than double her age, was nervous to be back in a high school. As she paced about her new classroom and took in the sights of the peeling, sun-faded anatomy posters that dotted the science room walls, the weight of her new career path suddenly materialised, resulting in a few last minute moments of panic. Had she made the right choice? Sitting down on an uneven lab stool, wobbling momentarily before using her stilettos to steady her, she took another deep breath.
'This is it,' She thought. Her first teaching job after graduating at the top of her class at medical school. This was her chance to share her love of learning with students of all ages and despite the nerves she couldn't wait to get started. This job was her way to prove she wasn't just a 'geek' but that she could inspire, motivate and encapsulate her young audience from the second they came into her classroom, that she could communicate with her peers and be 'normal'. But first, she would have to re-decorate, there was nothing encapsulating about stained, beige walls. Pulling out a piece of paper, in true Maura Isles fashion, she started to plan and re-design, making a mental note to run it by the Headmaster later. As she sat, her mind started to reminisce about the path that had lead her here to this moment. Thinking back to the time that she first entered the world of academia, Maura was always considered an outsider. Always being told she had limited social skills, combined with a love of topics that weren't really made for polite conversation (as her mother frequently reminded her) her friends over the years were few and far between. However, working hard and being consistently top of the class had made her feel loved… at least, academically. No, it was fair to say Maura Isles had quite a lonely journey throughout higher education, despite being published in almost every medical journal on the east coast.
She tried to be 'normal' at first. In her freshman year, she pledged for the same sorority as her mother and envisioned a future as part of the sisterhood, hoping to soon have sisters and best friends she could confide in, to be accepted. Unfortunately, she later found out she was only accepted because of the legacy of her name, and maybe a phone call or two from Constance to the university. The initial acceptance from the girls was frosty at the best of times, and it soon disappeared altogether when they realised just how different they all were to her. Their interests only mixed in fashion, and even then, no matter how much Maura tried to involve herself in their conversations, they called her a snob because all her clothes just happened to be designer. Maura Isles couldn't seem to win and after coming to terms with her failed part in the sorority, she moved into her own apartment on campus, taking some comfort knowing she could be happy on her own.
Elsewhere in her life, her mother and father were supportive enough from a distance, even if they weren't all warm and fuzzy like the parents of her peers she'd met over the years. They would call once a week, maybe even visit once a year if their schedules allowed it; but Maura never needed for anything, in fact they already had an apartment in mind when she told them she was moving out of the house of horrors. They were quite vocal however in one aspect of her life, setting her up with another member of the Boston elite. Her proposed engagement to Garrett Fairfield would have united two prominent families and made Constance very happy. Maura smiled at the memory, picturing her mother's (and Garrett's) face when she told them she was flattered, but would have to decline because she was simply and solely attracted to women. Funnily enough, she excused herself early from dinner that night, as the Fairfield's had all turned into goldfish and were barely able to string two words together for the rest of the evening. After being told she was just 'going through a phase' Maura had soon found companionship while studying in England for her master's degree. The woman was smart, funny and above all accepting of Maura's quirks, and together they were unstoppable. After two wonderful years of travelling which resulted in a very romantic proposal on a white sandy beach, Maura tried her hardest but couldn't convince her fiancée to move to the states permanently, through many tears and a bittersweet goodbye, her future returned to the bleak outlook she remembered from when she was 18.
Slowly focusing back on reality, she finished off her sketch for the room, took one last look at her surroundings and nodded her head, happy with the plan she had created. She started to hear the voices of students coming along the corridor outside the science block; the familiar screams of teenage girls excited to see each other after the summer break was something she'd nearly forgotten. The soft thud of a football being thrown between a couple of students also caught her attention, she hoped and prayed they hadn't forgotten their dexterity over the summer and her windows would remain intact. Walking around to the other side of her desk, she made sure the class register was there, along with her handouts for the rest of the day's classes.
'It's starting to become real.'
"Good morning everyone!" She greeted enthusiastically as the students made their way from the hall into her classroom, she received a few mumbled 'mornings' in return, which for teenagers first thing on a Monday morning she considered a result.
A couple of minutes before the bell was about to go, Maura looked around at her students who were all chatting quietly and saw there was a couple of empty seats. Picking up her register, she realised she was missing a Jane Rizzoli, and a Barold Frost, as she started to address the class…
"Good morning everyone! It's lovely to meet all of you, I'm-"
… two whirlwind's entered her classroom,
"Man I'm out of shape!"
Staring unbelievably at the two figures that had just barrelled through the door, Maura couldn't help but laugh along with the students. One, a tall girl, with flustered, olive skin, an athletic body framed in an array of dark curls who seemed to be clutching at her side. The other, a darker-skinned boy, with a short hairstyle that was almost shaved head, who also looked like the athletic type was in the same pose.
Definitely overslept on the first day. Maura thought to herself.
"Miss Rizzoli and Mr. Frost I presume?"
Maura couldn't help but notice the dimples that appeared when Jane smiled at her… who does she remind me of? From a purely scientific point of view she noticed how devastatingly attractive this girl would be in a few years; she probably already had a vast number of admirers… I mean, look at those dimples! Maura's eye glanced over Barry too, his warm, kind eyes seemed to be his most distinguished features.
As Maura invited them to take a seat, she began to write her name on the blackboard, and told the class a classified bit of information. Since they were her form class, she wanted them to be the first to know about the 'Get to Know Your Science' quiz she had planned for them period 4. She laughed at the collective grumble, and couldn't help but notice the smile on Jane's face… was she blushing? Wait… am I blushing? Focus Maura, you're here to teach. Oh… Maura's thought process faltered. She remembered exactly who Jane reminded her of. While handing out their new senior timetables, the only thing Maura could think was, Jane is not Evie… not matter how much she looks like her…. Jane is your student…. She is not Evie. Remember that line Isles.
I'd just like to say a massive thank you for all of the positive reviews so far and for the follows! I can't believe it!
And to the reviewer who told me what I'm writing about is illegal... I haven't wrote about anything illegal and by the title 'Senior Year' you should have known it would take place in a school, this genre isn't for everyone and I just want people to enjoy the story. It is fiction!
Thank you again to the rest of the readers who have been supportive! F x