Protector ch. 4
When Tina told me that she was going to get laid that night, she was not kidding but I couldn't remember much from that evening as nightfall progressed, I got more and more inebriated than I would have liked. Tina was flirting with a guy with a mohawk while I met this handsome guy with an amazing smile and from what I could remember he worked out regularly as by the end of the night, I brought him back to my apartment with things getting hot and heavy. By the time I woke up the next morning he had left, leaving me feeling dirty and empty but I knew that nothing would come of it although I do wish I could recall his name as there's nothing that I can do about it now.
I spent the rest of the weekend, prepping for my day as the new music teacher at Edgewood and I couldn't be more excited but I'm also nervous too. I want the kids to like me but know that I mean business since I am going to be their teacher for the next year. I quickly got dressed in a black blouse with a grey blazer, white pants and two inch heels while leaving my hair flowing down my back as I grab my purse on the way out before hailing a cab. It was a quick fifteen minute ride before giving the cab driver a few bills for his trouble as I walked up the steps to the school, through the double doors as I head to my classroom when I bumped into someone. I was about apologize when I look at the person that I had bumped into to see that there was something oddly familiar about me but I couldn't place a finger on it but he was rather handsome as he smiles at me, running his hand though his short brown hair.
"Just could stay away from me, could you?" He asked laughing playfully.
"Um I uh"
"Speechless I see. I do have that effect on woman but I have to say that I wasn't expecting to see you at my job" He said smirking.
"I'm sorry but your job? Have we meet before?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well we were pretty drunk but the night at your apartment was good. Really good" He said licking his lips. "I'm Brody Weston. I'm the Physical Education teacher here"
Oh my goodness, he's the guy that I slept with that night at the club. Now I have to work with him now. Oooo this is going to be so awkward and there's no telling if he told anyone here that we slept together. I make it a point not to fraternize with my co-workers yet I broke it even before I knew that we would be working together or if even be teaching at the same school. This is not good, this is not good at all.
"How about you and me grab a bite to eat and maybe even reenact our first meeting but sober this time" Brody said wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Look Mr. Weston, what happened that night was because of me trying to cut loose a little but it's never gonna to happen again since I make it a point to not sleep or date my co-workers. We can be friends but that's as far as it goes" I said shooting him down.
"Well Mrs. Berry, you should know that I don't give up so easily and I will make you mine" Brody said walking away slowly.
I don't know what I saw in that guy but whatever he has stuck in his head about us duplicating what happened between but he will be sorely disappointed when I sense someone walking up next to me. I turned to see a rather busty woman in a black/white zigzag dress with single white gold bangles on each arm, and black flats with her arms on her hips as she oozes confidence and style but I feel a kind soul underneath it as she turns to face me.
"Oh honey, you must be new here. it'll be in your best interest to stay away from that bad seed" She said wagging her index finger before holding her hand. "I'm Unique Adams by the way. I'm the third and fourth grade fashion teacher"
"Rachel Berry and that's my intention but it seems that Brody has it in his head that he wants to repeat our previous encounter" I said shaking her hand. "Although I didn't know that I would run into him where I would work at and if I know what he was actually like then I wouldn't have"
"Ooo girl, during recess and the kids are outside, I want all the details" Unique said smiling.
"I guess I could use someone to talked about this sort of thing"
"I like me some girl talk. See you at recess, Rachel" Unique said with a wave.
I walked to my classroom, waiting for my students to walk in as I set my things down before moving to the board, writing my name on it. After a few minutes, children and their parents came and a few of them didn't want to leave their parents' sides or they quickly ditched them for the toys in the room as I introduced myself to the adults. Some noticed how young I was and commented on it but in a good way although one Buffy Whitfield wasn't too excited about me teaching her daughter. As was obvious that she was going to be one of those mothers that I've heard stories about but I paid her no mind because I'm not here for her as she turns on her high-end heels and her bleached platinum blonde nearly hitting me in the face.
There was a blonde girl that walked into the room with bluish-green eyes in a pink sundress with black tights underneath walking in with a boy that looks like he should be in the upper classes although I feel wrong for assuming that. The boy looks around the room nervous as the girl that he walked in with, comforts be leading him to the cubby holes to put their things before moving to some of the toys that hasn't been taken yet. I have a feeling that those two are going to be the best of friends and a pair to watch but I didn't get to meet their parents but assume that I will when they come to pick them up after school. Once most of the parents left with a handful stayed to because their children didn't want them to leave just yet but I didn't mind as I asked them to sit on the large play mat in the middle of the room.
I asked them to go around and introduce themselves to their classmates while saying one thing about themselves that they would like that others to know. The little blond girl, quickly finding out that her name is Quinn likes drawing in her sketchbook that her Mami had brought her recently and the boy named Finn says that he likes watching football with his foster dad Blaine. The name seems familiar but I don't think nothing of it as it's a common name as the rest of the kids introduce themselves. After introductions are done, I asked the children what their favorite songs were to get a feel of the room and there was array of song choices which is great with a few taking an interest in playing an instrument as a very few actually picking one up.
Before I could more to the lesson for the day, Quinn tells me that I didn't introduce myself and I laugh somewhat at my forgetfulness before giving them a little bit of information about myself. I divided the class into fours as the little artist made sure that she and her friend weren't separated from each other as I told them to stand on the large circles in the middle of the room. Each circle represent a sound and when I said switch, they will go to that circle as quickly as possible without running over each other. As the game progressed the kids looked like they were having fun while learning something at the same time and I had plenty of games for them to try as the time quickly passed while the parents sneaked off to go back to work since their children were quite distracted. I let them out for recess as I walked towards the teachers' lounge where there was a large refrigerator for storing food, a large couch that sits under a glass window that looks over the playground, and tables with chairs for eating. I sat down on the couch, opening a bag of Kettle Brand Sea Salt popcorn when I feel the couch dip down next to me to see that it's Unique with a smile on her face and I return the sentiment.
"So girl, tell me something about you as your new bestie" Unique said smiling.
"Bestie? That was rather quick" I laugh.
"Well us new girls have to stick together although I've been here a little longer than you have but come on, talk to me" Unique said laughing as well. "How's your first day so far?"
"Well so far, I like it and the children are angels"
"You say that now since it's only been a day but wait a week when the parents stop watching their kids from the back"
"How long have you been here, Unique?" I asked curious.
"I started last year and it's been a little rough at the beginning but Mr. Schue made feel right at home here and I love teaching kids about fashion although I've gotten a complaints from the parents of my male students about their sons not needing to anything about how to dress or how it's important" Unique snorts.
"If I had someone to teach me how to dress in high school then it would have saved me from all the harassment" I replied shaking my head. "I was constantly told that I dressed like a toddler and grandmother"
"Oh you poor dear, well obviously you got it together" Unique said patting me on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I did"
"So you from New York originally?"
"No, I'm from a small town in Ohio but after high school, I moved to New York pursue my career as a Broadway star" I said swallowing thickly.
"Then why did you decide on becoming a teacher?" Unique asked raising an eyebrow.
"I made some bad decisions and I couldn't stay in New York as failed actress so I moved to Texas before applying to schools out there. I still love singing and music so if I couldn't sing professionally, I would instill the same love I had into young minds then it would be worth it"
"So those that who can do, those that can't teach mantra, huh?" Unique said as I nodded. "I always hated that idea and I'm sure that you can make it as an actress if that's what you truly wanted even you made bad decisions"
"Maybe but I don't think that I'm ready to jump back into the deep end so what about you?" I asked changing the subject in.
"San Jose, California. I wanted a change of scenery and the neighborhood that I lived couldn't handle all this fabulousness, honey" Unique said snapping her fingers.
"I bet" I said giggling.
We continued to talk until it was time to get the kids but I think that I made a friend Unique as the rest of the day went quite well I might say and children seemed to enjoy themselves as well. Quinn and Finn to have friends with one Jake Puckerman, Matt Rutherford, Sunshine Corazon, and Jane Hayward as the small group talk animatedly about how children typically talk about as they waited for their parents to pick them up. I'm gathered up all of the pictures had drawn, mentally reminding myself to pin them up later as I hear the little artist loudly call out for her mother while running up to her as I turned to introduce myself to the woman.
I was gob-smacked when the woman standing a few feet away in a white blouse, a red/black flannel shirt tied around her curvy hips, a black beanie resting on the back of her head, ripped jeans and black ankle boots. The once self-proclaimed badass as well as head Cheerio at McKinley looks exactly as she did back all those years when she was the source of the hell that's known as my high school career. I didn't know that she was in the city or that she had a child so that must mean that she and Brittany had gotten married or she's with someone now that she has a child as she looks at me, eyes widening in shock.
"Berry?" Santana asked shocked. "Rachel Berry? Well I'll be damned, you're teaching my kid"
"It's been a long time, Santana. You look well" I said with a small nod.
"Yeah, a lot has changed so you're a teacher now? I wasn't expecting that" Santana said setting Quinn down.
"Well as you said, a lot has changed" I said shrugging my shoulders.
"I can see that and I see that you finally gotten rid of those argyle sweaters" Santana said looking me up and down.
"I grew out of them but it was good seeing you again" I said turning to move to the other side of the room.
"Coffee?"
"Excuse me?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"You, me, coffee. I think that we should catch up and I'm interested in getting to know my daughter's teacher" Santana said smirking slightly.
"I don't think that's a good idea as I think we should keep our relationship as professional as possible" I said shaking my head.
"You're not gonna be on the clock forever and even you're need a break but I gotta go. I have to drop Finn at Kurt's" Santana said turning to leave.
"Kurt's in New York too?" I asked shocked.
"Wow, you really been out of the loop, huh Berry? Maybe you should take me up on my offer for coffee" Santana said winking at me.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 4