Chapter 1 : Attendance From Hell

The stress is eating me alive. All these damn bills are going to give me a stroke. Lying here in the dark, I start to cry. Tears have been staining my pillow for the last month. Mike, why did you have to max out my credit cards? Ugh, I better stop soon or my eyes are going to be puffy at work, and the last thing I need is some kid asking me what's wrong.

The sun starts to rise, and I remember why I wake up in the morning, a child's smile. Oh, how I want one of my own, but the men never seem to stick around long enough to even discuss it. They stay around long enough to max out my credit cards and that's about it.

Heading to the shower, I almost twist my ankle. Like I can afford an ER bill. The sound of my cell phone catches me off guard.

You got me in chains, you got me in chains for your love

But, I wouldn't change, no I wouldn't change this love

You got me chains, you got me in chains for your love

But, I wouldn't change, no I wouldn't change this love

Tryin'a break the chains but the chains only break me

(Hey, hey, hey)...

"He-Hello," I grunt out. I really need to stop crying. It's fucking up my voice.

"Good morning old smoker! It's me, mommy. " I wonder if she knows I can tell her mouth is dripping with bullshit.

"Yeah, I know who it is. Why are you calling?" I ask rubbing my ankle and checking it for swelling.

"Well excuse me. I was just calling as a worried mother because someone cut her cell phone off and wouldn't answer her home phone last night. I kept on getting this busy signal," she whined like a kid in my class.

"Mom! I told you never to call that phone. I only use it for business now!" She listens as well as a four year old, too.

"And just what exactly is this business that is only conducted over the phone at night?"

"Ah..." I stammered, "Customer service. Just don't call that phone anymore, gosh!" She can tell I'm lying. But really, It is customer service right? I'm not telling the whole truth, but I service my customers. Now I sound like a hooker.

"Are you selling Bath Salts? Bella, because Mephedrone is bad for you and it's illegal." Oh, my gosh. I roll my eyes.

"Mom! What? You sound ridiculous. I can't believe you just said that."

"Well, Good luck on your first day of school," she sings. It amazes me how quickly she can change tracks. "I hope you meet a nice rich, handsome man to pay all your bills. If you find him at the school, remember to make sure he only has one kid and either single or separated from his wife. You don't want any baby mama drama in the classroom." Why am I even talking to this homewrecker. Did she forget we stopped talking for a year after she took Donald from his wife.

"Yeah, okay, Mom. Have a nice day." I hang up before she can say anything else.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the first day of Pre K!" I say and try to sound enthusiastic for the new students and their parents. Lord knows I don't want any cryers on the first day. "In about fifteen minutes it will be time for parents to say goodbye, and then I'll take attendance."

As parents start to trickle out, I notice one girl who seems to be having trouble letting go of her father. I slowly walk my way over to the pair.

"Hi there!" I call and wave at her.

"Hi, um this is Margo." His green eyes are stunning and then he looks down at his daughter. "Say hi, Margo," he instructs her. He looks more nervous than she does. For some reason, I can't take my eyes off of him. He has nice bronze hair and a boyish quality. I force myself to look down at his beautiful daughter. She seems a bit shy, but not antisocial. Maybe I can get her to relax today.

"It's ok, we're all shy on the first day, Dad. Right Margo?" I smile down at her. She nods her head but hides her body behind his tall legs. His suit pants and loafers look expensive. Maybe he's a doctor or a lawyer.

" Sorry, um… here is her lunch box." He thrusts a Dora the Explorer soft lunch pack at me. He looks down at Margo and says, "I have to leave Margo. Be a good girl. Daddy will see you at 12:30." She looks up at him, still unsure.

I bend down to take her hand. "Lets go find some coloring books, Margo. Do you like pink?" She shakes her head, but she takes a step towards me.

"Sh-She likes green. Green is her favorite color," he offers seeing Margo's progress. Green. Just like her father's beautiful eyes.

"Ok, Mr…" I leave the sentence hanging so he can offer the answer.

"Mr. Cullen. Edward Cullen. You can call me Edward," he says. His voice is sweet, but slightly professional.

"Ok, Edward. Margo will see you at 12:30,"I assure him..

"She will be just fine," he tries to assure me. But I think it is more for himself.

"Thank you ," he says after a deep breath. He leaves the room, looking back a couple of times, waving 'bye bye' to Margo.

Once the last of the parents trickle out, it's time for attendance. My TA, Leah, hands me a sheet of paper. I blow a stray hair out of my face. We need to get through this quickly so we can get to arts and crafts for the first activity, she gives me a sympathetic look.

"Good luck Mama! Power to you," she snickers and walks back to our desk.

Here we go. "Quiet please. My name is . I'm gonna take attendance. When you hear your name, I want you to say 'Here'. Everyone understand?" A chorus of sweet 'yeses" filled the air and I smiled at them.

"Adam Toombs?"

"Here!"

"Aya Lamb?"

"Here!"

"Carolynn Schrantz?"

"Here."

"Danita Husted?"

"Here."

"Fatimah Beil?"

"Here!"

"Joni Hepworth?"

"Here."

"Jose Raymond?"

"Here."

"Kasey Rudnick? "

"Here."

"Kenneth Black?"

"Kenneth Black?" I look around. I might have to tell Leah to have the office call his parents and make sure they have him.

"Kenneth-"

"It's Kenny!" A boy yells from across the room. Gosh, here comes trouble. I was hoping I wasn't going to have trouble on the first day. Wrong. "Don't call me Kenneth. It's Kenny or KD!" He crossed his little arms across his chest and stuck his little bottom lip out.

"Ok, Mr. Black. Can you please use your inside voice in the classroom. If you would like to be called by your nickname that's fine but please ask nicely." And that's strike one for the beautiful tanned skin, baby Gap model. Deep breaths Bella… Don't lose control of your class on the first day.

"Malissa Fuss?"

"Here."

"Manuela Baum?"

"Here."

"Margo Cullen?"

"Here." Her voice is almost a whisper. Pretty Margo will have to come out of her shell. I hear the smallest hello with a small hand raised mid air. I see a lot of myself in her already. I smile at her to help encourage her.

"Martin Dunlop?"

"Here."

"Reena Paulding?"

"Here."

"Todd Ryals?"

"Here."

Thank God it's 12:20pm. I can hear the hallelujah chorus. I love my kids, but the first week is just plain exhausting!

By 12:30 all of the students are gone, except one. "Kenny, do you know who's supposed to pick you up today?" He sits quietly on the hop-scotch rug, with his head down.

"My Uncle Paul is picking me up 'cause daddy has to work late today." His voice lost its earlier arrogance and my heart melted a little bit.

"Ok, do you know Uncle Paul's phone number?" He shakes his head and looks up at me with the most beautiful pair of mocha brown eyes I have ever seen. Big and round and so expressive..

"Ok, do you know where mommy is? Maybe we can give her a call." Wrong move. His baby browns fill with tears and I quickly make my way over to him. He starts to cry even more, so I pick him up and cradle him to my chest. "What's wrong?"

"I do-don't ha-ve a mommy," he sobs out. I decide to not ask anymore questions or I was going to cry. I hold him for another thirty minutes until a tall, muscular man walks into the room.

"Ok, lets go champ. I gotta drop you off at grampa's house." This guy, I mean really. Almost an hour late and doesn't even care about his crying nephew?

"Hi, um, are you Uncle Paul?" I ask in my most authoritative teacher voice.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry for being late." He at least tried to apologize, though it didn't sound very sincere.

"Yeah, just please don't let it happen again," I say. I look down to Kenny and point towards his backpack and he runs to pick it up.

"Like I said, sorry. It was just a couple minutes." He must think his good looks excuses rude behavior.

"Almost an hour is not a couple minutes late, sir." Sometimes I think I teach adults as much as I teach children.

"Yeah, okay Lady." Mr. Rude picks up Kenny, and leaves the room.

I am so tired of rude people. I can't wait to meet Kenny's father. He needs to make better choices. The rude bastard who picked up his son is not a good example for Kenny. I jump in my blue Ford Focus and head home. I stop at McDonald's and get junk from the dollar menu. I would be lying if I said I didn't cry a little while eating it.

I dim the lights to get in the mood. I turn the ringer on for my home phone and wait for my first caller.

* Brrrrring! Brrrrring!*

"Hello this is Sex Lexi…" My voice is smooth tonight. I think I've got my groove back.

"..." I hear breathing but nothing else.

"Hello…. This is sexy Lexi…"

"..." Nothing, just breathing. Creep. Well, if he wants to stay on the phone and just breathe that's fine with me. Free money!

*click* Damn it! Oh well.

* Brrrrring! Brrrrring!*

"Hello this is Sexy Lexi," I croon into the phone while I pick food out off my teeth.

"Hi..." Oooooh he has a sexy voice.

"Hi there. What's your name, baby?"

"It's um, Jac-, uh Jay." Yeah, like that'll cover up your name. I roll my eyes.

" Well, hi Jay. What can I do for you tonight, babe?" Smooth as silk. Mom would be so proud.

"Um... I'm not sure...This is my first time calling," he sounded nervous. Poor guy. Hmmmm, he might be a shy one. Usually, guys like this call again after the first night. Maybe he just wants to talk.

"Thats fine. You sound really sexy tonight."

"Um, thank you…. I'm just kind of lonely. Do you think...um...do you think we can we just talk for a while?" Oh yeah I got him hooked. I can probably milk him for an hour or two tonight.

"Thats fine, baby. There's no rush..."