3
You ready for this?" Lauren, the always helpful second grade teacher, asked as she poked her head in from the hallway. She was new to the neighborhood, too, and that made us kindred spirits if not instant best friends.
I waved her closer. Her tight black curls bounced as she walked over to my desk, her dark skin glowing against her silk, teal green blouse.
To tell the truth, I wasn't ready. Much like my first day, I was more than a little nervous. This was my first field trip as the grown-up in charge, and my stomach was in knots—as it rightfully should have been, seeing as I was entrusted with the well-being of twenty-some first graders.
"The way I look at it," she whispered, leaning in close to keep the little ones from overhearing, "this is a treat for all of us. Not only do the kids get to learn and touch slimy, scaly things, which is their favorite thing to do, we get to gawk at all the eye candy who caught them, which incidentally, is my favorite thing to do."
Grinning like a fool, she turned to face the class and sang out, "The ships are coming in today! Who's ready to see the ships?" The class erupted, and she handed over a long line of braided twine, leaving me to try and calm the cute little terrors all by myself. "Come on, Teach. Let's go!"
One by one, I instructed my students to hold onto the rope and that under no circumstances were they to let go. I repeated those same instructions as we marched down the hall, out the door, and all the way over to the harbor. Though it never failed, there was always that one kid.
"Bobby! Rope! Now!"
Scrounging for the line, he hovered his hand over the rope while smiling back at me.
"Hold on to it, please."
It was a beautiful September day otherwise. Breezy, not too cool in the shade. Stepping onto the pier, I shielded my eyes from the sun as it shimmered off the rippling wakes of water. I breathed in the salty scent blowing off the bay, scrunching my nose once I got a whiff of incoming fish.
The kids appreciated it all in their own way. The boys mimicking the seagulls' squawk. The girls oohing and ahhing as the birds swooped down to scoop up fish and then soar over the waves.
While the captain of a commercial fishing boat told harrowing stories of the sea, Lauren whispered in my ear, calling dibs on every manly fisherman within sight.
"Oh, two o'clock. What about that one?"
Lowering her hand with mine, I silently told her to stop pointing, and to calm the hell down. I knew where two o'clock was. That was the whole point of the clock system. I also knew it was him, the one who I was wondering if I would see today. He was wearing the same clothes as the night he'd left, but time had added a hint of scruff below that beanie.
"That's him."
"Who?"
"Him." I gave her another look. "You know. Him."
"Wait. Hold up. That's him? Like, him, him? That"—taking another quick look, she pointed her thumb over her shoulder—"is the super slutty neighbor you told me about?"
My heart raced and I needlessly shushed her, both of us watching as he hoisted a big crate from the boat then set it back down on dry land before looking up to catch us staring. I quickly glanced away, grabbing Lauren's arm to pull her along with me and the kids.
"Yes, that's him. And he probably thinks I'm a freak now, thank you very much. The last and only two times we've seen each other he's caught me gawking at him. Probably gaping like a guppy." A few of the kids giggled at my analogy, and I shot them a quick grin before turning my attention back to Lauren. I peeked over her shoulder to find him gone.
"I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt he even recognizes you. But if it'd make you feel better, we could do a house swap. You stay at my place. I'll stay at yours."
"Yeah, that's a great idea."
"Right? Only I'll be doing a lot more than staring, if you know what I mean."
With a roll of my eyes I found my neighbor back at it, unloading more crates.
When he pushed the sleeves off his forearms to reveal a faded summer tan, I realized just how long he'd been gone out to sea. I wondered how long he'd be staying before heading back out. Would he be visiting family in between those infamous trysts of his? Did he have family? Would I catch another show before he goes? Would I even see him around? Maybe actually get to speak with him this time?
With all these thoughts running through my head, I didn't hear Lauren calling my name. Not until my mysterious neighbor looked up and smiled, offering me a fixed, open-hand wave. I returned the gesture before turning away—mortified.
Lauren shouldered me once I rejoined the class and laughed. "Well, so much for him not recognizing you."
A scream rang out from behind us. Lauren and I whipped around to find Kaylee, one of my students, had strayed from the group and was on her hands and knees.
"You watch them. I'll go get her," Lauren said and took off for the girl.
At the same time, my neighbor reached her side and helped the little girl up. He dusted off her jeans then wiped away a tear. I almost teared up myself.
Lauren approached and the two spoke briefly before she grabbed his bicep in thanks then took Kaylee's hand to lead her back to the group, a big smile on both their faces.
After I made sure Kaylee was okay, I shooed her off to hold on to the rope with the rest of the group.
"So, what was that?"
"What was what?" Lauren asked, acting innocent.
"You know what."
She playfully shouldered me. "I know. I know. I just couldn't help myself. You're the one who's seen him with his shirt off. I just wanted to get a better idea of what you saw."
I shook my head, barely keeping from laughing as we ushered the kids back toward the school where all I heard was Mr. Paul this and Mr. Paul that. I couldn't blame the little girls for their crush. Especially little Kaylee who had experienced that infamous charm first hand.
Noncanon rec adult Jake/Bella Chances by taoist elf. ANGST BITCH ANGST