Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC
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I was absolutely and utterly exhausted. The last week had been like swimming in a pool of lava but the lava was replaced with lesson planning. It was truly tiring work, and being an teacher in training meant having to constantly adjust to your mentor's own teaching style rather than just your own. I swear that I had submitted over a dozen potential outlines before Kathy finally relented and approved it. I've lost so much sleep over the past week, my face started showing the drain through the annoying bags under my eyes.
Pushing up my glasses, I sighed, looking around the store. It was a slow day, well, what else could I expect from at four in the afternoon on a Tuesday. It worked out better for me anyway, as long as I finished everything up and shelved new books and organized the order list then Joe was fine with me working on other things.
Yawning, I looked back down at the workbook, putting a sticky note next to one of the sections. Who knew that explaining elementary level math concepts could be so complicated. I scribbled on the square of paper, underlining the area which I needed to focus on. The sound of the entrance bell drew my attention, I could never hear the sound without looking. Maybe I just never focused enough.
Golden eyes locked onto mine and I found myself sitting up straighter, giving him a polite smile. "Another book for your son?" I asked, closing the third-grade math textbook.
He shook his head, "Actually, my daughter this time"
My eyes lit up with curiosity, how many children could a man his age have and I asked him just that. "How many kids do you have?"
"Five, they're all in high school" I could feel my jaw hit the floor by his answer, the man couldn't look a day over thirty and even that was pushing it.
"You must be absolutely ancient" I said without thinking. He chuckled, almost to himself, as if sharing in a joke with himself. I quickly moved to apologize. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, it's just-" I paused. How could I explain myself without being rude? Luckily, he saved me from having to do so.
"They're adopted, not biologically mine but they're still my children"
I nodded, I could understand that. "Still, five children, teenagers no less, it takes a lot"
He smiled, still looking like he was telling an inside joke. "They're very mature for their age." I still had to give him credit, not many people could manage such a big household by themselves. I suddenly chided myself for the thought, all of this time I assumed he was unattached. Of course, someone like him, especially with the large family wasn't by himself, he had a partner or something along that line.
"I hardly get along with managing a dozen or so elementary students, everyone knows teens are harder" I added, still somewhat dwelling on the idea of him having a partner. I shouldn't bother me, he seemed like a happy person and I should wish everyone well in their lives. Perhaps this was a good thing, I had sworn never to like him anyway and him having a wife or husband, whichever one, would certainly do well to deter my mind.
His melodic voice broke through my swirling thoughts. "You're a teacher?"
My mind suddenly perked up as I nodded, holding up the textbook in my hand. "Either that or I have an unhealthy obsession with third grade math" I joked, laughing with a smile before continuing. "I'm not actually a full-time teacher, not yet anyway, I'm still going through the training, but I'm hoping to get a full-time position by the end of the school year, that's when my training will be over anyway and I'll know if they're going to actually hire me or not" I was terrified of them not hiring me.
As if sensing my nerves, he spoke up. "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful teacher"
I smiled at him, trying to show that I was grateful for the sentiment before shaking my head, getting back to business. "What was the book your daughter wanted?"
"I'm not actually entirely sure, she sent me here with the order to just buy her a book relating to fairies"
"Oh, the winged ones?"
He laughed, the sound bouncing through the shop, "I would very much assume so"
"Well, it's just your luck then, because we have a whole section on fairies," I hopped off the stool. "Let me show you" I said. He followed behind me as I lead him into the shelves. I turned left, taking him into the aisle over before I stopped near the end. "Here we are" I said gesturing to the eye-level section of purely fairy related books.
"Thank you" he said, his kind eyes looking at me. I knew that I'd blush if he stared any longer and I looked away from him, finding a section of the shelf next to his head to focus on, putting my hands in my pocket. "I'll leave you to it then" I said, giving him a nod before making my way back to the front.
As I sat back down on my stool, reopening the math textbook, I couldn't help but glance over in his direction. He seemed to be reading over the various titles. I pushed my glasses up, shaking my head. There was just something about him that made him so magnetizing. Whatever my strange attraction to the man was, I needed to get over it. He's probably married, I reminded myself. That helped, to think about him being married with a family. After all, I couldn't well live with myself if I was pining over a married man, that was just wrong. I spend much too much time contemplating about this man.
Perhaps it would be better if I disliked him, at least that way I could get out of this school girl type crush that I had developed. Yes, disliking him certainly would help but what was there to dislike. His kind words? Maybe that he adopted children? Perhaps, the fact that he's a doctor, out there saving lives and all that jazz. No, I couldn't dislike him based on any of the information I had on him so far. Perhaps, he secretly kicked puppies in his spare time, now that was something that I could dislike him for. Yes, so all I'd have to do is hope that he was a closeted puppy kicker, great. I rolled my eyes at my ridiculousness. It would be much easier to just imagine that he kicked puppies instead of actually hoping that he did.
I was broken out of my thoughts by a pair of golden eyes, they had come out of nowhere. I thought I would have at least heard him walk to the front, maybe I was just focused on my thoughts.
"Found everything then?" I asked, my eyes glancing over the three books he held.
"Well, I do hope so" he looked unsure.
"I'm sure your daughter will enjoy them" I said politely while ringing his order up. I could still be polite, I just had to keep reminding myself that he figuratively kicked puppies. That would keep me from liking him. "It'll be $32.58" He handed me cash and I made quick work of getting his change.
"You never did tell me your name" he said unexpectedly and I looked up, the surprise showing on my face. I hadn't expected him to remember that, I had almost forgotten.
"Oh, it's Coraline, Coraline Parsons" I said, slightly thrown off guard as I handed him his change, dropping it into his palm.
"Coraline" he repeated. My name on his lips made me want to hear it again and I chided myself. "It's a beautiful name"
"Thank you" I said, feeling a fait blush light up my cheeks, I hoped he wouldn't notice.
"I'll see you around, Coraline" he said, smiling as he left the store, books in hand.
I stood there a few moments longer, unmoving before I let out a sigh. No, Doctor Cullen was defiantly not a man who kicked puppies.
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Hello! I wrote another chapter! This fanfiction is honestly an excuse for myself to procrastinate on actual work for college haha. Let me know what you think of the story so far!
