Upheaval Chapter One – Orientation
Ten Years Later
"I'm late, I'm late. Jesus-fuckin-Christ I'm late."
Starbucks styrofoam cup in one hand, the other clutching an impossibly heavy stack of papers-in an incomprehensible disarray-to her deep burgundy blouse-covered chest.
A black messenger bag hung from one shoulder, a half eaten, unbuttered piece of toast clenched between impossibly whitened teeth.
She was the perfect example of organisation, good time keeping, and an all-round good role model for her students.
She snorted. If only her professors could see her now.
She made her way carefully down the silent hallways, the odd student still around sensible enough to dodge out of obvious sight. There was an unspoken agreement between the students and her. She would refrain from issuing detention to any and all late comers first thing in the morning, if they could conveniently not-notice her own tardiness and general zombie-like appearance first thing every morning.
Coming to the end of the bright, airy, blue-carpeted corridor, she didn't bother looking up. She turned abruptly to walk through the doorway to her outer-office, expecting her blue-haired secretary to, as always, be standing, ready, door open from her, eyebrow quirked, a scathing comment or reprimand on her lips.
Of all the mornings for her to rely on past experiences.
Needless to say, she was highly surprised when, upon turning to walk through the ever-open doorway, she bounced back, lukewarm coffee soaking into rumpled, partially doodled-on papers. All of the items she had carefully been juggling previously fell about her with a resounding crash.
"What the-"
A pale, short-blue haired head poked out from the now open doorway, looking around for the source of the commotion. Midnight blue orbs took on an embarrassed, sheepish edge.
Without a word, the usually boisterous, bossy secretary bent down beside her, helping gather the scattered documents into a slightly neater pile than they had originally been in.
"Noin…Why was the door to my waiting room closed?" She asked slowly, mind racing through all of the possible reasons for this abnormality. "Oh god, please tell me the art department didn't take it upon themselves to brighten up my office again."
"No, no-"
"Did one of the sports clubs go after an emo again? I swear, if I have to deal with another weepy, self-absorbed middle-class white boy whining about someone hiding his waxing strips again-"
"It's nothing like that" Noin reassured her with a laugh, small smirk marring her lips.
She frowned at the shorter woman. "Next time, you can deal with the emo's"
Noin visibly gulped, eyes widening, before pouting.
The blond pointedly ignored her, as she slowly rose, brushing off her matching burgundy skirt with delicate, ever so slightly calloused hands.
"There is a reason for this change in your behaviour, I assume?"
Noin's expression became sheepish once again. A pale, nail-bitten hand reached behind her, slender, pale fingers running through short blue locks in a nervous gesture. "Of course."
She stated blankly at the bluenette, arms once again laden down with papers, bags and the remnants of her breakfast. "Well?" She snapped, eyebrow twitching.
Noin jumped, eyes darting between the door and her boss. "The new, ah, teacher is here."
This time, it was Noin's turn to twitch.
She stared at her blankly.
"Remember? One of our tutors left less then a month into term?"
Blank stare.
"Ms.Branch? Bitter, withered, middle-aged crone?"
Blank stare.
"Taught English as well? The departments been complaining for a replacement ever since?"
Blank stare.
"What the hell are you paid to do all day?!" Noin shouted.
Oooh, a blank stare and a raised eyebrow.
Noin sighed. "The one who made that cute intern who came here for an interview cry on his first day and quit.
"…So?"
Noin grit her teeth. "The Intern with the skin-tight leather pants?"
"That bitch!" Une gasped. He had been hot, if a little young for her.
Noin repressed the urge to thwack her employer. The things women these days will do for money.
Taking a deep breath, she tried again. "Well, as you seemed o be too busy to interview for a replacement tutor and teacher, the board of governors decided to do so In your place."
The blond spluttered, eyes flashing.
"Oh boy, her ewe go" Noin muttered, before trying to placate her. "At least give him a chance. It's not his fault-"
She had already barged her way past the bluenette, intent on telling the new teacher exactly where s(he) could go, in not so many words, her mind already filling with possible, scathing words she would later say to the board of governers.
She froze.
"Une? Is that you?"
To be continued
Authors notes – I do believe this is the first time I have gotten more reviews on gundam-wing-universe then on fanfiction . net xD
This, I promise, is one of the very few times my own opinion will enter one of my fanfics. Needless to say, I have a low opinion of the emos of my college…well, except for one. But he's a crazy-lil'-monkey-dude, so he doesn't count. All other emos are our natural enmy nods well, next to the chav … .. Yay Goths xD
Anyway, thank-you for the reviews. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter.
This fic is not Une-centric, that I can promise you. The first two chapters were just easier to write from her perspective, as well as making more sense for some reason ; )