Chapter Seven
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Mrs. Smith,
I have forwarded your email to Mr. Harrison, our Head of Physics and you will be hearing from him shortly.
I appreciate your insight into the workings of my school and its failings so much. Please do email again if you have any further suggestions.
Best wishes,
Kylo Ren (Mr.)
Headmaster
When Rey had said she hoped she would be hearing from Mr. Ren very shortly, she had not expected a reply to land in her inbox within fifteen minutes, just as the bell went and she was grabbing her bag for afternoon registration.
She scanned the reply, her eyes widening as she did so. She even had to do a double take to read it again, instead of just glancing at it on her way out of the office.
"Unbelievable! Rose, he's trolling me!"
But Rose wasn't in the room and she was speaking to herself. She went off to teach her afternoon lessons in a distracted state.
"Get me Hux!"
"Mr. Hux is teaching Year 12, sir."
Kylo glared at his PA. "Well, get him to me the moment he finishes."
It had been a rotten day so far but thanks to Rey Smith (Miss)'s email, he had been provided with the perfect excuse to use Hux as his personal punching bag, which always had an uplifting effect.
He slammed the door to his office again and flung himself into his chair to wait for a reply from Rey. She would reply, he knew she would. She would not be able to resist the provocation.
By the time the next double period had ended, there was still no reply. She must be teaching, Kylo thought gloomily. In the five minutes between lessons, Hux appeared at Kylo's door in a sulk.
"What is it, Ren? You know I have double Year 9 last thing on a Friday. Much as I'd enjoy not having to deal with them at this point, if I'm late they may all have jumped out of the window to shoot up in the park."
For once, Kylo resisted the temptation to make a jibe about most people wanting to jump out of a window when faced with the prospect of spending over an hour in a small room with Hux. He slammed a print-out of Rey's email on his desk in front of his assistant.
"Explain to me why I received this email."
Hux picked up the paper and held it at a distance between finger and thumb. An expression of distaste crossed his face.
"Oh yes, I remember this. Did I not deal with it? I'm sorry, Kylo, it must have got lost in my inbox."
"Twice?" He wanted to rub Hux's indifferent insincerity off his stupid face.
"What can I say? I have many demands on my time."
"Piss off, Hux. You're only an Assistant Head. And sort out the website. It's bloody humiliating getting emails like this from some junior teacher at Alderaan Grammar School."
"What are you going to do about it? Report me to Snoke?" Hux sneered. "Because you got shown up by a nobody from Alderaan Grammar?"
Kylo stood up. "We got shown up. Get the fuck out of my office." He was suddenly very tired. He picked up his stress ball and flung it in the direction of Hux's head. It bounced off the wall near the door, making a photograph of the previous year's leavers tremble on its nail.
Hux dodged the ball and sidled out of the door, shooting the headmaster a look of disgust, which Kylo felt all the way to bones.
Hux was ruthlessly efficient in so many matters, he reflected once he had calmed down, but at what cost! He was such an asshole. The only reason his students got good marks in his classes was because they were too terrified of failing. He was the sort of person who became a teacher for the power and that was a bad reason if ever there was one. For several minutes Kylo fantasised about what he would do if he had full control over Starkiller's staffing instead of having his every decision having to be approved by Snoke. Then the bell went again and he grabbed his copy of Rebecca and stalked off to teach Year 13, hoping that there would be an email in his inbox when he returned. Woe betide anyone who had not done their homework that afternoon.
When he returned to his office after tearing into an annoying student who thought he was being original and was just being pretentious, he was delighted to see an email from R Smith in his inbox among other administrative dross.
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Kyle O'Ren,
Thank you so much for your reassurances and for forwarding my message to Mr. Harrison.
You are particularly generous in inviting me to make suggestions on how to improve Starkiller Academy. What an honour! I will definitely take you up on this, but I will need some time to gather my thoughts, for the list might be a long one.
I do hope you have a lovely weekend.
Kind regards,
Rey Smith (Miss)
Teacher of Physics, Alderaan Grammar School
"And no more emails till Monday!" thought Rey as she closed Outlook and switched off her laptop.
She kept to her resolve, made at the start of the year, not to check her work emails during the weekend, but for the first time that term, her fingers itched to log in and see if Mr. Ren had replied. Why she was so curious, she could not quite say. Except that he had thrown down a challenge that she was utterly unable to back down from, professionalism be damned.
Friday evening
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Ms Smith,
Thank you for your email.
I look forward to hearing your suggestions. We will naturally adopt all of them immediately.
I hope you also have a good weekend.
Best wishes,
Kylo Ren
Headmaster
Sunday morning
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.
Kylo Ren
Monday
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Kylie Ron,
So headteachers don't have lives at the weekend? I knew it!
Here's a preliminary suggestion - get a new motto that doesn't sound like a Nazi slogan.
Kind regards,
Rey Smith (Miss)
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Mr. Smith,
The motto was Lord Snoke's decision. You should probably take it up with him. Surely it is more inspiring than yours though - non ignorantia sed scientia. What a nothing phrase.
Has Mr. Harrison contacted you?
Best wishes,
Kylo Ren
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Kale Rice,
Yes, Mr. Harrison emailed me this morning and I have been able to continue with my planning.
If I ever see Lord Snoke, you can be sure I will take it up with him.
Kind regards,
Rey Smith (Miss)
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Rev. Smith,
So one of my staff is competent! This is a great relief.
I hope everything is going to plan. Let me know if I can be of any help.
Best wishes,
Kylo Ren
Tuesday
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Crylo Rain,
Here's another suggestion - hire more competent staff, then you won't be surprised when one of them actually does their job.
Kind regards,
Rey Smith (MISS)
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Lady Rey,
Suggestion noted - but something else you will need to take up with Lord Snoke.
Why are you so obsessed with your title? Are you desperately broadcasting your single status in a last ditch attempt to get a husband like a secondary character in an Austen novel?
Kylo
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Do you even have work to do as headmaster? Snoke decides everything and you just sit around sending unprofessional emails at all hours of the day.
I'm not obsessed with my title - but if I don't put it in my signature then nobody knows what to call me. It's all right for men.
Rey
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
You could always use Ms…?
Apologies for the delay in replying. I was teaching a lesson. One of the many aspects of a headmaster's job.
Kylo
Wednesday
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Teaching a lesson! In a school! Quick! Call the press! This is unheard of!
Calling myself Ms wouldn't make it any easier for people to know what title to use in an email. And I was born a Miss. I don't see why I should ever have to change my title, even to Ms.
Rey
Thursday
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Rey,
I was at a headteacher's conference yesterday. I was wondering - what would you change about your school?
Kylo
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
I would move the music department to the furthest end of the school site so I don't have to hear them rehearsing for the school musical all. the. damn. time. when I'm trying to work in the office.
Apart from that, we're perfect.
Rey
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
You're not a fan of musicals? What a shame. Nevertheless, I think you'd appreciate this song from Starkiller's latest musical.
Kylo
Rey clicked on the link automatically and burst out laughing as she saw what it was.
It's astounding
Time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely...
(Not for very much longer)
I've got to keep control
Then the percussion came in and the volume suddenly rose. She clapped her hand over her mouth as I remember doing the Time Warp blared out through the Physics office and through the open door into Physics Lab 1 where twenty four students were engaged in Science Club. They all looked up and Rey's two colleagues who were running the club turned around and stared at her through the glass window separating the office from the lab. JJ gave her a look that said What the fuck as loudly as any words, while Rian gave her a double thumbs up from the back of the room.
She quickly muted her laptop, her face flaming with embarrassment.
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
THANKS FOR MAKING ME PLAY THAT IN PUBLIC. YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON.
You actually did The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a school musical? I don't know whether to be horrified or impressed.
I don't mind musicals really. I'd just prefer not to hear them being rehearsed by teenagers every lunchtime. Anyway, here's my favourite song from this year's AGS musical. I think you will really like it.
Rey
Kylo should have known not to be so gullible when he clicked on the link, especially after sending her the Time Warp as a joke.
Still, he clicked the link and groaned as Rick Astley's gurning face appeared in front of him and familiar music came out of his tinny speakers, just as Phasma opened the door. Her eyebrows rose.
"Aww, you've been rickrolled! Who's never gonna give you up, Kylo, do tell!"
He closed the tab and glared at her. "A friend. What is it?"
"Just got that folder you were asking about earlier." She handed it over and turned away again. Her hand on the door, she turned back and said mischievously, "I didn't know you had a friend! Congratulations on that! You're making real strides in normal human interaction."
"Phasma!"
She ducked out before he could throw anything at her.
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Very amusing, Rey. I think your musical will be a great success.
Kylo
Friday
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Oh, it will be. The cast is very talented. All I wish is that I didn't need to hear every track fifty times over.
I am so glad it is half term tomorrow. Yesterday was hell. Are you going away?
Rey
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
What happened?
Kylo
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
I had to see parents. One of my tutor group is causing trouble and we had to call in their parents and, well, I guess you can see why he is like the way he is when you meet his mother and father. Very difficult. And I had to miss hockey training with my team to make the meeting after school.
I guess I just need a holiday.
Rey
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Parents are the worst part of the job. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. They think they know what's best for their child but really they're just projecting their own neuroses without thinking about what they really needs. Often they don't know their own child at all.
I'm sure you did wonderfully. If you need any tips for dealing with them though, just ask. I've been doing this for longer than you.
Kylo
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Bitter much, Mr. Ren?
Thank you for the vote of confidence and the offer of support, though I really have everything I need here. My Head of Year is very supportive. And in a few hours I won't need to see any of them for a week!
Rey
From: headmaster
To: rsmith
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Congratulations on surviving your first half term at Alderaan Grammar School! Do you have any plans for half term? I was wondering, if you are around in Alderaan and not going away, would you like to get a drink sometime over the week? I have, unexpectedly, very much enjoyed our correspondence this week.
Kylo
Rey sat back at her laptop, trying to put as much distance between herself and it. School was over and the pub with Finn, Rose, Poe and others was beckoning but she had one last email to send before she could join them and celebrate the end of the first half term of teaching.
Was Kylo Ren, headmaster of Starkiller Academy, asking her out on a date?
She supposed she oughtn't to be surprised. What did she think was going on, emailing a strange guy several times a day about things only tangentially related to the supposed subject of the email? Of course a man would take it to be flirting. Would assume she was interested in him. But she hadn't been… had she? She didn't even know what he looked like! He didn't know what she looked like either, for that matter; he just assumed she was young and inexperienced. (She was, but it was annoying he assumed it. Did her emails somehow suggest naivety? She didn't think so.) It was ludicrous the idea of him asking her out. If anything, he was adopting a mentor-like role towards her. He had to be quite a bit older than her to be a headmaster after all, though she recalled Finn having once said that he was young for a headteacher. Still, 'young for a headteacher' probably meant at least forty and that would make him fifteen to twenty years older than her. He didn't come across as a forty year old in his emails though, not that she really knew what forty year old men sounded like. Poe was rising forty, she believed, and he was not old and stuffy at all.
More pertinently, of course, was the fact that Kylo Ren was the headmaster of Starkiller Academy. Even if he turned out to be impossibly young and handsome, the idea of going out with him was ridiculous. If he'd just been a teacher then that might have been one thing, but the headmaster? He was responsible for too much.
Besides, Rey didn't go on dates. She didn't have relationships. It was not a thing she did and it was better this way, no matter how much she might be tempted. Not that she was tempted in this case. So he was amusing to email and an oddly comforting presence in her inbox? So she found the fact that he could match her idiosyncrasies on every level charming even when he was insulting her? It didn't mean anything. And actually, this was a good wake-up call. It was typical that a man should take their casual banter as something more than it was. She needed to snap out of it and concentrate on her work and her real life friends. This was just a distraction which she definitely didn't need when she was still in the early days of her new job.
And she had never been so glad that she and Finn were going to Takodana for the week, meaning she did not even have to lie to him.
From: rsmith
To: headmaster
Subject: FW: Re: Aldershire Junior Physics Challenge
Dear Kylo,
I'm afraid I am actually going away all week to see family so I won't be able to meet you over half term. Perhaps another time.
I hope you have a good half term.
Rey
A/N: FFNet still being stupid and not letting me write email addresses. Ah well!
Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed or favourited so far. You're the best!
Double period - a lesson twice as long as single lessons. (Period = lesson.) For most schools, double periods are more normal than singles. Could be anything from an hour to two hours (though that would be rare). I think Starkiller's double periods are an hour and ten minutes.
Year 9 - 13-14 year olds (8th grade). Generally every teacher's worst class. LOL Hux getting them last thing on a Friday, especially when he designs the timetables... SUCKER, he played himself!
Rey's title - a frustration I feel very much myself; I am constantly given the wrong title in professional emails because nobody knows and unlike Rey, I don't stick it officiously in my signature. I get the impression though I may be wrong that in the US female teachers are called "Ms" automatically, but that's very much not the case here.
Tutor group - class of students in one year grouped together for pastoral and administrative purposes including registration and PSHCE (personal, social, health and citizenship education). They may or may not have their lessons together. Each tutor group has a form tutor who is responsible for their pastoral well-being and behaviour.
Head of Year - teacher overall in charge of pastoral concerns and discipline of the students in a year group. The form tutor's direct line manager and there to support with difficult or more serious situations.
Half term - either refers to literally half a term of teaching (five to ten weeks depending on the time of year) or to the week long holiday in the middle of each term. Not as confusing as it sounds. The half term holiday Kylo is referring to is the last week of October splitting up the term that runs from the beginning of September to just before Christmas. The longest and most draining term of the year.