Chapter 3

I walk down the stairs and see that Kalinda was home from school.

"How was it today?" I ask sitting down beside her. "Was it as bad as you thought?" I question.

"No, actually it wasn't. I met some really nice people," she says with a smile.

"I'm so glad!" I say giving her a hug. "I told you, you would be fine." I smile.

"Yeah, I guess you were right. A girl I met named Caroline even gave me a ride home so I didn't have to ride the bus," she says happily.

"Well, that was very nice of her. I Hope you thanked her," I say like a mom.

"Yes I did and please stop trying to sound like the parent, you're not, you are my sister not mom," she says a tad angrily.

"Sorry!" I exclaim putting my hands up in defeat. "I am just trying to be a good guardian and balance being your sister at the same time. It's hard," I confess.

"I know," she sighs. "Just stop getting on my case so much."

"Fine," I say in agreement. I look at the clock and see it is 2:50. I jump up off the couch and run to the door.

"Where are you going?" Kalinda asks as she walks over to me.

"I have an interview at your school for a teaching position as a chorus teacher," I say as I put on my heels.

"Oh," is all she says.

"See you when I get back," I say opening the door. "There is stuff in the freezer to eat!" I inform her and quickly run out of the house to my car. Once I turn it on and start driving I glance at the clock, five till three. I was going to be late!

I drive as fast as I can without looking like a crazy lady and reach the school in six minutes where as it would usually have taken ten, going the speed limit. I hurry up and park and quickly jump out of the car. I glance at my cell phone as I run to the school and see it is five after three.

Well this isn't going to help me get the job.

I reach the doors and yank them open and run in. I follow the signs to the office again, but just as I'm about to reach the doors, I run into someone and fall down.

"Are you okay?" they ask, holding a hand out to help me up. I take it and they pull me up. I look and see that I had run into a man.

"I am so sorry it's just that I am late for an interview for the chorus teaching position and I know I shouldn't have been running, and I should have been paying attention to where I was going," I ramble and take a deep breath.

"It's all right. I'm fine. You're the one who fell down, so no need to apologize," he says with a smile. "My name is Alaric Saltzman. I'm the history teacher here," he says introducing himself.

"Nice to meet you, Alaric," I smile and shake his hand. "I'm Paige Emerose, and I would love to talk more. But I am really late, as I said before," I say trying not to be rude.

"I understand. Good luck," he smiles and then walks away.

"Thanks!" I call. I open the doors to the office and walk in.

"Miss Emerose, Mr. Showers is waiting for you in his office," the elderly woman I met yesterday says. "Follow me." She leads me to his office. "Miss Emerose is here," she informs him as she opens the door.

"Excellent, send her in," I hear him tell her.

"You may go in," she says when she walks back in. "Good luck," she smiles and walks away.

"Thanks," I say hoping she heard.

I open the door and take a deep breath trying to calm down my nerves.

"Ah, Miss Emerose, please take a seat, and we will get started," he says gesturing to a seat in front of his desk.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," I apologize as I sit.

"It's fine. No harm done. Plus, there isn't anyone else we have interviewed for the job, so if you ace the interview you just might get the job," he smiles.

"Great!" I say excitedly.

"Let's start with a few questions," he says taking some papers from his desk. "Where did you go to school and for how many years?"

"I went to Florida State University. I went for four years and got my bachelor's degree in musical education," I answer.

"Excellent," he says writing some things down. "Can you play piano?"

"Yes."

"Good," he smiles. "Have you ever been in jail?"

"No."

"Have you taught anywhere previously, but did not leave on your own accord?" he questions.

"No. I just recently graduated," I say starting to get nervous.

"Did you work previously while you were in school?"

"No."

The questions continue like this for the next hour and a half.

"Well, Miss Emerose, if I may say that was excellently done," Mr. Showers says, standing. "And you got the job!"

"Really!" I exclaim excitedly.

"Really. You can start tomorrow. I will have all your things ready for you," he says with a smile.

"This is great! I mean, thank you!" I say shaking his hand excitedly.

"You are very welcome if you could please arrive here tomorrow at six thirty, we can get everything settled," he says opening his door.

"Yes, yes of course. Thank you so much!" I say and then head out of the school.

"How did it go?" I hear someone ask me as I reach my car. I turn around and see Alaric.

"Good," I say with a smile, barely able to contain my excitement. "I got the job!" I say trying not to squeal.

"That's great the kids have been missing their musical program," he says walking over to me.

"Well, I am glad that they will have it back, but might I ask what happened to their previous teacher?" I question as the thought crosses my mind.

"Family things came up, and she said she had to leave. No one really knows anymore than that," he shrugs.

"Oh, interesting," I say not really knowing what else to say.

"So when did you move here and where are you from?" he asks curiously.

"My sister and I arrived here yesterday. We moved up here from Florida. Our mansion caught on fire and our parents were caught inside. They died of smoke inhalation," I explain.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, and I think I might have your sister in class. Is her name Kalinda?" he asks sincerely and then questions.

"Yes it is and thanks," I reply with a sad smile.

"I know you've only been here for a day but how are you liking the town so far?" he asks curiously.

"It seems nice. I haven't really gotten a chance to look around or really meet anyone yet, but it seems nice," I say simply.

"Yeah it is, it's very unique," he says almost looking for the right word. "Well, I've got to get going. I'll see you around now that you are teaching. Congratulations, by the way," he smiles and walks over to what I assume is his car.

"Thanks," I say and get into my car and drive home.

"How did the interview go?" Kalinda asks as I walk in.

"Good. I got the job!" I squeal.

"Really? That's great!" she says giving me a hug. "I'm happy for you!"

"Thank you," I say with a happy smile. "Come on let's eat, and you can tell me more about your first day of school," I say leading her to the kitchen. "How about grilled cheese and tomato soup tonight?"

"Yes!" she exclaims excitedly.

In about twenty minutes the food is ready, and we sit down and eat.

"So, who else did you meet besides this Caroline…," I stop, realizing she hadn't told me her last name.

"Forbes," Kalinda fills in.

"Hmm, does her mom happen to be sheriff?" I ask.

"Yes," she replies and looks at me curiously. "How did you know that?" she questions.

"Well, I ran into her at the grocery store. Well, more like she ran into my cart with hers, but you understand what I'm saying," I explain.

"I see," Kalinda says giving me another look. "I also met Elena, Matt, and Bonnie," she says, finishing answering the questions. "All friends of Caroline," she informs.

"Are they nice? Do they seem like good kids?" I question.

"Well, for one thing, I just met them today, but yes they all seem really nice," she smiles, but I can hear the annoyance in her voice.

"What about your teachers, how are they?" I ask curiously, but I could tell she was getting annoyed with all the questions.

"They are okay, some are really boring though. You know, the usual," she says rather bored. "Mr. Saltzman was definitely the best out of all of them."

"I ran into him today, and I mean literally ran into him and fell down, on the way to the interview," I say slightly embarrassed. "He mentioned that he had you after I saw him again in the parking lot after my interview."

"Now, don't go making friends with my teachers. That will just be weird," she says with a teasing smile.

"Hey! I will have you know that I can make friends with whoever I want!" I say acting like I was hurt over that comment.

"No, remember you're too old for friends," she smiles, and we both laugh.

It takes us about a good ten minutes to calm down. We would stop laughing for a few minutes, but then we would start right back up again. Kalinda wipes away the tears in her eyes after laughing so hard.

"Ok, I don't even know how that was so funny, but it sure felt good to laugh," Kalinda says, catching her breath.

"Yeah, it did. We haven't done that in awhile," I smile.

"Yeah, we haven't," she agrees.

"You're turn to do the dishes," I say, standing up and walking to the living room.

"Ugh!" I hear her groan.

I turn on the TV and flip through the channels. I finally stop on "American Idol".

"What are you watching?" Kalinda asks walking from the kitchen.

"American Idol," I reply as she sits on the couch beside me.

"Cool," she says.

After it's over I walk up the stairs to my bedroom. I quickly hop in the shower and when I'm done I get ready for bed and crawl in.

I was so nervous about tomorrow. I don't want to mess anything up. Finally after about an hour of lying in bed, I finally fall into sleep.