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Chapter 2: Potluck
Olivia didn't really know what to bring to a potluck staff meeting. She already decided she wasn't going to cook or bake anything.
I know how to…well kinda. I really don't want to spend the whole time worring over whether anyone actually likes my food. Guess I'll just hit up the store and grab something. Hopefully not the same thing as somebody else.
She wandered around the store grabbing things and then putting them back. Then grabbing some more things and then putting them back. When she looked at her watch she realized she only had 15min to get to the meeting. She rushed back by the deli grabbed some sort of assortment tray and figured it would have to do.
Olivia rushed to the teacher's lounge but stopped short of opening the door.
Why am I so nervous?
Of course she knew the answer but didn't want to admit it to herself.
Earlier probably had more to do with weird abnormal hormonal things going on inside me than anything else. Ugh! I don't really know but I'm sure whatever I was feeling earlier won't happen again. I WON'T let it happen again.
She took a deep breath, opened the door, and was completely confused. The only person in the room was a leggy redheaded woman attacking a vending machine.
"GIVE ME MY DAMN COOKIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" The woman yelled as she pounded on the machine. Suddenly she stepped back and rammed her side into the machine.
"AH HA! I WIN AGAIN!"
Olivia watched as the woman bent down to get the cookie that she worked so hard for. Olivia assumed that when the woman realized she wasn't alone that she would be completely embarrassed.
The woman turned around…
"Yes, I did just do all of that for a Grandma's Cookie."
So much for the being embarrassed…
"Hi I'm Abby Whelan. I teach 11th grade Government and Economics. I get these random cravings for these cookies and every time I have to go through this with that machine. It's worth it though. At least in my opinion. I mean they are some damn good cookies. Wanna have a go?"
Olivia immediately shook her head no.
"You must be the teacher taking over for crazy Langston."
"Yes, I guess that is me. I'm Olivia…Pope."
"Nice to meet you. You're lucky you met me first because I'm the coolest one around here." Abby said as she took a bite out of her cookie. "Oh it's like the perfect orgasm every time."
"I was told there's a staff meeting tonight…"
"Obviously whoever informed you left out the part about the potluck meetings being in the cafeteria. Follow me I'll be your guide for the evening." With that Abby opened the door for Olivia and then looped their arms as she led her to the cafeteria.
Fitz looked at the clock on the far wall.
6:05
She's not coming. She's really not coming. Why do I feel like I've been stood up?
Why do I care? She's just like all of these other teachers. Except she's not. She's not like any other person I've ever met. Olivia's just…
HERE!
Fitz nearly sighed out loud in relief. He nearly fell over when she smiled such a sweet smile back at him.
Oh that smile…those lips. I really should not be noticing her hips and lips. Think of Mellie. Oh God that's the wrong solution. I can't seem to help myself. The heat I feel burning inside is uncontrollable. I like it…I like it a lot but for a married man with a child it's all kinds of wrong.
"Someone forgot to inform the newbie that our potluck meetings are held in the cafeteria." Abby said while looking for the wrongdoer.
Fitz walked over, hung his head, and hit his forehead with the palm of his hand.
"I am so sorry Ms. Pope. With everything that I was trying to remember and what was going on,"
How you were making me feel…what you were doing to me just by looking at me, "I just completely forgot."
"It's fine. Believe me I completely understand."
Did she understand because she felt it too or did she understand because she knew what it's like to be busy. What the hell did she mean?
He wanted to delve deeper into why she seemed to emphasize the word "completely" but he knew he couldn't. All he could do was watch Abby pull her away.
When Olivia walked into the cafeteria she couldn't help but smile when she saw him. He appeared to look relieved.
I told myself I would not let what happened earlier happen again…but shit it's happening. I can't put a name to the stirring and fluttering…the heat I feel inside myself when I'm near him. It's just there and I can't control it.
Olivia felt slightly embarrassed when Abby announced that someone forgot to tell her where the meeting was because she knew who that someone was. When he came over and apologized she felt like he wanted to explain further but couldn't.
I know the exact feeling because if I had any important info I needed to tell him in that moment the same thing would've happened to me. I was right there in that moment with him. I don't know what he was feeling but something definitely affected him too. In my dream world that something is ME.
Before she knew it Abby was pulling her over to the food table. Olivia set her tray down but wasn't really hungry. She grabbed two cookies and sat down next to Abby.
"Hey those are no Grandma's Cookies," Abby stated. When Olivia looked at her with a raised eyebrow Abby shrugged, "I'm just saying."
Olivia looked around the room.
"Is everyone here pretty nice?"
Abby gave a little laugh.
"Are there some people I should avoid? Or should I keep to myself?" She asked sounding more on edge than she meant to.
"Not really. Everyone's ok. Some simply have odd personalities. Take Diego Mu oz over there," Abby said as she pointed to a man who looked like he never smiled a day in his life, "He prefers to be called Huck. Teacher, Student, Mailman…all call him Huck."
"Why?"
"According to the story he likes to tell, Huck was a code name the government gave him when he was some kind of special agent. That's bullshit though because wouldn't he have to keep that a secret? He's a odd one but kids love him and he is nice when he chooses to talk."
Abby pointed to a handsome man sitting down from them. She turned and looked Olivia in the eyes.
"Stay away from that one. Nothing but a womanizer. His name is Jake and how fitting that he's the gym and sex education teacher. He's probably slept with all three of those teachers drooling around him." Abby said with disgust.
Before Abby could go on Olivia cut in.
"What about Principle Grant?"
"What about him?" Abby questioned back.
"Are there any oddities or things I should know about him?" Olivia asked as nonchalantly as she could.
"No. He's a boring family man. Has an annoying snooty wife, but the most lovable kid! I know Fitz must thank his lucky stars that that kid is not like his mother."
"There must be something special about his wife. I mean he's been married for several years right?"
"Honey, that doesn't mean he's happy." Abby said as if she knew for a fact that he wasn't.
Interesting. Olivia thought before chastising herself. I shouldn't be finding that interesting. I shouldn't even care.
Olivia looked over where Fitz was sitting with Cyrus. She must have sent off a signal because at the exact moment he looked at her and again time stood still.
Fitz had been trying hard not to look her way but he found he couldn't resist. With her attention being wrapped up in the gossip Abby was probably filling her with he was able to just sit and admire her for bits at a time. Not only did he not want her to know he was focusing in on her but he also didn't want any of the other teachers picking up on anything either. Ben Franklin High was a gossip mill. But when he turned his head the next time and caught her looking back everything seemed perfect.
He didn't know how much time had passed but he was annoyed by the snapping noise and movement in front of his face.
"Fitz everyone's settled down lets get this meeting over and done with," Cyrus said with annoyance in his voice.
"Right," Fitz replied as he gave his head a shake as if that would completely clear his thoughts of Olivia.
"First I want to say absolutely no more jokes about Sally when you are around the kids. No mentions of nuthouses, loony bins, psych wards….anything."
"Or the two-bit whorehouses she found out her devout husband loves to visit that put her in the nuthouse," Cyrus said with a burst of laughter, "I'm glad the bitch is gone!" Several teachers laughed.
"Who mailed those pictures to her Cyrus?" Jake knowingly asked.
"How should I know? It's nice though that someone out there was trying to help her see the evils of her husband's ways" He answered with a chuckle.
"That's enough Cyrus." Fitz said sternly.
Abby whispered to Olivia, "Fitz is really the only person who Cyrus remotely listens to. He's really the only person Cyrus admires."
Olivia nodded before focusing back on the Principle.
Would it be odd if I referred to him as Fitz? I better not. Principle Grant will probably have to do for awhile.
"Quickly I want to talk about the homecoming dance. Remember the dance is Friday while the parade and game are Saturday. Please try to attend at least the game and be supportive of our guys. This might be the one they win," he said dryly.
"About the dance we need one more chaperone since Sally is no longer here. Anyone care to volunteer or do I have to be mean and assign someone."
If no one raises their hands…I already know who I'm going to assign the job to.
Abby elbowed Olivia. "I'm going to be there. Come on…do it! Even Mr. VIP will be there," she added with a wink.
Either this girl is an expert at picking up on things or how I'm feeling inside is appearing obvious to others on the outside. Jeez I hope it's not the latter.
Fitz was about to announce who the lucky person was when he saw that lucky person raise their hand.
Is she seriously volunteering?
"Ms. Pope you're willing to be a chaperone? Your first week?" Fitz tried to act as if he was worried about it instead of completely excited about it.
"Um Yes…Sure. I have no problem with it unless you don't think it's a good idea?" She replied as if daring him to say it was a bad idea.
"NO," Fitz cleared his throat, "no…I think it's a fine idea." Fitz said with a nod of his head.
"Thank you for volunteering."
Principle Grant discussed a couple other things but Olivia was already trying to figure out what she was going to wear…
As a chaperone…
To a high school dance…
I must be desperate.