Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
There was five minutes left until class started when Coach Hawthorne slipped into Ms. Undersee's music class. The room was empty, no one in their right mind would go sit in class for five minutes when they could stand in the halls and spread gossip, so this was the best time for Gale to come in.
He found her at her desk browsing a book of sheet music with a frown on her face. He knocked on the doorframe before entering and she looked up, smiling at him.
"Gale," she tipped her head and closed her book. "Can I help you?"
"Had a few minutes," he said. High school students had all day to converse with their friends but teachers only had a few seconds here or there. "Wanted to see how your dinner went with your parents."
Her smile widened, "You remembered!" He shrugged sheepishly, lifting his hand to scratch his neck and leaning against the wall by her desk. "It was fine. My father kept hinting that he wants me to move back home but other than that it went well. My mother's treatment has been working so they're not at the doctors as often."
"That's great," he grinned. "So no moving back home?"
"It's even further than my apartment," she told him. "I'd have to wake up at least half an hour earlier. No thank you." As Gale laughed a group of students burst through the door, all of them murmuring about this or that latest bit of news. "You've got a game tonight, don't you?"
"Yeah we do!" a kid that had just walked in cheered. Madge and Gale met eyes before turning to the student. "The Jabberjays are going down. I can't wait to kick them into the next freaking century," he said. "What do you think, Coach," the boy looked at Gale, "you think we've got a shot?"
"With you as our Quarterback, absolutely not," Gale answered, and the boy frowned. "Kidding, Scott. Yeah we've got a shot, the odd are most definitely in our favor for this one. The Jabberjay's coach," a man named Seneca, "has hardly been showing up to practice. They'll be all over the place."
"Let's hope so," Scott said. "It's our homecoming game. I don't think I could stand it if we lost."
"We'll be great," Gale waved him off. The warning bell rang, there was a minute left until class began, and everyone looked up. "Alright, I should be going," he said to Madge. "You should come. To the game."
"Oh," her cheeks turned pink. "Maybe. I'll see if I'm free."
Gale smiled at her. "Let me know, yeah? I'll save you a seat on the sidelines."
"Sure," she nodded.
Gale turned back to Scott, "See you after school. Don't forget it's 4 o'clock today, not 5."
"Got it, Coach!" Gale slipped from the classroom as the rest of the students rushed in, not wanting to be late. "You should come Ms. Undersee," the boy said when Gale was gone. She pretended she didn't hear him and stood, getting ready to close the door. "Coach would love it. He says we always win when you come."
"That's nonsense," Madge waved him off. The last kid slipped into the room as the bell rang, and then Madge shut the door. "Our football team is very talented. He's trained you all well. My appearance at the field has nothing to do with whether we win or lose."
"Alright, fine," another boy chimed in. "But Scott's right, Coach would love it if you came. He's got a thing for you, Ms. U."
"Oh, enough!" she sighed, pressing her hands to her face. "He hasn't and this is such an inappropriate conversation to be having with my students." The boys from the football team snickered and Madge sighed again. One of the girls in the front of the class raised her hand and Madge crossed to the front of the room. "Yes, Molly?"
"I'm with the boys on this one," she said. Madge stood up straight and huffed. "Coach Hawthorne's in here every day just to talk to you, Ms. U."
"That's because we're friends," Madge countered. "It's perfectly reasonable for two adults to be friends with one another, which we are. Now enough of this, everyone move to your stations." The kids lifted themselves from their seats and moved to the small electric pianos at the back of the room. "We're working on learning chords today so when you've got one down raise your hand…"
He found her again at lunch as she was leaving the teachers' lounge, tugging the back of her shirt to get her to stop walking. She squeaked in surprised and turned around, finding his annoyingly adorable grin. "So," Gale hummed. "About tonight."
"I think I have to take my cat to the vet," Madge said quickly.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "That was a quick lie. I'm impressed you came up with it so fast." They leaned against the wall, Madge holding her lunch box tightly. "Unless you've been thinking of excuses all day, of course." Madge sighed and looked away from him. "C'mon, I thought we were friends. What's up?"
"My entire class seems to think you have a thing for me," she responded quietly, glancing over her shoulder in case any student was to sneak up on them. Gale stood a bit straighter, his lips parting without saying anything and his eyes full of hesitation. "That's not true, is it? They're convinced. All your boys swear on it and they've started the girls with it too. They say they, what was it, ship us?"
"Ship us?" Gale repeated.
"Like, they want us to be together. Like a relation-ship. They call it shipping." He blinked a few times. "I don't know, it's weird and untrue. I've tried telling them that we're just friends and quite frankly it's none of their business but—"
"Madge," he murmured. She glanced at him and swallowed loudly. "They're not really that far off," Gale admitted, dragging a hand through his hair. She blinked a few times as he shifted uncomfortably. "I know you just got out of that thing with that guy, and you don't even really want to date but I…" Gale trailed off as the bell rang, denoting the end of lunch. He sighed. "I've got to get back to the gym. But we should talk, okay?"
Madge's throat was dry, "Okay."
He gave her an awkward smile before nodding his head at her and turning away, walking down the hall without looking back.
The rest of the day was a blur. Madge put on The Sound of Music for her students so she didn't have to teach, and they didn't have to take notes so most of them just texted under their desks. She did the same, reading through her messages with Gale, and wondering what she possibly could've missed. Under this new light she saw them different. His concern for her was more than just to see if she was okay but to make sure. He talked to her about her day, about her life. A few times he even asked if she wanted to get drinks.
Madge dropped her head into her hands and sighed, rubbing at her temples. She's always liked Gale. He's tall and handsome and very good with the kids. He knows that there's a fine line between having students respect him and being their friend and he treads it carefully. He's a great gym teacher, very invested in the health of the students rather than just getting them to look good. Gale's also very kind, not like the other guys Madge has dated who want to rush things. Gale's a good teacher and a good guy, if he wants to try something she shouldn't be so apprehensive.
He was right, though. She did just get out of a pretty rough relationship. Maybe that's why he's been taking things so slow, treading the waters carefully. And that thoughtfulness is what allows her to make her decision.
The bell rang and the class ends, the last class of the day. "Don't forget to study for your test on chords!" Madge called as her students packed their things and exited the room. She's still in her seat ten minutes later when there was a knock on the doorframe. Gale entered carefully, using that same awkward smile he used earlier. "Gale," she exhaled.
"Hey."
"Um," Madge ran a hand through her hair. "Maybe you should shut the door?"
"Sure," he nodded. Gale pulled the door shut and locked it so no students can barge in. He took a few steps to her desk and then sat in a nearby seat. "Listen, if you don't want to come tonight that's fine," he said. "I understand completely. But there's just a few things I've got to say before I can put this behind me."
She sat up straighter. "Okay."
"I like you," he said. "I don't know how it started but I've always liked you, Madge. Maybe it was because you were the first person to greet me when I started working here, the friendliest, I don't know. You've always made the hard days a little bit easier." She felt her chest warming up but continued to look at him. "I get it if you don't want to date, or if you don't like me in the same way, or anything but I've danced around it for too long and dropped too many hints for me to just pretend nothing's there for me."
Madge let out a short breath. "Okay," she said again.
"So there, I've said what I need to say." Gale wrinkled his nose. "Alright, that's not all I need to say, actually. I think you're absolutely beautiful. And talented, God you're talented. There are some mornings I come in to say hello but you're playing the piano and I can't bring myself to interrupt. You're incredibly sweet, fantastic with the students. I can't… get you out of my head. I've tried and I just can't."
Her head bobbed. "Is that it, then?"
"That's all I've got," Gale exhaled.
Madge lifted herself from her seat and strolled over to him. "You're extremely kind," she said softly. His face fell, ready for rejection. "And incredibly brave to admit these things." She reached out and grabbed his hand. "And I would love to go to the game tonight."
Gale's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Of course," Madge nodded, smiling softly. A grin broke out across his face and he stood, holding her hands tightly. "Scott said I'm a good luck charm."
"Mm, might've let that slip," Gale laughed. Before he could help himself he lowered his forehead to hers. Madge's eyes found his, a bright blue that made him feel electricity running through his veins. "We could go out for drinks after, if you want," he added softly. "More of a date than watching some 16 year old kids throw around a football."
Her smile was incredible. "Maybe. We'll see." One of her hands lifted to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing the stubble on his chin. "How about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If we win the game there can be a real date later this weekend." Gale's grin mirrored hers. "If we lose to the Jabberjays we'll push the date back another week."
"Oh, we're winning the game," Gale laughed again. "You can count on it."
As she laughed Gale leaned down, his lips brushing hers gently. He pulled away after realizing what he had done, not knowing if it was too fast, when she pressed herself onto her tiptoes to keep their lips together. Gale grinned into the kiss and pulled her toward him while moving toward her desk, their mouths in perfect harmony. Breathless and needy Gale nosed his way down her throat and pressed kisses to her skin, leaving Madge to gasp and sigh with her head thrown back.
There was a sudden knock on the door that parted them immediately. "Ms. Undersee? You in there?" It was Scott, the boy from earlier. "I think I left my binder in here!"
Gale tilted her chin up and snatched another kiss. "To be continued?" he asked.
"Mm…" she bit down on her bottom lip and moved away from him, rushing to the door to unlock it. Scott smiled at her as she let him in and then froze when he spotted his coach over by her desk. Gale waved and Scott snorted. "Your binder's on the chalkboard ledge," Madge told her student quickly.
Scott grabbed it quickly and slung it into his backpack. "Thanks, Ms. U." He turned to his teacher. "See you at the game tonight?"
"She'll be there," Gale said as Scott made for the door.
"Of course she will," Scott grinned. "I knew you had it in you, Coach."
"Alright, Scott," Gale waved his student away. "See you at 4 for warm ups." Scott snickered as he left the room and Gale turned back to Madge who looked oh so sweet as she watched him. "I've got to go get some work done," Gale said. "But I'll text you. Okay?"
"Okay," she nodded. Gale grabbed her hand and squeezed once before walking away, smiling at her over her shoulder.
She prayed that the Mockingjays won their game tonight. She didn't think she could wait another week.