It was well after 6.30 and growing dark by the time Gemma had mopped up all of the paint marks left smeared around the year 4 Art area. She was starting to understand why the previous teacher had stuck to pencil drawings and collages. Rinsing the final sponge under the cold tap, Gemma glanced at the toppling tower of humanities books piled up for marking tonight. She hadn’t got anything in for tea and couldn’t face the idea of shopping now. Her feet ached, her second best dress was ruined and Max hadn’t even glanced at her when he and a group of giggling TA’s had driven off to the Farmer’ Arms for “drinkypoos”. Mr Abraham clearly thought she was a liability and all of her creative ideas seemed ridiculous now that she had experienced the bedlam that was year four.
Gemma’s eyes filled with stinging tears as she pulled the first book from the pile and grabbed her purple pen. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this after all? Suddenly she longed for the mundanity of the job she knew how to do. The dusty office and the same old routine. The tears spilled unchecked down her cheeks, mixing with mascara, board pen and yellow paint. God but she was tired and she hadn’t even finished her first full week!
Suddenly a box of tissues appeared under her nose and a warm arm cane about her shoulders.
“Hey, hey, hey” said a soft voice against her hair “it’s ok! The first week is a killer! You’re doing great. I’m sorry I’ve been a brute.” She looked up to see Dominic smiling ruefully at her. She sniffed into a tissue and tried to check if she had smeared yellow paint on his shoulder.
“I guess I’m still getting used to working with everyone and I forgot how new this all was for you. You have thrown yourself into everything with such enthusiasm it’s easy to imagine you’ve been here for years”
Gemma found her voice “you think I’m a silly, flirty.... flibertygibbet!” She squeaked.
His eyes widened. “Flibbertygibbet?! As if I would ever imagine you to be one of those!” His chuckle surprised her. It was warm and deep and natural and something inside her went “twang” at the sound.
“Gemma, I just wanted you to be careful. You are one of life’s dreamers and you see the best in everything. In everyone. I just wouldn’t want your progress here to be.... derailed... by anything. Anyone.” He sighed with mild exasperation. “As usual, my heavy handedness has created more upset than it has saved!”
Gemma was slightly baffled by that. Who was trying to derail her? Janet? Maybe Kirsty, the young sports TA, that Max had laughed so loudly with in the car park earlier?
Her silence must have been taken for agreement because Dominic suddenly withdrew his arm and moved away from her.
“It’s none of my business but I do want you to know that I’m only looking out for your very best interests Gemma. Schools can be small communities. Uncomfortably small at times”.
He looked at her with a curious expression of... what?... regret? Hesitancy?
Gemma’s stomach gurgled loudly like a blogged sink starting to drain.
It broke the moment.
“Right! Off home with you Miss Hathaway. I’m locking up tonight and you’re the last one here again!”
Gemma wearily started to lift the boomed off her desk to place on her trolley to take home but his warm hand stopped her.
“No marking tonight. I forbid it. Go home. Order take away. Have a bath and sleep. You need to look after yourself. This is a marathon not a sprint!”
Gemma felt the tears begin again at his sudden kindness.
“Will you be ok?” He asked gently
She nodded as the tears dropped from her nose into the books in her hand.
“Ahh lovely. You’re absolutely done in aren’t you? Listen. I will cover reading tomorrow morning for you. You have a morning of getting yourself straight and feeling more on top of things. If you need longer you just let me know ok?”
Gemma barely gasped “thank you” before he had switched off her PC, swept up her bag and steered her through the doors to the car park.
“Drive safely. And remember. If you need more time tomorrow just email ok?”
She drove from the car park with his concerned blue eyes following her until she turned onto the road home.
She was just contemplating detouring for fish and chips when a figure stepped into the road ahead of her.
JESUS! She hit her breaks hard. What the hell?
The figure walked to her passenger side window and grinned through it.
“Hello gorgeous! Fancy seeing you here! I was just wondering how on earth I was getting home when ‘bam’ out of nowhere appears my beautiful guardian angel!”
Max was clearly drunk. His hair flopped becomingly over one eye whilst the other squinted in concentration.
“Jenna! You marvellous woman you! Take me to bed like a good girl won’t you?!”
Gemma stifled a giggle! What was he like?!
“Fine, ok, jump in then! But no being sick in my car!”
He gave her a smouldering look “I’m sober as a judge m’lady!” He hiccuped gently as he sank into her passenger seat.
“So where do you live?” Gemma asked, restarting the engine.
“Hmmm?” Said max distractedly as he lifted her hair from her neck and sent shivers over her skin with his warmth breath.
“Your house? Where is it that I’m taking you?” Gemma tried to focus on the road ahead.
“Oh... I can’t go to mine! My keys are still in my classroom!” He closed his eyes and sank further into the passenger seat.
“Wait! What? What do you mean you ca....” Gemma realised she was talking to herself as gentle snores started to fill the car. Typical. Gemma resigned herself to cheese on toast and a night on the sofa.
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