School Affair

Chapter 5

"What are you doing here, Miss Hower?" Nathan looks at her with widen eyes and waits for an answer.

"I could ask you the something..." not believing that this has to be the guy Dominic wanted her to meet, Jessica just looks at him, hearing Dominic speak up they both turn their head to him.

"This the guy I was telling you about, my dear! Nathan Johnsen, a good looking, polite, single young man." 

Putting his hand up to stop him from speaking, Nathan asks him with a serious look:

 "...What is the meaning of this? You said you had something important to talk to me about, Dominic" crossing his arms he waits impatient for his excuse.

"That's right! Love is a real important thing, right?!" being a little too enthusiastic he puts his arms around both the shoulders, taking Dominic's arm off him, Nathan tells him: 

"Please keep me out of Miss Hower's affairs. I have no desire to meet anyone, anyway."

"Wait a second! I didn't even come here looking for something like this either!" looking at her with a doubtful look, Nathan turns around and starts to leave

"If that's all, I will be going no-"holding his arm Dominic looks at him with a sad face

"C'mon now, there is no need to leave! You will make me sad!" This was last thing both expected to happen. Dominic somehow convinced Nathan to stay for dinner and so they explained to him the new no dating rule at their school.

"Ah, so your new schools combined? And there is a rule against dating, that's harsh. Now it makes sense why Nathan said he would go and see you."

"What do you mean?" rising her head from her food, she looks at him confused, laughing at the memories he leans over and whispers loud enough, so that Nathan could still hear everything.

"You know, you necklace. You dropped it here and Nathan picked it up. Didn't he give it to you yet?"

"He gave it to me this morning."

"So you two are going to be busy now that the school system has changed?" speaking for the first time, since they started having dinner Nathan says: 

"Yes, the format of all the classes will be different."

"Is that so? Well, good luck, you two!" hanging her head, Jessica is not even sure if she is able to stay at the school and she wonders how she scores on the test. Jessica glances at Nathan who was sipping his tea.

"...Yes? If you want some tea, order it yourself"

"That's not it..." being annoyed by him she wonders if she would stay at the school, if they would even get along. Looking at her half empty plate of chicken salad, her mind wonders off, until she hears Dominic again:

"Oh, your glass is empty Jess. Do you want some more tea or something cold?"

"Sure, I would like something refreshing, thanks. Mr. Johnson don't you want something refreshing too, you have been drinking tea this whole time?"

"...Is it a habit of yours to stick your nose into other people's personal business?"

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to be unpolite or pushy..."

"I do drink other stuff beside tea, but I try not to do it too often. Dominic, I want my check please. Miss Hower, please forget that tonight ever happened. We don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about our relationship, so keep it a secret." Jessica gets it, he is such a strict person, he puts his work over everything.

"Don't worry. I won't say anything, I promise. But still I think there is a chance to run into each other here again, when we both come here to eat..."

Nathan looks surprised for a moment, then says cooly: "Yes, I suppose there is a chance. Thanks Dominic, the food was great as always." Nathan quickly takes care of his bill and leaves, paying for herself she waits for a while not to risk meeting him in the building, where they both live.

"Wow, this is huge."

 Now that the school have combined, the new staff room was huge and modern. Together with Maryam, Simon and some other teachers from Greenwally they arrived at the new staff room at the former Acadia Charter School.

"Jess, Simon look the furniture and equipment it is brand new! This is awesome."

"Yeah, our old staff room was really out of date." Being a little too happy about everything, Jessica remembers them that the results of the test and that they will get the results today.

"Oh, that's right..." the doors open, and Nathan and the other teachers from Acadia Charter walk in.

"Good morning everyone. We will get straight to the results of yesterday's test." Not bothering to wait for the other teachers to arrive, he begins talking.

"But not all the teachers are here yet..." one of the teachers said that wondering why they would begin when some were still missing. Luke crosses his arms and says:

"They are. This was the first part of the results. All the teachers here today are those who passed the test."

The teachers who weren't here, are the ones who didn't passed the test and got laid off, shocked about that Jessica stands frozen in place.

"Jess, we did it. I am kind of shocked. But lets be happy about it, we survived!" taking her hands in her own Maryam is full of joy.

The staff room buzzes with both happy comments and those of sadness.

Suddenly, an irritated voice silence them all.

"It is true that you have all passed and your employment will continue. However, I don't feel like you are at the level to improve the students' test scores. As we explained before, the teachers will be paired up. Here is the list of pairs. Go ahead and take a look at it."

Passing everyone a piece of papers Simons says: " I guess the teachers from Acadia Charter will basically be training our teachers. Who is your partner, Jess?" looking at the paper in her hand, her jaws drop seeing the name next to her own.