High Hopes (A YUNGBLUD love story)

Chapter 2: First day.

It had finally arrived. My first day at a new school. I was so nervous I barely slept all night, I could only think about the type of students I would have, hoping they were nothing like the little shits at my last school. I looked at the clock. 6:30am. I sighed and dragged myself out of bed, Todd still snoring next to me. I rolled my eyes and walked out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, getting in the shower. In the next 15 minutes I was out, blow dried my hair and was loosely curling it. I applied dark, Smokey eye shadow to my eyelids and coated my lips in a dark grey lipstick. I pulled on black tights, dark grey skirt with a light grey turtle neck jumper, almost matching my hair.

"Good luck, sweetie. See you later." Todd told me, giving me a kiss goodbye. I smiled at him and headed out the house to my car. I put my laptop bag on the seat next to me and selected a radio station to listen to on the journey.

When I finally arrived at school it was 8am. Just in time to meet the head teacher at the school reception. He showed me to my classroom and gave me a list of students I'd be teaching, material that I was to cover in class and some starter kits for my first day. I thanked him and he left as I sat at my desk. I decided to meet my students before choosing a seating plan, I always find it fun playing match maker with pupils, it makes the day slightly more bearable.
*
8:30AM rolled around and the students had gathered outside my classroom. As usual, the silent ones who were ready to learn stood patiently at the front right by the door while the loud, 'popular' kids all bunched together at the back. There was one in particular that caught my eye, I knew I'd have to keep a close eye on him. I greeted the three students who were stood patiently waiting, keeping an eye at the unruly pupils at the back of the line.

I invited the students in to sit wherever they like, when they had finally all piled in I stood and observed them all for a second. "You." I spoke. "What's your name?" I asked, looking in the direction of the loudest person in the room. "Dominic, Miss." he spoke, chewing gum. I picked up the bin and took it over to him, instructing him to spit it out. He obliged, spitting it out and gave me a big, cheeky grin.

"Dominic, what?" I snapped.

"Harrison." He replied, folding his arms. He lifted his legs to rest his feet on the table. I can't stand students like him. "Mr Harrison you wouldn't want to get sent to the head on your first day, would you?" I asked. He stayed silent but not losing his confidence. "Then I suggest you get your feet off the desk. Tell me, how old are you?" I asked him.

"Eighteen next month, miss." He answered.

"Oh so you're nearly an adult?!" I acted shocked. "Maybe start acting like it." I said stubbornly.

"Anyway. I'm sorry to the rest of you for that. Good morning class, I am your new form tutor. My name is Mrs Allison and I'll be your teacher for the next year." I greeted them all. I loved being a teacher, it made me feel like I was contributing to the next generation. I felt my phone buzz on my desk. I picked it up to read a text from my husband;

T - Hey babe, how's it going? Are you having a good day? Xx

J - It's okay, there's one kid that's doing my head in. I know he's going to give me nothing but trouble. Xx

The next hour was a blur of going over class rules, getting to know my new students and picking out some of the 'cool' kids for talking. That one kid. Dominic Harrison. It was as if he didn't know how to keep his mouth shut. "Oi Miss! You married then?" He yelled, snapping me out of my daydream.

"I fail to see why that's any of your business, Mr Harrison." I replied. He shrugged at me, giving me that cheeky grin again. "Just wondering if it's worth me chatting you up or not." He winked, beginning to laugh along with his friends. I rolled my eyes. "That's enough from you, Mr Harrison. You can stay behind after class." I told him. The room filled with students laughing along with him.

Soon after, the bell finally rang to signify the end of class. "Thank you class, everyone except Dominic can leave." I instructed, he stayed in his seat and pulled his hood up, resting his head on the table. I stayed at my desk with my arms crossed, waiting for him to lift his head up.

Five minutes went by and he hadn't moved. I rolled my eyes, standing  up and walking over to the table in front of his. "You know, Mr Harrison. I've got nowhere to be tonight, I can stay here for as long as it takes." I told him. "As long as it takes for what?" He replied, finally pulling his head up. His hair had been all ruffled as he rested his head in his hand. "For you to tell me why you act like such a little shit." I told him. He rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair. "It's not my fault, Miss. I've got ADHD, I can't help it." He smiled at me. God I hate him. "You need to chill out, Miss. Look at the brighter side of life." He grinned at me. That face. That goddamn face.

"Look, Mr Harrison. I'll make myself perfectly clear. I don't like you and you probably don't like me. So how about if you don't disrupt my lessons from now on, I won't be asking to see you after class. How about that?" I smiled at him. He stared back at me for a moment, giving it some thought. "You didn't answer me earlier, Miss." He told me. I gave him a confused look. "Are you married then or not?" He asked again, smiling. I rolled my eyes and walked back to my desk. He stood up, throwing his back over his shoulder. He winked at me before heading out the classroom door. "I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time together." He chimed in.

Not if I can help it, Dominic Harrison.