🔞I May be Falling in Love // Hwang Hyunjin🔞

🖤Chapter 1🖤

"Jesus Christ!" I yell out as the uber driver slams on the car brakes.

"I'm truly sorry." As I peek through the window to my right, I notice everyone else slowing down. 'I'm going to be late,' I think to myself as I fall back into the head rest of the cushioned black leather seat.

I take my phone from my pocket and notice that I have thirteen missed calls from Cole, my best friend.

I dialled his number again, and after the second ring, I hear him say, "Audrey! Where are you? You'll be late for your first day."

"I'm still in the Uber, there appears to be a lot of traffic. I promise I'll be there within the next five minutes."

"Okay, You're lucky two other people are stuck in traffic too." He mumbles before hanging up.

Cole Jackson has been my best friend since before we were born; our parents grew up together therefore automatically making us soulmates.  We've done almost everything together and, surprisingly, we've never grown tired of it. Yes, we've had our ups and downs, but we've formed a strong bond that will never be broken, except for the day he moved across the country to live with his father after his parents divorced. That day was excruciating. The only way I could be happy again was to be near him, so I saved up enough money and moved to Mountain Waters, a picturesque town with - you guessed it - a lot of mountains and bodies of water. Cole is the reason I'm here; he assisted me in obtaining this opportunity to work as a teacher at the local high school, where Cole and his older brother, Finn, both work. Finn is a senior English teacher at the school, and he has changed over the years, according to Cole. I last saw Finn two years ago, when he and Cole both left. They don't live together; Finn still lives with their father, whereas Cole and I now officially share a two-bedroom apartment in the heart of town. However, he left early this morning for a meeting, which is why I am currently sitting in an Uber, stuck in traffic.

I awaken from my thoughts when I peek out my window and notice that we've arrived at Mountain Waters High School's parking lot. The school is highly contemporary, with beautiful blossoming flowers at the entrance and multiple two-story buildings dedicated to each discipline. I can feel butterflies crawling through my stomach as I get out of the Uber. I don't feel apprehensive or anxious easily, but this job offer has me on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

I shrug and walk confidently through the front gates, attempting to brush off any nerves. Cole Jackson, in his cute overly professional work attire, is standing in front of the main office building.

"Good morning, sunshine; you're one minute late." He says this while slyly pointing to his watch. I roll my eyes and follow him into the large building, where there are only three other people in a small conference room.

"Good morning." I greet everyone in the room by shaking their hands.

Everyone was chit-chatting until the principal came in and indicated for us to take a seat. The principal and Cole take seats at the front of the room, while the rest of us take our seats at the tiny conference table.

"Thank you all for coming; my name is Christopher Allons, and I am the principal of this school." He introduces himself.

I give Christopher a friendly smile, and he says something to Cole that I don't quite understand. Cole moves away from Christopher and towards me, gently lifting my arm up and motioning for me to walk with him.

Perplexed and concerned, I enquire, "Is it possible that I made a mistake? I only gave him a friendly smile."

"Relax, he wants me to give you a tour and interview you, but I'll just do the tour because I already know you."  We walk out of the main office and into the performing arts building. It was only two stories tall, but it housed the school's auditorium, ten art rooms, thirteen music rooms, and three dance rooms.

"Wow, this is crazy." I stammer as I take in the artwork on the building's interior walls. Cole notices my surprised expression and laughs.

Cole continues to show me around the rest of the school; I was astounded by how well-designed it was, especially with children constantly destroying it. We finish the tour with some snacks by the staffroom, and Cole reaches out one hand for a handshake while holding a bag of chips in the other.

"You've been hired." He attempts to speak while his mouth is full of food. I laugh out loud and shake his hand.

The day seems to go by too fast, i greeted most of the staff that works at the school and even made small talk with some of the students. Cole and I decide to stop for dinner at a local Italian restaurant on the way home.

"I've never seen you dressed so formally before, young lady." Cole points out.

"Do you think I'll show up to an interview in sweats?" I laugh as I look for a waiter or waitress. Cole smirks and we enjoy our meal together, catching up on all the stuff we have missed with each other since we didn't have time to yesterday.

We return to our apartment after eating a little too much cheese and garlic bread, and Cole immediately runs to our living room couch and covers himself with a blanket like a puppy; he's adorable.

"Aren't you adorable? Move your feet off the couch." I snap, and he does as he is told. I walk into my bedroom and collapse onto my bed. I begin to think and I can't believe how easily I got this job; if it hadn't been for Cole being Cole, I'd have been far too nervous around the principal. My thoughts eventually helped me relax, and I continue to lie in the same position as I begin to slowly drift off into a deep sleep.