Opportunity of a Lifetime: A Lizzie Olsen Story

Ch 38. Jackets and Jealousy

Y/N POV
10th August
It is currently 3:40 pm and I am sat in the staff room of the school discussing all the things we need too before the year starts. Although what we were discussing was boring, the meeting was a great chance for me to meet with a couple of other teachers  and staff who have all been extremely welcoming. Turns out the group of us that are going out for drinks is myself Bec and a few other teachers whose names I have already forgotten.... Great.

The meeting finishes and we are all collecting our things as Bec walks over to stand next to me. "Are we still on for drinks tonight?" she asks me as I turn to face her. "Yeah, I'm excited! Who's going again?" I ask, taking this as my opportunity to try and remember the names of those who are coming. "Oh right, so there is you and I who both teach first grade, Marley, he teaches third grade. Freya who teaches second grade. Jeremy who also teaches second grade and then Hayley who teaches fourth." She tells me as we make our way towards the car park. Thankfully, Bec offered me a lift and Lizzie is picking me up.

We make the short drive down to the bar around the street and get out to meet the others who are already inside with a drink each. Bec and I make our way over to the group who have two spare beers sitting on the table for myself and Bec. "Hey guys, this is Y/N, the new grade one teacher from Australia." Rebekah says, introducing me officially to the group. "Hi." I say shyly, raising my hand to scratch my neck nervously. Even though I met these people not even an hour ago, my social anxiety is still at an all time high.

"Y/N, hey! We are so glad you could join us!"  says the taller blond girl who I believe is Freya. Her hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders and a pair of glasses that frame her face perfectly. Her voice is soft and friendly, almost as if she could sense my nerves. She offers me a soft smile and I feel my body relax. "Hey, thanks for inviting me! I really appreciate it." I respond to the blonde woman and take a seat at the table next to a tone, tanned brunette man, who I believe is Marley.

"Hey." I say, getting settled in my seat, putting my bag under the table at my feet as a beer is slid across the table to me. "So Y/N, how are you finding the states? One of the others asks. Taking my attention off my drink, I look up to give my attention to the blond man that asked the question. 'Okay, that's Jeremy. I remember him talking during the meeting.' I think to myself, making mental notes on every person so I can remember their names.

"Yeah, it's really good! I'm loving it honestly. I got a little home sick though. Thankfully, my siblings visited me the other week so that was really nice." I reply honestly. "That's so great!" Hayley states with a small smile of her own. The night goes by with the six of us sharing some friendly light hearted conversations. Everyone getting to know the other a little better. Obviously that meant a lot of uncomfortable conversation about myself which is never fun but everyone made me feel extremely relaxed and I think I may have found some genuine friends which is exciting.

About an hour and a half has passed since we arrived and a fair amount of alcohol has been consumed, which has led the six of us to have ended up on the dance floor in the middle of a sea of other sweaty drunks. This is exactly what I needed right now, a few drinks, some good music and good company. It may seem like I have everything under control at the moment but the truth is that I am still very stressed about all the new, unknown things I have in my life currently.

I mean, I am in a new country on the other side of the world, I am starting a brand new job and my girlfriend is an A list celebrity. All of these things are incredible and I am so insanely happy especially with Lizzie, but that doesn't stop me from feeling a little overwhelmed at times. This group of people, and the alcohol, have helped my anxieties ease a little for the night and it feels good.

We continue dancing with each other and share a few more drinks as the night goes on, somehow, I fail to notice that a lot of my drinks are being purchased by Marley without me asking and that he is tending to want to dance with me more than he does the others. I just take it as him trying to be friendly and dance with him, being sure to always have a friendly distance in between us.