Infinite

Chapter 16: Rose Gold- Part 1

Seabrook, Texas, at Vanguard Preparatory, Friday, December 20th, 2030, at 1:50 pm

Rachel

I walk between the tables of my sixth period class as my students giggle and finish decorating their paper ornaments for the classroom tree. I gave them a geometric puzzle that they had to solve, creating different shapes within their oblique ornament. None of them are rounded, they have all sorts of edges and dimensions to them as each student chose to complete the puzzle differently. There wasn't an order to the types of shapes, they just had to match side lengths and stick them together.

"Why, these look beautiful!" I hear a familiar, charming voice echo from the doorway. Sam is standing there admiring the work of my students. Today is his last day as the temporary principal before he heads back to Dallas.

"Principal Marconi, you have to make one too!" Landon shouts as he grabs a new puzzle sheet and holds it up in the air.

Sam chuckles as he glances at me, waiting for approval to come in. I nod at him and smile back at Landon, who is just eager to help someone with a project. He heads over to Landon's table and takes a seat next to him. Landon's face lights up as he begins showing Sam how to figure out the side lengths of the different shapes on the paper and stick them together. Sam is incredible with kids, and his enthusiasm for everything is intoxicating. I get lost watching my students work and have fun as I cruise around the room.

I catch a glimpse of Artemis doing something in the hallway and head over. She quickly closes her classroom door behind her before I could say anything.

What was that about?

Artemis always pops in when she passes me in the hall, so I wonder what she's up to. I turn back to my students and help a few of them glue the last of their shapes together, revealing their spiky ornament.

"That looks dangerously merry!" I tease them as I pretend like it pokes me in the finger. Sam laughs loudly from the back table as he watches me. I immediately feel embarrassed and timidly hand the ornament back to my student. I head back to my desk, and am so distracted by Sam looking at me that I don't notice my door opening.

"Mrs. Clarke, what is that?" Landon exclaims as he points to the ground by the door.

The class falls silent, allowing a whirring sound to fill the room as a tiny robot drives along the floor. My heart skips a beat as I watch the familiar toy roll up to me and stop at my feet. There's a white note card sticking out the top. I bend down to pick it up.

Go out with me?

Was written in Lucas' beautiful, illegible handwriting. A few of my students gasp, causing me to jerk my head up. I see Lucas standing in the doorway in a black suit holding a single pink rose. Artemis is dancing around excitedly behind him.

So that's what she was up to.

Lucas is beaming at me until his eyes glance over to the back of the room where Sam is still sitting with my students. He stares at him for a moment, but quickly turns his attention back to me and smiles.

"Well?" he asks with a smirk on his face as he holds the simple pink rose out to me.

A group of girls begin giggling at Lucas's radiating charm. His confidence in front of Sam is incredibly attractive. His composure, coupled with his suit and the sentimental gesture is making my heart swell. I find myself falling more in love with the tall drink of water standing in my classroom, holding my favorite flower.

"I would love to go out with you." I cover my mouth with my hand as my classroom erupts into joyous laughter and cheering. The Christmas spirit in the room was already booming, but after Lucas' demonstration to all of the boys in the class of how to make a woman feel special, the atmosphere is unmatched.

Lucas looks like he's glowing as he slowly makes his way over to me, weaving between the tables. The girls in the class are watching him closely, their eyes practically heart shaped.

"I will see you tonight, beautiful," he croons as he hands me the rose and smiles at me adoringly.

My face feels like it's on fire and my heart is about to explode. I don't think I have ever felt this special. I smile sweetly back at Lucas and he turns to head out of the classroom. I see his eyes dart to the back of my room, and I realize that I completely forgot that Sam was there in the heat of the moment.

Lucas doesn't say anything, instead he joins Artemis in the hall. She is practically falling over against the wall.

"Oh my, I haven't seen anything that romantic outside of a movie!" she swoons as she waves her hand in front of her face.

My students giggle and the volume level in the classroom begins to rise above an acceptable level. Sam gets up and exits the room quickly and turns down the hall. I spend a few moments quieting my class down.

"Mrs. Finnegan, would you mind?" I shoot Artemis a serious look and she immediately comes into my room.

"Alright, kids, who has seen something sweeter than that Christmas love story we just watched?" the class erupts again, but I don't have time to object before I dart out the door.