Another High School Romance

five

"Morning Miss Swift!" 

"Good morning Lucy, enthusiastic as always." I looked up from my desk as one of my year thirteen students skipped into the room with her friends behind her. She always had a smile on her face and had very quickly made herself comfortable like we were friends instead of student and teacher, but I didn't mind too much. I'd never been a strict enforcer of authority if I got along with the kids.

"So, I heard a rumor." Lucy almost sang, stopping in front of me and grinning knowingly.

"You're in high school Lucy, rumors are a given." I glanced down at my computer, bringing up the roll for first period as she giggled.

"It's about you and Coach Kelce." Lucy told me, and my gaze snapped up in a frown. "Logan said you guys were hanging out in Coach's office last Thursday, with the door closed." She whispered the last part of the sentence, her tone almost begging me to elaborate.

"Lucy, meddling in the private business of your teachers probably isn't the best way to get through your last year of education." I said casually like I wasn't interested, folding my arms on the table. "Why don't you go sit down and focus more on the draft assignment I still haven't received from you." I arched an eyebrow and she flushed, moving off to go and sit down.

Well, if I was being honest, the rumor hadn't spread as fast as it probably could have. That was Thursday; it was Monday now. Students would talk about anything, so I shouldn't have been surprised that the student who had seen Travis and I together had spread it around. But there was nothing to tell, well, nothing I was going to tell. He'd just been comforting me on a really bad day, apologizing for being an ass. I knew what people would be saying; that him and I were seeing each other. That was the only thing I knew they'd be focusing on; it was high school after all. But it wasn't true, so I wouldn't worry about people talking. It'd blow over in a day or two.

Halfway through the class as the students worked quietly on their quiz, an email came through on my notifications bar. Glancing up to make sure everyone was working, I clicked on it. It was from Travis, and I hid a smile behind my hand as I read it. Maybe he was just trying to cheer me up, or maybe he wanted to be friends after our hostile start. But for whatever reason of my own, I typed out a response and clicked send.

Travis Kelce
So, it turns out people are spreading rumors the new English teacher and the football coach are getting it on in the P.E offices. You wouldn't have anything to do with people making that assumption would you Miss Swift?

Taylor Swift
Like I said, don't flatter yourself. You know how kids will gossip about anything.

I turned my attention back to the class once I'd sent my reply, but I couldn't help checking my emails every few minutes, telling myself I was just looking in case anything else had come through. Nothing new came in from Travis, so I forced myself to stop reloading the app when second period came around. 

I had duty for the second half of lunch so went out to the field after I'd eaten, walking slowly underneath the faded sunlight peeking through the fluffy clouds. Some of the boys were playing football on the grass for fun, groups of students sitting in circles around them watching as they tackled each other to the ground without really bothering to play by the rules. I paused there, watching for a few minutes when I sensed someone coming up behind me. I smiled to myself.

"You trying to start more gossip?" I asked.

"I just happened to be coming this way."

"Sure you were." I glanced over at Travis with a small smile. I'd had all of one conversation with him, but I felt comfortable now we were past despising each other. He seemed like a genuine, good guy.