Just us.

3. What am I thinking?

Carly and I are walking down the hall while she tells me about the new guy she's been talking to.
"I just don't know if he likes me, ya'know?" She huffs and continues typing in her phone "I just want something like you and your husband. You two are like couples goals" her words stunned me a little. Fortunately she was too buried in her phone to notice my undeniable change in expression.

Mia, however, who has just walked out of the office at the complete wrong time, looked straight at me. I stopped abruptly right in front of her. She raised her brow and Carly looked up to question the quick pause.

"Ugh. Mia" she rolled her eyes
"Carly" Mia replies in an equally distasteful tone before focusing back on me, who propped up a smile. "Charlotte. How are you this morning? After yesterday you seemed a bit off" seriously Mia? Had to say that did you?
"Yesterday?" Carly questioned
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine" my eyes narrow at the red head in front of me before turning to Carly with a smile.

I can't believe that just happened. Now Carly is going to be on my case. I know she just cares but I don't want to worry her.

...

Carly was sent down to the baby room, that's really where she shines. She's so good with the babies. I'm in the preschool room again.

There's a a few more kids in today and there should be someone else in here with me but no one has showed up. Luckily, I'm still in ratio but someone else should be here already.

Just as I'm setting up a painting activity, Mia enters the room.
"Hey Charlotte" she smirks
"Mia? What are you doing in here?"
"Olivia called in sick. Reecey really needs to find some more reliable staff" she rolls her eyes
"But there's no one else to cover? And I'll be out of ratio"
"That's why I'm here, sweetheart. Don't panic" Mia is going to cover? In the rooms?

"Are you even qualified for this job?" She laughs at my comment which I don't find funny at all.
"Of course. So, where do you want me?" I Seriously have to spend the whole day with Mia? She is insufferable. This is going to be a very long day.

...

The kids are sat down for snack time and I'm pouring some juice into a cup for one of the kids
"Charlotte, can I have some orange juice please?" Timothy, a little boy asks politely,
"Of course, sweetheart" I smile as I pour him a cup.

When I stand up, I notice Mia at the other end of the table talking with a couple girls. They're smiling and giggling at something she said. I'm quite surprised at how good she is with the kids. It's different from her 'dark and mean' personality. It actually reminds me of Autumn. I know through that tough as a rock shell of hers, she's actually a very sweet and sensitive person. Just don't tell her I said that. She will kill me.

There's something about Mia sat on the floor that's... different. She seems genuinely happy. Her smile is actually quite pretty and her eyes have brightened. She looks like... she belongs.

I didn't even notice I was staring until our eyes met. I froze completely. Locked in the world that is those ocean eyes of hers.

Wait! This is Mia I'm talking about here! What am I thinking? There's something wrong with my head, I'm sure of it. Shaking it off, I look away and continue helping the kids. Making sure to avoid her direction.

Collecting some of the empty cups, I walk over to the counter to place them down.
"So what's next?" I can't help the gasp that escapes me at the surprise. I quickly spin on the spot to face her
"Well, I'm going to take a group of kids into the book corner for story time. How about you take your group into the home corner for a role play activity?" I suggest
"Hmm Role play. You like that kind of thing, hm?" She smirks and I can feel my face go as hot as a burning fire pit. "Relax Char, I'm just teasing" she winks before going back to the kids. What. The.

...

The day is almost over, I do handover with the last few kids and start to tidy things up in the room. Mia went back to the office when the first lot of kids left and I was back in ratio.

Glancing out of the window, I notice Olivia walking down the hall. Except she is supposed to be off sick?
"Olivia!" I call out, opening the door
"Oh, hey Charlotte. Eveything okay?" She smiles
"Yeah, I just didn't think you were in today, were you feeling better?"
"Must have me mixed up with someone else. I've been in the baby room all day with that apprentice from your nursery" what? She was moved to the baby room? Why was Mia coving in here when she had the staff?

I apologise and say goodbye as she leaves. But before I do, I need to talk to Mia.

...

Making my way to the office, I text Carly to wait for me in the staff room as I offered to drive her home.

I knock on the door, and wait for the "come in" from Mia
I walk in and the woman smiles as she turns her chair to face me
"Charlotte. What can I do for you?"
"I just ran into Olivia. You said she called in sick" I get right to the point
"Did I?" I roll my eyes
"You know you did. Why did you move her to the baby room just to cover her?"
"So I could cover her. Like you said"
"Why? You never work in the rooms"
"Maybe I wanted to spend the day with you" what? Me? "Or maybe I was just bored" she stands up and continues "you see Charlotte, I do things when I'm bored. Things that may get me into trouble. You should try it some time"
"Excuse me?" I don't really have time for her nonsense. Not everyone is as reckless as she is.
"Go on sweetheart. Let your hair down a bit. Live a little dangerously for once" she closes the gap between us and I'm just frozen. I don't know why. I don't know what she's doing or what game she's playing. "I can show you how" she whispers, her breath hot on my ear sending shivers down my back. What is happening to me? What am I doing here? Snap out of it Charlotte!

I take a few steps back quickly
"I have to go".
I practically race down to the staff room to meet Carly. I honestly don't know who Mia thinks she is. I mean, seriously? What game is she playing? And why am I the one she's playing with?