blurred lines in a forbidden fairytale

{2} caffeine and confessions

Taylor's POV:

The bell finally rings, and the students scatter, grabbing their bags and filing out of the room. I offer a few "See you tomorrow" and "Good work today" as they leave, but my mind is somewhere else. My gaze drifts to Aurora's desk, still empty. I let out a long breath, rubbing my temples. First day of school, and it already feels like I've run a marathon.

After straightening a few chairs and shuffling the papers into a neat stack, I glance at the clock. I have a free period before lunch—a small mercy. I could use the time to prep for my next class, but the idea of sitting in this room, replaying the scene with Aurora over and over, doesn't appeal. I need a break, so I grab my bag and head to the teachers' lounge.

As I push open the door, I'm hit with the smell of coffee and the soft hum of conversation. A few teachers are scattered around, some with papers in front of them, others chatting with mugs in hand. I spot Travis- one of my colleagues and a friend- at one of the tables, flipping through a book. He looks up and grins when he sees me.

"Hey, Taylor," he says, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. "How's your first day going?"

I manage a smile as I drop into the chair, setting my bag down. "Surviving, I guess."
He raises an eyebrow, leaning back a little. "That bad already?"

I shrug. "It's nothing new. Just a bit of attitude from one of my seniors." I try to sound casual, but the frustration must slip through because Travis' expression softens.

"Let me guess," he says, half-joking. "another kid who thinks they're too cool for school?"

"Something like that." I let out a sigh. "Her name's Aurora. She's... a handful."

Travis nods knowingly, pushing a stray strand of hair back from his forehead. "I had a few like that last year in my history class. They push every button they can, seeing where the limits are."

I laugh a little. "She already found mine, and it's only day one."

He gives me a sympathetic look. "Don't let it get to you. They're testing you, yeah, but it's not personal. Kids like that usually have a lot going on outside of school."

His words echo in my mind. It's not personal. I know he's right, but it's hard to remember that when a student stares you down with that defiant look, practically daring you to react. "I know, I know. It's just—she really knows how to push."

Another teacher, Melissa, walks over with her coffee, catching the tail end of our conversation. "First day struggles already?" she asks, giving me a sympathetic smile.
I nod. "The usual. Just trying to get through it."

Travis leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. "But hey, at least you have this free period to recharge. Want a coffee?" He gestures to the pot in the corner.

I feel my chest tighten for a moment. Coffee—sure. But every part of me is on high alert as I think about what's in it. Black. It has to be black. No milk, no sugar. The thought of the extra calories makes my pulse quicken. I don't want to sound ungrateful, though, so I force a smile. "Uh, just black, please. No milk or sugar."

He raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment. "Got it." He stands and moves to the counter.

I glance around the room as he pours the coffee, trying to distract myself. Melissa and a few other teachers are talking near the window, sharing stories about their summers, and there's a group by the coffee machine complaining about the latest budget cuts. It's a familiar scene, but my mind keeps drifting back to Aurora. I try to ignore the knot in my stomach, reminding myself it's just coffee. It's fine. No sugar, no milk. It's fine.

Travis returns, setting the cup in front of me. "Here you go—black coffee, just as requested."

"Thanks, Travis." I offer him a genuine smile, relieved. He sits back down, his eyes lingering on me for a second before he glances away, a small smile playing on his lips. I sip the coffee, the bitter taste grounding me. Safe.

"So, other than the difficult students, how's everything else?" he asks, trying to keep the conversation light. "Any exciting books on the syllabus this year?"

I nod. "I'm planning on doing The Great Gatsby again. It's always a hit or miss with seniors, but I think it's worth it."

He grins. "A classic. And if anyone can make it interesting, it's you."

I laugh softly, feeling the warmth of the coffee, but also the way his compliment makes me feel a bit self-conscious. "I appreciate the vote of confidence. But honestly, sometimes I wonder."

Travis's smile fades a bit, and he leans forward, his eyes catching mine. "Hey, don't doubt yourself, Taylor. You're one of the best teachers here. You care. That's more than a lot of people can say."

His words hit me a little harder than I expect. For a moment, I'm not sure what to say. It's nice, hearing that someone sees what I'm trying to do, even on the days when I feel like I'm falling short. I give him a genuine smile. "Thanks, Travis. That means a lot."

He shrugs, looking a little embarrassed but pleased. "Just speaking the truth."
Melissa raises her coffee cup at me from across the room. "You know what they say—if you make it through the first day, the rest of the year's a breeze."

"Yeah, and if it isn't, there's always more coffee," I say, lifting my cup in a mock toast, though the thought of drinking more coffee today makes my stomach turn.

Travis laughs, and for a moment, the tension in my chest loosens. We keep chatting, and he tells me about his summer—something about a hiking trip that went wrong when he forgot to bring enough water. I listen, trying to focus, but my mind still drifts.

What am I going to do about Aurora? I can't let her keep running the show, and I know I'll have to set boundaries, but there's a fine line between showing authority and pushing too hard. And if Travis is right—if something's going on outside of school—I need to find a way to reach her without making her shut down entirely.
But how?

As the clock ticks closer to the end of the period, Travis glances at me. "You doing anything for lunch? Maybe we could grab a bite."

I blink, caught off guard. "Oh, um, I think I might stay in and get a head start on lesson planning."

I see the flicker of disappointment on his face before he masks it with a casual smile. "Of course, always the dedicated teacher."

I give a small laugh. "Or just the overwhelmed one." And the one avoiding extra calories.

"Well, if you change your mind, I'm around," he replies, standing up and giving me a quick smile before heading back to his classroom.
I watch him go, feeling a little guilty. I know he was just trying to be nice, and I appreciate it, but there's too much on my mind right now. As I finish my coffee, I make a silent promise to myself—tomorrow, I'll find a way to connect with Aurora. I don't know how yet, but I'm not giving up.

With a sigh, I gather my things and head back to my classroom, my mind still buzzing with a thousand thoughts, and my body still tense as I think about how I'll manage lunch without anyone noticing if I skip it.

A/N: this is for Fanfic0905 because apparently they have nothing else to do than to read my stories 😉