Catching Waves

Part Six

With a spectacular slap of her hand, Caitlin silenced her alarm clock for good. Well, at least for the next seven minute snooze allocation. Here was Monday, as promised, punctual as ever. Nervous energy shoved Caitlin rudely out of bed and out of the door with Reg. The duo marched purposely along the winding path that led up Tide Hill, breaking into their customary jog once they'd reached the peak that looped all the way back to the front door of the apartments.  

As she briskly soaped herself down in the shower, Caitlin fixated on the day ahead. Pleased as she was not to have shagged Preston, that didn't stop a rabble of butterflies from partying it up right in the pit of her stomach. She swiped her iron over the day's ensemble of violet twin set and neatly cut grey trousers and paused over her shoes, pondering, eventually picking out the peppermint green suede kitten heels that added some wattage to her walk. Finally she sat down in front of the mirror to colour over the dark shadows that signposted that night's restless sleep. She ended up perched on the edge of the fattest sofa, letting the tranquil sounds of her morning yoga video wash over her, Caitlin picked at her toast and honey before abandoning it in order to concentrate on her coffee. She idly watched the bendy lady on the telly demonstrate this pose and that ashtanga, following her breathing instructions in between nibbles and sips, until she felt quite calm. Really, this yoga had a lot going for it. At 07.30, Caitlin blew a kiss to Reg who was showing a dental chew what for and headed down the stairs.  

Driving to work, Caitlin tramped down all impure thoughts (of Preston's chest, Preston's boxers, Preston's arse) and focused on the lessons she would give today. The GCSE coursework deadline was looming and she just knew she could get decent grades for her seven charges as long as they all got their essays done. Swinging into the car park, she blinked to see a black Mazda in the head teacher's parking space. Used to being the first one in, Caitlin's stomach did a strange sort of back flippy forward roll. Had Preston come in early to see her? She hastily parked, yanked on the hand brake and headed towards the front door, finally reaching her destination after heading back to her car twice, once to lock it and then once again to retrieve her handbag.  

Once in the school building, she walked confidently, nonchalantly towards her room, feigning a renewed interest in the art work that covered the walls, determined not to be caught looking as though she were thinking about it, about him. She reached her door without incident and if pique was nibbling at the very edges of her cool exterior (all that confident nonchalance gone to waste) then she didn't acknowledge it. Instead she quickly whipped open windows and spritzed smelly into the corners, the room had a fun habit of storing up the weekend's damp and releasing it back into the ozone through huffy little farts once the school had warmed up again. Caitlin then settled herself at her desk and glanced through the notes left for her by Friday's cover supervisor; back straight, chest out, head angled gracefully, an amused smile dancing across her dainty rose hued lips.  

Ten minutes later, everything ached from holding such stiff positions and the rosy hue had been licked off, Caitlin was a sucker for the sticky sweetness of lip gloss. She stood, stretched and assumed a different position in front of the small table that held her computer. This time, she crossed her legs and rested her chin lightly on her hand, an elegant frown furrowing her brow as she perused and calculated essential statistics (browsed the Next sale). Giving herself a mental high five when the sound of manly footsteps came striding down the corridor, Caitlin renewed her position with interest, swiftly minimising the window that had been luring her in with promises of half price reduced to buy one get one free reduced to choose three have cheapest for nothing. Josh stuck his tousled head round her door - "Morning. Why you scowling? Are you on the Next sale? Heidi's going nuts in her room. Says you've to come and help her decide between the mock croc or the fake snake? Or should she get both and then have the khaki cardi thrown in for free even though it's a size too big?"