Pride & Prejudice & Alienz (Josh Dun)

III

I most definitely did not spend that weekend sulking about the house and avoiding any conversation about how the dance went. It's not sulking if you're actually doing something constructive, after all. Which I totally was, and I wasn't about to let some pompous (and quite frankly, delusional) man who taught middle school and had a bright red mohawk get under my skin and sour my mood. I was a damn good teacher whose students adored her. I didn't see kids mingling around to greet Josh, and it was no wonder why. New or not, young kids like that are always eager to be seen as peers instead of subordinates. I would especially expect them to be enchanted with someone with such a stupid hairstyle. 

Monday rolled around and I'd long since put the incident behind me. I was eager to get into my room and set out the new supplies I'd purchased for the kids. Nothing too spectacular, just some new coloring pencils and water color sets. Still, I hadn't gotten over the feeling of having a classroom that was mine. This is what I had wanted from childhood and despite some of the hardships, I never lost sight of how thankful I was to actually have this job.

I still had a good bit of time before my first class and was sitting down grading some of the older kids works and making action plans for the students who had expressed the desire to pursue art further when there was a tapping on my door. "Come on in," I called out and the door swung open to reveal one of the kindergarten student teachers. 

"Hey, Beth," she greeted me with a tired smile. I felt bad because I couldn't remember her name, but I smiled nonetheless. Her face was familiar and we had shared laughs in the teachers' lounge. 

She slipped inside and plopped herself down in one of the tiny chairs, breathing out a loud sigh. "Rough morning?" I asked.

"Ms. Clarke's car wouldn't start this morning so I was left alone with the kids until she could get there," she explained. "And they were just... I don't know how she does it! They just listen to her." Ah, a feeling I had known well. "She said I could have a little time to myself and I saw your room was empty and figured I'd pop in to say good morning," she continued before taking a long sip of her coffee. 

I nodded sympathetically. "My first class doesn't start for another 40 minutes, so feel free to just relax."

"Thank you," she said and then she reached her hands up in the air to stretch out. "Oh! Did you hear Jackie's out on maternity?"

"Already?" I asked, clearly surprised. Time had flown.

She nods excitedly. "Guess who they have temping in her place."

The look on her face made it all too obvious. "Shut up," I say eagerly in spite of myself.

Her grin grows. "I just bumped into him in the hallway on the way here. He got a new hair cut. It looks-" she made a popping noise with her mouth and threw up a double thumbs up. 

Damn. And he'd be here for twelve weeks. I attempt to keep a straight face and say, "I'll have to pop in later when I get the chance and welcome him on board." 

We carried on for a little while before she checked her watch and declared she was ready to return to the battle. I walked her to the door and patted her shoulder before watching her descend down the hallway and turn out of my sight. I waited approximately 5 seconds after that to pop into the classroom next door to mine.

The door was ajar so I just tapped on it lightly before pushing it open. His head snapped up from the pile of sheet music he seemed to be organizing and he grinned as he rose to greet me. "Hey, Beth!" 

"Hi! I heard you were taking over for Jackie and wanted to see if the rumors were true."

He simply chuckled and nodded. "Exciting huh? We're finally neighbors again. I was actually planning on swinging by later to see how you've been." 

I was touched by his thoughtfulness and delighted to see that his new haircut definitely warranted the double thumbs up. "Oh, you know. Same old same. How about you?"

"Can't complain!" 

We are interrupted by the clearing of a throat and I look over to see Mrs. Thompson standing with a student in front of her. "Hello Miss Bennet," she greets me in a tone that let's me know I need to get scooting now. I nod and smile in return, taking my cue to get gone.

"Goodbye, Mr. Urie," I say, turning back to him before I slide out and back into my class to text Lydia about the encounter before carrying on with the day, which creeps by. The mind numbing dragging feeling was only made worse by the fact that I'd made a grave error in judgment with my choice in footwear, opting out for fashion over functionality.

By the time I get home I am more than ready to kick them off and relax but upon entering I hear a bustle in the kitchen and other telltale signs of company. I sigh and slink to my room, avoiding the kitchen. It's not unusual for Lydia to have friends over for dinner anyway.

I take a little while to decompress and change into my street clothes and a pair of slippers before I reemerged and wandered into the kitchen where I am met with the last sight I want to see.

My eyes first land on Tyler, who is sitting on the kitchen counter while Jenna stood next to him, mixing something in a bowl and laughing at whatever it is he's saying, which in and of itself isn't too bad. The bad part is that my chair at the table is occupied by an uncomfortable mass of rudeness with Lydia perched across from him.

Tyler is the first to notice my arrival. "Oh, hey Beth," he says like everything is perfectly normal. I try my best not to grimace. Everyone's attention is now on me and I force a smile as I slink into the room and to the fridge to grab a soda. 

"Nice to see you again, Tyler."  I refused to acknowledge Josh because I am an adult and I can do whatever I want, especially in my own home which I was certain he had no business being in anyway.

Dinner is painful. Tyler is the one saving grace of the evening as he, Jenna, and Lydia sit chirping on happily. Josh, who was still in my seat, sat quietly as he poked at his plate. I had lost my appetite and told the group I'd gotten a late lunch with a colleague but they insisted I stay and have a drink. So there I sat, avoiding  eye contact with Josh and chiming in every so often. I could tell that Jenna was smitten with Tyler and I could see why.

I'm almost to the bottom of my beer and my wits when Josh finally speaks to say more than just compliment Tyler's stories. "It's a shame you've already eaten," he says softly to me as the conversation still rolls around us. "Jenna's a really good cook, this is delicious."

By now Tyler has quieted down, noticing his friend is doing something out of the ordinary. "She is," I reply as I push my chair back, unable to stop myself. "Too bad she doesn't put more paste in her food."

Tyler snorts as a horrified expression dawns on Josh's face. I stand up, ignoring the confused looks on my roommates face and bid everyone a goodnight as I quickly make my way back to my room, adrenaline coursing through my veins after my little outburst.