City Girl

The Headmaster

City girl

Chapter 2

The Headmaster

Did I really just say that? If so, then where the blazes did it come from? I mean, I know I was trying to play it cool but I have never, ever been that cool before. Especially around a guy. ... Especially around a cute guy.

My heart was hammering in my chest and my limbs felt like goo as I walked away. You may think I had to fight to keep from looking back and admiring my handiwork. Nope! Not looking back was easy-peasy, and not because some small part of me knew that looking back would undo all the cool. It was more like fear that kept from looking back, fear that if I did I would find Skandar laughing at me. And that thought was terrifying.

Fortunately I didn't have to feel that fear for long. As I neared the door to the Headmaster's office, the Headmaster suddenly stepped out startling me and chasing the fear away. He stood about five feet and eight inches, which I guess is average height but it's tall compared to my five even. He had a bald head but a sprinkling of salt and pepper facial hair. He wore dark rimmed classes, and a full suit and tie.

"Miss Parker.... At long last."

"Sorry I'm late, Sir. I would have been here sooner, but I got lost."

"You had a map."

"Oh! Is that what this is? Well bless my little heart," I said in the thickest southern accent I could manage, pronouncing 'heart' like 'hart'.

The Headmaster was not a fan of teenage sarcasm, as was apparent by the narrowing of his eyes. Without saying a word he pointed towards his office. I went straight for the chair by the window, dropping my book bag at its feet, while he closed the door behind us.

"So how, exactly, did you get lost with a map?"

"If I knew how I got lost, then I wouldn't have gotten lost in the first place. And I don't mean that sarcastically, honest." I added the last bit quickly. "It's genetics."

"Genetics?"

"Yes. I may have gotten my love of literature from you, but when it comes to a sense of direction that is all Mama."

Now you're probably asking yourself, did she really just say that? Yup! I did. You see, the Headmaster of this prestigious boy's day school, is also the overbearing father I mentioned earlier. I bet it makes more sense now why he wanted me to come to his office after school.

You may also be wondering, 'why didn't she just say that in the first place?' That, my dear reader, is because Daddy made it very clear when he moved me out here that while at school it was Headmaster, and it was Dad at home. I tried to explain that one can't just turn off being a dad like that, like flipping a switch, but he thought I was being sarcastic (and I was a bit) and I received my first Dad lecture. That was fun.

"Your Mother can not be that bad at directions.... Still."

"Can't she? She still needs help finding everything at the grocery store, and she's been going to the same store every week for twenty years. I mean milk's on aisle one, bread aisle five, and the best chocolate is on aisle thirteen next to the 'feminine products.' Even I know that much at least."

The Headmaster chuckled, and strangely enough, it sounded like "Dad" chuckling.

I don't mean to sound bitter towards my dad; that's not the case at all. I love my Dad, and I know he loves me. And it's not like I'm in some terrible situation where my Mom suddenly croaked and now I'm stuck with the dad I never knew I had. My dad has been Dad for sixteen years; it's always been that way. He's always been my Dad... who lives in London, while my Mom and I lived in Manteo, North Carolina (home of the Lost Colony and the late Andy Griffith.) And the three of us have always had a strong relationship.

I got a phone call once a week, sometimes more depending on how old I was and how angry I was with my mom. I received rather nice birthday gifts. We always got together for Christmas be it in Manteo or London. And then there were our annual family vacations in which Dad spared no expense and treated the three of us to a grand summer getaway. Last summer we went to Milan and this summer we saw Athens.

So if my Dad is such an awesome dad, then why am I so angry with him you ask? Well you see...

Ooh... Bananas!

Bananas have always been my Dad's favorite fruit, mine too. So when I saw that he had a bunch of them on the counter behind his desk, of course I had to help myself to one.

Nothing else exciting happened after that. Dad worked on his Headmaster stuff while I sat by the window and worked on homework. Can you believe it? It's the first day of school and there's homework already. Ugh! We were there for maybe two hours before heading home. Once there I finished my homework, had dinner with Dad, and then Skyped my best friend Kayla who was just getting home from school herself.

Kayla is a typical best friend and I tell her everything... but for some reason I didn't tell her about my encounter with Skandar. I'm not sure why. I know she would flip, but not because she's a fan like I am. She's more of a Will Moseley girl; I know, I don't get it either. She would flip for me and she'd want all the details, details I didn't have. And then she'd ask for updates every day, wanting to know if I'd spoken with him again. I think that may be why I didn't tell her, because then I'd have to admit that I both hoped for and dreaded another encounter.