Choices.

Chapter Five

Hey guys! Here is the next chapter.  I hope that you are enjoying them.  :)  If so, please vote and comment!

<3 Taylor

It wasn't long until my beloved summer was over and the school year began. And I was a nervous wreck. I had always wanted to be a teacher, but the fact that I was headed to the first day of my life-long career was giving me the jitters. Not to mention I only knew a few of my coworkers: my principle, the members of my interview team, and the teacher whose room was next to mine.

I hopped out of my car and grabbed my bag, heading towards the door nearest the employee parking lot. I made my way up to my classroom on the second floor, enjoying the sound of my shoes echoing through the empty halls that would soon be filled with the shouts of students eager and not-so-eager to start a new school year.

As I passed the last door between me and my classroom, Ms. Emerson, who had previously insisted that I called her by her first name, Ariana, called me into her room.

Ariana was a year older than me and had beautiful, dark brown hair. She was the Psychology teacher and I already had the feeling that she was good at what she did.

"Hey, Jenna!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Ready for your first day?!"

"As ready as I will ever be!" I laughed. "I'm a little nervous, though."

"That's normal," she smiled, turning around to get a Starbuck's cup off her desk and handing it to me. "I thought you could use a little treat for your first day. Welcome to the BHS family!"

"Thank you, that's so sweet! How did you know I liked vanilla bean?" I asked, taking a sip of the delicious drink.

"Who doesn't?" Ariana laughed, making me blush. "Plus, it's my favorite too!"

"Well, you have good taste. Thank you so much! I better head back to my room and set up for the day."

After agreeing to meet for lunch at the teachers' lounge, we said goodbye and I walked over to my new classroom.

---------------------

My first day as a teacher went by in a blur. Since it was the first day, I didn't do much with my classes except go over the syllabus and play a "get to know you" game. I knew that it would be a while before I learned all of my students' names, because I just had too many. I taught three sections of Algebra I and two sections of Geometry, so combined I had around 120 kids. I knew I would stay busy once the homework started rolling in.

After locking up my room, I headed back to my apartment. I dropped my bag on my bed and scooped up Coop, who looked like he missed me. I plopped down on the couch and pulled out my phone, calling Kat.

Kat answered after the second ring and yelled my name so loud that I thought my eardrums would burst.

"What?!" I screeched back, trying not to laugh. "Are you trying to make me deaf?"

"No! I'm just glad you called!" Kat said, sounding giddy. "I want to hear all about your first day!"

After rambling on about my day, Kat cut me off to ask the question I knew was coming.

"So are there any hot teachers there?" she asked. I could practically see her wiggling her perfectly arched eyebrows.

"Well, there is a pretty cute counselor, but I don't even know his name or anything. Everyone else is at least old enough to be my father."

"Girl, you need to get after that! What does he look like?" she practically shouted.

Ever since we met in our sophomore year of high school, Kat had taken it upon herself to be my personal match-maker. She obviously didn't do a very good job considering I still hadn't had a boyfriend. I had basically accepted the fact that Coop was the only man that would ever be in my life. I mean, I wasn't getting any younger. At the ripe old age of 22, my chances weren't looking too hot.

"Umm... No thanks," I mumbled. "You know I can't flirt!"

"Yes you can!" Kat said, showing her typical far too high faith in me. "You were flirting it up with Harry the last time you talked to him!"

"Yeah, well that's different. I was getting to know him and I was showing my slightly flirty personality. And it wasn't face-to-face! I can't purposely flirt with someone I don't know at all! You know I get nervous talking to any male between the ages of 20 and 40!"

"Whatever you say Jen," Kat huffed. "Just don't complain to me when you are an old maid with ten cats. One of these days you have to put yourself out there, though. If you get turned down, at least you can say you tried.

"I know you won't be happy with just you, your books, and your cats," Kat continued. "No matter how many times you say you will. You have too much love in your heart for just that. Plus, you need to have kids because you will be a great mother and I have to be the godmother!"

"I knowww," I said. "I just don't know what to do or say and I'm too afraid of getting turned down. How does one even talk to boys?"

"I know you are sweetie," Kat cooed, sounding very motherly. "But you have to try. Just be yourself and he will love you. If not, he's an idiot and he's missing out big time!"