Along Came Oliver

Chapter 1

I never anticipated that I'd actually make it out here in the real world, no I'm not rolling in cash, I live in a 3 bedroom apartment with two roommates, I have two side jobs aside from my main job, and I work in a school district at a public high school. I'm living the dream, wouldn't you say? So yeah, I spend my days listening to depressed teens try to figure out what they want to do with their lives, and anxious parents trying to get their kids' lives in order. Yes, this is the life I chose to live. Why? You may wonder, well that's because when I was in high school I realized my dreams of being an artist were unrealistic and would leave me broke and living with my grandparents or homeless, I realized that my art was a hobby, and I'd never be good enough to make big bucks anyway, so I put my empathy and hope to work, and here I am, making the world a better place one hopeless teen at a time.

I stared at the hot mess that sat in the chair opposite my desk, this woman obviously didn't know what she was doing, more than me, her hair was disheveled, her makeup wasn't blended so she had straight lines of bronzer on the contours of her face, and she actually left her house today wearing crocs, much worse than the lack of blending in my opinion.

"I don't know what to do about her, she leaves the house wearing ankle length skirts and a cardigan, yet I'm constantly getting calls from the school about dress code violations?" Mrs. Benson said exasperatedly.

"Can I give you some advice Mrs. Benson?" she nodded at me, desperation in her puppy dog eyes, "obviously you hold her to a different standard than everyone else, and I can sense a lack of communication between you and Emily, I suggest talking to her and coming up with a compromise in regards to what she can and can't wear in school," I suggested. She nodded passively and thanked me before leaving my office, deep in thought.

I sighed deeply before pushing my chair out from under the desk and getting up to check out the busy main hallway. Some students hurried to class, some loitered on the outskirts or even the middle of the hallway, and some hurried outside so they could loiter in the courtyard. My schedule was clear until 3:00 PM so had time to spare, I peeked at the digital clock, it was only 9:56 AM, I looked down the hall both ways before I squeezed myself into the traffic, a pathway cleared as soon as I was thrown into the ring, while students may not respect each other, I was a very well respected staff member here, the students liked me because I was relatable and because I treated them like equals rather than inferior beings.

"Morning Miss, Allen!"

"How you doing' Miss. Allen?"

The students greeted me cheerfully as they passed me on their way to class. I never really understood why everyone hates high school, my high school experience was great, I never associated my personal problems with school. I guess I just liked to maintain a certain level of professionalism at school.

I rushed over to the spanish hall to visit my best friend Zoie, she taught first year spanish. We'd been best friends since middle school, she was the one person I trusted the most.

"Hola, Senora Russell," I knocked on her open door before entering, she was writing on the whiteboard.

"Hola mi hermosa mejor amiga, es tan bueno verte," she spoke to me in a cheerful tone.

"Still don't speak or understand spanish, I only understood the first half," I chuckled as she clapped for me, like I was a child learning to walk.

"So, you have any movies picked out for this weekend?"

"Yup, but I can't decide if I want to watch Dark Skies before or after we watch the entire series collection of Brickleberry."

"That's an easy decision, before so I have time to recover before bed," I gestured exaggeratedly, I am purely terrified of that movie.

The Bell rang and suddenly students began to pour in.

"Well I better go, you have a class to manage," I waved her goodbye, saying hello to students as I exited the classroom.

The halls became desolate as students trickled into their classrooms, determined to beat the late bell.

Lately since I've had so much time on my hands, I've become involved in the spring talent show, well in charge of it actually, I spent most of my day planning it. When I was in high school, I never bothered to get involved in these sort of things, they seemed to out of reach for me, I was too confident around others to risk being so vulnerable in front of so many people, I wouldn't let them break down my walls.

I sat in the audience of the auditorium, watching intently as a girl I know as Jessica, twirled gracefully, dancing across the stage to an acoustic version of Britney Spear's Toxic. After her performance I hurried to the stage to address the remaining auditioners.

"Okay, thank you so much for all of you who auditioned today, unfortunately we cannot audition everyone today because we are out of time, so I will see the rest of you next friday!"

I stepped off the stage and hurried to my office to grab my things and lock up.

I was just locking the door when I was greeted by a tall man, about my age with messy dark brown hair and bright blue eyes.

"Hey I'm looking for a Mrs. Allen?"

"It's Miss. Allen but unless you're a student, you can call me Whisper," I tucked my keys into my purse, "what can I do for you?" He looked slightly taken aback at first but smirked.

"I'm Oliver Fleming, the new music director here, I'm meant to be working with you for the talent show," Oliver held out his hand and I shook it with a smile and a nod.

"Well Oliver, I'm going home because it's been a long day."

"Oh well I really need to get on with this project, I have to prepare for a music festival coming up and I need to be filled in so I can get organized, I'm sure you're busy too though..."

"If you'd like you can come over to discuss plans with me, I make the best iced coffee around, or are you a hot cup kind of guy?"

"I'd love to, I'll follow you in my car."

He followed me out of the school and into the parking lot, I pulled myself up and into my lifted toyota pickup. He raised his eyebrows in surprise at the size difference between me and my truck. He hopped into his black cadillac as I started my engine, and we were off. I pulled into the driveway of my three bedroom apartment, Oliver pulled up not a second later, parking on the street.

"You live in nice neighborhood," he commented.

"Yeah, sorry in advance if it's a bit of a mess, I share with two roommates, one of which is still in the between stage of college and getting a job. Looks like they're both out so you're safe for now," I warned him.

"I understand, I live with three roommates, including one who doesn't even pay rent."

"Yikes," I unlocked and opened my door to let him in, "well welcome to my humble abode, make yourself at home."

He smiled at me before stepping in, I followed suit, and allowed the door to shut behind me.