What We Once Were | ✔

25 | Vincent

It didn't take long for news to travel, this town isn't very big and everyone seems to know everyone.

Heather wouldn't be at school for a few days, I knew that, I also knew that she was closer to her grandmother than anything. I've known Heather since she was kid, as rude as she was she was just one at heart.

Winter break was over, I was back a day early to clean again just like I did on the first day of school. After five months, the lock on my door was finally fixed and it took this long to do it. I set my bag on my desk, pulling off my coat and scarf I hung them in the metal cabinet out of the way. I cleaned each desk and swept, that really was all there was to it so it didn't take me very long. I sighed, when there wasn't school to didn't have anything to do besides swim during or work during winter, I pulled the box of books from the shelf, since Our Town wasn't very long we finished it before break, now we're back to our literacy books where we will start short stories then move onto poetry.

I put a book underneath each desk, 25 in all, I stopped at August's desk staring. What am I doing? I shook my head placing it underneath, over the months I've know her she's changed, you could tell something had happened to Joseph and she over summer but whatever it was you couldn't tell anymore. I smiled, I was happy about it, after I finished the books I decided that I could plan the lesson tonight so I pulled my scarf and coat back on leaving.

The next day I hurried to get dressed, I found myself wanting to get to school as soon as possible, whatever the feeling I got there at 7:00 which was earlier than I usually did. Pulling into the parking lot I skipped over snow nearly falling into the door, straightening myself k calmly walked inside I go ring the odd stares from two freshman teachers.

"Your early," Galvin said as I rushed passed him.

"Yep, didn't want to be late this time!" I replied unlocking the door.

"Your never late." Galvin chuckled continuing down the hall.

I unlocked the door quickly, I kept the door open as I clammy pulled off my coat hanging it in the hook, I still remained clueless as to why I was in such a hurry. Maybe it's because I didn't get today's lesson planned out or I wanted to see August, I was getting annoyed with myself. No matter how much I wanted to I couldn't get her out of my head, if I wasn't her teacher I would talk to her, maybe ask her out on a date but I am, and it would completely wrong. It doesn't matter.

I pulled out my planner flipping to second hour, almost everyone has managed to keep their grades up, and with the senior memory book, everyone has a C or higher. I wasn't sure exactly which story to lick from the literacy book, it has to be one with a good meaning, I glanced down at teacher planner, it that's what it says.

But I never go by it.

An hour later, class started. First hour, it was my Juniors.

"Alright!" I said sternly calling every one to attention.

They settled down as I wrote the title of the book and page number on the board, I knew they didn't like this book but that's what English does.

"Come on!" I ordered flipping through the book, "turn to it!" I sighed, I guess I was a little cranky.

"Mr. Richard," a boy in the back asked, "can we just do this tomorrow?"

"No, we just came back from winter break, what do you think?" I asked back looking up from my book.

He groaned slouching in his seat, a few chuckled around him. Just as I was about to read, the intercom beeped.

"Mr. Richard?" Mrs. Davis asked, she was the office attendant way up in her years.

"Yes?"

"Can you come up to the office?" She said quickly, "the counselor needs to see you about Heather Kyle's homework for this week."

"I'll be up."

I turned to the class as I opened the door to leave, "when I come back, I'll expect you all to be on page 68 when I come back."

I walked down the hall, my shoes clacked with each step as I walked up the stairs to the office where I would see Ms. Carla, the counselor. I walked in briskly, Mrs. Davis held a phone to her ear talking to an angry voice at the other end.

"Hold on." She whispered looking up after a few minutes of battering back and forth she hung up. "Ms. Carla is busy right now."

"I can wait," I said walking to the small waiting room at the side of the office, I stopped glancing over to Mrs. Davis, "can you keep an eye on my class?"

She smiled swinging over to the intercom, "sure thing."

I nodded, opening the door to the waiting room, it was small with four chairs and coffee table with a small bowl of mints laying in the center. Flowered paintings hung up making the room appear comfortable, I'm sure that's what she was trying to do anyway.

"Mr. Richard?" A voice asked.

I jumped surprised, August sat by the door hugging her jacker to her chest and tired red eyes.

"August, hey." I smiled weakly, "didn't see you."

I sat a seat away from her, her hair was pulled into a small braid revealing her slim neck, her freckled cheeks were red, from what I knew, crying.

"You okay?" I asked, she glanced at me shrugging.

"I don't know..." she replied, "I don't know anymore."

I raised my eyebrow, "you don't know?"

She shook her head, "I keep feeling happy but then this.....bad feeling keeps coming back."

I ran my hand through my hair, "did something happen? To make you feel like that?"

Silence took over, I watched her closely, her bottom lip trembled as tears threatened to slip from her eyes.

"M-My dad....." She whispered, she leaned over hugging herself tightly. "He died...and I can't forget about him......."

I miss him.

It suddenly made sense, when I first met her she wrote that at the end of her paper, the first one I gave to the class.

"I'm sorry..." I replied soothingly, my thoughts drew back to my mom, how she passed during the beginning of summer, my chest tightened, I knew exactly how she felt and what she was trying to do.

I looked up, August was staring at floor wiping away tears and snot.

"I'm a mess...." She mumbled to herself.

"August, you've changed." I said smiling, "I saw you so closed into yourself, now you're smiling more each day, you've made friends."

She glanced at me, red crept up to her ears, I suddenly realized what I had said, I looked away quickly blushing. I stood up quickly walking to Ms. Carla's door, embarrassment flooded my mind, I straightened my tie and vest looking for ways to avoid her.

"Thank you." I heard August say, I glanced over to, she was standing at the door of the waiting room.

I smiled, she looked back at before she walked out the door, my heart beat faster each time I saw her smile. Whether I wanted to admit it or not; I liked her.

"Your welcome, August." I whispered.

Ms. Carla's door opened, a freshman walked out holding class transfer papers with an annoyed look on his face. I walked in past him to see Ms. Carla, her graying blonde hair was twisted into a knot with glasses sitting on top of her nose.

"Where's August?" She asked stacking papers.

I sat down, glancing at the door, I smiled.

"She left." I replied looking to her, "must of figured it out."

And she did.