After Hours || H.S

Chapter 1

My first fan fiction! I hope anyone who reads this likes it! Please vote and comment, I could use all the feedback I can get! I'll update as frequently as I can but I'm a working college student so you know how that goes!
xx -S

CHAPTER 1

Harry's POV:

"Alright class. Tomorrow we will continue our discussion on Romeo and Juliet. Don't forget that its an in-service day and that were holding our parent teacher meetings... Now get out of here you crazy lot."

The class of crazy 8th graders walked out the door, and I was left in the room with just my thoughts, my coffee, and a stack of ungraded quizzes. Or, so I thought. I sat down at my desk, and as I glanced up to check for any left behind books or binders, I saw Bailey, one of my best students, with her head in our latest read. Clad in dark jeans with holes at the knees, a grey t-shirt and converse, she resembled the female version of me in my teenage years, down to the curly, chestnut brown hair.

"Mrs. Cameron, class ended fifteen minutes ago. Not that I mind your company, but don't you have some place to be?" She lifted her dark rimmed eyes from the pages, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Sorry Mr. Styles, I just really love this book. I hope you don't mind, I'm reading ahead a little. Also, my sister said she's running a little late at work so I have to wait for her."

"No problem at all, love. I used to do the same thing." My mind wanders to my primary school years in Holmes Chapel, sitting on my bed reading novels until my mum came to tell me to go to sleep. I can't help but smile at the memory.

I moved to the states just five years ago, after attending university. A buddy of mine, Liam, found me a teaching job through his girlfriend Danielle. I had always wanted to move to the U.S, and the job was the perfect opportunity. So I packed my small amount of belongings into a few suitcases, hopped on a plane, and left the U.K. A part of me misses my life there, but I love my job and my students.
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When I started teaching at Chatham Middle School, I was nervous to see if I'd connect with my students. I was young, so I had that going for me, but that was about all I was confident in. I know how hard it is to enjoy class when you feel like your being talked at, rather than talked to, so it was my mission to get on a personal level with each student in order to make them feel more comfortable and open to learning.

"Are your parents coming tomorrow for the meeting? I'd love to tell them about all of your work in my class."

A sense of panic fills her dark brown eyes, and a nervous, sad even, lip quiver follows.

"Umm, I'm not really sure. They, uh, have a thing to go to." Bailey's eyes dart around the room, as if she's uncertain of her answer.

"Are you sure? I bet they'd love to see your work. You should really think about asking them to come."

"Yeah, sure, I'll talk to them. I gotta go, my sister's here. By, Mr. Styles."

"By Bailey. Oh, and by the way, nice job on the quiz." I hold up her paper, a big "100%" scribbled in red ink at the top. She shows a small smile, and I watch her hoist her backpack over her shoulder, wave, and exit the classroom. I smirk to myself, shake my head, and go back to grading.

...

Liza's POV:

"Lizey, can I ask you a favor?" Bailey says from the passenger seat of my beat up Volkswagen Beetle. The drive from her middle school to home is only about ten minutes, but with the condition my car is in, it took us about fifteen just to get the car started and out of the parking lot. I'm saving up to get a new one, but with everything going on at home and taking care of Bailey and our brother Max, it just isn't in the cards at the moment.

"Sure, Bails. What's up?"

"Well, you see, tomorrow night is the student teacher conferences at school. Mr. Styles, my English teacher really wants someone to be there to hear about my progress and see my latest assignments. Since mom and dad are away, I was thinking maybe you could go?"

She looked over from her seat and I could see it in her pleading eyes how much it meant to her. I know how much she loves to read, as do I. We get that from our mom. I can remember sitting in bed together when we were little and reading chapter after chapter until I eventually fell asleep in her lap. I wish Bailey got to experience that with her, but unfortunately, that isn't the case.

When I was 17, my parents both got jobs working on dredging boats. This kind of job meant that they were gone anywhere from two weeks to 6 months at a time. My 17-year-old self was over the moon, having friends over and throwing wild house parties almost every night. Usually, Bailey, who was 7 at the time, would stay with one of my aunts or uncles, and I always convinced them I would be okay alone. They stopped working when my mom got pregnant with Max eight years ago, and this past Friday was their first job back since his birth. Money was tight, and the side jobs my dad was doing as a handyman just weren't cutting it anymore. Sure, it was a lot of responsibility on me to take care of Bailey and Max, but it was for the benefit of my family.

"Sure, Bailey. I'd be happy to go." I smiled softly and looked back to the road, making a left turn onto our street.

"Really?? Thanks Liza! It starts at five. Wow, I cant wait for you to see the map I drew of Asia, and my A+ Spanish test, and my...." She babbled on. Bailey was unlike any other 14 year old I knew. She absolutely loved school, and could read at almost the same level as me. She was so mature for her age, which is probably why she didn't have many friends at school.

Part of me felt bad for her, not having anyone to confide in, or run to. But another part was relieved that I knew she wouldn't be the girl I was in high school; a pathetic, snobby, party girl with no future.

Bailey pulled me from my thoughts with a loud screech. "Oh! And you'll get to meet all of my teachers! Mr. Styles is the best! You actually have a lot in common! You  know what?! You should date!"

'A lot in common?' I thought to myself? What could I possibly have in common with a middle aged, probably grey and balding, divorced man teaching at a public high school on Cape Cod?  There's no possible way I could be attracted to that kind of guy. That being said, I just smiled and nodded to Bailey, and turned and pulled the key out of the ignition.