The Taste Of Loneliness

Chapter 1

"Negan... Negan.. "
Knuckles rapped against the cheap wooden desk he sat at. Looking up from his steaming mug of black coffee at the principal of the school he worked in. Arnold Clark, a bald headed prick who waxed his desk every Monday to make it shine.

"Shit.. Sorry what? "
He grumbled taking another sip of the scalding hot liquid, but he didn't feel the burn anymore. He deserved it after all, every single bit of pain. Only having been back to work for a week after his wifes death. Lucille had died from her progressive cancer, he'd knew it was coming but so soon? He'd never have been able to prepare himself for it. Now he was a shell of the man he used to be. Barely acknowledging his friends and coworkers. Usually spacing out like he was now.

"The new English teacher starts today and I've got a lot of phone calls to make so could you show her around and help her get settled in her room before your first Class? "

Negan just sighed in annoyance, rubbing a hand over his tired face. The bags under his eyes darker now than his own hair. But nodded once as he stood up from his cracked leather chair.

"Guess I fucking can. " He smirked knowing everyone hated his profanities especially the principal. But no one else would work for the shit pay. Patting Arnold on the back as he walked from his broom closet of an office.

The high school he worked in was simple, a three a rank with a fourth rank football team and even worse baseball team. In the middle of nowhere almost, ten minutes from the town but oddly peaceful.
Everyone knew everyone which pissed Negan off, especially the looks of pity he received for the loss of his wife. He didn't want their pity. He just wanted to move on and forget. He had made her feel like absolute trash and never could make up for it.

Shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked up the hallway to the front office. Sitting in one of the cheap chairs as he waited, wondering if it'd be some old crone who still wore clothes from the fifties. Or some little gay twig who wore bow ties and drank hot tea instead of coffee.
Crossing his arms as he stared down at the cracked linoleum, letting the typing of the secretary zone him out.
Until he heard a woman's voice.

"Hello. Yes I'm the new English teacher I'm supposed to be meeting with Arnold Clark? "
Her voice was slightly timid and nervous, like she was applying for her first job.

Negan looked up and his eyes widened slightly. She wasn't an old crone or some gay guy. But she was an average but beautiful woman.
Her chestnut brown hair was pinned up into a messy bun. Hazel eyes searching over the desk absently mindedly as the secretary searched through papers. Long legs encased in sheer black pantyhose, short black pumps making her a bit taller than she normally was. A white skirt fell just below her knees, and a blue button up blouse with ruffled edged adorned her upper body. She didn't ware much makeup, probably just some blush or whatever it is women wear Negan thought to himself.
Clearing his throat he stood up from the chair looking at her with a soft expression.

"Arnold is fucking busy. He asked me to fucking show you around..."
He held his hand out for a proper introduction a slight smirk forming on his lips, showing his pearly whites.

"I'm Negan. " His eyes softened as she flashed a similar smile, offering her petite hand for the introduction.

"Rachel Stevens. Nice to meet you Negan. " Her voice was smokey, making his heart rate increase some. Oddly enough his palms became sweaty, he dropping his hand and looking behind her.

"So you've got some fucking boxes and shit? " He muttered before looking back at her. Hell he didn't want to stop looking at her. To him she was beautiful, other men maybe not. She let out a soft laugh at his words, raising an eyebrow as she nodded.

"Do you always have such a colorful vocabulary? " She put her hands on her hips before waking out the door of the office to her sedan. Popping open the hood now to show the boxes she lifted one and passed it to him. He grunted softly and nodded.

"I sure fucking do. And everyone fucking loves it. " He winked at her before turning to walk back inside with the box. Sitting it in the office before walking back out to get another one. Taking his time to load them all inside.

"I'll go grab a fucking cart for all these." He muttered moving to the side room off the office for one of the carts. Of course the last one which had a squeaky wheel. Huffing he pushed it out and put her belongings on it before motioning for her to follow him.

"So we clock in and shit here. Science, history and math classes are that way... " He pointed to the right hallway, while he began leading her down the opposite one.

"While this way is the others. Extracurricular activities and that shit. And English rooms.. " He muttered, awkwardly knowing the only reason she was here was because Lucille had died. They'd been looking for a part time replacement anyways but now the full-time position was open.
He fell silent as he pushed the cart down the hallway to the empty classroom she'd be in. Clearing his throat as he left the cart beside the empty desk.

"Here you fucking go. Hope you get fucking settled easy. " He muttered rubbing the back of his neck. As he looked around the room, it felt like he was stepping back in time. But he couldn't linger on those thoughts too long.

"Oh I'm sure I will. Thank you again Negan. " She smiled sincerely as she opened one of the boxes and began putting personal objects on the desk.
Humming to herself as she looked at him with a slightly perplexed expression.

"Is something wrong? " She questioned slightly concerned, he seemed completely zoned out. And uneasy. He let out a long sigh running a hand over his face before turning to the door.

"My fucking wife used to teach in this room. She died last fucking week. "
He didn't mean to come off harsh but that's just how he was. Knowing she'd probably question him he turned and walked from the room, going back to his office to get ready for gym class.