Apples Don't Just Mean School [in process of rewriting]

General Loving Around

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Emily's POV

I saw Matthew's sign all the way from the luggage belt. It had my name in huge block letters: EMILY SOPHIE FOX (with Jared). I smiled to myself, and dragged my bags (with my boyfriend behind me) over to my ex-colleague. "Matthew!" I greeted, not being able to hold back a grin. "Hey Emily!" He took one of my bags - which was unnaturally nice - and looked at Jared with an unreadable expression on his face. "I presume you're Jared?" he asked with a friendly tone, but his eyes were almost stiffly looking him up and down. "Yeah, Jared Collins," Jared replied, smiling and reaching out a hand. 

"I'm Emily's... Uhh..."Jared looked almost sheepish. Mattie grasped the proffered hand and shook it firmly. "Boyfriend?" Matthew finished his sentence with a tone of forced indifference. I fought down an unreasonable wave of anger. What IS his problem? He just saw me for the first time in, like, three months and he's acting weird. Well, Matthew is pretty unpredictable. Plus, Jared is a stranger. You know how Matthew is awkward around strangers. "Yeah, you could say that," Jared admitted. "But anyway, how was Manhattan?" Matthew tried to speak with a jovial tone.

It was almost fake. "Well, it was a new experience and I guess I really enjoyed it there after getting over the homesickness..." I admitted, feeling a sudden flood of guilt that I had almost forgotten about my hometown in my short visit to the big city. "Well, you're back now. 9R's been missing you," Matthew added. Jared grabbed another of my bags as we walked towards the carpark. "Emily's told me about 9R, and about you too," he remarked. "Really?" Mattie glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. "Well, yeah." He turned away. "And about this... Alexander Steinfield?"

Matthew's POV

I couldn't help but grit my teeth as Jared talked on. "Is he really that bad?" he asked, a smirk on his face. "Yeah, Steinfield is a major problem in Silver Creek," I had to agree. "Why don't you all just launch some protest and kick him out?" I scoffed inwardly. "Well, we don't do that sort of thing in Silver Creek. Things are different here than in America," I shot back, wincing at how sharp I sounded. "True." I can't believe Em told him about us back at SCH. I thought... You thought that you were SPECIAL? I bit back a comment and hurried on.

"Well, uhh... Matthew, do you mind dropping me off at my old flat? Jared will probably sleep in our guest room," Emily cut in. WHAT? Both of them in the same HOUSE? I bet- Come on, you should trust Emily to never do anything stupid like that. She's more sensible than YOU. I nodded. "Sure, but do you all want to drop off your luggage first, then go to see the kids? Or would you all prefer to just stay in the apartment and get over the jet lag?" Jared exchanged a glance with Em. "We'll just leave the bags in the flat," she answered.

I had to suppress a grin. Nice to know she's still willing to feel tired and be jet lagged for the kids. 9R will be so psyched... I should, like, waltz into the classroom, grin, slam down some worksheets, pull Emily and Jared into the class, wait till someone notices and screams, then let Emily be knocked off her feet (literally) by the kiddos swarming her... I unlocked the car trunk and tossed their luggage in. To my disappointment, Emily didn't ride shotgun and both of them sat in the passenger seats. Darn. 

Emily's POV

The car ride back to Silver Creek was faster than I thought and we arrived at my parents' flat soon. "So this was your old house?" Jared asked, looking out the window. "Yeah, the flat overlooks Valley Road, and beyond that's the pool." I pointed out past the trees. Matthew reversed into the parking lot and the engine stopped running with a click of his car keys. "Home sweet home," he said dryly. I ignored the undertone in his voice and leaped out of the car with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. 

Jared crawled out after me and collected our baggage from the car boot. "Well, show the way." His voice came out from behind the pile of bags. Matthew wordlessly relieved him of some of the luggage. "Thanks, man," Jared mumbled, preoccupied with juggling our belongings in his tow hands. "No problem." I took some of our bags from their hands and raced up the stairs. One flight... Second flight... I stopped to take a breather at the fifth storey, before going to the familiar door. Nothing seemed to have changed at all from when I left. The lift dinged and the two men stumbled out.

I rang the doorbell. A few moments later, my mother opened the door. "Emily? Oh, you're back!" She hugged me. "And who's that?" she asked after releasing me, looking pointedly at Jared. "Oh, that's Jared... The guy I've been telling you about in my calls?" She beamed at him. "You're the lucky one that's gotten Em after-" "Mom!" I protested, flustered and blushing. "Oh, alright," she surrendered, before opening the door wider. "And Matthew's here too," she noted, smiling. "Hi Mrs Fox," he greeted, bowing dramatically. What a drama queen...

Matthew's POV

After all the usual settling down, the 'oh-wow-your-room-is-nice-oooh-this-is-mine-wow-thanks-dear's and the general loving around within the couple's intimate circle, we finally, FINALLY set off for Silver Creek. It would be my lesson in about twenty minutes, and the school had graciously allowed me to take leave for a half-day to pick them up earlier. "Okay, so the plan is for me to walk into the class, hand out worksheets, cue the groans, then I'll signal for you two to come in. Then, once someone screams, you'll have to brace yourself- YOURSELVES for the flood. Get it?" 

Emily sighed. "Seriously, Mattie? Still with the theatrics?" I struck a pose. "When have I ever not been theatrical?" That elicited a chuckle from Em. My heart fluttered. Jared stifled a laugh. Why is it so hard to hate that guy? Then don't hate him. See how he makes Emily happy... I felt vaguely distracted as we walked into the school together- no, conflicted. Yes, conflicted. I knew I should be detesting Jared Collins, but he was just too likeable and charismatic. Damn it, couldn't he be some sort of jerk? I waved at the General Office staff as we walked by. She opened her eyes wide at the sight of Emily and Jared.

"So this is the famous Silver Creek High?" Jared joked. "Yeap! And now we're going up to the 9R classroom," Emily responded, eyes sparkling. I peered into the class. They were all talking animatedly. "Okay, wait here, I'll signal for you all," I stage-whispered, before marching into the class, toting a stack of worksheets. "Aww..." Everyone complained at the sight of the 'torture devices' as they landed on their tables, as usual. Soon, a silence fell over the students as they scribbled on the paper, as usual. I motioned for the two to come in. Not long later, a head looked up. "What- OH MY GOD! GUYS, IT'S MS EMILY, GUYS! IT'S MS FREAKING EMILY!" 

A/N: I DOUBLE-CHAPTERED OUT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR UN-HIATUSING! WHEEEEEE *does happy dance* Okay, remember to follow me on Instagram at @ememwolfie and to vote and comment! Love you all... Wolfie OUT!