Jen- It was 3:15, I had just finished dismissing the kids to their bus lines. The CARES children where far below me. My room looked like a cyclone hit. "Well, time to vacuum."
"Here, let me get that for you."
I hadn't realized Nick had wandered in while I was thinking out loud.
"No really it's fine I got- WOAH!" I tripped on the cord and started falling. I had just enough time to brace for impact when someone caught me.
"You should be careful when you're falling- unless you're falling for me"
"Nick! The rest of the faculty are still here! My doors and windows are all open!" I teased. He was extremely easy to flirt with- he must not have that much experience.
"So what do you say- you, me, and a reservation for two at Capone's Italiano Restaurante and Formal Cuisine? And perhaps a movie of your choice as an encore...."
"Well....It is Friday.....and I am in a mood for some fettuccine....Alright, I accept your offer."
"It is my pleasure to escort you, Jennifer, on a second date that I hope will go well enough to convince you to accompany me on a third in the near future."
OMG he said THE THIRD DATE. I'm not even ready for our second date! I need to get ready! I've got to change and do my hair and I haven't even taken off my everyday makeup yet! I'm not gonna have enough time and-
"Jen! Earth to Jennifer!"
"Oh sorry I was just thinking. So what time shall I meet you?"
"Does 7:00 sound good...ya know, since that's when the reservations are for..."
"Oh yeah of course! Well I've gotta go get ready."
"Here, let me walk you out. You know you don't have to keep it such a secret from everyone else. I mean keep it secret from the students definitely- we'd never hear the end of "oooohhh Miss Crawflynn and Mr. Nesposino!!!" But I mean I doubt the other teachers would care, ya know?"
"I don't know...I'd feel weird having them know. Maybe, I'll think about it."
We walked out of my classroom and down the hall where the other teachers were packing up and leaving. We passed Lynn Flazer, the annoying honors math teacher in her 60s.
Please don't see us. Please don't talk to us. Walking faster. Almost around the corn-
"Oh Hello Jennifer, Nicholas! Fine day isn't it! Do either of you have plans for the evening because there's an adult mathletes competition and I need a partner! What do ya say, do I have any volunteers?"
"Uh no it's ok Mrs. Flazer, Nick and I were just leaving. Have fun though."
We turned the corner and burst out in laughter.
"There's a mathletes competition and I need a partner, who's with me!" He croaked imitating her.
We went into the Teacher's Lounge to grab the rest of our stuff. Gabe Antorello the science teacher (long time loner and nerd) was pouring a green liquid into a vaccine and he had goggles and his lab coat on so I didn't even want to ask. Ally Sarge, the IU teacher was scavenging for food in the fridge and freezer...alrighty then. Mrs. Whales, the regular math teacher, was going through lesson plans on the futon. And lastly, all the while Taylor Arnoldo, the opera singing social studies teacher, sang a song from on top of the center table and from what I could tell, the song was about his flirtatious attempts with men......
"He worries me" I thought.
We gathered our things as quickly as possible and bolted for the doorway.
"Not so fast!"
I turned to see Gabe Antorello had his vaccine thingy plugged into a transmitter or gun or something. I didn't know what he was doing but I go a knot in my stomach and something told me that whatever was about to happen wasn't going to end well.
"Hey Gabe, would you mind not pointing that...whatever it is.....at me, I'm sure whatever the problem is we can solve it another way. But right now Jen and I really have to leave becau-"
"Yes Nick, I'm aware you're leaving for your date! Yup that's right everyone they're dating and they didn't tell us!"
"Gabe it's really not that big a deal I mean come on-" I felt that I needed to back Nick up on this.
"The damage has already been done, Jen! Say goodnight to your boyfriend because I think he's gonna be sleeping for a good 1,000 years or more! Lights out cupcake!
And then he shot the gun at Nick.
