It's Always Been You

Chapter 15

"Friday. Friday. Friday," Ariana sang to herself. She pushed the desks back into the neat order they started out in that morning. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail and then started to pack up her things. She had to take home this week's homework assignment, grade it, and leave feedback. She slipped the papers into the designated class folders and then placed them into her tote bag. She sat down at her computer to check her email one last time.

Harper had forwarded an art history joke. Ariana chuckled to herself. There wasn't much else. She checked the time and wondered if she should go to the homecoming game tonight. A few of her students were on the football team and if she remembered correctly there were a few on the cheerleading team. Either way, it was going to be the last home game of the regular season.

The classroom door burst open. She jumped in her seat and looked away from the screen, watching as Dr. Morgan caught her breath.

"Dr. Morgan?"

Dr. Morgan took a breath and then smiled. "I'm glad I caught you. Are you busy tomorrow night?"

She was going to grade stuff and look at apartments, but other than that nothing. "No." She ended up saying.

Dr. Morgan walked into the room and settled into one of the student desks nearest Ariana. "I know this is late notice, but do you think you can take my place tomorrow night as a chaperone for the homecoming dance?"

"Chaperone? I don't know. I've never done that before."

"Oh, really?" She grinned. "I guess it's about time you do it then." Then she laughed more to herself. "It's usually pretty fun. I volunteer every year, but my son invited my husband and me out to dinner and my ol' romantic heart thinks he's going to announce his engagement." She squeaked the last part.

Ariana couldn't help grinning.

"Megan will be there, of course. Megan is his girlfriend. Plus, he's treating us to dinner and that's always nice."

Ariana laughed. "I'll be happy to fill in for you."

Dr. Morgan clapped her hands together. "Great! I'll email the committee chair and they'll email you the details. Thank you so much. I owe you one."

"Don't mention it."

Dr. Morgan stood up and began walking back toward the door, but slowly stopped at the end of the row. "Ariana?"

"Yeah?"

Dr. Morgan stepped back toward her. "I've been wondering. It's nothing really, but are you and Benjamin...?" She trailed off.

"Are we a, what?" Mortal enemies? Foes till the end? She thought to herself.

"An item?"

Ariana's eyes widened. "What?"

Dr. Morgan rested a hand on her hip. "Oh, you know. Exclusive. Together. Seeing each other. Like girlfriend and boyfriend."

"I know, I know." Ariana held up her hands as she stood up from her seat. "No, we're not. We're not together."

"Really? Huh, I was sure it was something like that. Exes, then. There's no harm in that."

Ariana could feel her jaw drop. Great, first Regina and now Dr. Morgan. What was happening? "No. no. not that either. We've never dated."

"Really? I had a feeling and I'm usually right about these things." She shrugged. "Okay, then. Sorry to pry and put you on the spot like that. And thanks for tomorrow." Dr. Morgan whirled out of the room, leaving Ariana with yet more questions. Why do people keep thinking that we're together?