Linger

O N E H U N D R E D + F O U R

~Daniel's POV~

"We sure are going to miss you around here, Daniel," Principal Blakely told me as he sat beside me at my desk.

"It will be a change," I agreed with a nod as the last few students turned in their completed final and filed out of my classroom. "Thank you, Austin," I told the soccer player as he handed me his final.

"You'll be at graduation, right?" he asked. 

"I sure will." I nodded at him with a grin. 

"Sweet! See you there, Mr. H!" He swung his backpack over his shoulder as he headed out.

"It seems the students will miss you especially," Principal Blakely said as a few more students stepped up to my desk, turning in their finals.  

"It's all talk to get that last good grade on their finals," I dismissed with a chuckle. "Happens every year." 

"Oh, I think there is some truth behind it too, Dan." 

"Mr. H!" a cheery voice exclaimed. 

Principal Blakely and I looked up to see Kelsey skipping up to my desk with a large smile on her face. 

"Yes, Kelsey." I nodded at her.

"I know I took my history final yesterday but I just realized it's our last week!" she exclaimed, widening her eyes. 

"It is," I agreed, shifting my chair closer to my desk. "Yes." 

"Ever!!"

"It's the end of the year . . ." I nodded again, sneaking a glance at Principal Blakely beside me. 

"We're never going to see you again."

"Well, there's graduation at the end of the week," I reminded her with a chuckle. 

"Geez, be a little nicer to the girl," a new voice spoke up. 

We all turned to see Ms. Booth, the literature teacher, walking in. 

She strolled up to my desk, shifting her eyes from Kelsey to me. "She's over here pouring her heart out to you and you couldn't be any more cold." 

Principal Blakely's head perked up. "Her heart?" he asked Ms. Booth. 

"Well, it's plain to see she's got a little crush on Dan," Ms. Booth said with a shrug.

I froze in my seat. 

Kelsey's eyes went wide. 

"Crush?" Principal Blakely raised his eyebrows as he sat up in his seat.

"Mhm." Ms. Booth nodded in reply. "We know how teenagers could be with all their new emotions. Happens every year. Completely harmless."

Principal Blakely's eyes grew wide. "Every year?"

"Ahaha," Kelsey let out a nervous laugh. "Haha . . haha. A crush? Me?" she scoffed, waving her hand dismissively as her cheeks grew red. "No! I wouldn't--I mean, no offense. But like--"She took in a deep breath, wiping her eyes. "The end of the year just makes me really emotional, you know?" She sniffled.

"Mhm." Ms. Booth nodded her head, giving her a sympathetic look.

Kelsey laughed again. "You know what? I've gotta--I've gotta go." She stepped backwards, almost tripping over her footing before regaining her balance. "Need to tell Mr. Schottenhiemer that I'm going to miss him." 

"Right." I nodded, turning back to the stack of exams in front of me. 

Ms. Booth watched her walk out. "Schottenhiemer?" She turned to Principal Blakely and me with a confused expression. "I always thought it was Schottenberg."