Linger

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

~Maddie's POV~ 

"And tamales! You have to get tamales." 

"Tamales . . ." I repeated, adding to the ever-growing list before letting out a gasp. "And a piñata!" 

Mrs. Medina, the receptionist, raised an eyebrow at me from behind the counter as we both stood in the office. "In the classroom?"

"We could get, like, a small one." I shrugged. "Besides, Principal Blakely told me to throw this party, remember?"

"That's right!" She exclaimed with a growing smile. "There is just one thing though." 

I looked up from my list. "What?"

"You better let me have a turn at swinging at it." She held up a stern finger at me.

"Of course!" I told her, smiling. "I'll come get you when the party starts." 

"Come get me before and I'll help you set up!" She waved her hand at me. 

"But I don't want to bother you if you're working--" 

"Hey, if Mr. Principal told you to do this, then it is work," she pointed out. 

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. "You're the best, Mrs. Medina." 

"You're the best for throwing this party, mija," she said. "You know, that principal is always coming up with crazy ideas but I can't argue with this one."

"Alright," a new voice spoke up and we both looked up to see Daniel walking into the office. 

The white button down shirt he wore was plain but on him, it looked anything but. His sleeves partially rolled up, revealing his forearms and his dark blond hair neatly combed as usual, making my heart flutter. 

His gaze was focused on the stack of papers in his hands as he stepped behind the counter and next to Mrs. Medina. "I have the final grades from my first couple classes here. The grades from the next class are nearly done. I hope to turn them in by the end of--" he stopped as he lifted his head, his gaze landing on me.

I gave him a small smile from my place on the other side of the counter. 

He knitted his eyebrows, confusion etched all over his handsome features. "What are you . . ." he muttered. 

"Oh, that's fine!" Mrs. Medina dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Take your time. The software has been bugging out right when we need it most which is just perfect." She rolled her eyes as she clipped her long dark curls on top of her head in a perfect updo. "How did you enter these grades anyway?"

"Hm?" Daniel tore his eyes away from me before turning to Mrs. Medina. "Oh, by hand." He nodded. 

Her eyes widened as she brought her hands down. "You've been recording everything by hand?!" 

"Well, just the exam grades from this week. It isn't as bad as I thought it'd be actually--" 

The phone suddenly went off, sounding through the office, causing Mrs. Medina to jump in her seat. "Oh! That would be me." She reached for the phone before looking up at Daniel. "You really are committed to this job, aren't you? You sure you want to leave?" she asked him before picking up the phone and bringing it to her ear. 

Daniel let out a sigh before shifting his eyes to me. 

I lifted my gaze to connect with his. 

"What's going on? Everything alright?" he asked, keeping his voice low. 

I nodded, fiddling with the list. "Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"

He glanced quickly at Mrs. Medina as she now balanced the phone between her ear and her shoulder, typing quickly on her keyboard.