"Patients, Please."

Cheers!

Mark gets up from his chair as the last teacher leaves the room and closes the door. I stressfully run my fingers through my hair. "Alright, now we need to discuss what's going to happen from here," The Dean says with a sigh. I look down at the papers in front of me, re-reading scribbles across the page. Mark comes back and sits back down sighing as well. "(Y/N), you are now Mark's assistant." He says pointing to him. I look up at him then back to Mark. He looks down at the table trying to hide the smile on his face that I clearly see. "He's just going to take over from here for Lisa. He needs to know every meeting and things that are important." The Dean stands up, "I'm sure you can take care of that yourselves." He grabs my shoulder, "When you get everything typed up will you send it to me?"

"Of course," I say looking up. He pats my shoulder, then starts walking to the door. Mark stands up and starts following him to the door. I sit back in my chair rubbing my eyes. Mark leans up against the wall, "I need to grab my laptop and her planner."

He sighs, "I didn't like him touching you."

I look over at him then roll my eyes, "I don't need to hear about you being jealous because somebody patted my back." I stand up and start walking to the door. "I'm giving you chance here Mark, if it wasn't for that I would be turning in my two weeks and switching my class schedule because you are now my teacher again."

He stands up straight, "Please don't say that, I need you here."

I shake my head, "Stop saying that, you are making everything very difficult."

He grabs my elbows with his hands, "Please just give me the chance I asked for."

I stare in his dark brown eyes, "I already said I am. Now, let go of me." His eyes get wide and he lets go of the grip he has on my arms. I open the door and walk back to my desk grabbing my laptop and the planner. My phone starts ringing, I answer and smack my forehead as the person on the other side of the phone starts talking. I walk back into the conference room with all my things. Mark is sitting in the chair he was before, "So, I completely forgot that Mrs. Wilson planned a back to the semester kickoff lunch. They called while I was out there, there on their way."

"That sounds great!" he says. "Plus if I cancel it I look like an ass."

I smile, "Yeah you would." I sit back down in my chair. Mark already has his planner open waiting for me to start rattling off what was going on in her schedule. This week was pretty empty, she has a meeting on Friday with The Dean after her last class, "Then that evening is the staffs school kick off." I say flipping the page.

"Are you going?" he asks flipping over his page. I look up and he hesitantly raises his head, "I was just thinking that since I'm the Department Head I should bring my assistant, right?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm going to be out of town?"

I look back, "Why?" he asks very confused.

I sigh, "He gets off probation this weekend." My eyes meet his, "My dad thinks it's a great idea to go out and spend the weekend together." I sit back, "Away from town."

"I'm really sorry I asked," he said reaching across the table grabbing my hand. "I hope you enjoy your weekend away."

"Thanks," I say. I move my hand, "We should get back to this, we have..." I look at the clock on the wall. "We have 30 minutes before the food gets here." I start rattling off for the rest of the week, I look down at Friday, "Shit," I say. I starting writing down things on a sticky note.

He just stares at me, "What's wrong?"

I rub my forehead, "I completely forgot the next weekend is some expo that she was going to speak at. Now I have to call and figure out what's going to happen."

I hear his chair squeak, "Tell them I'll fill in for her."

I raise my eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

He nods, "Yeah, I don't mind doing it at all."

"Alright," I look back up to the clock. "How about this," I say starting to close my notebook. "I take your notebook and just write everything out with all the information that I have and I'll give it back to you at the end of the day." I reach across and grab the notebook from him. I stack everything on top of my laptop and walk out of the room. The phone was ringing again as I walked out, I put my stuff down and picked it up. I directed them to the right building and went downstairs greeting them. I lead them back upstairs and to the conference room. I see Mark sitting in his office, "Hey the food just got delivered."

He smiles at me, "Do you want to gather everybody and I'll meet you in there?"

I nod, "Sure thing." I walk around poking my head in every office. It took them a couple minutes before they all started to make their way back to the room. I go back to my desk and sit down and open my laptop starting to retype the schedule. I can hear the buzz coming from the other side of the office. I try and ignore it.

"Why are you not back there?" Mark asks very confused.

I look away from the screen, "Oh, I have a lot to do. Plus I work better when the office is empty."

He shakes his head pressing his lips together, "I would really like for you to come in there, just for a couple of minutes, if that's alright?" He puts his hands in his pockets.

I inhale and get up, "Sure." I walk around my desk and down to the room where I have spent most of my day already. Everyone is sitting around the table talking, I walk over to the table but nothing sounds good. I sigh and lean up against the back wall where I tried to stand earlier.

Mark walks straight to the front of the room. He stands there for a second obviously trying to think of what to say. He looks up straight at me, then around the table to the other teachers who have stopped talking and are now just staring at him. "Hello, I know that we just got introduced to each other yesterday, but I would like to re-introduce myself. I'm Mark, I know today has been a really strange day, but I can't wait to see how this semester is going to end up. I can't wait to build connections with you all and we can be the best department in the school. If there is anything you need from me, don't hesitate to ask, and I want to say a very warm thank you to my assistant. She has been the on top of everything today and if it wasn't for her I would be very lost." I look around to see all the teachers staring at me. "And if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask her either." He nods, "Even though this isn't the normal kickoff that Mrs. Wilson does, I want to say that I hope this semester is the greatest. And I forgot a cup to cheers with everybody."

Everyone in the rooms attention has switched back to him and they all laughed with his last line. I reach over and pour him a glass of water walking it to the front of the room. He grabs the cup from me, then holds it up. I walk back to where I was standing and grab a cup for myself. "Now that I can try that again." He says, "Cheers for new beginnings and a fantastic semester." He reaches over and starts clinking cups with everyone. And everyone at the table taps cups with each other and back to the conversations they were having before Mark walked into the room. I look down at the water I poured and quickly walked back to my desk. I sit down and start back on the paper I was working on. I hadn't noticed there was a new index card on top of the stack of papers. I pick it up: Make sure to add your birthday. I roll my eyes and put it in the drawer on top of the first one. "You didn't cheers with anyone." He says causing me to jump.

I look up to see him hovering over my desk, "You only asked me to come in there for the speech." I halfheartedly smile at him. "Besides, they don't want anything to do with me."

"That's not true," he says blowing raspberries and turning away from me. "How about this, we do our own."

I look up, "Our own cheers?" He nods his head with a smile. I shake my head, "Fine, why not." I hold my glass up to him.

He holds his drink out, "Here's to a fresh start and complete honesty."

"To patients," I say putting my cup to his but he doesn't move.

He stands there looking at me, "For second chances." He taps his glass against mine and walks back toward the room with the rest of the teacher.