Love Between Classes

Chapter 32: Caroline

Lindsey had gotten to school on time and his TA was already in the room.

"Hi Mister Buckingham, I was so worried about you..." Miss Natalie Wood responded to his presence. She had stood to be level with him.

"Um, thanks... why?" he kind of creased a brow as he took his jacket off. He walked passed her and draped his jacket around the back of his chair.

"Well, on Friday you just seemed to have run out. You were in a hurry and you looked worried so, I got unnerved," she slid her hand up his arm and onto his shoulder.

"Well, all is well and handled," he gently shrugged her hand of his shoulder. He was now noticing what Stevie was talking about. This girl was handsy and clingy. She acted like they were in a relationship.

"Well, that's good," she hopped up on his desk and crossed one leg over the other. She then hugged the crossed knee.

Lindsey stayed staring at some papers in his hands. He was doing his best not to acknowledge her at all.

"So is there anything I could do for you?" she asked with a smile. She was hoping he'd look her way.

"Not now," he picked up another paper and begun walking toward the door.

She jumped down from the table. As she opened her mouth to form words, Lindsey cut in.

"I have to check my mailbox and Stevie's," he said before leaving. Stevie had given him her keys to check her box and the key to her room. Since she'd be in bed and immobilized for the time being, she figured she could grade and at least keep up with her work. She hated even after a day of getting behind. She knew in teaching she would be behind and that she would probably have to reteach some things.

"Stevie?" Natalie muttered to herself and then crossed her arms. She felt threatened by Stevie and wanted her out of the picture so she could have Lindsey. She thought her clinging to him was making Stevie leave. That's why she wasn't all over him on Thursday and Friday. She didn't feel the need to be close to Lindsey while Stevie was gone.

—

When Lindsey got to the mailboxes, he was also met by Robin.

"Hey?" he kind of mumbled to her.

"Oh hey, did you ever get a hold of Stevie?" she asked. She was curious---she didn't know if Stevie was avoiding him or something since she'd been upset about Natalie.

"Yeah," he nodded. He then ushered her closer to him.

"What's up?" she neared him.

"She's pregnant," he whispered.

Robin pulled back and all she saw was a smile and innocence to his face. She caught on that he just learned, so she was going to play along with Stevie. "That's so great!" she beamed happily for him. She was really beaming because her friend finally told him. "Congrats," she patted his shoulder.

"Thanks," he continued to hold a smile.

"Y'know, at workshop she fainted... I was going to tell her to take a pregnancy test? she just wasn't herself and I figured you knocked her up in Vegas."

He kind of chuckled as he opened Stevie's box.

"Is she not here again?" Robin asked as she took in his actions.

"No, she's on bed rest for this week. But she asked me to get whatever paperwork and things that need to be graded."

"Oh, she is probably bored out of her mind. I'll give her a call, ya think she's up?"