Before Together After Forever

Chapter 12 - Eva Lewis

"So... you're the new Vice Principal?" Riley asked, her eyes focused on me.

"Apparently," I responded, gathering the necessary documents to return to my office. I glanced back at Riley. "Shouldn't you be in class or something?"

She shrugged and followed me out of the office. "Eh, right now... no. I'm a credit-based student."

"You're one of the GEMS?" I said, closing the door.

"Yes, ma'am!" She beamed with pride.

It was clear that she was extremely proud of her achievements. She tagged along to my office. "Don't you have somewhere to be, though?"

"Eh, not really. There's a meeting after school with the STEM students to figure out what competitions we'll enter this year so that the Richie Riches can pump some money into their funds."

"I see..."

"Don't get me wrong, I like the snobs, but I don't like them."

"Gotcha."

"Money doesn't mean entitlement. My dad taught me that."

"Your dad sounds like a very smart man," I remarked as I began organizing my new space.

Riley, being nosy in my belongings, quipped, "He better be, or his company will be bankrupt soon."

I couldn't help but laugh at her little joke. "So, your dad runs his own company?"

"Apparently. He's an architect. Well, was. Then he kinda gave that up to take over my Pop-Pop's company."

"And you want to be a mechanical engineer - as Mrs. Kent-Jordon told me?"

"You can just call her Ariel or Ari around me; I don't mind. But yeah. I'll probably be the next one to take over the company," she said, shrugging. "It's a tech and design company, so I'll fit in before I go to the top."

"I really like that you're not limiting yourself. It says a lot about your character, Riley."

"Thanks. I like showing that I have brains-" she stopped mid-sentence to check her phone.

I looked over at her and noticed the expression on her face. "Riley, are you okay?"

"Aunty Ari told my dad what I did today because he told Uncle Will that she was at school. Now he's probably going to come to school and be on Dad-mode," she said, throwing back her head like she was saying FML.

I just laughed. "It really can't be that bad?"

"You have no idea how my dad is, Ms. Lewis."

"I'm pretty sure he's like every other normal dad out there who gets upset when their kid does something stupid. And you probably were right with what you said. I mean... she should have been teaching, not telling you about her upcoming wedding. Especially if this is like the fourth."

"THANK YOU!" Riley exclaimed, throwing her hands up and getting comfortable in the chair. "Like, since I started high school every September, she tells us about her new beau or her engagement or her wedding. You're here to teach me, so teach, lady!"

I knew it was unprofessional for me to be talking to a student like this, but I couldn't help but laugh. I could tell that Riley was going to make things interesting for me before she graduated.

Just as I was about to respond, the intercom chimed in. "Ms. Lewis, sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Trent is here about his daughter."

Before the sentence was over, Riley darted into the closet. Strange.

"Um... send him in, Mr...?" I still had no clue who most of the staff was.

"Mr. Isaac. Keith Isaac," I practically heard a smile when he said his name.

"Thank you, Mr. Isaac. Send in Mr. Trent," I said, looking at the closet.

"Gotcha!"

A few moments later, a dashing man walked into my office with a sigh. "Good afternoon, Ms. Lewis."