troubled teachers

Chapter 5

Emma sighed heavily as she slumped back in her chair. It was Thursday afternoon and she had just finished marking some Year 9 homework and feeling now dispirited by their lacklustre attempts to describe the consequences tectonic plate movement on islands and costal communities. To her it was fascinating work, made all the more poignant after a trip to Thailand she, Neal and Henry had taken in 2006. The devastation from the tsunami in 2004 had still been evident.

A knock on the door came just in time to stop her slipping down memory lane. Images of Neal faded from her mind as Rose and Ruby came in, both smiling widely.

"Hey guys," Emma said, taking her glasses off and stretching her arms. "What's up?"

"You wear glasses?" Rose asked, ignoring the question.

"My contacts were itching," Emma shrugged. "I took them out and went old school."

"You look cute," Ruby grinned.

"Jesus, you will literally hit on anyone," Rose laughed, punching Ruby lightly on the arm.

"Are you calling me anyone?" Emma asked in mock outrage.

"Are you gay?" Rose countered.

"No," Emma chuckled. "But it's still nice to be admired. Thanks, Ruby."

"You're welcome, babe," she teased. "Anyway, we came here to suggest something."

"Oh?" Emma said, noticing it was almost five in the afternoon and beginning to pack up her things. She was due to pick up Henry from Peter's in a few minutes.

"We think you should have a house warming party," Rose said. "Now you know a few people down here you can invite them, get to know us all better and have a good time. What do you think?"

"You think I should throw a party?" Emma asked. "Why?"

"Because Killian hasn't spoken to Rose since their date and she wants an excuse to see him outside of school," Ruby supplied.

Emma laughed. "So instead of um, I don't know, speaking to him or texting him, you want me to host an entire party?"

"Well it was Ruby's idea," Rose defended. "She's been trying to find a reason to see more of Elsa too."

"Why can't you guys just ask the people you fancy out?" Emma grumbled. She had known about Ruby's crush on the blonde Religious Studies teacher since the day she arrived. It wasn't subtle. "You're really going to make me clean my entire house just so you guys might get laid?"

"We'll help," Rose offered. "We can clean too and bring some booze."

Emma's ears perked up at that. Perhaps a party wasn't quite such a bad idea after all. She had been meaning to try and get to know her colleagues better after all.

"When?"

"Saturday?" Rose and Ruby suggested together.

"I suppose that could work," Emma nodded. "Henry's got a sleepover at Felix's that day anyway so I'll be home alone otherwise. Who else did you think we should invite, aside from Elsa and Killian?"

"Everyone young and cool who works here," Ruby shrugged. "There's a few of us who do things together sometimes, I'm sure the word will spread fast enough tomorrow."