Polaroid (A Phan AU)

Chapter Eight

It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.
~Saint Augustine

My mother did not take news of my new job very well, to say the least. In fact, as I stood meekly before her in the midst of our kitchen, she was fuming; hands on hips, bright red face, the whole deal.

"You can't beg off of a schoolteacher Phil!"

I cringed at her use of modern slang and squared up slightly.

"Well, number one, I'm not begging off of anyone, I was offered, and number two, I've already accepted, so there's not much you can do about it. Sorry, mum."

With a triumphant smirk at my mother's bewildered expression, I turned on my heel and stalked out of the room.

"Phil! Philip Michael Lester, don't you walk away from me!"

I ignored her entirely and slammed my bedroom door shut on her shrill voice.

Cassie practically applauded me later in when I reported back, cuddled up in my small single bed in our pyjamas.

"Ignore mum and her stupid pride. Good on you, Philly! My little goody two shoes is becoming a little rebel!"

Her words were lighthearted and loving, but I couldn't help dwelling on them on the way to school with Chris the next day.

Something about my name and the word 'rebel' being used in the same sentence unsettled me. I was always the good, meek child that followed instructions without question; Cassie was always the bold one. And now, here I was, purposefully going against my mother's wishes.

Maybe I shouldn't go through with it.

I would tell Mrs Howell that my father had found another job and I was no longer able to help her. I'd apologise and wish her luck with finding a babysitter, and that would be that.

When I walked into her classroom, however, I just couldn't bring myself to. Mrs Howell was sitting behind the desk, her brown curly hair tied up and falling in soft ringlets down her back, large brown eyes blinking hopefully at me.

All through the lesson I drummed into my own skull that I would refuse, I would. But then she called me up at the end and spoke before I could.

"Oh, Phil, thank you so much for agreeing to look after my girls! I'll pay you, you only have to come on Fridays, I'm okay leaving them with the neighbours for the rest of the week."

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"Well the thing is, Mrs Howell..." I began, unable to stutter through the rest of the sentence when I saw my teacher's face fall slightly.

"Yes?" she persisted, worry and disappointment etched onto her facial features.

"The thing is, I... Can come every day!" I blurted. I couldn't turn her down. I couldn't. It would be heartless.

Mrs Howell's face cleared and a beam replaced her frown.

"Phil, thank you! Come tomorrow, then, if that's okay? Here, I wrote the address down... You will be okay getting there, right?" she handed me a small slip of paper that contained her neat, sloping handwriting in the form of words and numbers. I took it and slipped it into my blazer pocket.

"Thanks! I'll be fine, I'll catch the bus. See you tomorrow!"

I smiled once more and left the classroom in search for Chris.

My mum was going to be so mad at me.

A/N

TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY AM I EVEN THE SAME PERSON
TheAnimeJunky and I double updated! Her story The Glowing Eyes is addictive and she's better at updating than me you should read it I'm in love with it.
I didn't listen to anything whilst writing this oops
Ly baes

~Georgina

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