Chasing Starlight

Chapter 3 -Beer & Fried Chicken

It had been about three weeks since Samia had the encounter with the student council president. Much to her surprise, nothing seemed to come of it. After a week of tensely waiting for the other shoe to drop, she figured that he must have decided not to say anything to the Headmistress.

She tentatively asked Mr. Tennison about the student council president, and learned not just his name, Rory Page, but that he was a senior student that came from a legacy of Royce academy graduates and was next in line for taking over his families multimedia corporation. He seemed to have an excellent reputation among students and staff, even Tennison seemed warm to him. So far off from the icy and haughty personality I met in the council room..
Wanting to keep her head low after such an explosive first week, she threw herself into work and getting to know the students and faculty. The time started to tick by quickly, and before she knew it, she was about to hear back on her evaluation from Mr. Tennison on wether he would recommend her to begin her teaching period. She sat anxiously in the teachers offices, next to Mr. Tennisons' desk like she usually did, trying to distract herself by grading papers and leaving constructive notes on the students work.

Right now, Mr. Tennison was meeting with the Headmistress to give his recommendation, and he gave absolutely no hint as to what that would be. While he still slipped her butterscotch candies, he was still rather stern and hard to read. A gentle chime sounded in the office, followed by the Headmistress's crisp voice over the intercom,

"Miss Hawes, please report to the Headmistress' office."

The words sent a tingle through her veins, and she stood up quickly, gathering her things. As she approached the door to the Headmistress' office, her heart slammed loudly around her chest and she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Inside, Mr. Tennison sat in front of the Headmistress, not bothering to turn to look at her. Samia's throat tightened, and approached the desk.

"Please take a seat, Miss Hawes," the Headmistress gestured towards the open chair next to Mr. Tennison.

She sat down gingerly, clasping her hands together as she often did when she was nervous.

"After reviewing the evaluation from Mr. Tennison, as well as hearing testimony from several students and staff members," Samia's stomach dropped, the moments with Rory and the tumble into Elliot flashing in her mind. "You will be assigned to your own class starting next week. As a student teacher you will only instruct one class a day, but we still expect not a single drop in performance from you, or the students you're overseeing."

Blood rushed into Samia's cheeks at the news, her eyes brightening in surprise and delight. She looked over at Mr. Tennison, and saw the side of his mouth curled up in a smile.

"W-wow. Thank you so much.. I promise I won't disappoint you or my students." Samia eagerly pressed.

"I should certainly hope not, Miss Hawes. " The Headmistress looked down, straightening some papers with her lips pursed tightly. Samia could swear she saw the slightest smile and blush flicker across her face though.

"Thank you, Mr. Tennison. You both may return to your tasks." With a curt nod, she stood up and shook hands with both of them.

As soon as they closed the door behind them, Samia threw her arms around Mr. Tennison.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She smiled warmly at him and the old man's leathered face went a bit pink as he chuckled. Normally so stiff, he looked fondly at her like she was his own grandchild and popped another butterscotch in her hand. He held his finger to his lips and winked, and turned to shuffle down the hall back to his office.

Samia clutched the butterscotch to her chest and smiled. She really made it this far, this was the closest she had ever been to being a real teacher! She twirled happily and sprang down the hallway, giddy with elation. She practically skipped home that evening, feeling full of cheer.