There's Gnome One Like You ~ A Gnome Alone Fanfiction

4) A Surprise

"What is it, Chloe?" Liam asked eagerly.

"Okay, well," Chloe began, her hand beginning to shake. "This is going to be really random, but..." She trailed off a bit.

"Spit it out!" Liam  laughed.

"Um...well..." Chloe tried talking, but her mind started going blank. Suddenly, the door to the teacher's lounge opened and it was Erin. 

"Chloe, the principal would like to see you for a moment," Erin explained.

Chloe was slightly relieved, but a little upset that her attempt to ask Liam about the promise was futile. 

"I'll be right there," Chloe said, packing up her lunch and leaving the table. 

"Oooh, someone's in trouble..." Liam said with suspense. Chloe shot him a dirty look. "I'm just kidding!"

Chloe rolled her eyes, but then smiled and went on her way.

******

"Hi Chloe," the principal, Mrs. Mark, said as Chloe entered her office. "Please close the door." 

Chloe closed the door and sat down in the chair facing Mrs. Mark's desk. It was a very bare office, with only a few family photos and inspirational posters. 

"How are you doing?" Chloe asked her boss.

"I'm doing fine. I called you in here because I wanted to discuss your work performance," Mrs. Mark began. 

Chloe sat up in her seat and listened intently. 

"Miss Chloe, I think you have great enthusiasm and passion, but I feel as if you could give...a little more of yourself. After my brief assessment of your performance the other day, I feel as if you could engage these kids a little more. Remember...they are here more than they are at home. We have a crucial role in shaping their lives. We need to enrich their lives, not just feed them information. You need to take this seriously."

"I do take it very seriously," Chloe replied.

Mrs. Mark gave her a quick smile and looked down at her papers on her desk.

"If that is true, I want you to show me. Show your students. You have the passion. I can see that. But you need to take this job more seriously. We are shaping the future's of the next generations to come."

Chloe looked at her with anxious eyes and replied, "Yes ma'am. Thank you."

******

It was the end of the school day. The sky was starting to turn pink as the day was coming to a close. Chloe exited the building through the back door and into the employee parking lot. In the corner of her eye, she noticed someone sitting at the nearby bench playing on their phone. 

"Hey Chloe!" It was Liam. "I was just playing the latest Wizard Battle game. It's awesome. They added a character creator!"

"You still play that game?" Chloe asked with a surprised look on her face. "I remember we used to play each other all the time. I, uh, still play too, but not as much as I used to." She thought about all those long game nights with Sandy, but was hesitant to tell Liam that that's what she spends the majority of her time doing. 

Liam giggled. "It's so much fun! We could play together again sometime...if, of course, you have time. I know you're busy."

Chloe smiled, and then looked at her feet, remembering what her boss had told her earlier. She let out a small sigh.

"Everything okay?" Liam asked.

Chloe sighed again before she spoke. "I guess so."

"Hey, does it have anything to do with going to see the principal today?"

"Well, she thinks I don't take my job seriously." Chloe said.

Liam let out a big laugh. "Ha! That's ridiculous! You wouldn't be into teaching if you didn't. It takes a lot to get to this point. College, tests, qualifications, long nights of studying..." Liam went on with his list.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Chloe spoke, getting slightly annoyed. "I just feel like people don't see how hard I try. They're the ones who won't take ME seriously. They make me feel like a little kid."

"Who's 'they'?" Liam wondered out loud.

"Everyone," Chloe groaned. "I thought when I became an adult, I would be taken more seriously by everyone. But nothing has changed."

"You know," Liam began. "I really don't see myself as an adult."

"But you are." Chloe replied. 

"Yeah, but I don't feel like one." Liam said.

"You're not making any sense," Chloe moaned.

"Well, I mean, I just didn't wake up after I turned 18 and said, 'Hey, I'm an adult now! I'm an all-powerful being and I can do anything!'" Liam laughed at himself before Chloe spoke again.

"I didn't feel that way either. In fact, I never got that feeling."

"See? Being an adult is weird." Liam stated.

"I don't want to be weird, I want to be taken seriously, and understood." 

"I gave up on that a loooooong time ago. Besides, I have more fun just being myself. And of course, playing Wizard Battle."

Chloe smiled. "You haven't changed at all, Liam."

Suddenly, a red car drove up into the employee parking lot. A woman's hand waved to Chloe and Liam.

"Welp, that's my ride." Liam said, stretching his arms as he stood up. He grabbed his bag and rummaged through it quickly making sure he had all of his belongings.

"Is that your mom?" Chloe asked.

"Nope, that's my girlfriend."

Liam headed off towards the vehicle and opened the passenger's side door and hopped in, throwing his bag in the back seat. As they drove off, Chloe felt a strange feeling in her stomach, as if a black hole was beginning to form in there. She got up and slowly headed to her car. As she got in and sat down, she put her head in her hands for a moment, and then decided to start the car and head home.