Angel In Disguise

Chapter 1

The bell rang, signalling the end of the day. Maya Springfield recollected the biology textbooks and dismissed her students. She sat in her leather chair, behind her faded formica desk and watched as her students filed out of  the class. Everyone except Sidney Snowfield smiled and said goodbye to her.

She worried about her. She seemed to always be angry and downcast. She worried that something at home caused her to behave this way. Each time she saw her, it was a harsh reminder of her own horrid childhood. She had tried to talk to her parents but her father always got angry and slams the receiver down in her ears while her mother seemed to be on lockdown.

She sighed and shook her head as memories from her childhood tried to force themselves to the forefront of her vision. She stopped fantasizing long enough to gather her books.

She looked at one of the covers and had to smile. Biology. Her father's favorite subject. He used to talk to her about it even though her young mind could not always comprehend it.

'I miss him dearly,' she thought as she swung open the class room door and stepped into the corridor. Before she saw what was happening, she collided into a hard sculpted chest, causing her to drop her books and her feet to fly out from under her. However,before she could fall, a strong arm was flung around her waist and she felt herself  being pulled back up.

She thought, absent-mindedly, that she'd been pulled back from an imminent fall into a deep, bottomless abyss. She steadied herself and felt she needed to apologize and say thank you.

She looked up and found herself staring into a set of unwavering dark brown eyes. She felt captivated but quickly found her voice.

''I'm so sorry. I had not seen you in the hall. My mind was not here,'' she said politely in an apologetic tone.

''You don't have to apologize,'' he said and smiled at her. His deep baritone caught her off guard. She had expected something ..... different.

''I completely understand and it happens to the best of us''.

She smiled. He was handsome but not arrogant or egotistical. That was new. Usually, when someone looked this good - short, cropped dark hair, deep penetrating brown eyes and excellent facial and body features, he knew it and tended to let others know it also. He seemed to be completely oblivious to the fact that using the word stunning to describe him would be a complete understatement.

''My name is Luke O'Hallaron,'' he said extending his hand.

''Maya Springfield,'' she said accepting it.

''Thank you for catching me''

''It was my pleasure,'' he said.

''Have we, by any chance, met before, your name is very familiar?'' she asked.

''No, I don't think so. If we had met before I would have remembered,'' he said smiling.

''Oh,'' was all she could say.

That, however, was an understatement if Luke had ever made one. If they had in fact met before, he would have made it a point of his duty to ensure he never forgot her.

''Well, was there something you wanted, something I can help with?'' she asked.

''I came to see a teacher, Mrs. Mckay, about my niece"

''Oh.... I think she might still be in. Straight down the corridor on your last right before the stairs''

''Thank you''

''You're welcome. It was nice meeting you''

''Same here,'' he said and for the very first time, they both meant it.