Loving Angel

Chapter 1

Abigail

First day of senior year, and I was going to be late.

Today of all days, my Angel decided to act her age. I hurriedly fought to get the squirming toddler dressed while glancing at the time. Angel ran off when I tried to get her into a skirt, screaming for pants instead. After chasing the child around for five minutes, I succeeded in dressing her. I pulled on the first top I found and a pair of black jeans, random school supplies being shoved into my bag soon after. I hurried Angel to eat her cereal, which wasn't difficult considering the child practically inhaled her food. A breakfast bar would have to do for me until lunch.

Finally, after twenty minutes, we were both out of the apartment and on our way to our destinations. I drove to her daycare, which was conveniently on my way, and thankfully the morning traffic had cleared. After dropping her off, I sped just a little faster, but still took caution, to my high school. Five minutes after classes started, I arrived and took the first parking spot I saw. A spot next to the dumpster that everyone avoided but I had no time to be picky. I could only hope the scent didn't somehow weasel its way into my car.

Stumbling out of the car, I pressed the alarm and ensured it was locked. I ran through the school doors and headed to my first period on the other side of the building. Crestview was a big school and got the name from being on a small hill right in the middle of Crestville. This town could be thought of as huge and quite popular for reasons unknown to me. I'd lived here my entire life and had no intentions of leaving anytime soon.

Huffing and a bit nervous, I scanned the empty hallways. Looking down at myself, I noticed a stain on my top and mentally groaned at my messy look. I frantically passed my hands through my strawberry blonde hair, trying to get it a little presentable while managing not to trip on my own two feet. I stopped just outside the classroom door, taking a deep breath to calm myself. 

I finally knocked three times and waited. The door opened to reveal a tall figure I'd never seen before. She looked too young to be teaching here but dressed too formal to be a student. Yet the expression she held told me. She, in fact, was a teacher.

“Can I help you?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. 

“H-hi, I'm in this class.” I took out my class schedule to make sure I had the right room and  I did.

I hated talking one on one with people I didn't know, so naturally, I avoided eye contact. My nerves always got the best of me, and to be honest, she looked extremely intimidating. After what seemed like forever, she silently gestured for me to enter. I went to the only seat available which was in the front row, directly across from the teacher's desk. I mentally kicked myself for being this late and flustered. And now I had to sit this close upfront.

“As I was saying before your classmate decided to join us, my name is Ms Rose. This is my first day teaching at Crestview High School. I'll be your AP English teacher for the year.” She informed us while leaning against her desk, ankles crossed and arms folded. I watched as she looked at the entire class with her unwavering gaze. I felt embarrassment engulf me at the unwanted attention. “My rules are to be on time,” she made direct eye contact with me, “and to pay attention. There's nothing I detest more than a student who refuses to try. Work with me just as I'll work with you, and this year will go by smoothly.”

She was even more intimidating than I thought. There wasn't so much as a single sound other than her voice. Her voice, while soft, it still had a powerful tone to it that willed you to listen to each word. She looked confident and graceful, leaning against her desk. Her raven hair was in a tight bun, and her gray eyes reminded me of storm clouds.