Chapter 1
Cassie sat in her classroom at the elementary school in Austin, Texas. She taught 4th grade. The kids were at recess so she took the time to grade papers. She and the other 4th grade teachers take turns of being in charge of recess and her week would be coming up.
“Hey sis,” her sister Nicole said as she came into the classroom. Nicole just started that year teaching 2nd grade.
“Hey where’s your class?” Cassie asked.
“In Vickie’s room, watching a movie so I am free to roam,” Nicole said.
“Mine are at recess so I’m grading,” Cassie said.
“Mom called me last night,” Nicole said.
“Oh,” Cassie said.
“They are wondering why we both chose to move down here to Austin to teach here instead of in Seattle,” Nicole said.
“Because there was no positions open up there,” Cassie said.
“That’s what I told her,” Nicole said.
“Hey we share an apartment together and keep an eye out for each other, that’s not enough?” Cassie asked.
“Not for her, she’s sending the brothers down,” Nicole said.
“Geez, Jake and Hallie are already down here because of Hallie’s transfer and Jake is working at the fire department and they live a couple blocks over so now she’s sending Steve and Nick down too,” Cassie said.
“I said we were fine and I smarted off to her saying why doesn’t the whole family move down here if they are so worried, Mom chewed me out for that,” Nicole said.
“We are grown ass women,” Cassie said.
“I told her that,” Nicole said. They heard the bell.
“Recess is over,” Cassie said.
“And the movie, see ya at three sis,” Nicole said. She left the room. Cassie’s class came back in and she went on with the day.
“Ms. Evans?” Abby, one of her students asked.
“Yes Abby?” Cassie asked.
“I’m finished with my paper,” Abby said.
“Okay sweetie, I’ll take it and you can work on any other work you have,” Cassie said.
“Okay,” Abby said. She went back to her seat. Soon it was the end of the day and the bus riders left. Then the walkers and the ones left were the ones picked up by their parent. She saw Abby waiting after everyone left.
“Abby, is someone coming to get you?” Cassie asked.
“My dad, he’s usually late,” Abby said. Cassie looked up as she saw Abby’s Uncle Mark walk into the room.
“Hey Abs, I’m picking you up today,” Mark said.
“Uncle Mark!” Abby said. She ran and hugged him.
“Hello Mark,” Cassie said.
“Hey Cassie, she been good today?” Mark asked.
“As always,” Cassie said.
“I thought Daddy was picking me up?” Abby asked.
“He’s still working, he was still out on a call and couldn’t get back in time,” Mark said.
“My daddy is a firefighter,” Abby said.
“So is my twin brother, Jake,” Cassie said.
“Which house?” Mark asked.
“126,” Cassie said.
“Same as Brad,” Mark said.
“I guess they know each other,” Cassie said.
“Probably do, let’s go kiddo, Amy is in the car,” Mark said.
“Yea! Bye Ms. Evans!” Abby said.
“Bye Abby, see you tomorrow,” Cassie said. Mark and Abby left. She finished up and met up with Nicole and they went to the fire station and found Jake.
“Hey twinnie!” Jake said.
“Hey twinnie,” Cassie said.
“Hey bro,” Nicole said.
“Hey sis,” Jake said.
“So Mom called Nicole last night,” Cassie said.
“Oh the usual why did you both choose Austin to go teach deal,” Jake said.
“Yep so she’s sending Steve and Nick down,” Cassie said.
“I’ll call her,” Jake said.
“She won’t listen to you,” Cassie said.
“But she will listen to Dad and you know he was more than supportive of you both,” Jake said.
“We know,” Cassie said.
“Hey Jake, I’m out,” they heard a guy say.
“Okay Brad, see ya Monday,” Jake said.
“Hello ladies,” Brad said.
“Brad come here, these two are my sisters, my baby sister Nicole,” Jake said.
“Hello,” Nicole said.
“And my twin sister Cassie, who is two minutes older than me and doesn’t let me forget it,” Jake said.
“Nope,” Cassie said.
“Nice to meet you both,” Brad said.
“They are both teachers at the elementary school,” Jake said.
“What grades?” Brad asked.
“2nd,” Nicole said.
“4th,” Cassie said.
“My daughter is in 4th,” Brad said.
“Abby?” Cassie asked.
“Yeah,” Brad said.
“She’s in my class,” Cassie said.
“Oh I’m sorry we are just meeting now, I meant to come to orientation but I had the evening shift,” Brad said.
“It’s fine, I understand how things are here,” Cassie said.
“Because of me,” Jake said.
“Yes twinnie because of you,” Cassie said.
“How was Abby today?” Brad asked.
“She was amazing today, she got her homework done before she even left the room,” Cassie said.
“That’s my girl, nice to meet you finally Ms. Evans,” Brad said.
“Call me Cassie, my students call me Ms. Evans,” Cassie said.
“Okay Cassie, I should get going,” Brad said. He left the station. Jake hugged his sisters and they left and went home to their places.
