Chapter 1
For the 50th time Hazel closed the call from a school that tried and tried to contact her many times, even if the opportunity seemed good for her she didn't feel ready neither comfortable to leave the place where she was and where she felt at home. She finally arrived at her job place, her lovely kindergarten, she always felt those kids as her own kids, she loved every day to go to work and see those little smiles at her keep calling her name surrounding her with only the desire of having her company and she literally was feeling the same. She left her bag in her locker and run wearing her purple uniform (always dirty but she couldn't complain anymore cause they were just kids) inside her classroom. Soon all the kids started to shout her name and surround her.
"Hazel can you read this book, please?” A little girl with curly ginger hair came to her bringing a book then giving to her.
‘Alice in Wonderland’ was the title. Hazel started to read it when she got interrupted:
“Hazel, the manager needs you.”
Hazel before was surprised then she nodded, stood up and went to the office direction during thinking what her manager needed she surely thought she didn’t anything bad, well, she hoped not. Then she knocked gently at the office door.
“Come in.” Said gently her manager.
“Sorry, did you need me?”
“Yes, darling. Well not me. Sit.”
Hazel was confused then she saw a young man probably a few years older than Hazel, she thought, sitting in front of her manager desk, his hair were short not too much and black as the deep night and his eyes as blue as the deep ocean, he was wearing a matching blue shirt, a pair of black trousers as his shoes, he was smiling at her and before Hazel could read his name on the tag he was wearing, he stood up and went to her direction till he stopped a few steps from where she was.
“Hi, I’m Austin Clarke. I’m the teacher of the North Star Middle School.” Hazel soon gasped inside her recognizing that name from the many calls she got, Austin was offering his hand. Hazel felt sadly in trap and shook his hand.
“Hazel Morgan. Teacher of.."
“I know.” He interrupted her shaking her hand too. “I bet you already recognized me, oh well, at least not me but my school.”
Hazel nodded like a child knowing that he did something bad.
“I don’t understand...” Austin kept talking. “I want to know what stops you from accepting this opportunity. Even your manager agreed about it, also for her to get a new teacher for them from our school..”
“I never worked with teenagers. I’m not feeling comfortable neither ready for it..Wait. You did what??”
“My teacher helper left the job, he wanted to try with younger ones so I was left by myself. Then I saw your curriculum and I came..”
“There must be a good reason for him to leave the job.” She interrupted him.
“Absolutely not. He really wanted to try a new field..”
“Well I leave you guys during I check the kids.” The manager interrupted them leaving the room preteding to ignore Hazel’s pleading face telling her to stay.
“Miss Morgan.” Hazel’s heart made a jump when he called her and she didn’t know why. “I came here to see how you work and I loved it..”
“But they are kids..”
“There is no difference.” Austin interrupted her again hoping for that to don’t become a bad habit. “Your way of teaching is amazing. You say you don’t feel ready but believe me as a teacher also that you have more capabilities than you think. I see in you passion, you completely put your heart in this job, sacrificing all of yourself for it because you love it. I can see it in your eyes but I can see also that you would like to try other fields too, you hide it but you know it’s true.”
Hazel never felt so much touched in her life, for the first time in that moment she didn’t know what to say, seemed like he knew her for a long time.
“I won’t waste your time. I won’t absolutely force you.” Austin continued. “But I can promise you that you’ll be sided by a great team that is me. You’ll count on me for everything and same you. There will be trips, games, activities, even more that you’ll see. Hazel,...” Hazel’s heart made another jump. “We need your help. I need your help. What a pity for losing this opportunity. Well then, if you change your mind, I’ll be at the entrance explaining you everything and starting to work together.” He seemed suddenly sad, Hazel thought. “Nice school.” He was watching around then nodded to her as farewell.
During he left Hazel in her thoughts, she then started to feel guilty, she hated that. Hazel then opened then door, Austin wasn’t too much far, she was still able to see him still to then scream at him feeling annoyed: “Ok, I’m in!” Austin turned his head towards her, his face surprised then he started to smile walking back to her. “But if it is a joke...” Hazel interrupted herself when she realized that she was already surrounded by his arms, feeling his warm body as his breath made her goose bumps. “Thank you. No, it’s not a joke.” He then soon moved back from her still smiling. “See you tomorrow!” He then started to come back to his way. “To-to-tomorrow?? But I have to..” “Don’t worry, your manager is already fine about it. Enjoy your last day here ‘cause tomorrow is coming something better for you.” Hazel was shocked about it. After he disappeared from her sight, she started to feel so many mixed emotions that she didn’t know which were and how to handle them between happiness for the new school, sadness for leaving her kids where she made a strong relationship with each one of them, confused, nervous or even worst like scared for a different age she never worked with before, and other emotions unknown yet. Hazel tasted and enjoyed every moment of that day as he suggested her, it was so hard to leave all of them, her kids overall. Those last hugs and receiving many flowers made her almost hard to breath on the way home. She ate some quick snacks and then went to her bed; she was so nervous, scared, and worried for tomorrow that her appetite became very low. Laying on her bed, she couldn’t fall asleep yet, so many worries about the next day waiting for her, and about the behaviour of that teacher made her so confused.. but then the darkness surrounded her sight. Her alarm started to ring, Hazel turned it off, she started to wake up still feeling confused then she remembered. She soon dressed up and washed her face. Then she was still wondering what to have for breakfast when she heard the doorbell, she was confused wondering who could be at that time since her roommates are already at work. She then opened the door, Austin was waving at her with a bigger smile than yesterday. “Good morning.” “Professor Clarke, what...?” Hazel was feeling even more confused. “Oh please, we’re not at work yet. Let’s not be so formal. It’s interesting, isn’t it?” Hazel watched him even more confused. “I barely moved in this neighbourhood and found out that you are literally the next door last night, I saw you and even called you but you probably were lost in your thoughts.” ‘Is it a joke or what?’ Hazel thought. “Are you ready? We have to go.” Hazel nodded. She followed him closing the door behind her. “Come on, I’m gonna give you a lift.” Hazel wasn’t feeling sure about that. “My sister works close there too so.” Hazel saw a nice woman waving at her from the car window behind. Austin opened the door car for her close to the driver seat. Hazel sat down feeling that treatment exaggerated for someone like her, Austin then sat on the driver seat. He then moved towards her, his face so close to hers making her heart jump, he then grabbed her seatbelt and secured for her to then do the same with his. “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Emily, Austin’s sister.” “Nice to meet you too. I’m...” “Hazel, I know.” Emily interrupted her, her voice, her face and her way of being were so lovely, Hazel thought. Her long black hair with her brown black eyes. Her dress style was so pretty too, a white and black one. “Austin talked a lot about you.” Hazel stopped to breath. Emily continued. “He said that you are a great teacher. He’s being nicer even more than when he is with me.” Hazel’s heart made another jump. “He doesn’t have to.” “But I want to. We are a team, remember? Here, you must be hungry.” Austin gave to her a little paper bag that looked like coming from a bakery shop. “Wow, thank you.” Austin turned on his black car still smiling. Hazel started to eat the croissant with inside strawberry jam that was inside the paper bag. “I need your help in many things: there are so many things to organize in the class and different students that need to be followed that only one teacher can’t do it by himself.. Thank you for accepting this. And no worries I’ll explain and show you everything you need to know. If you have any question, don’t hesitate, ok?” Hazel nodded. “We are almost there. I’m gonna let my sister go for her work first.” Hazel nodded again. After greeting his sister, Austin parked the car after a few buildings. Austin then opened her car door. They then walked till to arrive soon in front of a big yellow building. “Here we are. What do you think?” Hazel was even feeling more nervous, her heart started to beat very fast. “Let’s go.”
