Two can play this game
I walk to my old high school. I never dreamed I'd be back, but here I am, 10 years later, after being hired as the art teacher. I had just moved back to my own town after chasing my wild dream of traveling the world. I'm back. I wanted to settle down and see my family, as I've been gone for about 10 years. I had been getting my associates while I was traveling and a bachelor in art. I left the day I graduated.
Here I am once again.
I ran my hand through my hair, making sure I got all the knots out of it nervously. I walk into the break room, opening the fridge and sliding my lunch box into the bottom drawer, the only available spot.
I feel warm, as though I'm being watched, and I quickly raise up, straightening my back.
I close the fridge, look behind me, and see none other than Chandler Ray Givens.
Staring straight at me.
"There is still room; maybe you can fit your lunch in the bottom drawer with mine." I say with a small smile, attempting to leave. I absolutely loathe the guy; he is the biggest asshat I've ever met in my entire life.
I wasn't sure what he was doing here, and I didn't plan on finding out. He must be a teacher, either way.
"Hello, I don't think I've met you. I'm Chandler, Chandler Givens." He says he is holding his hand out for me to take.
"Margaret." I say this, looking at his large hand. I softly place mine and his and shake his hand.
His hand held on to mine a little longer than necessary.
Before I lightly pull it away.
"Well." He paused, grabbing my lanyard off my neck.
"Ms. Talley, I will see you again. At least now I know where to find you," he says looking down at my badge. Showing my picture, my name, and what I taught.
I pull it from his gaze.
I glanced at his badge; he was a couch. Scoffing to myself.
"What?" He told me with a smug look on his face that I just wanted to smack him off.
"It's just predictable; you are." I say, shaking my head and attempting to walk away.
When my arm was grabbed slightly firm, it didn't hurt, but it made me stop dead in my tracks.
The chatter from the students begins to fill the hallways.
"What do you mean predictable, Ms. Talley?" He asked, arching his brow at me as if he could get any more smug.
"Exactly as I said, it would be predictable that you would be a couch. You look like you would be one." I say, rolling my eyes at his question and yanking my arm from his grasp.
His face now held a smirk, as though I were complimenting him.
I definitely wasn't.
I walk away from him, not even wanting to be in his presence, remembering how much of a cocky playboy asshat he was. I didn't want anything to do with him.
I was actually relieved he didn't remember me, or at least he didn't yet.
I walk to my class, and the bell is about to ring. Glancing across from me is the gym. I wondered how often I would have to listen to him across the room. Grab a white board marker and write my name on the whiteboard. I look over and see Chandler walking into the gym. I feel him look into the room.
I sit down, waiting for the bell to ring. Taking a sip of my hot blonde coffee.
Helping ease my nervousness.
Taking a deep breath.
"Bing," the bell rings.
I glance at my watch on my wrist. Slowly, the students start to come in.
A bunch of new faces start sitting down and talking amongst themselves, with a few asking each other if I was a sub or the new art teacher.
once the second bell rang. I took another long drink of coffee. "Hello class, my name is Margaret Talley, and I will be your new art teacher. I'm going to take attendance, and then if any of you have any questions, I'd love to answer them."
I took attendance. Thankfully, everyone was here.
"Alright, now any questions?" I say with a small smile as I brush off my skirt.
Jarred raised his hand.
I pointed to him, noticing several hands.
"Are you single?" He asked me.
"Yeah," I say.
Pointing to Tracy.
"Do you have any children?" She asked
"No." I say, pointing to Jarred.
"How old are you?" Jarred asks.
"28." I'm still sitting in my chair.
Pointing to the next person.
"What do you do for fun?" Chloe asked
"Depends on my mood. Sometimes I like to hike, sometimes I like to bake, sometimes I like to draw, which isn't surprising, sometimes I watch TV or read. Etc." I reply.
Slowly answering their questions, finally none are left.
"Alrighty I'm going to pass out today's lesson; it's very simple. As I was letting y'all get to know me, I am passing the paper out.
"Draw anything you want to. Just take the next two days to draw it. I'll be collecting it tomorrow after class." I say
Walking back to my deck, I drink more of my coffee.
Softly smelling the coffee, the smell is pleasant.
I hear a whistle being blown in the direction of the gym.
I still can't believe the odds that he would be across from me.
When I toured the school, I knew about the gym, but I didn't know he'd be on the couch there.
He was so rude to me, constantly making fun of me with his friends and girl friends.
Calling me ugly. I mean, I wasn't cute. I know that my teeth weren't straight, and I didn't know how to properly care for my curly hair or how to care for acne. I wore big, baggy clothes compared to all the other girls at my school.
I sent some emails to parents who have emailed me wanting to meet with me.
The next three classes were simple and easy, seemingly the same.
I headed to the break room to grab my lunch.
There were a few teachers already sitting at the tables.
I open up the refrigerator, and my lunch box is gone.
I stared confused for too long when Chandler said, "What's wrong?" as he sat at the circle table eating a pizza.
"Um, I think someone might have grabbed my lunch by accident." I close the fridge.
"You can have some of my pizza; I was just going to bring the rest home, but if you want any, you are more than welcome to do so," he offers.
"I probably shouldn't; you got the pizza for yourself, so you should be the one eating it. I'll just go grab something," I say with a tight smile.
His captivating eyes stare deep into my soul.
"Well, how about we make it an even trade and give me your number? That, to me, is worth more than this pizza." He says this, arching his brow in question.
I chuckle at him.
"Does that line work on all the girls? Surely not," I say, walking away.
I almost laughed when I noticed that his face changed at the rejection he wasn't used to.
"I wasn't being serious. Come take a slice so you can eat during your lunch break," he says slightly loudly, so I could hear it as I made my exit.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
Turning around, I knew he was tight; there was no way I could go grab something and have time to eat. I had been responding to emails for more than half of my lunch.
I sit across from him.
He reaches and hands me a slice.
"Thank you," I say with a small smile.
Chandler smirks and says, "You're welcome; you can't blame me for trying though in the number thing."
"Why would you want my number anyway?" I say to him slightly plainly as I eat the piece of pizza.
He furrowed his brows. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked, confused.
"Were you dating Shelby?" I asked him.
He looked even more confused and startled.
"How do you know Shelby?" he asked me, arching his brow.
"How do you think I knew about your high school sweetheart?" I asked, arching my brow back so we could play dumb.
He smirks suddenly. "Oh, you must have stalked my old Facebook. I'm not sure longer with Shelby; she cheated on me." he says, shrugging.
"Sure, Facebook, that's where I got the information," I say, about to get up.
"Well, thank you again for the pizza," I say, getting up.
"Come on, are you trying to ditch me on our first date?" he says with a chuckle.
"Date, who said anything about a date?" I say with a small laugh. This man had some guys on him; I will give him that.
"Me, Obviously," he says, leaning on the table with his elbows.
"If it were supposed to be a date, you should ask first. I could be dating someone," I say, looking at him sassily.
"You're not, though." He says it smugly.
My mouth gasps open.
"How on earth do you know that?" I ask, bewildered.
"Let's just say some of the students love me. When I asked them to pry, they happily obliged," he says with a cockty smirk on his face that was practically begging to be slapped off.
This statement fills me with anger.
"You shouldn't need children to do your bidding. You're a man, right? Grow some balls and ask me yourself," I say, walking off in anger. Into my classroom, closing the door behind me and closing it.
This jerk!
Who does he think he is?
He is still a child, it seems! I say, rolling my eyes at myself.
As I steady my breathing, I unlock my door. Sitting on my deck.
My door opened, and low and behold, Chandler walked in.
He looks at me.
"Don't you know it's rude to walk away during a conversation?" he asked, slightly agitated and smugly.
"Did you ever hear it was rude to spy on people?" I asked him, snapping.
"Well, I had a feeling you wouldn't tell me," he says, walking step by step into my room.
Making me feel small.
"You're right, I wouldn't have," I say, strong.
"Why is that, Margaret?" he asked, practically leaning over me.
I could smell his earthy cologne from his close proximity. His body heats up close to me.
Making me unconsciously close my legs more tightly.
He smirks at my reaction.
"I think I make you nervous, Maggie," he says to me.
His eyes looked into me, seemingly making my heart thud erratically.
I gulp on my spit.
"You don't make me nervous," I say, trying to keep my voice strong and unwavering to not show my weakness during this moment.
His white teeth are mile long, and his perfectly sculpted jaw and cheekbones are sharp. His eyes were gray and stormy.
He looks at me one more time, leaning slower toward me.
"I think you are lying," he says, his voice husky like silk.
I gulp on my spit.
"I'm not lying," I say as convincingly as possible.
He chuckles before leaning close to my face, feeling his breath close to mine.
"If that's what you have to tell yourself, Margaret, If you want to play this cat-and-mouse game, I'll be happy to participate." He says it in a smug tone, sounding suggestive.
"Ring" the bell signals for the next period.
He smirked one last time before retracting his body from my own.
"Saved by the bell, believe me. I'll be seeing you around, Ms. Talley," he says, no longer leaning into my body.
The room begins to fill quickly as the chatter from the students breaks my racing thoughts of what the hell just happened.
I didn't feel scared by his actions; they just made me nervous, and he knew it.
He's so arrogantly cocky, but now in a different way. I wouldn't be the one to fall for him not if I could help it.
Two can play this game, I think.
