Grading Hearts

The start to a new academic year is supposed to be exciting. At least they always have been for me. I always get to teach most of the same students from the previous year, which is always a plus as I already know their personalities, how to get through to them when they give me attitude - and boy, do they do that sometimes - and what makes them laugh or open up to me. But as well as them, I getto teach a whole group of new students as well, which is always a reason to get me out of bed in the morning. I’m always intrigued to see what they are going to be like.

There are two types of new students each academic year. You have the new-new students who are just starting their secondary school journey. Their nerves are flying everywhere, and they probably have no clue on whether they will make new friends or ever be able to find their way around the school. This is not so different to how I was on my first day teaching here at Twin Oaks Academy or when I attended high school myself once upon a time, and this is not as long ago as my A-Level students like to try and have others believe.

Then you have the new students who, while not new to the school, are new to me being their teacher. The first lesson with those students is the most important for them and for me. It’s when they decide what kind of student they are going to be to the kind of teacher I am, and whether they are going to respect me enough to listen even when they don’t want to, or at least not disrupt the class even if they don’t bother to take in a word I say. That, to me, is one of the many joys of teaching – the getting to know the students, I mean; not them not paying attention to me.

This year was going to be just like any other, starting with this morning. I woke up, raring to go on the first INSET day of the school year. Don’t ask me what it stands for - I honestly think I used to know, but all I know now is that I’m pretty sure the T stands for training. There’s been so many names for an INSET day over the years that it’s hard to keep track of what everything means. And that is all the information I’ve got for you at this time. However, it’s not ever going to be important to my story, so I guess I’ll move swiftly on.

What is important to note, is the reason that has ruined my whole attitude towards this new academic year. Or rather someone.

Logan Matthews.

He was my high school nemesis. He was my academic rival until we were eighteen. And now, apparently, he’s my new colleague. Ten years apart and now he waltzes back into my life.

There I was, minding my own business waiting for our staff meeting to begin when in walks, Ted, the school’s headteacher with someone clearly following behind him.

“Morning everyone. Before we begin, I’d like to introduce you to a new colleague.” He gestured for someone to come forward, and I felt my mouth fall open when Logan’s face appeared before me. I just managed to close it when he looked my way. I knew he was hiding a smirk under that professional gaze. Prick!

“This is Logan Matthews. He will be joining our English department.” Ted continued and when he looked at me, I knew he was about to say something I wouldn’t like. “Poppy, Logan tells me you are old school friends, so we have appointed you to be Logan’s buddy. You can show him the ropes for the first few weeks.”

I planted a smile on my face. “Of course. I’d love to.”

“Excellent.” Ted moved on to other business and for the first time I drowned out his words.

I could feel Logan’s gaze on me and despite trying to ignore him, I had to look over at him. Mainly to tell him the back the hell off with just a look, but he wasn’t smiling at me in that annoying way like he always used to. He was just staring at me and there was something about it that, for a reason unbeknownst to me, I found extremely hot as well as unnerving. That isn’t exactly the most calming of combinations when it comes to looks.

I looked away from him just as Ted was wishing everyone a good day. I had to hope that he hadn’t revealed anything important in those few moments. I’m not usually that distracted but then I’ve never had Logan at my workplace before so that was all on him.

Once Ted turned and left the staff room, all of a sudden, everyone was a hive of activity with people chatting about their summers. This gave me my usual opportunity to quietly slip away, so I could finally get started on some work, but someone clearly just couldn’t resist blocking my way. I looked up to Logan standing there, his eyes boring into me again.

“Logan.” I took a step back so I could see him better and not feel so towered over.

“Pops.” His shortening of my name grated me then as much as it always did. Any opportunity he got to do so, he would take it. I guess even after ten years he hadn’t forgotten that. Again, I say: prick!

“Do you mind?” I went to go around him, but he just moved with me. After a few times of this, I sighed, done with this immature behaviour and it was only quarter past eight. “Look, I may be your buddy, but I do have actual work to do, so if you could.” I gestured to door.

“Oh, of course.”He finally stepped aside and even went as far as to open the door for me. Ever keeping up the illusion that he is a gentleman. Well, I know the real Logan. “You won’t mind if I follow, will you? Only I need to find my own classroom and make sure it is how I like it.”

I resisted rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth. He was enjoying this sudden reunion far too much. “Not at all.” I left the room and didn’t look back as I turned left and headed down the corridor. I pushed through the double doors that led to the main office area. A platform stands in the middle of that stretch with classrooms down the steps to the left and steps down to the main office on the right, which is also where Ted’s office is.

I continued past all that, and through the next set of doors to the next corridor. When I finally reached my room at the end of it, I pushed the door open and let it swing shut behind me, only for a bang on the door to indicate it had been opened again.

I ignored the footsteps coming towards me and settled at my desk. I switched on the computer and pulled the keyboard forward as if needing to rearrange the layout. Once the silence became too much, I finally looked up. Of course, he was there. Any opportunity to piss me off he took. I never understood why he would never just leave me the hell alone. And it seems even now, he is still wired that way. Excellent!

“Can I help you?”

Logan gave me a smirk and placed his hands on the desk, leaning towards me. “Aren’t you supposed to show me where my classroom is?”

I gave him a polite smile. “Go out my door and turn left. Your classroom is the next one along.” I looked back at my computer and started typing in my login details.

“So, that’s it?”

I sighed heavily and looked at him again. “What do you want from me, Logan? You turn up unannounced after I’ve had ten bloody years free from you and you act like we are just going to continue where we left off.” I find myself standing. “I am done with our stupid rivalry. I don’t ever want to go down that road again. I’ve actually moved on from it.”

“And what makes you think I haven’t?” He took a step back from the desk as if offended. “I’m not the same idiotic teenager trying to be the best at everything, you know. You’re not the only one who has grown up over the last ten years.” He turned to leave and I felt myself sink a little.

I closed my eyes briefly and took in a breath before looking at his retreating back. “Logan, wait.” He took his time turning back to me. “I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a surprise to see you after all this time.”

“I know. I mean it can’t be easy to come face to face with your teenage crush after all these years, so I promise I’ll try not to look too sexy each day. I wouldn’t want you to get distracted by all of this.” He ran a hand over his body as if to present it to me and this time I had no qualms about rolling my eyes.

“You are such an arse!” I hid back a smile threatening to escape which was new. If this had been when we were students, I no doubt would have been ripping him a new one; not feeling giddy at the fact he has highlighted his entire body to me.

“And don’t you forget it, Pops.” He headed for the door once again, closing it on the way out.

I seethed a little at the shortening of my name again, but for some reason, it was much less annoying coming from twenty-eight-year-old Logan than when it came from eighteen-year-old Logan. That was a new feeling as well.

And I hate to admit that because Logan is and always will be a sneaky little fucker who only wants to ruin my day by being better than me in basically every conceivable way and now that he is back in my life, I don’t doubt he will do all he can to make it a living hell.

This could well be the worst year of my life.

And career.