Beautiful Dream (6 page)

“Well hello to you too,” she laughs.

“Hi,” I sigh. “I’m sorry I’m always apologizing.”

“You have a lot to apologize for.”

“I know.”

“But it’s okay,” she sighs. “I mean, I’m obviously still mad, but I said we could try and be friends.”

“Obviously,” I laugh at her wording.

“So… how’s your day?” She asks, and even her voice is adorable. This was 100% the right phone call for me to make.

“Immensely brighter now,” I smile, propping back in my chair. “What about you? I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“Ugh,” she sighs. “No, I’m up stressing, of course,” she laughs. “I have this super short time to basically find a job. I don’t know why I didn’t start earlier,” she stammers. “I mean I knew it was coming. I should have been more prepared, you know?”

“A job?” I sit up, concerned. “Do you need money for something?”

“No, no,” she corrects. “It’s nothing like that. It’s student teaching. For my last class, and it’s important to find a good position, because the school can then hire you and maybe even pay for the rest of schooling-”

“Luci,” I interrupt. “I’m a teacher, remember? I know how it works.”

“Right,” she laughs. “Sorry, I’m just stressed.”

“You mentioned that,” I sigh. “So you didn’t find a position yet?”

“No,” She groans.

“Well,” I hesitate, not sure I should even go down this path, but I’m too eager not too. “I could put in a good word for you here?”

“No thanks,” she immediately turns me down.

“Why not?” My mind is churning.

“Just… a lot of different reasons,” she hesitates.

“The first being…” I coax.

“Ugh,” she moans. “One, I don’t want to ask this of you. I’m sure you have a lot of other stuff going on, and two-”

“One,” I interrupt. “I’d be happy to help.”

“Two,” she accentuates. “I don’t think you can really help in securing me a position. I need a math job, not science.”

“Ouch!” I laugh out my hurt. “Do you want to insult me some more?”

“No,” she laughs. “I’m waiting for you to shut down my number two first.”

“So two, believe it or not, I have a ton of pull around here.”

“Right,” she laughs. “The promotion you told me about.”

“I’ll have you know I’m not only the head
my
department, but I’m the head of
all
the department heads.”

“Head of the all department heads?” She chuckles, and if the sound wasn’t so enticing I’d be insulted over the fact that she really has lost all faith in me.

“Is that a thing? Like the official title?” She teases.

“It’s a thing,” I tell her. “Also, that science award I won is not to be taken lightly with the amount of pull I have around here.”

“Right.”

“Don’t sound so shocked,” I jab. “Have a little faith in me.”

“I have
so much
faith in you,” she whispers, her voice growing serious.

“Thank you,” I clear my throat.

“Gosh, I still can’t believe reading all those geeky science magazines paid off that much for you.”

“I didn’t read them just for the fair,” I defend. “I always-”

“I know,” she laughs. “I know. I’m just teasing you…. I - I’m really proud of you.”

“Eh,” I casually brush it off. “You’re just saying that because you want my money,” I joke back, enjoying our banter. “Like every department here.”

“Yes,” she laughs. “Exactly. I’ve always been secretly after you for your money.”

“Damn it, I knew there was something,” I laugh. “Anyway, is there a number three?”

“What?” She breathes softly.

“For why I can’t help you get a student teaching job here?”

She clears her throat again. “You giving me a job wouldn’t really be me getting the position fairly.”

“I wouldn’t be recommending you if I didn’t feel you deserve it, and the head of the math department still has final say. He won’t hire you if you’re not right, but you’re also alum. You’re probably a shoe in just because of that.”

“How do you know I deserve it? For all you know I could suck.”

I want to tell her I know
she can suck
, but our banter isn’t quite back there just yet.

“Then your grades and resume will prove otherwise,” I sigh.

“It’s pretty far from Boston,” she hesitates.

“Well, maybe you can come back for the semester?” I casually suggest, because I want nothing more than for her to come back, period.

She hesitates.

“Look Luci, if it would be too weird being in school - working here with me around I get it.” Fuck, here I am, pushing her. “The bell’s about to ring, I gotta go.”

“Wait!” She shouts, and I don’t hang up.

“Text me your email and I’ll send you what I have,” she sighs, defeated. “Just in case I get desperate and can’t find any place else.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” I joke. “Second best.”

“You’ve never been second best to me.” Her words catch me off guard. “That was the difference between us.”

Crumpled and full of shame, I don’t even know if I get out a goodbye before we hang up. Maybe I did make the wrong phone call after all. She’s past the point of reconciling. I waited too long. I hurt her too much.

I text her my email as I head to my classroom, and immediately get one back in return, only it’s not from Luci, it’s from Deb. It’s Lisa’s Caraway’s contact information.

~*~*~*~*~

Monday morning, after the school-wide department head meeting, I hang around, waiting to cross paths with David Oliver, the head of the math department.

“Josh,” David’s voice booms as I place my hand in his.

“David,” My smile meets his friendly face, noticing how his hair has become more salt than pepper over these last couple of years.

“Dear boy,” his other hand cradles mine in a firm handshake. “I hear congratulations are in order. The entire district, let alone state, must be thrilled by the additional funds from your science victory.”

“Thank you,” I bow my head modestly. If no one knew who I was in the past they all do now that the grant arrived.

“It’s nice to see a young man taking such an interest in his field,” he continues, and I smile. I’m constantly receiving comments about my age in comparison to my accomplishments, as if that matters. Maybe that’s why Luci’s age never bothered me much.

“It’s nice to see
anyone
take an interest in education,” I reply, clearing my throat. “Which is actually what I want to discuss with you.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, a previous student - Luci Cunningham.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” he shakes his head and I smile wide. He probably never had her as a student, because if he did, how could he possibly forget?

“She graduated from here a couple of years ago and is looking for a student teaching position.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Josh,” his mouth creases. “The semester’s positions have already been filled.”

“If you could find anything, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Will you be reserving some of your winnings for the math department?” He perks up, and I sigh loudly.

“David, surely you aren’t trying to bribe me?” I question, fully understanding his implication. “My prize money will be equally awarded to the other departments, since it was a win for
science
. However, I’d hate to tell Principal Finch of such dubious behavior.”

“Ah, well, um, yes,” David doesn’t meet my eye.

“This previous student would be an asset to our institution, and I think it would behoove you to take a look,” I hold out the manila envelope that contains a print out of Luci’s resume and everything else she sent me. “She’s very hardworking and her credentials are impeccable.” I lower my voice so no one else can hear, “And after some of the issues going on in your department I would think a breath of fresh air may be just what it needs.”

“Oh - well…” He hesitates, taken aback that I’d bring up his rumored affair.

I raise my eyebrow, waiting for his response.

“She missed a deadline,” he shakes his head.

“She’s out of state - Boston,” I open her file to let him see the school.

“Oh my, that is impressive,” he studies the paper. “I suppose I can take a look, but I make no promises.”

“That’s all I ask, thank you.”

~*~*~*~*~

The following Wednesday, there’s a note on my desk from David, letting me know that Luci has been given a position.

I’m waiting for my second period class to finish their daily quiz, when my phone lights up with a text.

“Why have there been no good movies released lately?”

I smile at Luci’s name, almost missing the fact that I need to move on with today’s lesson. I don’t answer and I begin writing notes on the overheard.

I can always tell when the period is almost over, because a few of the kids start to pack up their bags. They think I don’t notice, but I do. It’s always the same ones too.

I open the door just as the bell rings, heading back to my desk as they all leave the room in a hurry.

“Mr. Harrington?” I pick up my head as soon as I hear the familiar voice.
It can’t be?

“What are you doing here?” I immediately stand, not able to get to her fast enough. Luci laughs, and I catch myself, giving her a one handed pathetic hug.

“I was in the area,” she laughs.

“From Boston?”

“Well my weeks are sort of slow now that I’m a senior,” she smiles. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No!” I smile just as students from my third period class start to enter the room.

“No?” She giggles, noticing them walk in.

“Well, I have class now,” I brush it off. “Can you hang around?”

“Uh, yeah,” she hesitates.

I go into my pocket to give her the key to my office, and she looks at it, scared.

“Or maybe you can come back then?” I offer, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

“No,” she shakes her head. “It’s fine. I’ll wait.”

She hesitates before taking the key and heading for the door, pulling a book out of her purse in the process.

“Oh wait,” I stop her. “Can you take my phone?” I run to grab it off my desk and hand it to her. “I don’t even know why I have it in here.” She takes it silently as the late bell rings.

The class murmurs in the background, enjoying their extra moments of freedom. Gracie stops to talk to Luci before heading inside, and I’m still watching Luci as she retreats down the hall, admiring.

My attention eventually reverts back to the class, and I begin the lesson. Gracie keeps on giving me weird looks, because I can’t help but stare awkwardly at her. I owe her so much, and I can’t get over the fact that Luci is here right now.

I jump through the lesson, and I know no one understands a thing, but I can’t seem to get my shit together, and I think I’m more relived than they are when the bell rings. They can’t pack up and leave fast enough, and as soon as the last person exits I bound to my office, bracing myself before opening the door.

Luci stands immediately.

“I wasn’t snooping or anything, I swear!” I hate the look on her face already. “It just lit up with a text from someone named Lisa, confirming your date for Friday.”

“Oh,” I nod.

“Yeah,” she sighs, still standing. “It’s… okay?” She looks up at the ceiling. “I didn’t think you were going to wait around after our conversation at dinner. I mean, I’m still mad at you, and we’re just friends. God this is so stupid!”

“You said friends,” I feel my face fall. “I was trying to mo-”

“I know what I said!” She moves towards me angrily.

So she doesn’t know what she wants, and I think I may have just made that decision for her.
Fuck!

“I don’t even have to go. I don’t even
want
to go.”

“I- I-” She stumbles.

I can’t seem to ever do the right thing. Ever.

“Then why did you agree to it?” She asks, and I suddenly find
myself
getting angry.

“Don’t you still have a boyfriend?” I demand, and she swallows hard before nodding, her eyes red and welling.

“Luci,” I exhale. “What are we doing?” I run my ringers through my hair.

“I don’t know,” she huffs, shoving past me and out the door. I sink down into my chair with my head in my hands.

So much for a friendly reunion in my office.