"The others" part 3

“Let me show you something,” Sean smiled as I pulled away from him.

Maybe I was the one being presumptuous, so I followed him. We stopped at a wall of slotted cubbies.

“Here are more drawings by the student that you noticed in the hallway.” He pulled out a portfolio from one of the cubbies and started to show me the beautiful drawings that it contained.

So, I was being presumptuous. I was be silly and acting like a hormone raged teenager. He told me about the pieces and the art behind the beauty. The student was talented and Sean was charming. We sat and talked until it was dark.

“Where did the sun go?” I asked, laughing.

“You didn’t have anywhere to go. Did you?”

“No, I just never lose track of time like that.”

“Is it horrible?”

“No, it was refreshing. But, it is a school night, so I should probably get going”

We laughed. It was the laughter of old friends.

“Sean, I hope to see you soon.”

“Then I will make it so.”

He kissed me on the cheek and squeezed my arm. It was a gesture that was innocent and intimate at the same time. I walked out of the room; I didn’t look back, but I could feel him watching me walk down the hallway.

I came slamming back into reality when I got to the classroom containing my things and the door was locked. I managed to find a member of the janitorial staff to open the door and gather my things. Just as I walked into the chilling evening air I got a text message.

“Where r u?”

It was from Mike, my boyfriend. I guess that I was missed. It was about time.  

"The others" part 2

The room was bright with the evening sunlight. I was breathless. There was so much color. It was everywhere. I don't remember ever seeing a High School Art Room that was so vibrant.
"Please, come in," he beckoned me into the room.
I smiled and felt my face blush. I was starting to get flustered. The room was warm and welcoming; I never wanted to leave.
"Ann, your new here. Right?" Sean's smile creped across his face, "I mean, I haven't been missing you for a whole month. Have I?"
"I'm a substitute." I felt like a little girl, like I was still in High School. It was a strange contrast from Ms. Marky, the take no nonsense substitute teacher, that I had been playing all day. I was mousy. I was shy. I was not myself. "It was my first day here. They have me bounce all over the district."
"Okay," he paused and smiled at me again. I wasn't sure if he was trying to put me at ease, but I felt my pulse quicken.
"What about you? How long have you been teaching here?"
"I just started this year. I was worried that I had missed out on meeting you."
I felt completely out of my mind. Why did he keep saying that? What was he doing? Flirting? Teasing? Just being friendly? I couldn't find the words to express myself. I didn't want to sound stupid.
"No, I'm just a substitute." I failed; I sound stupid.
I started to look away from him because I just didn't know how to handle this strange meeting. My eyes drifted along the students' pieces on the walls, shelves, windows and tables. Then I saw it, on his desk.
The object was something that I have seen before, but it looks old - really old. I slowly, very slowly walked over to the statuette. It wasn't big, maybe the size of my soda bottle. I leaned over getting a closer look. It was the color of sand and the top looked Celtic. I was about to touch it, but stopped myself. Really, what was I doing?
I looked at Sean to see if he was pissed that I looked like I was about to rummage through his desk. He was smiling, watching me.
"Sorry, there are so many beautiful things in here." I tried to cover up my weirdness. "I've been rude. I should get going; I'm sure that you have lots to do."
"You look like your glowing in this light." he stepped forward and reached for my hand.
I pulled back. Men don't react like this with me. I am average, on a good day. Plus, he was being presumptuous; I do have a boyfriend, I spend most night sitting up and waiting for him.

"The others"

The last bell rang for the day, as the evening sun colored the hallway with yellow-orange warmth. I stood watching the last of the students clear out of the parking lot. I was a substitute teacher in a new school and found myself wandering in the sleepy hallway as I walked back to my assigned classroom for the day. I found myself lost somewhere down by the art rooms. The students' art work decorated the hall wall. I stopped to look at a drawing of a woman; it was stunning and she was beautiful. I was wondering who this woman was, when I heard a soft voice from over my shoulder.
"Its his mother," the voice answered the question in my head.
"She is beautiful," I replied as I turned my head, "and the student is talented."
My brown eyes met with the deep emerald eyes belonging to the man behind me. For a moment, we were lost. I felt comfortable, at peace like we have known each other all of our lives.
"I'm Ann," I introduced myself to him.
He smiled and said, "Sean."
That one word changed my life. I followed him into his classroom; I didn't have anything to do or anywhere to go. I could go home, to my empty house and wait. I stepped into Sean's art room.