Chapter 6
By the first day of school, and with no further word from Gage even though she’d seen him on the practice field several times when she looked out the window by her desk, Carly was certain he’d changed his mind and moved on to someone else.
Oh well, it’s for the best anyway, she thought as she waved to Mrs. Taylor, the kind, older woman who taught across the hall and unlocked her door. She didn’t need to get involved with anyone so soon after her divorce. She told herself she needed some time to get over everything and be sure Daniel, her ex-husband, would leave her alone. Deep down, though, she was longing for someone to warm her lonely bed at night.
As she stepped inside and flipped on the lights, she admired her new classroom adorned with several math posters, banners with encouraging phrases, and a few plants and other decorations. Going over to the whiteboard next to the enormous interactive screen mounted on one wall, she picked up a purple marker and wrote a welcome message for her students.
Welcome to Algebra 1
with
Ms. Owens
After double checking the stack of information packets to give out, Carly checked her reflection in the mirror next to the door then went out into the hall to greet her first-period students.
The first three periods flew by without any problems. Before she knew it was time for lunch.
As Carly rounded the corner on the first floor to join Rachel and Sophie in the teacher’s lounge, she caught a glimpse of Gage as he disappeared into the front office. Passing by the large plate-glass window, her stomach fluttered at the sight of his neatly styled blond hair and his muscular shoulders straining against the material of his shirt as he leaned down to say something to the school secretary, Mrs. Carlson. With a sigh and a tight chest, she turned away from the glass and headed into the lounge.
“Hey,” Carly said and sat down next to Sophie at one of the four round tables scattered around the large room. Sophie with her mouth full wiggled her fingers in response. Carly then waved to Rachel who was on the far side of the room next to a whirring microwave on the long white counter. Opening her soft-sided lunch bag, Carly removed her sandwich, bag of chips, and the water bottle she’d packed earlier that morning. As she unwrapped the sandwich, Rachel plopped down in the empty seat across from Carly.
“How’s the new program going?” Carly asked as she took a bite of her ham and cheese sandwich.
“It’s great! I’ve already said it, but I want to say thank you again. If not for you encouraging me to try something new, I’d still be stuck teaching English.” Rachel grinned as she raised her spoon to slurp her steaming chicken flavored Ramen noodles.
Carly grinned back at the former chef turned high school English teacher and now director of the culinary arts pilot program at the newly restructured Oaktown High School. Carly’s heart warmed at the thought Rachel had finally found her calling doing what she loved – teaching and cooking.
“So, when do we get to partake of some of your students’ culinary skills?” Sophie asked as she dug her fork into an unappetizing container of a microwave chicken alfredo.
“Soon, but it will only be some simple salads at first. My students have a long way to go before they are ready to open the café. It may not even happen until next year, but I promise I’ll make us some lunches this weekend,” Rachel answered then turned to Carly. “Still no date with Gage?”
“No,” Carly shook her head while her heart lurched at the mention of his name. “But it’s for the best. I don’t need to get involved with him, anyway.”
“I’m so sorry. I thought for sure Gage was going to ask you out. But you’re right. You don’t need him anyway,” Sophie said as she reached over and patted Carly’s arm.
“Well, I don’t think you should give up yet. Coach Wilson has probably been busy and hasn’t had time to think. I know I haven’t,” Rachel said while dipping her spoon back into her container of noodles.
Carly shrugged her shoulders as she took another bite of her sandwich. Maybe Rachel was right, but the more she thought about it the more she realized she really had no business involving herself with Gage Wilson. If he did ever talk to her again she’d have to stay strong and ignore her body’s reactions whenever he was near.
***
Reaching the top of the stairs near her classroom, Carly was surprised to see a small group of students standing outside her door. As she got closer, she recognized Gage’s son, Jonathan, and two of the boys who’d helped carry her things the week before.
“Hello, guys,” she greeted while she unlocked the door. “Can I help you with something?”
“We didn’t want to be late for your class,” Jonathan answered. A small grin lit up his face as he shuffled his feet on the tile floor.
Carly’s stomach clenched as she looked at the boy who reminded her so much of his father. “Are you sure you’re at the right place? I didn’t see any of your names on my list.”
Jonathan nodded then trailed behind the other two and followed Carly through the door.
“There was a mix-up with our schedules, so we were changed to your class. Mr. Andrews said to tell you he’d send an email with an updated list.” One of the other boys spoke up from behind her.
“Okay. Well, then I’m happy to have you. Find a seat, and I’ll check my email,” Carly replied as she sat down at the computer by her desk not quite sure how she was going to handle seeing Gage’s son every day. Never mind what would happen when it came time to have a parent-teacher conference. Although she had told herself it was for the best, she couldn’t help but be a little hurt that Gage had not bothered to ask her out after the kiss they’d shared and his implied promise to finish what he’d started. The only thing that kept her from dismissing the small secret hope he still might, was the thought that maybe he had just been too busy the last week.
The boys took seats at the front while she confirmed they had been transferred to her class while the rest of her fourth-period students began to file into the room.
When the bell rang to signal the beginning of class, Carly walked to the front. “Welcome to algebra one. My name is Ms. Owens, and I’m so glad you’re here. I’m going to give each of you a packet with a list of supplies you’ll need, my rules for the classroom, and some common math formulas and homework tips. I’ve also included my email where you can contact me if you need extra help after school or on the weekends.”
After the packets were passed out and the rules were discussed, she answered a few questions before leading the class in a few getting acquainted games. Toward the end of the period, she let them have a few minutes to visit before asking for their attention once again.
She walked back to the front of the room and raised her hand in a signal for the class to quiet. “Tomorrow, please come to class prepared for a short quiz.” After a few groans and noticing Jonathan had a pained expression on his face, she continued, “Don’t worry too much, it’s just a pre-assessment to show me where you stand in your math knowledge. The grade won’t count. I’ll only be using the results to see which of you might need extra help. You’ll need a couple of pencils and a calculator. I have a few if you need to borrow one, but not enough for the whole class. The set I ordered hasn’t come in yet.”
As the end of the period bell rang, Carly stood by the door to say goodbye to each student as they left. When Jonathan, head down and mumbling a reply, passed by, she wondered what had happened to the friendly, smiling boy from last week.