Sidney sat with me and Liz until we sobered up, well me more than Liz. Luckily I snatched her up from some sleazy looking guy before anything bad happened. I was able to drive us home by 2am and I woke up at 6am to get ready for work. Calling in sick was a no go since the school year just freaking started. I took a quick shower to wake up my senses and put on more makeup than I do to cover the bags under my eyes. I put my hair in a ponytail and put on a pair of black trousers with a tapered waist and a white chiffon top that is covered in butterflies. I opt for my most comfortable pair of red pumps.

“Good morning,” Joan says to me when I enter the main office to check in. The lights are too bright and her voice is too loud.

“Ugh, good morning Joan,” I grunt. I sign my name on the clipboard and head toward the foyer before anyone can stop me.

“Someone had a rough night,” she snickers. I sigh and shake my head.

---

First-period language arts goes off without a hitch, as does the second period of language arts class. The students are not that full of energy in the morning, much like me this morning so I’m okay with that. Between class changes, my stomach lets out a horrendous growl and I instantly regret skipping breakfast. Or did I forget? I think I definitely forgot. Digging through my bag, I find a chocolate chip granola bar and I murder that damn thing. It doesn’t satisfy my hunger and I know there isn’t much in the teacher's lounge.

Ring! Ring!

My classroom phone goes off and it is still too loud for my poor, drunk head.

“Hello?” I answer.

“I think you may wanna come down here,” Liza says. She’s the other secretary in the office.

“Why?” I ask suddenly defensive. Oh God, does the administration know I’m crazy hung-over? If so that may be the end of my career before it has even started. I swallow dryly. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, you have a visitor.” A visitor? Please don’t be my mother.

“Is it my mother?” Liza laughs. I can here Joan giggling as well. Something is definitely up.

“No sweetie, just get down here. I’ll get someone to cover your class.” I sigh defeated.

“Okay, I’ll be there in five.”

---

“What is it, Liza? Who is here…”

“Hi,” Sid says shyly. What? No. No. Sidney Crosby can’t be here! My voice is stuck in my throat and I can’t move my legs. I stand here frozen like an idiot.

“I think you broke her,” Joan chuckles.

“I uh, I felt bad for last night and I had a feeling you’d feel gross this morning so I brought some food. If that’s okay with you,” Sidney rambles on, motioning to a bag on the counter.

“How’d you find me?” I demand once my voice finally decides to work. “Should I consider this stalking?”

“Your friend gave me her number last night so I decided to check on her and see if you were okay. She told me you both were okay and that you went to work. She gave me the address.” I think this all over. This is way too wild for me right now. He showed up to my work. And brought me food. Does he not know how much of a scene this could cause?

“Do people know you’re here?”

“The principle isn’t in right now,” Liza says excitedly. I shoot her a look.

“I just came to drop it off but when these two said I could see you, I couldn’t pass that up,” Sidney says through a small smile. I melt a little. He is as handsome as I remember him—dark wash jeans and a dark gray Henley look so good on him. Chewing the inside of my lip I mull over what I should do.

“I’m going to take the food and maybe we can meet up after school for dinner or something?” I ask. Sidney’s face lights up.

“That works for me!” I scribble down my phone number on a notepad on the counter and hand it to him.

“I’ll text you when I’m done with work where to meet me,” I say. “Now please go before you get noticed and I get bombarded with questions I don’t want to answer.” Sidney chuckles and holds his hands up in defeat.

“Okay, okay I’ll leave. See you later Mya.” He waves to me and the ladies before leaving. Letting out a tired sigh, I turn to face Joan and Liza. Their faces are ridiculous.

“We need to know everything,” Joan states. Liza gets up to snoop at my bag of food. I slap her hand away.

“Nuh huh! You will not know anything until I sort this all out nor will you tell a single soul. And this food is mine.” I state as I take my food and head to the teacher’s lounge.

“You’re no fun!” Liza calls to me.

“And you’re too nosy!” I yell back. The teacher’s lounge is just like any other room in the school except we have a fridge, sink and microwave. I sit down at one of the round tables, digging into the bag. I pull out a bottle of orange juice and there’s also a water bottle but I’ll save that for later. There’s a container of fresh fruit, melons and grapes; there’s a tin container that is pretty hot to the touch when I lift it out. Taking the lid off reveals an omelet that appears to have peppers, tomatoes and bacon? My stomach growls and I immediately decide I can’t wait to eat anymore.

“Holy shit,” I groan out. It’s so good! I tear through the omelet and chug the orange juice before realizing I have a class to teach. I throw away the empty container and put what I haven’t touched yet back in the bag. Suddenly, I’m very grateful that Sid came over.

Notes