Page 62 of How We Fooled

I feel like the weight of the world was just lifted off of my shoulders and I can finally breathe. Knowing we figured this out makes me pumped for the rest of the year. This is supposed to be the best year of my life, and now that I’ll have her by my side, even in secret, excites me to no end.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Liza

The first two weeks of school surprisingly weren’t as bad as I’d thought it’d be, especially after talking to Eli on his way home from practice every day. We only talk when he’s in his car alone though. I don’t want his sister or parents knowing that we still communicate. If he’s home or with his friends, we only text.

Now, it’s Friday morning, and I have a bit more pep to my step as I enter the school and head to the teachers’ lounge to make a few photocopies before heading to my classroom.

A woman who looks to be in her early thirties stops me with her hand out to shake. “You must be Miss Hernandez.”

I place my bag down on the table, then reciprocate the gesture, and we shake hands. “Yes, Liza. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Sarah, or Mrs. Thatcher. I teach Math here. Boy, if you weren’t the subject of conversation these past two weeks.” She leans in, acting like she’s whispering, but not lowering her voice much. “How has it gone?”

I grin, truly believing myself when I respond, “It’s been great actually. Just a few minor hiccups, but I’ll get the hang of it.”

She smiles, and it’s so genuine that I instantly feel like we’ll be good friends. “I’m glad to hear. Don’t let these kids push you around. I’ll make a list of the particularly sneaky ones and the Eddie Haskell ones, too, if you know what I mean.”

I shake my head, not knowing what she means. “Eddie Haskell?”

She laughs. “I know I’m not that much older than you, but you must have never watched reruns of Leave It to Beaver when you were younger. Eddie Haskell was their friend. He was super polite to the parents, making them think he was this great kid, but really, he was always up to no good. You’ll see what I mean here shortly. They think we don’t see what happens in the halls or at lunch, but we see everything.”

I nod my head with a slight laugh, remembering the Eddie Haskells of my high school. “Oh, yes, I know the exact type you’re talking about.”

“So, have they hit you up for the football games yet?”

I shake my head as I take the papers I need photocopied out of my bag, my stomach turning at the mention of the football game. I wanted to go to watch Eli, but felt weird doing so by myself. “No. No one’s mentioned the football games. Why?”

“We always need teachers there to … help keep things in line, let’s say. If you’re up for it, we’d love to have you. It’s a fun time. You get to watch the game; you just need to stand at a few gates around the field to monitor people going in and out or sometimes work the entrance. Since you’re a newbie though, I’ll make sure you get to watch the game. We have a pretty good team with Eli as the quarterback. Not sure how well we’ll be next year without him. Do you have Eli in your class?” She holds up her hand to show his height. “Really tall kid. You can’t miss him.”

I’m not sure whether to laugh at her height comment or throw up at the way she called him kid.

I try to act unaffected either way and move on with our conversation. “Yeah. I think he’s in my second-period class.”

“Good kid. You have nothing to worry about with him. His dad is one of the creators of TimeLand. You’ll get to know all of the TimeLand kids this year since they are all seniors. Ben, Dalton, and Maya are the other ones. Maya is as sweet as can be. Dalton has his moments but is still a good kid. Ben is a cocky SOB if you’ve ever met one, but still decent, considering they basically run this school—this town actually. Eli though, he’s quiet, and he minds his own business. Great student, straight A’s, so your dream kid to work with really.”

If she only knew how much of a dream he is in bed too.

My eyes open wider, and I turn quickly, hoping she didn’t just read my thoughts—as if that’s possible—but I can’t believe I just went there. I know my face is blushing, so I try my hardest to hide it in the photocopier machine, praying she doesn’t think I’m a weirdo all of a sudden.

There’s an awkward silence between us as I act like I have no clue how to work this thing.

“So, do you think you’re up for coming to the game tonight?” she asks.

I feel my face is back to normal so I turn to face her again. “Yes. That sounds like fun actually.”

“Great. Let me give you my number just so you have it. The JV game starts at five, so if you could be here, say, around four thirty, that would be wonderful.”

We exchange numbers, then say our goodbyes as I finish my task at hand, then grab my stuff and head to my classroom, thanking Earl once again for giving me the closest classroom to the teachers’ lounge.

I can’t help myself so I pull out my phone and text Eli.

Another teacher was just telling me that you’re a dream student, straight A’s.

He’s quick to reply.

You asking people about me?

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