Page 12 of Substitute for Love

Avery hurried through her food then headed for the door. Students were filling the hallway, and she needed to get back to the classroom. As she reached room 110, she felt around her neck. The lanyard. The keys. Where were they? She peered through the window on the door.

No, no, no.She had left them in the classroom.

Ugh.Still, she tried to open the door. Nope, locked. Why couldn’t she remember to bring the keys? Like her brain wasn’t even connected to her body. She sighed and stared at the door as if it would magically open. Her feet hurt. Dreams of her soft bed danced in her head.

“Need help? Again?” a deep voice said.

She swung around in surprise. Yep, Gabe. “Geez, why do you keep doing that?” Avery asked.

He smiled as he pulled his key out of his pocket and stuck it into the doorknob. “All the teachers have the same key, by the way. So pretty much anyone else can help you, too.”

The bell was going to ring soon. So why was he taking his sweet time?

“You know, it was nice of you to call me a hero in there.” Gabe’s eyes twinkled. He was being playful. Flirty?

Avery was annoyed at him. She rolled her eyes and held up her hands. “Okay fine. Yes, you’re a hero. You were pretty proud of yourself, walking away like you were Captain America.”

“Oh, you were watching me walk away, huh?” He turned the doorknob.

She wanted to die right there. “No. No, I was not.”

He held the door open for her to pass through. “Sure.”

She huffed as she walked into the room. “Thanks for unlocking the door. I won’t need you again.”

Students started filing into the room as Gabe held it open for them.

“Are you two…” one student asked.

“No,” Avery said loudly. When would the students stop asking if they were dating?

Gabe snickered and walked away.

Monday August 25, 3:30 PM

The rest of the day went pretty smoothly, with no need for another visit from hero Gabe. If she roamed around the room while students were working and chatted with them a bit, they stayed on task. It was fun to connect with the students.

After finishing an assignment, one student, Lila, shyly approached Avery at the teacher’s desk.

“I’m done with the assignment. Can I read my book?” Lila asked. She reminded Avery of herself as a teenager, shy, self-conscious, but also sweet and a reader.

Avery smiled. “That depends. What book?”

Lila’s eyes shined. “Anne of Green Gables. My grandma gave me a copy and so far, I love it.”

Avery nodded. “I approve. Has Anne met Gilbert yet?”

Lila nodded excitedly. “Oh my gosh, yes!”

The last hour was especially long. Avery looked up at the clock about a million times until finally, FINALLY, the last bell rang and the students filed out. She had survived. But dang, she was bone tired. How did teachers do this every day?

Avery gathered her purse, water bottle, and sub binder and headed for the door. She turned out the lights, making sure the key was in her hand before leaving.

The halls were mostly empty, save a few teachers chatting. A janitor rolled a cart by her, which reminded her of Claire. Avery smiled as she pulled out her phone.

AVERY: I found a janitor.

CLAIRE: Oh, yeah?

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