Page 4 of Minor Trouble
“I have an interview at the high school.” Saying the words aloud brought the nerves rushing back.
“Then I’ll bring you a slice of cake too, for good luck.” She grinned. “On the house. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Unused to such generosity, I watched her go to the counter. She lifted up the cloche of one of the glass-covered cakes and cut a generous slice, then filled a mug with coffee and returned to my table. “Here you go.” She placed the mug and plate down in front of me. “You’ll find the high school staff are some of my best customers. Hope to see you again.” Her wide smile went some way to steadying me.
Now, standing in front of the administration building, the cake tucked in my purse for later—or was it for luck?—the time had come.
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the building and followed the signs to reception.
A stressed-looking dark-haired woman, who looked a similar age to me, sat behind the desk frantically rifling through a pile of paperwork. “I swear I had the new admissions form here somewhere,” she muttered. “Principal Collins is going to kill me if I can’t find it.”
“Hello? I’m Ainsley—” I began.
Her head snapped up, and she cut me off before I could say why I was there. “Gimme a sec, I just need to find this form.”
“But I have an interview…”
Her hand froze over the papers. “Shit! I totally forgot that was today. I haven’t sorted out an interview room.” She crossed her fingers and lifted her hands in the air. “Let’s hope I can find somewhere, otherwise you’ll be having a chat in the greenway.”
Interviewing in the quiet solitude of the greenway wouldn’t be the worst thing and would certainly be an improvement on a stuffy, airless interview room.
“You’re Ainsley Coren, right? My name’s Lyla, and I’m the school administrator. And I hope to still be after all the monumental fuck-ups I’ve made today.” She let out a hard breath and tapped on her keyboard, eyes fixed firmly on her computer screen.
While I waited, I fidgeted with my skirt, making sure it was straight and didn’t ride up. I wanted to make a strong impression, and I had a good feeling about Cali Cross.
“Bingo! We have a room. Let me call Principal Collins and tell her you’re here.” Lyla’s face broke into a grin. “Take a seat.” She gestured to the row of seats along the opposite wall.
Stifling a giggle, I couldn’t help feeling like I was in trouble as I took the seat at one end. Throughout high school, I’d been the good girl and never ended up in the principal’s office. While I waited, I watched the hustle and bustle of the administration office as teachers and students came in and out. The familiarity of it settled me. I only hoped the interview would be as easy.
“Ainsley?” A female voice cut into my thoughts. Standing in the doorway was a woman in her early fifties, her short hair greying at the temples. Dressed in a smart navy dress topped with a striped blazer, she exuded quiet confidence and power—exactly what I would have expected from a high school principal. I noticed the leather portfolio she had tucked under one arm, and I already knew I wanted to work for her even before we’d officially begun the interview.
“Yes, hello, Principal Collins.” I jumped up from my seat and moved towards her, holding out my hand. “Lovely to meet you.”
She took my hand and shook it, her grip just firm enough. “You, too.” Principal Collins glanced over at Lyla. “Where did you say we were meeting? The location on the invite was mysteriously empty—again.”
Lyla ran her nail over her screen, studiously ignoring the principal’s scrutiny. “The Austen room. You have it for the next hour.”
“Thank you. Maybe next time you can remember to include it in the invite?” Principal Collins’ tone was light, but there seemed to be an underlying edge to it.
“Yes, of course. Won’t happen again. Promise.” Lyla saluted her boss, but I couldn’t tell whether she was serious or not. If I were lucky enough to get the job, I think I’d like to be friends with Lyla.
Principal Collins led the way down the hall. “I’ll show you around the campus properly later, but—” She pointed to a door opposite the administration office we’d just come out of. “—watch this door. It heads out directly to the greenway. As I’m sure you can imagine, the kids love using it to skip school.”
I let out a small laugh. “Noted. I’ll keep an eye on it.”
We walked along the hallway, now quiet as the bell had gone for classes. The sound of our heels tapping on the floor echoed around the empty corridor.
“Here we are.” Principal Collins opened the door of the Austen room.
The small, cozy meeting room was adorned with pictures of Jane Austen book covers, I guessed hence the name. My gaze scanned them, landing onPride and Prejudice. It had been a while since I’d read it. Maybe after today I’d pick it up again.
I took a seat on one side of the table, Principal Collins settling in opposite me. She opened up her folder and smoothed down what looked like my résumé and application form. Uncapping a fountain pen, she looked expectantly at me.
“So, Ainsley, what brings you to Cali Cross High?”
I’d prepared for this question and was relieved it was what she started with. “When I was looking around for the right job, I knew I wanted to be somewhere I could make a real difference. I didn’t want to get caught up in too large a school, swallowed up by targets and statistics. Cali Cross High has a great reputation, and from what I’ve seen from the town today, a genuine warmth to it.”
Principal Collins nodded but didn’t respond, instead jotting down something in her notebook. “You were only in your last position for a year?”
