Enemies Abroad(5)

I click my tongue and look away once he spots me. The office across the hall is still dark, and I catch my reflection in the rectangular window on the door. I’m tallish at 5’8”. I have black hair that I’m incredibly vain about. It’s glossy and pin straight and goes halfway down my back. Today, I have half of it twisted up into a cute bun. My eyes are big and almond-shaped and a shade darker than Noah’s. On my worst, most childish days, I hope Noah finds me unbelievably attractive. I want to be his exact type down to the shape of my Cupid’s bow lips because I love the karmic retribution in that.

“Come to put in your resignation?” I ask as he steps close to me, his shoulder brushing mine.

There are miles of hallway on either side of us; he doesn’t have to be this close. I know he’s doing it to annoy me.

I can see him in the window across the hall now too. Well, part of him. His size can’t be reduced to that little rectangle the way mine can.

I stare at his reflection as he says, point-blank, “We can’t both go to Rome.”

I stand a little taller. “Exactly, so leave. I was here first.”

“Who says Principal O’Malley will pick you? You have no experience teaching history.”

“Neither do you.”

I’m an English teacher. Noah’s algebra. Neither one of us has any business taking a group of kids to Rome.

“In college, I minored in history with a focus on Ancient Rome.”

My eyes widen in panic. “Did you really?”

Without breaking face, he replies, “No, but Principal O’Malley doesn’t need to know that.”

Classic Noah.

I inspect my nails, bored. “Right, well, I’ve already been talking to Mrs. Lee. Did you know she speaks Italian? And her July is wide open. She’s already agreed to co-chaperone with me.”

“Has she really?”

My gaze flits coolly back to his. “No, but Principal O’Malley doesn’t need to know that.”

The look on Noah’s face in the window is feral. He either wants to kiss me or kill me.

“Why do you need the bonus anyway?” I ask. “I assume you make plenty of money bartering souls.”

He leans back against the wall, crosses his ankles, slips his hands into his pockets, and shrugs.

“It’s been a slow spring what with Lent and Easter. Besides, my check engine light came on this morning. The extra cash wouldn’t hurt.”

I think back on my doodles from yesterday.

I’m a witch!

“Why do you look like that?” His eyebrows furrow with suspicion. “Did you tamper with my car?”

I puff out an exasperated sigh. “Like I have the technical prowess…”

“You could have had someone do it for you.” His gaze intentionally runs down the length of my body. “Plenty of guys would jump at the chance.”

“You look positively lecherous. Rest assured, I didn’t touch your car. Though, off topic, I wouldn’t go to the zoo anytime soon if I were you.”

Principal O’Malley appears down the hall whistling a happy little tune while he polishes off the last of his hash brown. Before he can reach us, I step forward and call out, waving big and offering a hearty “Good morning!”

Before Noah can beat me to it, I announce, “I’m here to volunteer for the Rome trip!”

“Excellent!” Principal O’Malley grins from ear to ear. “I was hoping that bonus would tempt one or two of you.”

More than that, apparently. Hot on his heels is a teacher I recognize from the sixth grade floor. Sarah or Serena or who cares. She’s an eager beaver with a look of determination. I see my opening and I go for it.

“There you are, Sarah!” I call out with a friendly smile. “I’ve been waiting for you all morning!”

Her smile falls. “Oh…sorry, you have me confused with someone else. My name is Sadie.”

Damn, not even close.

I thunk my forehead with the heel of my hand. “Sorry. Duh! I still need my morning cup of Joe.” Then I step up beside her and bump our shoulders together, hopefully conveying that we’re a package deal. Sadie and Audrey, best friends for life. “Principal O’Malley, your problem is solved. Sadie and I will co-chaperone in Rome—”

Her eyes turn to two round saucers as she distances herself from me. “Oh…I’m not here for that. I can’t go on that trip—my little sister is getting married in July. I’m here to talk to Principal O’Malley about switching my morning carpool duty to afternoons.”

Who invited you anyway, Sadie!?

Noah looks rather smug standing behind Principal O’Malley.

Later that morning, as I sit behind my desk in my classroom, watching my students take a quiz, I wonder how exactly I found myself in this position: going to Rome with Noah.

Pah.

Yesterday, I would have said it was unbelievable.

Today, well…

It all happened so fast. Principal O’Malley called Noah and me into his office together while Sadie waited her turn outside. He asked us if we both wanted to volunteer, and in a game of chicken, each of us looking at the other out of the corners of our eyes, waiting for the inevitable tap out, we both quickly agreed. Principal O’Malley, still skeptical of our friendship, asked if we would feel comfortable chaperoning together, and since neither one of us wanted to be the problem, we had no choice but to agree. “I would love to go to Rome with Noah” is what came out of my mouth when what I meant to say was, ANYONE BUT HIM.