Chapter 25 Poppy
B efore I can even take a full breath, I’m on my last period of the first day. Everything has felt like a whirlwind, from hearing about everyone’s summers to meeting incoming freshmen, all nervously fidgeting with their backpacks and hoping to not be called on. It’s been a better first day than I had imagined.
And it all started with agreeing to a happy hour with Owen. I haven’t changed my mind, but I do feel like I need to relax my boundary of being only coworkers. He and Noah have been friends and that means something. Noah doesn’t make friends with everyone and is a serious judge of character. I think it has something to do with being a school counselor and understanding feelings and all that. He just seems to know and I trust his judgment .
Even before things went south in my last relationship, Noah was subtly questioning me about it. He knew. I’ve been lucky that the subject hasn’t come up with any students so far today. The town is only so big and even the high schoolers usually seem to know every detail of my life here. As I see Cicely Thompson enter my class for seventh period, I know I’ve spoken too soon.
Cicely’s mom is friends with my mom and knows everything that goes on in town. She’d followed Steven’s and my relationship closely, even taking to asking when he and I would be getting married regularly. Hearing her shrill shriek of joy as she sees me only confirms her enthusiasm is still intact.
“Hi, Cicely. How was your summer?” I beam at her, truly happy to see her again. There is something special about students you’ve had since they were freshmen. Watching them grow into seniors and seeing what they decide to do after graduation never ceases to do something for my heart, especially those with such a love for art like her.
“Ms. Edwards! I heard you were back and didn’t believe it.” She pulls me into a forceful hug before holding out a stack of Starbursts. “Do you want one?”
“No thanks, how are you? Ready for senior year?”
“I’m good. Glad summer is over though, my mom and her stupid boyfriend took me to some cabin in Canada for all of our break. I didn’t see anyone.” Her lips pout as she throws her backpack down onto the nearest table. I don’t have assigned seats other than for freshman classes, and I think letting students choose their seats allows them to breathe a little more and have some say over something in an already heavily dictated day. She slouches down into the seat, relaxing in a way I could only dream of.
“That sounds hard, I know you like seeing your friends. I’m glad to see you again. And in Drawing 2, no less. It looks like you finally were able to fit it into your schedule.” Smiling at her, I grab my notebook off my desk and quickly glance over the syllabus for the class.
“Yeah, Noah helped me work it out. It’s the only art class I haven’t taken yet.” Cicely is a very talented artist and could do something more with it someday if she wanted to. She definitely has the skills to be a professional, even without further training. Knowing her, she spent almost all of her time at that cabin sketching and painting everything around her.
Before I can get another word in, Cicely leans in close to me, “I’m so sorry about what happened with Steven. Everyone is saying what a jerk he was and how much we hate him for it. He’s being stupid, you’re a catch, Ms. Edwards. Everyone says so.”
I’m too stunned to speak. Not only is she bringing him up in my class, but she’s saying that other students are talking about the entire situation. I knew it had the potential to turn into this given our small community, but no matter how much I hate him for what happened, I wouldn’t want people turning on him either.
Physically, I take a step back, needing some distance from her and this topic. “Oh, he was just doing what he thought was best. Don’t be too hard on him. It’s been hard, for sure, but I’m moving on and it will be okay.” Willing myself to believe those words, my attention is snagged by all the other students filing into the class and the two-minute warning bell.
“What he thought was best? No, he was being a selfish jerk. You don’t have to be nice to him, Ms. Edwards.”
I pull on my best smile, feigning that everything is okay and that I’m not secretly sweating through my silk blouse on the first day. I’m a seasoned teacher and this type of personal comment shouldn’t throw me off like it does. But , it is Steven, and aside from my best friend’s wedding I haven’t had to navigate the fallout from what happened with him yet.
“It’s time to take your seat, we’re about to get started.” Heart racing, I’m thankful for the bell. At least we can focus on the syllabus, and drawing for the time being. My mind can’t help but wonder how many other students and their parents are talking about what happened to poor Ms. Edwards , and everything else that goes with it.
Cicely reluctantly sits down, but not before saying, “We’ve got your back, Ms. Edwards.”