Chapter Three
Colton
L eaning back in my chair, I look around my new office. School starts in a few days, and I finally have everything set up in a way that will be functional for me, but I hope it will be inviting for my students as well. I've been doing a lot of research on how to set up my space and found that having a minimalist approach works best.
I've got a few posters on the walls. One is of our school mascot, another is about applying for colleges or trade schools, and the last is a very informative yet fun “feelings” poster. My desk is pretty small and tucked back in the corner so that I can have a small table with comfortable chairs inviting more open discussions. My sister snagged me two swivel chairs at an estate sale, which are soft and easy to curl up in. She paired them with sequined pillows, which are good fidgets for the kids to hold while they sit. There's also a basket on the table, and my desk is filled with various fidgets. Having something else to focus on during the tough conversations is key, and I want to do everything I can to make those easier for my kids.
Knock, knock .
"Come in!"
"Oh, Colton. This looks great." Principal Marie Sanchez smiles as she takes in the room.
"Thanks. I had some help from my sister, but a lot of thought went into how I set everything up."
"It definitely shows. I think the students will love it."
"Thanks. That means a lot."
"Of course. Do you have a minute to meet a student? If not, it can wait, but she's stopping by and I'd love to introduce you to each other."
"Sure. What's her name and story?"
A wide smile fills Marie's face, making me even more.
"Her name is River Sterling, and she's a transfer student, so this is her first year in Sparrow Falls. She's fourteen and should technically be a freshman, but she's absolutely brilliant. She'll be taking all senior AP classes with us and also some gen-eds with the local community college. Her mother just informed me that she attended an elite science camp over the summer, where she won a full ride to MIT."
"Damn," I huff out, then wince. Swearing in front of my new boss probably isn't the best move. Relief floods me when Marie starts to laugh.
"That was pretty much my sentiment when I read her file and talked to her previous school. She's coming in to get her laptop, so that she can get acquainted with our system before school starts, although I'm sure it won't be an issue. I'd love for you to meet her and just let her know you're another resource for her, especially since you will be the one to handle a lot of her paperwork going forward. "
"I'd love to meet her. I can already tell I'm not on her level of intelligence, but you know my background. I did move up a few grades, so I get what it's like being an outcast."
That's an understatement of epic proportions. I was relentlessly ridiculed in high school, by one guy in particular, for being smarter yet smaller than everyone else. It was hell, and had it not been for my older sister, it would've been unbearable. Thankfully, she had an awesome group of friends and boyfriend, who took me under their wings and made it a lot easier after they’d found out what was going on.
It's a huge reason why I became a guidance counselor instead of pursuing something in the field of biomedical engineering, like I had originally planned. I wanted to make prosthetics but decided I could better help kids like me if I pivoted and became a counselor. Besides, I still have the weekends to dabble in robotics and engineering, so my MIT degree isn't completely useless.
"Great. She should be here in about fifteen minutes. I'll bring her by once we're done."
"Sounds good. Is it just her, or will her parents be with her?"
"Just her. She's from a single-parent home. I think she mentioned her mother was working today."
"Hmm. Good to know." I grab a post-it and make a note.
"I see those wheels turning, but I think in this case, the two of them are extremely well adjusted. I'm sure you'll get to meet her mother at some point, but I wouldn't make any assumptions just yet where the two of them are concerned."
"Alright, I hear ya." I hold my hands up in surrender and know to a certain point that she's right, but it also doesn't hurt having as much information about my kids as I can to have the best picture of how I can help them.
I spend the next ten minutes going over River's file from her old school and am completely blown away by her. Her scores are off the charts, but it's the notes from her teachers about her community service and her humbleness that really stick out to me. I can only deduce that is in direct correlation to how her mother is raising her, which is even more impressive, knowing she's a single mother doing it on her own with a seriously gifted child. I'm just making some notes to add to her file when I hear voices in the hallway, so I clean up my mess and stand to greet Marie and River.
"River, I'd like you to meet Mr. Harding. He's also new to Sparrow Falls, like you, and will be working closely with you to coordinate your schedule with the community college and help you get acclimated. Are you okay if I let you two get acquainted?"
"Sure." River shrugs without making eye contact with either of us. Her posture is stiff as she plays with a row of bracelets on her wrists.
For some reason, she looks familiar to me, but I can't place her. Probably just another one of those things that's popular with teens, which is why it's sticking out to me.
River is tall and willowy for her age. She's got dark-blonde hair that's braided neatly to the side. I haven't gotten a good look at her face, but she seems pretty for her age, which should hopefully help her fit in.
"Hi, River. It's nice to meet you. Why don't you come in and take a seat." I gesture to the chairs in the corner and take the one across from her.
Sitting patiently while I wait a kiddo out is something I learned early on, but that doesn't mean it gets any easier. Especially when I have a student as fascinating as River to talk to. Knowing about her science camp experience, I'm sure we could hold a very intellectual, extremely stimulating conversation, which I don't often get to do unless I'm talking to my old college buddies. But alas, I hold my tongue and wait her out.
"You went to MIT?" River's voice is barely a whisper as she hesitantly glances around the room.
"I did. I majored in biomechanical engineering but decided I'd rather become a guidance counselor instead of making prosthetics. I got my BA, then went back to school and got my degree, and here I am."
"Hmm." Her gaze narrows on me as she takes me in.
I sense I won't get any more words, so I barrel ahead. "I was a bit like you when I was in high school. Not nearly as brilliant, but I jumped a few grades and was able to get a full ride to MIT. It wasn't really a setback for me when I took on the second degree. I ended up graduating with peers who were actually my age."
"So, you're a genius too?"
River's question makes me laugh.
She pushes her wire-framed glasses up her nose as she studies me further.
"No, River. I'm what you'd consider highly gifted but definitely not genius level."
"Oh."
"But I do know what it's like being younger than everyone else in high school and the challenges it can present. I know it's going to be difficult for you, especially since you'll also be the new girl. Do you do any sports or extracurricular activities?"
"I'm not particularly coordinated. I do yoga with my mom and aunts, and we like to go hiking, but that's about it. I love robotics, chess, and computers. My aunt, Daphne, is trying to teach me how to paint, but I think my brain is too analytical for that."
"Hey, nothing wrong with at least giving it a shot. Like Ms. Sanchez said, I'm new here too, so I'm still learning about clubs and afterschool activities, but I'm totally down to start a robotics or chess club if that's something they don't have and you'd be interested in."
"Can I think about it?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay."
We fall into comfortable silence.
"Do you have any concerns about the school year?"
"Not particularly. I mean, girls are petty and mean, but I've dealt with that my whole life. I'll only be here a year, so if that's the case, I'll make do."
"They definitely can be, but I don't want you to just make do, River. You deserve to have fun and experience all the messy, big life events that come with high school and being a teenager. I know you don't know me from Adam, but I am here to help if you need anything at all, okay?"
"Okay. I do appreciate it."
"Good. Are you all set for the first day?"
"Yes. Ms. Sanchez gave me my laptop and a tour of the school. I've got my locker and know my routes to my classes. I'll be fine. "
"Perfect. I'll send your school email a quick message so you have my contact if you need anything, but my door is always open. Otherwise, enjoy your last few days of summer, okay?"
"Thank you. Bye, Mr. Harding." River stands and grabs her bag, then heads to the door. She waves and smiles as she makes her way outside, leaving me feeling like I've been punched in the gut.
Why her smile reminds me so much of Meadow in this instance, I have no idea, but it does. Meadow’s been on my mind since the night she slipped through my fingers. I'd be lying if I said I haven’t been searching for her every time I step foot outside of my apartment since that night. She said fate or the universe would make it happen if we were meant to be together, but I'm starting to feel like I've lost the chance to be with someone truly life-changing.
Ready to go home and wallow on my own, I shut down my laptop after sending a quick email to River, then pack up my bag.
Sparrow Falls isn't that big, so I'm able to walk the few blocks from the school to my townhouse on the outskirts of town. Along the way, I take in how peaceful Sparrow Falls truly is and how glad I am to be back in a small town.
My family grew up not far from here, and other than me, my siblings all decided to settle down there when they were done with college. My sisters are both quite a bit older than me and happily married, with kids of their own. I was a happy surprise, according to my mom, which is why I also get to be the fun uncle to my teenage nieces and nephews.
It sucked living out of state when I was at MIT and then at the University of Georgia to get my degrees. Don't get me wrong, I loved my time in college, but I missed my family. When I finally graduated with my master’s and was ready to get a job as a student counselor, I took the first one I could in Pennsylvania. It got me three hours away from home and years of experience to be able to make the move to Sparrow Falls.
Being half an hour away means I'm able to make all the sporting events, birthdays, and I'll even be able to go see them before they head off to dances if I want to. I'm excited to be close but still far away enough to have a chance to build the kind of relationship and family my sisters have found.
When I round the corner to the cul-de-sac my townhouse sits on, I find my eighty-year-old neighbor out on her porch, rocking away and sipping on what I'm sure is a very alcoholic beverage. I made the mistake of joining her one night after I’d moved in and had to crawl back to my house when the evening was done. Her drinks were potent as hell, and they snuck up on you.
"Hi, Miss Ada. How are you today?"
"Hi, Colton. I'm doing mighty fine. You wanna join me for a spell?"
"You know what, I think I will. Let me head inside and change, and then I'll be right out."
"I'll go mix you a drink." She goes to stand, but I gesture for her to sit back down.
"No need. I got some new brews from The Tavern that I'm itching to try. I'll bring a couple over with me."
"Sounds good, sonny."
With a wave of my hand, I head up my front steps and enter my townhouse. It's nothing to write home about, but it's mine and I'm happy here. My sisters helped me decorate, and I have to admit it's way more homey and a lot less of a bachelor pad than my previous place .
My sister, who found the chairs for my office, also found furniture for the townhouse. She's a teacher who loves to go to estate sales over the summer and was able to find me everything I needed to upgrade at a steal. I was super grateful and more than willing to hand over the reins when it came to decorating.
I know I'm luckier than most to have the family that I do. Both of my parents are still alive, albeit getting up there in years. My sisters are wonderful and never let me feel excluded, even though there is the age gap. You'd think they'd hate having their brainiac younger brother constantly tagging along, but without them, I never would've survived being moved up to high school early.
Moving next door to Miss Ada was like winning the lottery and gaining a bonus grandma. More often than not, I find myself eating dinner with Ada or her crashing my place to "borrow" some sugar, only to end up conning me into making us both a meal or watching her favorite game shows. I never thought that, at twenty-nine, my best friend would be an octogenarian, but I can't say I'm mad about it.
Dressed in shorts and a cut-off shirt, I grab a couple of beers and head over to Miss Ada's.
"Took you long enough," she grumps, always giving me a hard time.
"I was barely gone for five minutes. I'm sure you got up to all sorts of trouble while I was gone."
"Don't you know it. Mr. Chan was out walking his dog in those short-shorts again. I may or may not have accidentally dropped something down the stairs for him to pick it up for me before he made it in front of the house."
I gasp dramatically as Ada cackles with glee. "Scandalous woman."
"Oh, hush. You know he loves it."
We both crack up because she's not wrong.
Mr. Chan is in his mid-seventies and a widower. He knows Miss Ada is pulling his chain, but I think he likes the ego boost from her checking him out. And to be honest, he looks a hell of a lot younger than he actually is. He might as well rock those short-shorts while he can.
"What are you going to do when he finally gets up the nerve to ask you out?"
"That's never going to happen. He might love my teasing and attention, but he'll never replace his Mrs. Chan. Although, I'd be fine with going out for a meal and conversation. It can't hurt to have more friends at my age. Lord knows mine are dropping like flies."
"Damn, Miss Ada. That's morbid to think about."
"The hell with being morbid. It's simply a fact once you reach my age. Enough about me. How was work today?"
"It was great. I finished setting up my office, and I got to meet one of my students. She's fucking brilliant." I wince at my swear word, but Ada just waves me off.
"That's great, Colt. What's her name? Would I know her family?"
"Probably not. She's a transplant like me. She just moved to Sparrow Falls. Her name is River Sterling. She's technically the age of a freshman, but she's legitimately a genius. She's taking all AP senior classes this year and also some through the community college. She attended an elite science camp this summer and won a full-ride scholarship to MIT. I think what's most impressive is that she seems really grounded, even though she's so highly intelligent."
"Hmm, so you two are kindred spirits," Ada muses, her eyes smiling up at me .
"Nah, she's way smarter than me. But I think me moving here when she's just starting out was kismet since I've been in her shoes. I might not be the best person to relate to a teenage girl, but I can sympathize with what it's like being the smartest person while being years younger than everyone else. If I can make sure her year is not only successful but also fun, then I'll know I did my job well."
"There's no doubt in my mind that you're going to be exactly what that girl, and the rest of the school, needs. You're a good boy, Colton. Sparrow Falls High is lucky to have you."
"Thanks, Miss Ada."
The rest of the night is spent in our usual fashion—razzing each other, eating dinner, and watching the evening turn to night on Ada's front porch. The rest of the weekend follows suit until Monday rolls around, signaling the first day of school and the wildest year of my life.