Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Smiling as she entered the bar, Ellie lifted a hand in greeting, offering a wave to the clusters of familiar faces already scattered around the room.
The roar of conversation hit the moment the door closed behind her and Alba, while glasses clinked near the bar and laughter rose from one of the corner tables.
It was the usual crowd. The same teachers who appeared at almost every staff gathering…the ones who always swore they’d behave themselves and then inevitably ended up nursing spectacular hangovers the following morning. Ellie’s lips curved as she took them in. They deserved a night out.
Teaching was demanding at the best of times.
Add in the emotional weight of guiding hundreds of teenagers through some of the most complicated years of their lives, and it was little wonder that nights like this often got…
enthusiastic. Just because Ellie chose to drink minimally these days—alcohol had a nasty habit of stirring her anxiety into something unmanageable—it didn’t mean she judged anyone who could enjoy themselves freely. If anything, she envied it.
She approached the bar with Alba beside her, grateful for the company during the cab ride into the city.
The conversation had been light and easy, filling the spaces that otherwise allowed Ellie’s thoughts to wander somewhere darker.
Though if she was being completely honest with herself, Ellie could have happily stayed at Alba’s house instead, just so she could spend the evening curled up beside Colin.
The memory of him rolling onto his back for attention tugged another smile from her.
She’d always wanted a dog of her own, but the reality of her schedule had never made that possible.
A dog deserved consistency. A dog deserved walks at the same time each day, someone home in the evenings, and a life where it wasn’t left wondering when its owner would return.
Ellie’s days rarely ended when the bell rang. There was always something.
Mountains of paperwork, meetings and detentions. Difficult conversations with parents, staff concerns, and students who needed more attention than others. The school consumed most of her time. And the hours she didn’t spend there…well, those hours were better left unexamined.
Ellie glanced back over her shoulder and offered Alba a warm smile. “What are you having?”
“Oh, that’s okay. Let me get this round.”
Ellie appreciated the gesture, truly, but there were certain traditions she held onto. Small rituals that made the structure of the school feel a little more personal. Buying the first drink for new staff was one of them. “That’s not necessary. Name your poison.”
Before Ellie could protest further, Alba’s hand settled gently on her forearm. The contact was brief, warm, and unexpectedly grounding. “Eloise, please let me get them.”
Ellie drew back, her brows knitting together as that name landed painfully inside of her.
“It’s…just Ellie.” Those words came out harsher than she intended.
That’s right, give her the impression you’re a fucking oddball!
Ellie winced, lifting both hands in surrender. “I’m sorry, but it’s just Ellie.”
“Well, Ellie. Regardless of what name you go by, I’d still like to get this round.” Alba slid into the space beside her at the bar, raising a hand to catch the attention of one of the servers moving along the counter. “So, what’ll it be?”
Ellie exhaled, allowing the tension in her shoulders to soften again.
Alba really was lovely, and thankfully, she didn’t seem offended by the awkward correction.
It was easy to forget that not everyone understood the history behind certain things.
Alba certainly didn’t. Give it a few days, and you’ll be the talk of the school again.
Ellie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her own thoughts and instead focused her attention back on Alba.
“Could I have a white wine and soda, please?”
“You can.”
Alba relayed the order and then leaned back against the bar while they waited, resting her elbows casually against the polished wood behind her. “I’ve never been here before. Is this the place you always meet up?”
“No. It varies. It mostly depends on who is coming out, to be honest. Since it’s practically everyone tonight, we decided somewhere more central was better.
” Ellie turned, her gaze sweeping across the bar again as she took in the different groups of staff already settling into their evening.
Then she leaned a little closer to Alba. “Word of warning, avoid Jeanette.”
She nodded subtly towards a table across the room. Jeanette sat in the centre of a small group, her jet-black hair falling in glossy waves over her shoulders as she animatedly told a story. Even standing at the bar, Ellie could see the row of brightly coloured shot glasses lined up in front of her.
“Why?”
“Because the moment she finds out you’re into the ladies, she’ll be asking who takes the bins out since you have no man in the house.” Ellie did roll her eyes this time. “She means no harm, but she’s very full on. I wouldn’t sit with her tonight. Not when she’s already got shots in front of her.”
“Oh, she’s one of those people. Got it.” Alba turned and nudged Ellie’s shoulder playfully. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“We’re working together. We should all be looking out for one another.” The server returned with their drinks, placing the glasses on the bar. Alba paid quickly before Ellie had the chance to intervene. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Thank you for getting me out of the mess I found myself in when I applied for the position. I didn’t think I’d get it.”
“You were by far the most qualified applicant. It wasn’t really much of a decision for me.
” Ellie had been genuinely impressed by Alba’s references.
Her previous school had spoken highly of her teaching ability, her rapport with students, and her calm approach to classroom management.
“Why did you think you wouldn’t be offered the position? ”
As Alba stepped away from the bar with her drink, she said, “Just…people talk.”
Ellie considered that as they made their way across the bar and towards the tables reserved for the staff.
There was more behind that comment, something Alba wasn’t ready to explain yet, so Ellie filed it away for later.
Perhaps it had something to do with the tears she’d seen earlier that afternoon.
They reached the cluster of tables, and Ellie noticed several members of staff were already well on their way to tipsy territory. Others had only just arrived and were still nursing their first sip of the evening.
“Right, no more talking. The boss is here now.” Jeanette pressed a finger dramatically to her lips, though the smile dancing in her eyes betrayed the teasing gesture. “I don’t want a verbal warning before the new school year has started.”
“I think you forget that I hear everything. I’ve mastered it over the years.
” Ellie winked before lowering herself into one of the empty seats.
She gestured to the chair beside her, silently inviting Alba to take the spot.
For tonight at least, she would make sure the new teacher didn’t feel abandoned amongst strangers.
“I know several of you have already met Alba, but for those of you who haven’t, this is Ms Clifford, and she’s the new geography teacher. ”
Alba lifted her glass. “I’m sure I’ll get around to speaking to you all at some point.”
Chris, the head of the Science department, grinned as he patted the empty chair beside him. “I have a seat here for you, love. I think you and I will get on very well.”
“Is that so?” Alba raised a brow.
“Oh, yeah. The ladies love me!”
He blew her an exaggerated kiss, and Ellie’s jaw clenched.
She made a mental note immediately. Chris would be having a quiet conversation with her if he continued that line of behaviour.
She didn’t run that kind of school. “I think you ought to rein it in, Chris. I won’t tolerate comments like that in or out of school. ”
“Oh, it’s fine.” Alba snorted. “Well, love. You have the wrong anatomy for me, so you can lose those thoughts.” Then she turned to Ellie and crossed her legs. “And men wonder why I’m not into them.”
“I can give you several reasons not to be into Chris, whether you’re attracted to men or not.” Ellie glared at him over the rim of her glass until he ducked his head sheepishly. “I’m sorry about that. He thinks he’s a joker, when in reality, he’s just a pain in my arse.”
“I’ll give him a wide berth.”
Ellie nodded, and then she turned her attention to Susan when she felt a hand being placed on her wrist. The moment the contact landed, Ellie knew exactly what was coming. These were the situations she dreaded the most.
“Monday is the start of a new year. I hope you know that we’re all there for you.”
Ellie smiled politely. “I know. Thank you.”
“And you know, if you need a moment, just tell one of us. We can take care of assembly and announcements. You don’t have to worry.”
Ellie wasn’t worried. She just wanted Monday to arrive and pass by quietly, without any complications or any memories rising too close to the surface. “I appreciate that.”
“Don’t suffer in silence, Ellie.”
For the love of God. How many different ways did she have to reassure people that she was fine?
Even if it wasn’t entirely true. Most of the staff here tonight hadn’t even known her when she first joined the school years ago.
They were colleagues—many of them good colleagues, but only a handful truly knew her fully.
And right now, they were still her staff. “I won’t.”
Ellie turned back to Alba quickly, hoping her expression hadn’t given anything away. When people didn’t mention the past, she could almost forget it existed.
Almost.
These gatherings were supposed to be light-hearted and a chance to relax before the chaos of a new school year began. “Sorry about that.”