Chapter One #2
‘Good morning.’ Gil’s voice broke through on the microphone. ‘Welcome to our in-service day at Glenbriar High School. It’s nice to see so many of you from our feeder schools. I’m Gil Warden, the headteacher, and this is Adele Robson, deputy head, who’ll talk us through the housekeeping.’
Adele took the other microphone and went over the fire exits and agenda.
‘She’s so glamorous,’ Clara whispered to Sam.
He leaned in to hear her and gave a little nod. He had on nice aftershave, and thankfully, it wasn’t too overpowering.
Gil thanked Adele, then carried on. ‘So, today we have a number of workshops about community links, both in the primary and secondary schools. We have some members of our staff team who have been working on community projects who’ll be talking about that and hopefully inspiring you.
Eddie Caldwell, head of history, has been working with local historians on various projects around Glenbriar. Mirren Elphinstone, music teacher…’
Clara looked at Mirren. She was young, with long blonde hair, and was looking at Kerr like he was the tastiest piece of cheese on the plate. Clara knew that look well – she was pretty sure she had it often enough, but Mirren had a boyfriend.
And Kerr had a girlfriend – something that made Clara’s insides wilt.
‘And Kerr Halley, a tech teacher,’ Gil was saying, ‘who has been involved in an initiative over the past year to bring a MUGA – a multi-use games area – to the town. Finlay McBride, our P.E. head, was involved in that project too, and has also been working closely with the junior rugby team. Plus, we have some reps from the community who have kindly agreed to join us today.’ Gil listed their names, and Clara’s eyes fell on the striking brunette next to Kerr.
‘And Georgie Porter, a former tennis pro…’
‘Georgie Porter,’ Clara whispered, recognition dawning. She’d been so fixated on Kerr she hadn’t even noticed her. ‘Isn’t she…?’
‘Kerr’s girlfriend, yeah,’ Sam replied under his breath.
Clara’s insides squirmed. Of course, Kerr had met her doing the MUGA project.
Georgie was stunning – well groomed, tall and athletic in build.
And when Kerr smiled at her after her introduction, Clara almost wept.
What wouldn’t she give for someone to look at her like that?
The burn in his hazel eyes was incredible.
This was going to be a long day. Everyone had been allocated to groups and were to go around various classrooms looking at displays and info about the initiatives. After the intros were finished, people got to their feet looking for others in their group.
‘I’m in group four,’ Sam said.
‘Me too.’ Isaac got to his feet.
‘I’m in six.’ Clara glanced around. ‘I wonder who’s in with me.’
‘Where’s your first workshop?’ Sam asked.
‘In history room 2B.’
‘Ours is in the tech base. We’ll catch up at break.’ He gave her a stoic smile, and Isaac mirrored it as they headed out.
Clara was thrilled that Polly, a young biology teacher, was in her group, along with Adele.
‘Our first workshop is with Eddie.’ Clara led the way towards history room 2B.
Eddie beamed as he welcomed them in, then closed the door and introduced a local historian. ‘If everyone would like to take a seat, we’ll watch a short film first.’
‘I love this.’ Adele peered at a model of a crofter’s cottage on a table next to where they sat.
‘Amazing how history inspires creativity.’ Eddie beamed at her.
Clara smiled. Something about Eddie was so debonair and twinkly. He was in his late fifties, well-loved by pupils past and present, and she knew that Kerr adored him.
After Eddie’s workshop, they had one co-hosted by Kerr and Georgie.
Clara didn’t know her other than what she’d heard from Kerr and what everyone knew from TV from her tennis playing days, but she couldn’t take her eyes off her.
This woman had somehow won the heart of the man Clara had loved for two years – ever since he’d started working here.
She’d trained herself not to react in his presence or give anything away, since the day she’d embarrassed herself completely and asked him out.
He’d been so nice in his refusal, but it had still stung so hard.
‘Just ignore that.’ Kerr held up his hands as the screen glitched. ‘Technology has a mind of its own… And not often a sound one.’ He pulled a face and caught Clara’s eye, smiling.
She melted. With his kind of rugged yet smart look, he probably had most of the girls in his class in pools at his feet, and probably some of the boys too.
With a sigh, she tried to focus, but her mind was everywhere else… Mainly on Kerr and Georgie. How had Georgie succeeded where she’d failed?
Clara sighed. Life had been confusing enough since Kerr got a girlfriend – but in the last few days, everything had tilted sideways.
For once, even her unshakeable optimism was starting to crack.
And as she stared at the screen across the room, she couldn’t help wondering if this was the moment everything in her world was about to change.