Persephone

Having to rearrange my schedule for the student teacher position is hell.

Peyton told me I should've just said I couldn't do it this semester but I had already agreed and wasn't about to back out now. 

"You're first class is tomorrow at Beachwood Elementary." My advisor, Laura, lets me know this morning before class. 

I am actually excited about working with kids though. In high school I helped out at the elementary school as a volunteer. 

It was a good distraction from my problems. If I was busy with kids I couldn't focus on everything I lost. 

When I get to professor Grahams class, I take my seat and start to get everything I use for that class out. 

"Hey neighbor." Asa says before sitting beside me. 

He's wearing a dark green sweatshirt and it should be illegal because that color looks too good on him. 

I mean sure I dont think I have seen a color that doesn't look good on him but still. Can't he wear like a shirt with stains on it so I can focus on that, or maybe a puke green shirt. 

Nope he's walking in looking like a million bucks, while I am sitting here praying that the sole of my converse stay put. 

"Nice ring." I say pointing to the jade ring on his thumb. 

He twirls it, "Thanks, it was a gift."

A gift from who? I Want to ask but refrain. 

No body likes a nosey Nelly. 

Professor Graham clears his throat. 

"As you all know I have been hinting about a big project, well today is finally the day we start it." He says and I hear a few groans. 

"It'll be fun and everyone gets to have a partner."

Oh great. 

The thing about this class, I know like no one in here. Well besides Asa but we are more just acquaintances than anything. 

"Because I am your favorite professor, I will be letting you pick your own partners. Keep in mind how much this project is worth, find someone who you can work well with. Who will do their part. I am letting you pick so I don't have to hear you guys whining 'Professor Graham my partner you chose for me isn't pulling their weight.' Now you can't use that excuse, it is your problem to deal with the partner you choose."

Gravy, now I have to find someone, anyone who might actually do the project. 

"Percy want to be my partner?" Asa asks wiggling his eyebrows. 

I look around and realize he might be the only person. I don't even know anyone else names. 

Well besides Jessie but she is already partnered up, plus she doesn't believe in work outside of class. 

"Why not." I say to Asa and he winks before holding out his fist.

I look down at it before looking back up into his hazel eyes. 

"You gonna leave me hanging Percy?"

With a sigh, I fist bump him back. 

Professor Graham goes on to explain the project in depth before having his TA pass out the work packets. 

The project is due at the end of the semester which is still a few months away. 

It's a long one though which makes sense why he's giving us this huge time frame. 

"Wanna work on it at the house tomorrow?" Asa offers and I bite my lower lip, "I can't sorry, how about Thursday?"

He shakes his head, "I have practice, well unless you're cool with coming over later than six."

"I can do that." Anything but miss another week on the ice. 

"Great." He says before smirking, "This is totally not a line but, can I have your number? To keep in touch for the project, of course."

I shake my head, a small smile on my face, "Of course." I say sarcastically. 

We exchange numbers as Professor Graham starts the lesson. 

Once the lecture is done Asa and I head out of the room. 

He holds his hand up to his ear mimicking a telephone, "Call me." He winks before heading off to his next class. 

This guy is something else and I can't seem to wipe the smile off of my face. 

* * * 

Back at the dorms Peyton tells me about how she ran into Phoenix at one of her lecture halls. 

"He isn't even studying anything close to what I am, what the hell was he doing in that building in the first place?" She groans, "And then he had the audacity to ask me if Jada, my new lab partner, was single. Like the nerve."

I laugh as I throw my hair in a bun. 

Tonight I have a shift at the library. Anna - the old woman who owns it - lets me work whenever I am available. Usually I try to come in at least three to four times a week but with all the classes I am taking this year I have barely gotten the chance to make my three times a week. 

"Wow the nerve." I say sarcastically. 

She nods, "Right?" Then she pops a few kettle chips into her mouth. 

"I swear to god if he ruins another one of my labs because he breaks my lab partners heart I'll kill him."

"Sure you will."

"Oh I will, trust me on that." She grumbles. 

Clearly Peyton is not a big Phoenix fan. 

I grab my purse from my nightstand. 

"Have fun and ask Anna if she has the new Dark Heir series."

Peyton has started to get into romance books recently, specifically new adult books. I can't lie I sneak a peak at some of them too. 

"Ok." I tell her as I slip out of the room. 

I ordered an über because I was not about to walk six miles, no thank you.

"Hey hon." Anna says as I walk inside the library. 

She's currently sitting behind the desk scanning books. I give her a wave before heading into the back to clock in. 

"What do you need me to do?" I ask walking back to the front. 

Anna spins around in her chair, her shell earrings clinking as she does so. 

The thing about Anna is she wears a lot and I mean a lot of jewelry. 

 Currently right now she's wear dangly shell earrings, a long neck full of shells and a shell bracelet. Each finger also has different varieties of rings. 

"Digging the shells." I tell her and she smiles, "My Paula made these for me." She points to the earrings. 

"Tell her I love them."

Paula is Anna's six year old granddaughter. She's been here a few times while I work. She's a blonde little firecracker. One time she told me about how this boy in her class wouldn't let her up the slide so she smacked him in the face. 

I found it funnier than I should've. Probably shouldn't be encouraging that king of behavior when I plan to become a teacher to kids her age. 

"So for today I need some help getting these books on the higher shelf. Chrysten helped with row's a through g last night but I still have h through z and that's only in the fiction section." She says and I nod. 

"Got it." I pop my earbuds in my ears and grab the cart, then I make it down the first aisle and pull the step stool from under the cart. Setting it up so I can begin putting books up. 

I only make it to O by the time the library closes. 

"I can come by Thursday-" I start then stop myself, "Shit I can't actually but Friday works." I say and she nods before fixing the sleeve of her bright orange shirt. 

"What are you doing Thursday?" She asks, one eyebrow raised. 

She knows what I do every Wednesday but normally I am free Thursdays after classes. This is a change in my routine. 

"Oh I have a project in one of my classes, I'm going over to the guys place to work on it."

"A guy?" She asks and I nod, "Yes and don't give me that look but he is just a guy I have to work on my project with."

She nods slowly, "Sure."

Sure?

By the time I get back to the dorm Peyton is already FaceTiming Brendan. 

I decide it's the perfect time to shower, grabbing what I need I head down there. 

When I enter the communal bathrooms I notice there are only two other girls in there. 

Nikki, my neighbor and Arabella a girl a few doors down. 

Stepping into an empty stall I turn the water on, then I take a step back and wait for it to heat. 

One thing about the showers here they start off ice freaking cold and take about five minutes to heat up to just lukewarm. 

When the water is heated enough to where I am not freezing my butt off I step under the spray.

I honestly hate showers, like they're so much work. I prefer baths but sadly I can't take baths in a shower stall. I am clearly riding the struggle bus right now. 

After my shower I head back to my room. Peyton thankfully is done talking to Brendan. 

"How was Anna?" She asks as I slip on a pair of black cotton shorts and a worn out t-shirt. 

"Good, she told me that Kaitlyn is expecting again."

Kaitlyn is her daughter and Paula's mom. 

She told me that she surprised Anna by showing up looking like a balloon, turns out she's having triplets. 

I'd cry if I had to carry three big ass babies inside me then give birth to them. 

I mean I'd probably cry if I had to give birth to one baby. 

Especially my cousins fat ass, no really she was fourteen pounds when she was born. My aunt said after she was born she refused to have anymore kids. 

"Oooh fun I love kids." She says and I know how she feels about them. 

Brendan has told her I dont know how many times that he doesn't want kids until he's forty, like sir then she'll be forty too. 

I voiced that once and he said 'Oh well then she can wait to have kids until she'd forty.'

I mean I get waiting until you're thirty but forty? 

Anyways and red flag to add to his collection. 

"Oh speaking of kids, I have my first teaching gig tomorrow."

She snorts, "Gig? You sound like you're in a band."

"Whatever, it's a first grade class at Beachwood." I say getting into bed. 

"Ugh what am I supposed to do alone tomorrow then?"

I shrug, "Go to class?"

"Yeah but after, we always hang out before you go off to the rink."

I smile evilly, "Go hang out with your best friend Phoenix."

Then I sit through an hour long rant about how Phoenix is the absolute worst. 

___

A/N I watched After We Fell and I was feeling every emotion, I even cried during that one scene....

Anyways hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter. 

I had a few people ask about Phoenix and Peyton and whether they will get their own book... 👀 How do we feel about that?