Dear readers, first, a little background on the Aussie education system... Now, this does vary a little from state to state, but most states have caught up to one another, sort of! School starts with prep (aka kindergarten) which is full-time and leads into grades 1-6 which is classified as primary school. Secondary (or senior) school is years 7-12. Years 11 and 12 are senior years, sometimes on a different campus, but not always, and at the end of year 12 you get some form of certificate of education and can take a path to get a university entrance score or do more trade-based subjects. But again, this varies from state to state! The school year starts in mid-January. Term 1 ends at Easter. There are usually 2 weeks of school holidays at the end of each term with 6-8 weeks over Summer (December/January.) Most school terms are 9-10 weeks long.
This story takes place over the Fourth Term, which usually starts the first week or so of October and ends early to mid-December. It's set in a school, but all sexual activity is between adults :)
As always, thanks to those who have offered suggestions and advice and helped improve my writing. You rock!
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"If you're not going, then I'm not going either." I knew this was a lie as I talked to my friend and colleague, Diana, because I had spent an hour straightening my hair and getting the right wings on the liquid eyeliner that she had convinced me to try.
"I'm sorry, Dylan says it's fine, but with Judy taking leave to be with her sick mum, I've been thrown into the deep end with this writer-in-residence thing she'd arranged."
"Who is she again?"
"Not she, he! He's Makenzie Beaumont, the biggest-selling young adult author in the country. He writes about supernatural stuff, but it's so well written I can see why the kids love it. It's a huge coup that Dylan and Judy got him to agree to spend a month with us. Judy's done heaps of prep, but I must get my head around it all. Plus, Cara's been on nights and, well..."
I laughed at my friend. We were the odd trio一she the lesbian humanities teacher with a huge hippy streak, me the more subdued biologist and science teacher who had sworn off men for good, and Judy the conventional one who believed her Mr Right was still out there.
"Well, I've only ever taught female Makenzies and I'm not into young adult fiction. Give me Tolkien any day of the week."
"If that cute barman's there tonight, you should take him home; I mean, he was so into you at end-of-term drinks."
I thought back to that night. The barman was cute. Diana and Judy both tried to hook me up with him, and I considered going there until another gorgeous young thing caught his attention with her micro mini dress. There was no way I could compete with that.
"You know I've sworn off men."
"Not men, you've sworn off relationships! Pick up a man or a woman; just get laid! Do it for those of us who are happily partnered who will never experience the thrill of a new lover again!"
"Shut up! Have fun with Cara, and I know you won't be doing any work until at least tomorrow. I'll see you at school on Monday."
"Ciao, bella, just remember don't equate sex with relationships. Pick up a guy and get your rocks off; it will make for a better start to the term, at least!"
I laughed as I hung up and applied the ruby red lipstick to my mouth. Dylan Yeo was our principal, and tonight, we were heading out to celebrate his forty-somethingth birthday. He was a great boss. The students loved him and appreciated his fairness. He had created a culture that demanded respect. His wife, Amanda, was an amazing woman who ran a centre that helped teenage parents get ahead in life. Their eldest child, Megan, was in my year nine general science class. Their twin boys would be joining the school the following year.
As always, Dylan had demanded no presents, but had hinted we could donate to his wife's workplace and get a tax receipt. If I hadn't spent the last week of the holidays with my teenage nephews, I would have stayed at home, but I also knew I needed some adult company.
"Emma!" Dylan greeted me with a huge hug, "Have you had a relaxing break?"
"Sort of. Tim and Daniel were here for the week, and I put them on a plane home this morning."
"Sounds like you need a drink!"
"Thanks, boss, oh, and happy birthday. Sorry Diana couldn't make it."
"All good. There's some tables out the back一Amanda's out there, just grab a drink; it's all fairly casual."
The Crown and Anchor was a great venue. It was a gentrified old Aussie pub that kept some of the old character but had a contemporary food and drinks menu. There was a live band off to the side where we had some tables, but they had not yet started their first set.
"What'll it be, beautiful?"
"Gin and tonic, thanks; house gin's fine." The barman was not the same one who had been there a fortnight before as we had celebrated the end of term.
Gathering my drink, I headed in Amanda's direction, smiling and nodding greetings at colleagues, most of whom were there with their partners.
I had never dated a colleague and refused to, having seen too many staff room romances sour and bring the school culture down. I was one of the more experienced younger teachers, having been teaching for almost ten years. There were a couple of new teachers in their mid-twenties who made me realise how much I had changed since I was their age.
"Emma! So glad you could make it." Amanda greeted me with a kiss on both cheeks. "The other two musketeers have pulled out on you tonight. I hope Judy's Mum's ok一have you heard anything?"
"No, I was speaking to Di earlier, and she said it's definitely breast cancer, and it looks like it's spread."
Amanda and I made some more small talk before I joined in listening to another colleague talk about his holiday hiking in Tasmania. Diana had told me before that I was too reserved, and perhaps I did need to take her advice and just get laid. It had been months since I'd had sex with another person, and I wasn't averse to one-night stands per se, but I needed to be comfortable with the partner in question.
"I'm getting this round, Em; want a top-up?"
"All good, thanks, I'm driving."
Wandering over to two of my science teacher colleagues, I soon got bored of their conversation about astronomy, one of them having bought a new telescope over the holidays. I silently cursed Diana for pulling out on us. It had been ages since I had caught up with Cara, her partner, who worked as a police officer. Usually, I survived these staff get-togethers with Diana and Judy there to laugh and joke with, but without them, I realised I didn't have a lot in common with many of the other guests, despite our collegial status.
Excusing myself from the talks of telescopes, I made my way back to the bar to grab a glass of water.
"You're not drinking water, are you? You know fish have sex in it."
"Well, this water's got bubbles in it, and as one of my nephews told me this week, they get there by the fish farting."
I looked over at this stranger who was laughing at my lame excuse for a joke. Biting my lip, I took in the most soulful brown eyes I had ever seen. Flecked with gold, they simply lit up his face.
"I'm Jay. Are you here with friends?"
"Not really," I looked over at my colleagues who were all in groups chatting away, "If we are using initials, you can call me Em."
"Mmm," Jay purred. "Short for mysterious?"
"I've never met anyone called that before. So, are you here with friends?"
"Not really." Jay took a sip of his beer, the froth catching in his moustache. "You?"
"My friends bailed on me."
"So, what is a sexy-looking woman doing in a place like this?"
"I think you need the water. You've had too much to drink already!"
"I'm serious! You have the most stunning smile. I noticed it from across the bar."
"Oh right, from across a crowded bar he was mesmerised by her smile, knowing he needed to check out his pick-up lines on some poor thing who might take pity on him!"
He laughed. "So, what do you do, Em for mysterious?"
"I'm a scientist." I stretched the truth a little.
"Interesting. I don't think I've ever had an in-depth conversation with a scientist. This could be an interesting experiment."
"I see what you did there, Jay for joker. So, what about you?"
"Marketing."
"Figures."
"Ouch! Now that you've finished that sexy fish fart you were drinking, can I get you something else?"
"I'm capable of buying my own drinks, thanks, Mr Marketing."
"I don't think I'm doing a good job of marketing myself tonight."