The sound of my heels echoed through the darkened hallways. There was always something about the last day of school before a long break; how quickly the chaos and craziness that is the day to day at St Paul's Prep can turn to a peaceful quiet.
It was March of my first year teaching at the elite prep school. I had been lucky to get the job in the first place. A teacher left unexpectedly right as the year was about to begin. They normally would never hire someone right out of college, but I had done my student teaching here for two months the year before; so I guess the administration was comfortable with me. I had already signed on to be the JV cheerleading coach, and my parents were covering my rent and car payments; but the extra cash and stability of a full time gig certainly went a long way.
The workload was a little overwhelming, to be honest. I suppose it is for all new teachers. The long nights with the cheerleading team through the winter basketball season didn't help matters, but considering it's what for me in the door it's not as if I could back out. Not that I would want to, honestly. I was a cheerleader from the time I was in middle school through college and wasn't ready to give it up just yet. It helped keep me sane when things got really difficult with the teaching job. I loved being around the girls, who reminded me of myself at that age (which let's be honest, at 23 wasn't THAT long ago).
Coaching the team came with an additional, unforeseen bonus; it allowed me to stay in shape. I became a bit if a workout junky in college, but the early mornings and late nights grading papers with a bottle of wine really put a crimp in my routine. Thankfully staying active on the mats with the girls allowed me to stay active, but I was definitely looking forward to getting back into a regular workout program.
With the season ending a couple of weeks ago, I've been staying later and later in the classroom each day, catching up on grading papers and preparing for the upcoming final exams. I had passed on going on spring break to Cabo with some friends who I graduated with, thinking I'd need the whole week to catch up on work; but much to my surprise I finished the last or the papers I had to grade that afternoon, so I was regretting my decision. Oh well, I thought to myself. At least I can use this week to relax, take a few yoga classes and feel somewhat normal again. Hell, maybe even find my missing social life. Jesus, when was the last time I actually had sex, anyways? Shit, probably when I broke up with Mike in November. Maybe I'll have to break Tinder out this weekend. Or hit up one of the towney bars near my parents lake house. This drought has to end.
I made my way through the darkened hallways towards the gym, looking to make a quick stop at my locker to pick up some workout clothes. I unlocked the door to the women's coaches office and shoved my things into a gym bag. As I relocked the locker door, the distinctive sound if a basketball bouncing off the hardwood came through the door. A quick check of my cell phone showed the time as 6:06 pm. Who on earth could still be here on the last day before spring break?
I shut off the light and quietly opened the door that led into the gym. A sigh came over me as I looked off towards the sound of the bouncing ball; Danny Ryan, of course.
Everyone at the school knew Danny. How could you miss him? Standing 6'5" with buzzed brown hair, blue eyes, and built like an Adonis, he was the subject of every girl at St Paul's dreams. A quiet, shy kid, Danny had come to the school from out west on a scholarship. While he wasn't the best player on the team, he was still good enough to earn himself a college scholarship for next year. He lived with a few other students who came from out of state in the school's lone on campus dormitory. Almost all of the students who lived in the dorms we're athletes, and all of them were from families much less well off than your typical St Paul's student.
I walked across the gym floor, my heels clicking on the wood floor. Danny heard the steps and stopped to turn, dropping his head a little as he saw me approach, "Oh, hey Miss Smith."
Danny had clearly been here for a while. His skin tight under armour shirt was drenched in sweat, the form of the wet fabric clinging to his chiseled abs. It was hard not to notice, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I blushed a little as my eyes caught a glance.
"Danny," I said softly as I stepped up to him, "what are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be on your way to the airport and back home?"
Danny stood there and shrugged his shoulders, "my folks couldn't really afford the round trip flights, so I'll be staying in the dorms for the week."
I reached my arm up and placed it on his shoulder. At 5'9" I'm anything but short, but compared to Danny's huge frame I seemed quite petite. "There's nowhere else you can go? No teammates or friends or girlfriends you can spend the week with?"
"Oh, well.. I didn't really want to impose on anyone. Besides I turned 18 a couple of weeks ago so I'm allowed to stay by myself now. It's cool. I'll be alright Miss Smith."
Shaking my head, "no no no. Don't be silly, Danny. Everyone needs to get out of this place from time to time. Come on; you can stay with me for the week at my parents lake house."
Danny held his hand up, shaking his head, "No Miss Smith, really it's fine."
I slid my hand down Danny's bicep, pushing his hand down, "you don't have a choice. I insist. Why don't you grab some things from your room and I'll pull the car over to the forms to pick you up."
Smiling, Danny reached over and gave me a little hug "thanks Miss Smith. I'll be quick." He grabbed his ball and jogged out of the gym.
As I watched Danny run out of the gym, I placed my hand over my blouse, feeling a damp spot; Danny's sweat. That smell of a hot guy after a tough workout always drove me wild. "Careful, Heather," I said to myself. "Don't get yourself into something you'll regret here."
I shook the thoughts out of my head and headed to my car, a 2017 BMW X5. I tossed my bags in the back and drove around the school to where the now empty dorms were, idling outside as I waited for Danny.
Danny appeared at the door of the building a few minutes later, a gym bag tossed over his shoulder. He opened up the back seat and tossed it inside before hopping into the front passenger seat. "I hope you didn't mind that I didn't shower, I didn't want to hold you up any."
"Oh, yes; don't worry about it. You can shower when we get there. It's only about 45 minutes up into the hills, so as long as there's no traffic we should be there fairly soon."
The ride was fairly quiet, a few small conversations about school, college, and of course which girls on the squad had crushes on him. Danny blushed at the mention of it. I couldn't help but smile as I looked at him. Those warm facial features combined with that jock's body would draw the eye of any warm blooded female.
We pulled off the highway onto a sparsely populated country road that winded up the small mountain. About five miles down the road, I turned into a hidden, tree lined dirt driveway.
"Not exactly the cradle of civilization up here is it?" Danny quipped as he looked out the windows as the car passed through the densely wooded forest.
"My family has owned this property for generations. It's incredibly quiet and peaceful. Only house for miles. It's a great escape from the craziness of the city."
The car pulls into a clearing, a small lake now bordering the road to the right. Up ahead, a small two story stone house sits on the edge of the lake, a small cleared out grassy area surrounds it. I pull the car up to the side of the house and turn off the engine.
"Here we are," I say as I reach into the back seat. I grab Danny's bag and toss it on his lap before grabbing my own stuff and opening the door. Danny hops out and meets me at the back of the SUV.
"Could I carry something for you Miss Smith?," he says, reaching out to take my own gym bag from or my shoulder, tossing it onto his own.
"Thank you," I say with a smile as we walk up to the front door. I reach into my purse and grab a pair of keys, unlocking the door and stepping inside. The house is cool and dim, lit only by the fading sunlight. "Hold on one second." I walk over to a door that leads to the basement, reaching inside and flipping a switch on the fuse box. "My parents shut the electricity off if they aren't going to be around for a while."
"It's a beautiful house Miss Smith."
"Okay so let's take care of this now; if we're going to be staying here together for the week, please, call me Heather. I'm only Miss Smith at St Paul's."
"Okay no problem Miss Sm...," Danny laughs, "Sorry, force of habit. Sorry Heather."