01. Teacher
☀︎︎☀︎︎☀︎︎
•
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The blaring and obnoxious alarm clock startled Olivia as it snapped her from whatever strange dream she was having. The twenty-year-old groaned, moving a heavy arm to shut off the clock. She sighed when its beeping finally ceased.
She relaxed back into bed, eyelids drooping as she stared at the white popcorn ceiling. No matter how much her body wanted to go back to sleep, Olivia knew she had to get up today. Today was her first real test in becoming a teacher at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and she would not disappoint.
Charles had all the faith in the world that the girl would do great, meaning more pressure put on her shoulders to do exceptionally. She would start this day right. Being the school's first music teacher had a lot weighing on it.
She quickly removed the duvet, allowing the cold morning air to rush in and wake her up. She shivered, goosebumps crawling their way up her arms. The night prior, she had planned her outfit — a black pencil skirt and a colourful blouse covered in music notes — perfect for a music teacher.
Quickly, she got dressed and did her hair. It's not like the students didn't know her, she greeted and toured every new student enrolled into the school, but this presentable get-up was for Charles and Hank. They practically raised her since she discovered her mutant abilities, and pleasing them was the most important.
It was six-thirty, meaning all the children would be asleep, and Olivia had time to grab breakfast and coffee and hang out with Hank in the lab. As she stepped out of her bedroom, she was immediately greeted by Charles, who was rolling down the hallway with two mugs of steaming coffee. "Good morning, Olivia. Sleep well?" He handed her a mug.
Olivia, slightly shocked to see him so early, nodded slowly. "Well enough. First day jitters, ya know?" She chuckled nervously, sipping the coffee tentatively. She sighed happily as the warm liquid hit her tongue. "Thank you, Charles. This is great."
The professor shook his head with a smile. "I thought I'd take some of the pressure off of your first day. I know how nervous you've been. I wouldn't have picked you for this job if I didn't believe you could do it."
They began to walk towards the main hall. Olivia laughed. "It was that or kicking me out. Can't be a student here forever."
"This is your home, Olivia. I would never kick you out," Charles rolled his eyes. "There are times, however..."
Both laughed at the joke and Olivia playfully smacked his head. "Funny, Charles. Absolutely hilarious," They stopped once they had reached the main hall of the school. "Is Hank in the lab?" She asked.
Charles nodded. "Like always. I'll let him know you're on your way." He smiled and nodded as if permitting Olivia to go.
She thanked him once more for the coffee and began the walk to the basement. Olivia prided herself in being the only student that knew of Hank McCoy's lab. The story she tells is that she found it on accident but in actuality, she followed Hank one night after multiple failed attempts due to Charles and his mind-reading.
The large silver doors slid open with a clean and metallic whoosh and Olivia stepped through. She spotted Hank immediately, hanging from the wing of the jet. "Morning, Hank!" She called, striding past him and to his desk, where she sat in his comfortable office chair.
The hanging man barely batted an eye. "Hi, Olivia," His tongue was bit in between his teeth as he focused on building. "You're up early."
Olivia chuckled. For being so smart, Hank could be so forgetful. "It's the big day, remember. First day of teaching."
Hank's eyes winded and a smile spread across his face. He dropped his tools and flipped down, his large feet making a loud thud when he landed. "How could I forget?" He laughed, barely taking a few steps to reach Olivia. "Are you excited? Nervous?" He grabbed a spare chair and sat in front of her, practically bouncing with excitement.
Olivia chuckled. "You're more excited about this than I am," She shook her head with a small smile. "I was a little nervous and then Charles expressed his high hopes for me and now I feel like vomiting."
Hank rolled his eyes and laughed. "We both know you're perfect for this, Liv. No one else here could teach music like you do."
"That's because no one else actually plays music, Hank," She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You and Charles sound like dying geese when you try to sing."
"I thought you loved our karaoke nights?" Hank gasped. She tried to smile, but this nagging feeling of doubt was eating away at Olivia. She nodded, pursing her lips. Her fingers rubbed against each other, an absent-minded reaction to her nerves. Small sparks of static electricity popped and cracked as her eyes zoned out. "Olivia? Are you sure you're okay with this? You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
Olivia snapped from her thoughts, the electricity on her fingers fizzling out. "What? No," She sighed deeply, trying to express how she was feeling. "I want to do this, Hank. I really do. But I just...I feel like I'll be disappointing. What if they don't like me?"
"Are you kidding, Liv?" Hank laughed, shocked she would even think such a thing. "The students love you! I'm sure they can't wait for you to teach them. You understand them much better than Charles or I do."
A light pink blush dusted across the girl's face. She shook her head and stared down at her hands. "You really think so?" She hesitantly looked back up at Hank with big eyes.
Hank stood up and crossed the small space between them. He placed a solid hand on her shoulder. "There's no one better," He smiled widely and Olivia felt one grow across her face as well. "And if you think I'm lying, just ask Charles."
Finally, Olivia laughed. It made her feel better, more sure of herself and her teaching abilities. She stood up, Hank's hand still planted firmly on her shoulder. "I can always count on you to make me feel better, Hank. Thanks." She hugged him quickly and Hank warmly returned the gesture.
He patted her back and chuckled. "That's my job," They pulled back and Olivia's smile had grown. It pained Hank to see her doubt herself after all the self-growth she had accomplished over her years at Xavier's, but as she said, he would always be there to make a hard day better. "You'll do great."
"Hell yeah I will," She nodded firmly. Her confidence, just like that, was restored. "See you at lunch," She called to Hank as she rushed out of the lab, ready to prepare her classroom.
As Olivia put the finishing touches on her lesson plan, there was a small and polite knock on the door, one that she recognized. "Come in, Jean," She smiled and turned around. Jean Grey smiled shyly from the doorframe. "You're here early. My class doesn't start for another half hour."
Jean stepped in, clutching her books tightly to her chest. "I just wanted to see you before everyone else," She placed her books down on the desk nearest to Olivia. "Can I sit here?"
"Be my guest," Olivia nodded. "I can get a head start on the seating plan." She turned to her desk and hunched over, scribbling Jean's name into the square that represented her desk.
Jean looked around at the decorations hung up through the classroom — musical note streamers, posters of famous musicians, and the walls were painted a pale yellow. "I like the new paint job," She commented with a smile. "Very you."
Olivia chuckled, giving the room a once-over. "That's what I was going for," She turned to Jean, leaning against the large teachers' desk. "Is there anything else you want to talk about besides my amazing decorating skills?"
Jean wasn't more than a few years younger than Olivia, coming to Xavier's only a little after she did. It was no question why the girls became close friends, both losing their parents in one way or another. "What? No! I'm just excited for you...that's all."
Olivia stared at Jean. Was she joking? She could read the telepath like an open book. They could never lie to each other. "Are you serious Jean? I don't need to read your mind to know somethings up," Jean stared back at the older girl, hoping she would let up. But, as Olivia crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, it was clear she wasn't going to. "Spill."
Jean groaned and rolled her eyes. "You're annoying, you know that? And nosy," She sneered. Olivia returned the look. Jean rubbed a hand down her face and sighed. "Their thoughts are louder, lately," Their in reference to the other students. "They're...meaner. I know you, and Charles, and Hank, say not to let it get to me, but I can only take so much."
Raising from the teachers' desk, Olivia sat at the desk next to Jean. "Is it stupid to say just block them out?" Jean rolled her eyes and nodded. Olivia sighed. "I guess the only advice I can give you is to keep your head high and surround yourself with people who care about you. Like me, for example. We barely hang out anymore...is this why?"
"I guess?" Jean shrugged. "But I was also worried you were gonna leave the school. You're my only friend."
"I'm not your only friend, Jean!" Olivia gasped. "What about Jubilation? She's your friend."
Jean groaned. "Yeah, she is, but not like you! You get me."
Olivia laughed. "That's because you don't open up to anyone else," She reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I won't be here forever, most likely. And you need to learn how to trust other people."
They stared at each other for a while, Jean debating and contemplating what Olivia had said. As they did so, a devious thought crossed Olivia's mind. Jean was too preoccupied to notice it before it was too late. Using what small static electricity was floating around, Olivia buzzed Jean's shoulder. "Ow!" Jean gasped, leaping back and falling out of her seat.
Olivia laughed hysterically. "I'm...sorry!" She spoke through strained breaths and laughter. "I-I couldn't h-help it!"
Jean huffed from the ground and glared playfully. "We're playing dirty now?" She tilted her head and stuck out her hand. Olivia didn't care, she was too busy laughing her ass off. She was flung from her seat and to the floor opposite Jean.
The girls continued to laugh on the floor for a few minutes until they finally caught their breath. The bell had rung, meaning the first classes of the day were about to begin. Olivia caught her breath, a tired smile on her face. "We should probably get off the floor. Other students will be coming soon." She stood and held her hand for Jean to take.
The red-head did so, smiling as well. "Thanks for the talk, Ms. Peters." They laughed once more and Jean took her seat.
Olivia greeted every student that walked in, handing them a piece of paper with information on the class material. Jubilation, her normal jolly self, skipped happily into class. "Good morning, Ms. Lee," Olivia smiled, trying to stay as professional as possible. "Choose any seat you'd like." She handed the young mutant a paper.
Jubilation was practically bouncing as she took the paper. "I can't believe you're gonna be our music teacher!"
Olivia chuckled softly. "Me either," She gestured towards the classroom. In all her joy, Jubilation was holding up the rest of the students and a line was beginning to form. "Would you mind finding a seat?"
Jubilation's eyes winded. "Oh! Of course!"
Once the rest of the students were in and at their seats, Olivia turned to address the class. "Good morning students and welcome to your first day of music class! I'm sure most of you know me as I know most of you," She smiled wide as she spoke to the kids. "All today will be is a simple introduction to the course and a small lesson in music theory. L-"A hand was already up. A younger boy with a horn mutation was straining his arm in hopes of an answer. "Yes..?"
"Adam," He responded softly. "What's music theory?"
"Ah," Olivia smiled wider. Music was her life and getting to teach and expose it to children was a joy like none other. "Music theory is everything from notes to chords. It's just a fancy way of saying the technical part of music because music is not just playing instruments."
"Ooo, Ms!" Jubilation's hand shot up. Olivia nodded, allowing for her to continue. "Will we get to play instruments?"
"Of course!" Olivia laughed. "What kind of music class would this be if we didn't play instruments?" Every student in the room seemed to lighten up at that, even Jean seemed excited. A brilliant idea popped into Olivia's head. "In fact, would you all like a demonstration of what we'll be doing?"
A chorus of voices shouted out with pleads and yells, wanting to see what Olivia would show them. She smiled and walked behind her desk. There, lying behind the chair, was her guitar case, which held the electric guitar she was gifted on her eleventh birthday. It was the last piece of her old life that she still held on to. She pulled it out, showing its yellow shine to the class and they gasped. "Any requests?"
AUTHORS NOTE
heyooo! Uh here's chapter one...that's it. Enjoy
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top