Complicated Love

I hadn't been expecting the guys to go on tour so soon and for so long. I mean, yeah I knew they would have to eventually, but I had figured that I would at least get some more time with Jimmy before that happened.
But I couldn't think about that today. It was monday morning and I was on my way to start my first day as a kindergarten teacher. I would finally teach this class by myself.
I was scared to death.
When I walked into the school, I saw Principal Walker waiting for me at the entrance. He smiled as he approached me.
"Miss Claster. Are you ready for your first real day?"
I nodded my head once. "I believe I am. The kids already like me and I like them."
Principal Walker placed his hand on my lower back and started guiding me down the hallway to my classroom. "It's got nothing to do with liking them, Brooke." he said. "Its got everything to do with control. You control these children instead of them controlling you, and you will go places"
I looked at him in disbelief. Control? "They're a bunch of five year olds. You can't control them."
He smiled as we reached the room, but he didn't remove his hand. "To you, they are children. To every smart teacher, they are a paycheck. Remember that."
A paycheck? This man was creepy and evil. You can't think of children like that. You have to think of children as our future. Treat them like they are nothing and they will grow up believing that in turn treating their children like that. That would only make future generations worse.
I wasn't sure how long I could work for this man. But for now I would do my best.
I opened the door and headed inside without looking at the principal again and closed it behind me.
The classroom was empty, but soon the children would show up. For now I sat at my desk and placed my binder of ideas down. What Principal Walker said had made me mad, however, I had to place all my attention on to these children or they would walk all over me. Lauren had taught me that and I believed her.
I had wanted this job because I loved children more than anything else. I had always wanted a family and I had even started fantasizing about one with Jimmy. But the news that they had given me the other night had been a slap in the face.
How was I supposed to start a life with someone who would be gone so often and for so long?
Will you stop? This is Jimmy you're thinking about, I told myself. He loves you and you know that if he were to have a family with you, then he would do all he could to be there for you.
I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of the morning bell. I put a smile on my face, opened the classroom door and waited for the children.
A few hours later, it was free period after lunch and I had given the kids the freedom to play with some of the toys on the carpet. I was sitting at my desk watching them play when I saw a little girl throw a block at a boy. It hit him on the head and he went down crying.
I ran to them both. "Anna," I said to the girl. "Go sit in the corner and I will be there to talk to you. Go." She stomped her foot but headed for the corner. I turned my attention to the crying boy at my feet.
I knelt down and pulled him to me. "Kyle? Kyle will you tell me where it hurts?"
Kyle sniffed and pointed to his forehead where a red mark was. I gave him a small smile. "Does it hurt a lot?"
He shook his head and rubbed his nose. He was already starting to stop crying.
"Well you're not bleeding but do you know what will make the pain go away? A bandaid. Do you want a bandaid, Kyle?"
Kyle smiled and nodded his head. He put his tiny hand in mine and I pulled him to my desk. I grabbed a small bandaid from the first aid kit and I placed it on his forehead. He looked up at me with big brown eyes. He had completly stopped crying now.
"Thank you, Miss Brooke," he said.
"You are very welcome, Kyle. Now you go play, ok?" I patted his head gently and he went back to playing with his friends.
I turned to the corner at the other side of the room where Anna was sitting hunched over in a tiny chair facing the wall. I sighed and walked over to her.
"Anna?" I knelt down to her level, but she didn't look at me.
"Anna," I said again. "Will you talk to me?"
She shook her head.
"Please? I only want to know why you hurt Kyle and if you say you're sorry, I'll let you go back and play."
Slowly, Anna turned her head towards me. She had been crying. "He said that he wanted to be my friend."
"But why would you throw something at him if he was being nice to you?"
"Boys and girls can't be friends. That's what everybody says," she said.
I put my hand on top of hers. "Well, Anna," I sighed. "They were wrong. Boys and girls can be friends. I have a lot of friends that are boys."
Anna shook her head. "But a grown up girl can have boy friends. You kiss them. I don't want to kiss Kyle."
I had to keep myself from laughing. That would help nothing. "No Anna. I don't kiss my friends and you don't have to kiss Kyle. You can be his friend."
She looked up at me. "I can?"
"Yes," I said, nodding. "You can be if you say you're sorry for hitting him with the block."
"Thank you, Miss Brooke," She said smiling. She stood, gave me a hug and went up to Kyle to apologize.
The rest of the day went by without incident. I had talked to Anna's parents about the situation and they said they would talk to her.
Principal Walker stopped me as I headed for my car. "Hello, Brooke. Can we talk?"
Personally I wanted nothing to do with this man, but I had just started so I had to be on my best behavior or I could easily be replaced.
I only nodded. He motioned for me to sit with him on a bench against the wall. We were alone here.
"What is it, Principal Walker? Did I do something wrong?"
He shook his head. "No, of course not. The other teachers even said you did spectacular. And please, call me Luke."
Luke Walker? All he was missing was the middle name "sky". I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing at him once again.
"Brooke," he said, sitting on the bench with me. He barely fit. "I watched you all of last week and all of today. Did you know that you are just stunning?"
My boss was coming on to me! Ah shit.
I looked at his face. "Prin- Luke. I have heard that said a few times before, but please, sir. I would like to keep our relationship professional."
Luke looked me up and down and licked his lips (gross). He said "I don't. You have a boyfriend, Brooke?"
I stood up and stepped away from him. "I think I better go. Goodbye, Principal Walker."
With that, I turned and nearly ran for my car. What was it with people coming on to me lately? Even my own boss. This was too much for me to handle so I pushed it to the back of my mind and headed home.