246 12 Lessons

"Hey, where are you going?" The girl tugged the mans coat. Rick sighed as he knelt down on his knee and faced the girl. "I told you already, didn't I?" Rick smiled softly and began to gently stroke her hair. Maru bit her lip as to not cry. "Oi, why are you crying?" Rick looked concerned. Maru puffed her cheeks. "I'm not crying!" She pouted. Rick chuckled. "I promise I'll be back soon!" He stood up and gave the girl a quick head pat. "Promise promise?" The girl turned to him as he began descending the stairs. "Promise promise!" He shouted with a wave goodbye. As she heard the door close the girl let out a whimper. This was the first time the two of them wouldn't be together since they met.

"Mornin' shrimp!" A tall man opened the door to the apartment. Maru turned her head to look at the man. "Chris?" Maru stood up. "What's with the concern in your voice kiddo? 'Course it's me!" The man replied teasingly. Maru let out a sigh as the man sat down at the kitchenette.

"Ah here's your ID, Mr. Summers." The woman smiled handing Rick his new school ID. "Thanks a lot." He smiled as he began walking down the halls of Wildwood Elementary. Cla.s.ses were not in session yet, and only a few teachers were at the school so far due to early morning meetings. "Oh, you must be the new science teacher?" Rick turned his head around quickly. "Oh, sorry didn't mean to startle you." A woman walked out towards the entree way of her cla.s.sroom. Rick turned to the woman. "U-uh yeah that's me!" He laughed nervously. This woman was gorgeous! Rick couldn't help but stammer like a mess. The woman extended her hand. "Ms. Hoffman." She smiled. Rick extended his shaky hand. "Summers, uh sorry, I mean Rick Summers!" He smiled. The woman examined him for a moment. "You look, awfully familiar." Rick was too busy looking down. "Uh, you can let go now by the way." She smiled. "O-oh, right!" Rick quickly put his hand to his side. "What do you teach?" He questioned. "English." Ms. Hoffman smiled. "Ah, cool!" He looked around the hallway. "You-" before he could finish, a bell began to ring. "That's the bell for the kids busses, I'm afraid I have to go get prepared for today." Ms. Hoffman laughed. "See you later, Rick." She smiled as she closed the door. "Ah see you!" Rick blushed as he turned away.

d.a.m.nit Summers pull yourself together! He thought as he was walking down the hallway to his cla.s.sroom. He then paused. Is somebody there...? Rick turned to a beam where a girl poked her head out, but quickly hid again. Rick walked around the beam to see who it was. The girl was too old to be an elementary student, but too young to be a teacher. "Yo." Rick places his hand on the beam, cornering the girl. "E-eh!?" The girl blushed a deep red. "I-it's not what you think!" She stammered wildly. "Y'know, kids will be coming in soon, what will they think if they see you hiding and gawking at a teacher?" He let out a sigh. The girl looked down quickly. "It's just," the girl began. "I-I'm not good at introducing myself, especially not to c- g-guys!" She stammered wildly. Rick took his hand off the beam and sighed. "P-plus weren't you just blus.h.i.+ng...?" The girl quickly went pale realizing what she had just said. Rick turned red. "H-huh!?" He turned to her quickly. "H-how'd you-" The girl bowed her head. "I'm so sorry!" She kept her head bowed in what seemed like shame. "My name is Tammy, I'll be your a.s.sistant for this week!" She slowly raised her head up and gave a nervous smile. Rick scratched his head and sighed. "Alright, Tammy." He smiled. "Let's not pull this c.r.a.p in the cla.s.sroom, ok?" Tammy nodded her head hard. "Oi you'll get a headache!" He put his hand on her shoulder. Tammy quickly stopped. "T-this way!" Tammy pointed to the cla.s.sroom door. "That's where w- y-you'll be teaching!" She smiled. Rick let out a sigh and smiled. "Let's get going then." He said as they began walking towards the room.