Mondays were never anyone's favorite. It was well known as the unwelcome start to the week,an harsh wake up call from the peaceful freedom of the weekend.
Andrea despises Mondays and after the events that played out yesterday,she is not ready to get out of bed but her alarm clock says other wise,it's loud peeping sound piercing through her slumber and forcing her eyes open.
"Turn that thing off"Charlotte yells from her side of the bed,using her pillow to cover her ears
As much as Andrea despised Mondays,she couldn't afford to be late,at least not today of all days. She was meeting with the principal of the school to discuss an increment in her salary.
She was employed as a teacher in 'crown high' for almost three years now and she had been doing her job,very diligently. She thinks it's high time she gets an increment.
The meeting with Mr Jackson,the principal,is supposed to be by 8
8? Panic set in as she checked the time on the alarm clock
"Charlotte wake up,it's almost 8,we have ten minutes to get ready,get up"she gently tapped charlotte
"Mhmm mhmm"
"Liam Walton"Andrea yelled,her voice filled with urgency and to her surprise charlotte's eyes shut open.
"Where?"charlotte asked,her voice holding desperation as she looked around the room
Has Liam Walton finally come to his senses and decided he needed her? Charlotte thought to herself as her eyes kept scanning the room. She looked to the dresser,the drawers,the over flowing book shelf and even the worn out chair in the corner but Liam Walton was no where to be found.
"In your dreams,now get up before we lose our only means of feeding"
Charlotte's face fell in disappointment.
"Arghh Andrea,fuck you"charlotte said,her tone playful as she used the pillow to cover her face blocking the sun light that crept through the curtains.
"Get up"Andrea demanded,nudging charlotte's arm
"Fine fine,I'm up"Charlotte grumpily rolled out of bed.
She shot Andrea a glare before disappearing into the bathroom.
Andrea chuckled walking straight to her dresser. She needed an outfit that would ensure mr Jackson,knows she is serious about the increment of her salary.
She needed an outfit that says serious,cute and yet professional. Andrea has never been a fan of glamours outfits,she was the typical hoodie plus baggie jeans girl out of work and the tight tailored pants plus shirt girl at work. But today she needed to look different,her eyes kept scanning the clothes on the racks,nothing catching her attention,as her hands traced the materials.
"Get in the shower while the water's still hot"charlotte advised,her voice starling Andrea. She was so lost in looking for the right dress,she didn't hear when charlotte entered the room.
"I've nothing to wear"Andrea sighed,diverting her gaze to charlotte.
A towel was wrapped tightly around her chest and another on her head.
"That's a first,just wear what you normally wear"charlotte suggested,walking to her side of the dresser
"Today is my meeting"
"With that fool? Why will you want to dress nicely for him? Trust me,he is not worth it"
Andrea was well aware of what charlotte meant. Principal Jackson was indeed a hard nut to crack,he always gave everyone an hard time,with his outrages rules and criticism. He calls them words of encouragement but the only thing encouraged is his ego. He makes Andrea and her colleagues do all his work and he takes credits for it all.
Crown high is a private school,where teachers impact knowledge into mannerless rich kids but principal Jackson doesn't see the need to pay his workers any more than he does. No one is brave enough to stand up to him because they fear they might lose their jobs but not Andrea. She believes the money of the school should go into making the school better and paying the worker not buying new flashy suits to woo the ladies.
Even though,mr Jackson is a 52 year old man with two grown kids,he still feels the need to flirt. Andrea have caught him severally throwing winks and nasty smiles at her even though,he has never made a move,Andrea is going to be using that to her advantage.
"I'm not dressing up for him charlotte,I'm dressing up so he would take what I saw seriously"Andrea corrected,her face set in determination.
"Andrea,I'm scared for you,I know he agreed to have this meeting but I don't want you to end up like Frank,poor guy haven't found another job"charlotte said,her voice laced with concern,as she picked a brown dress from her dresser.
Franklin king was one of Andrea's colleagues,he was a chemistry teacher also quiet heavy on the eyes. He always wore his recommended glasses which always fit his eyes perfectly veiling his brown eyes,his hair was always left messy on his head. Andrea and frank got along quite well,not friends but they had their little moments of handshakes and chit chats. He got fired the moment he talked to principal Jackson about an increment in his salary. And since then,Andrea haven't set her eyes on him.
"I'm not frank,I know men like Jackson and I can handle it"Andrea said as if trying to confuse herself,she felt a pit in her stomach. If her plan doesn't work,it would only mean loosing her job and she can't afford for that to happen so the plan has to work.
"I can do this"she assured herself
"Girl,just get in the shower before we both lose our jobs" charlotte teased,shooing her into the bathroom.
She had a quick bath,she opened the room's door to a beautifully dressed charlotte. She looked stunning in her brown gown that hugged her figure,her hair was packed into a ponytail.
"Quit staring and wear that"charlotte commanded,pointing to the dress on the bed. Andrea's eyes admired the beautiful pink dress laid on the bed for her with a pair of black heels. The dress had a floral scent and the material felt so silk.
"I can't accept this,it looks too expensive"
Charlottes rolled her eyes. "I'm not giving you the dress,I'm borrowing you,if you're going to be talking to Jackson,you need to look the part"
"Thank u thank u thank u"Andrea said excitedly as she slipped into the dress.
"You look stunning"charlotte praised as she watched Andrea's reflection in the full length mirror.
Charlotte hated how good the dress looks on Andrea,she hated how the dress complimented her body. Charlotte has worn the dress a lot of times and it didn't look half as good as it does on Andrea.
No matter,how happy,charlotte tries to be for her Andrea,there is always that sting of jealousy in her chest that she can't shake off.
"Let's go"Andrea said excitedly,a huge smile playing on her lips.
Charlotte faked a smile,grabbed her bag and exited the room,Andrea trailing behind her.
…
The drive to crown high was a short quiet one. Andrea was going over what she would say to principal Jackson while charlotte was scrolling through her phone.
The cab stopped in front of the school's tall gates and Andrea and charlotte both exited the cab.
The moment they made their way inside the school gates,charlotte got pulled away by some teachers discussing about the PTA meeting.
Andrea took a deep breath and made her way to mr Jackson's office,her heart pounding hard with every step.
"You look stunning,miss jones"she heard a familiar voice say.
Andrea turned to see one of her brightest students and also her name sake,Andrea Walton.
"Thank you"Andrea smiled
"What's the occasion? You dating a staff? Omg is it mr Harper,I didn't think he was your type,I thought you were more of a mr kings person"
She couldn't help but smile at Andrea's curiosity. Andrea was a beautiful girl with a smart brain unlike the rest of her peers,she didn't always look bored or tired durning her classes instead she always looked energetic and excited.
"I've an important meeting and dating a staff is prohibited,I could get fired"Andrea replied with a chuckle as she watched a small frown replace the beautiful smile on her student's face
"That would never happen,you're my favorite teacher"
Her student's words made the pit growing in her stomach wider. She had no idea what waited for her in mr Jackson's office and it scares her to know that the chances of loosing her only job is very high.
"Miss Andrea jones please report to the principal's office"a loud voice boomed through the hall way,chiming Andrea out of her thoughts.