literature

High School Reunion

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There seemed to be more of them this year than there were five years prior.  She figured that was understandable...children were easy to make if you had the resources.  But did there have to be so many? Were her classmates trying to make her feel unsuccessful? If so, it wasn't working;  instead it made Cassidy feel relieved she didn't have to deal with all of it.  As she stared out at the gym full of kids and soccer moms that used to be cheerleaders, Cassidy Larsen felt her mouth curl into a slight smile as she ran her hand through her dyed red hair...she was glad she didn't have children.  

Not that she didn't like them, no...but they were too much responsibility.  Plus it seemed her former classmates had turned into their own parents.  She figured their lives weren't boring per se...after all, how could life be boring with a bunch of kids to raise? It was just...too traditional for her.  She didn't want to continue the endless cycle of high school, college, marriage, children, death.  She wanted something else...something crazy, something nontraditional.  She wasn't sure what she wanted...at twenty eight she already felt like a failure because she still didn't know what she wanted; but seeing all the kids running around the gym curiously didn't make her feel worse.

She was momentarily shaken from her thoughts when she felt a person slide into the chair beside her, but when the person didn't speak right away, she allowed herself a few more.  Looking around the gym it seemed it was a lot like her old gym.  The school she, and her father before her, had graduated from had been torn down, replaced with this huge building of grades K through 12.   It was happening all over Ohio, old schools were being torn down and replaced with identical huge buildings.
“Ah, look at everyone.” a voice sounded from beside her took her from her thoughts again, causing her to turn slightly.  She couldn't quite see who it was, though, because he was sitting directly beside her.  His voice did sound oddly familiar, however.  
“Yeah,” she said softly, “they all have kids now...it's so weird.”
“Well, it does happen...did it not happen to you?” the voice asked.    
She shook her head, “Nope, hasn't yet...might never will...I don't care.  I like kids, but I don't really want any.” she admitted.
“They are a lot of work.” he replied thoughtfully, “I have two...they live with my ex now, though.”
“My ex has my cat.” Cassidy said, making the man laugh.  
She turned then at the sound of his laughter to see that he was an older man, probably early to mid fifties.  He was portly with light brown hair, wearing a dark blue t-shirt and blue jeans.  His eyes were big and blue and it took a few seconds for Cassidy to recognize him.   When she did, her eyes flew open wide and she gasped with delighted surprise.  
“Mr. Cole!” she exclaimed.  
“Yeah?” he looked over at her and his mouth dropped open, “Cassidy Larsen?”
She grinned, “Yeah!” she nodded quickly.
“Well, hey!” he reached out and captured her in a hug, which she gladly returned.  

Nathan Cole was Cassidy's music and drama teacher all through high school.  Back in the 90's he was in his thirties with a head of shaggy light brown hair and a trim figure.  He had a great sense of humor and a passion for music and drama the likes of which Cassidy had never before seen in person.  She'd fallen for him like a ton of bricks freshman year and had kept the crush all throughout her senior year...not even dropping it when she had the one boyfriend she'd ever had in high school.  Mr. Cole was her high school love and she'd always kept him on a pedestal.  Seeing him again was the biggest treat she'd had in a long time.  
“So how've you been?” Mr. Cole asked after they'd parted from their bear hug.  
“I've been ok...been going back to college to get a journalism degree...got married and divorced...gained weight, lost weight, and gained it back again...all in all, normal boring stuff.” she chuckled lightly.  
“Dude, I've done the exact same thing without the college part!” Mr. Cole's eyes widened.
Cassidy giggled, “You're still cute.” she said.  
“Aww, you thought I was cute?”
“Mr. Cole, in my entire life, you've been the only teacher I've ever had a crush on.” she told him.  
“Awwwww! So that's why you were always the nicest kid in class?  Oh, and call me Nathan...I'm not your teacher anymore, so there's no need for the Mister part.” he winked.  
Cassidy shrugged slightly, “I was always nice to teachers...didn't you notice, though, I kept smiling at you?” she asked.
“Well yeah, but I just thought that was because you were nice...I was kind of an oblivious guy.” he chuckled, his eyes twinkling.  
“All guys are oblivious I think...you could stare a hole through their head and they wouldn't get it unless you told them I'm into you, ya know?” Cassidy retorted, but kept a smile on her face to let him know she wasn't being mean.  
“You know, you're right...hey, question...what caused the crush? I mean, I'm not looking to get my ego stroked, I'm just curious.” he leaned his elbow on the table, propping his head up with his hand.  
“Well...I thought you were cute the first day of class, but attraction doesn't necessarily equal a crush...I think what really got me was a combination of the way you played the piano and the way you taught acting.  Once during sophomore year I was almost over you because I'd begun dating Lucas Walker, but then one day we were watching a movie in class, “Les Miserables” with Liam Neeson...anyway, the kids were being really bad and I needed to go to the bathroom so I went and asked you if I could go.  I remember you were almost in tears there in your office because the kids were being so bad.  When I asked if I could go, you said “I guess” so sadly that it made my heart flutter.  So after I came back from the bathroom I asked how you were doing.  By then you'd calmed down, though...anyway, that just really rejuvenated my crush and it stayed that way for the rest of my high school career.” she explained.  

Nathan had been listening to her with a slowly growing smile on his face.  By the end of her explanation his eyes had grown wide with incredulity.
“Wow...you know, I never understood why guys crying seems to appeal so much to girls...but wow, that's...that's really incredible.” he said, his voice soft with wonder.  
“I think it hits our nurturing gene...well in some of us anyway.  It's funny, I don't really want kids, but I want to nurture someone...weird, huh?” Cassidy gave a laugh at herself.
“Hey, kids aren't for everyone.” Nathan remarked, a spark of sadness shooting across his eyes.  
“How old are your kids?” she asked him, wondering if the sadness was hurt because of what she said or just plain sadness because he missed his kids.
“Eight and ten.” he told her, “I got married shortly after you graduated, but five years ago my ex wife and I divorced...she um...found someone else.  Someone younger and, in her words, healthier.”
“Translation, she had a shallow midlife crisis and decided to ditch you...I'm so sorry.” Cassidy frowned.
“Pretty much.” Nathan replied, smiling sadly.  
“Does she let you see your kids?”
“Well...I'm sure she would if she hadn't moved them to Florida.  I'm teaching at another high school now and it's a good job so I can't really move right now.” he sighed.
“Yikes...that sounds kinda...spiteful.” Cassidy frowned even more deeply.  
Nathan shrugged, “Well the guy she ran off with lived in Florida...he was here in Ohio on a business trip and she just fell for him suddenly.  Three months later she tells me they'd had sex that week and were skyping back and forth since then carrying on their affair and she was leaving me and taking the kids.  Completely blindsided me.  I don't miss her at all, but I do miss my daughters.”
“Do you ever get to see them? Cassidy asked him.  
“Yeah, but not as often as I'd like...I see them about three times a year in person, because my ex's parents live here so the girls get to come for Christmas and Easter and spend a month of summer vacation here.  Once a month I get to skype with them.  The ten year old, Gina, has begun to realize just how wrong what her mother did was.  The last time she skyped with me one on one she broke down crying and told me she was sorry that her mother hurt me.” tears sprang into Nathan's eyes then and he had to take a couple breaths to get himself back under control.  
“I'm so sorry,” Cassidy breathed, putting a hand on his shoulder.  
Nathan reached up and put his hand over hers, “It's ok...it happened five years ago, so I've had time to get over it.  I'm only emotional right now because of Gina.” he sniffled and smiled at her through wet eyes, “Here I am crying again...how's your crush doing?” he winked.  
Cassidy giggled, “It's coming back kinda.” she admitted.  
He looked at her and his voice grew soft, “Really?”
She felt her face grow warm, “Well yeah.” she gave a nervous laugh, then said, “Well it never really went away, so...” she trailed off, shrugging.  
Nathan regarded her for a moment or two, then asked, “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
Cassidy shook her head, “No...are you?”
“No,” Nathan replied.  He tapped on the table thoughtfully for a few seconds, his eyes trained on the tabletop, before looking back up at her, “How familiar are you with this school?”
“I've subbed here before, but I don't have it memorized.” she told him.  
“Well, do you mind giving me a tour of the parts you know of? Just so we can talk without a bunch of noise around.” he gestured to their surroundings.  
Cassidy looked up, blinking in surprise, as their conversation had gotten so serious she'd forgotten she was surrounded by former classmates and their children.  At his proposition she blushed, her heartbeat accelerating.  Was he sort of asking her out? Or was he thinking about it? He hadn't been her teacher for ten years, so it wasn't like it was illicit.  Still the thought gave her goosebumps.  
“Sure!” she heard herself agreeing, face pink.  
“All right!” Nathan stood up from his chair and waited for Cassidy to do the same.  Then they exited the gym, Cassidy pretending everyone was watching them go.  Who knows, maybe they were.  

As soon as they were out of the gym, Cassidy felt Nathan's hand on her shoulder.  She looked over at him and found he was looking at her, a bit of apprehension on his face.
“I have a question.” he began.  
“What is it?” she asked.
He leaned in close to her and she felt her heartbeat accelerate again before he asked, “Do you know where the bathroom is?”
It was a half second before she realized he meant that he needed to use it and she gave an embarrassed laugh at her mistake.  She took him to where she knew a men's room was and waited for him to use it.  When he came out they resumed their walk.  It was a few seconds before either of them spoke again.  Finally Nathan broke the silence.
“So...about your crush on me...” he began.
“What about it?” Cassidy felt herself blushing again.  Why did he still have this affect on her so many years later? Why?
“Do you want to do anything about it?” he asked.  
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, do you want to...start something?”
Her eyes widened “Do you?”
Nathan laughed, causing Cassidy's heart to skip at the sweetness that still graced his smile, “Yeah, I think I do.”
Cassidy felt her face break into a smile of surprise and excitement.
“Really? Why?” she gasped.  
Nathan took half a step closer and put his arm around her, squeezing her in a one armed hug.
“Because you've always been sweet, kind, and open.  I remember when I taught you, I wondered who you'd grow up to be, because I knew you'd be wonderful.” he told her, his voice soft.  
Tears pricked at Cassidy's eyes and she couldn't help but put her arms around him and hug him .
“Thank you, Nathan.” she murmured.  
He put his other arm around her and squeezed her tight, “You're always welcome, hon.”
They stood there hugging for a few seconds before their hug deepened.  Nathan tightened his arms around Cassidy's shoulders, nuzzling her ear with his cheek.  She rested her head on his shoulder, inhaling his scent, which hadn't changed in ten years; he still smelled of cologne and personal musk.  
“Mm, Cassidy?” he asked.
“Mm?” she hummed.
“May I kiss you?”
“Mhm,” she nodded slightly against him.  
Nathan slowly loosened his grip on her shoulders, gently nudging her back.  Pressing his forehead against hers for a couple seconds, he brought his hands up under her hair, which brushed her shoulders.  Gazing into her eyes, he brought his mouth closer until his lips brushed against hers.  She pressed her lips against his as well, and their mouths began caressing each other in a warm wet embrace.  Their kiss deepened as they tightened their arms around each other, and Cassidy was vaguely aware of moving backward until she felt herself being pressed against the wall.  
After a few seconds their mouths parted and Nathan nuzzled her face with his again.  Cassidy nuzzled him right back, feeling the warmth of his soft cheek against hers, feeling his warm breath on her neck.  
“Cassidy?” he whispered.
“Yeah?”
“Wanna get out of here?” he dropped a kiss on her cheek and pulled back to look into her eyes.  
“I'd love that,” she nodded, smiling up at him.
“All right...let's go.”
Here ya go, folks, another story from me!

This one's kinda different because I'm using a "model" I've never used before. 

Can anyone guess who it is?
© 2016 - 2024 MandyB82
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