Page 51 of Connectio

Chapter Nine

Will left me standing in the music room, heart thumping in my chest, an unfamiliar melody dancing all over my body. It didn’t make sense—the weak knees and heart palpitations. We’re the complete opposite, and we have nothing in common. He’s a dirty, burly tradie, and I’m a clean, well-educated teacher. He speaks before thinking, and I speak after carefully considering each and every word to leave my mouth.

And… and he has no manners. Manners are important. They show maturity and decorum, qualities every adult should possess. We’re chalk and cheese, summer and winter, Elsa and Anna. So, yeah, feeling this… this giddy just doesn’t make any sense.

Now a few days later, I’m staring out of the classroom window at Will and his apprentice, Jeremy, as they set up a safety area with construction tape. He informed all staff this morning that they’ll be driving the excavator within the taped-off area and to warn the children to stay well away. Other than that, we haven’t spoken since the music room, but I’ve been very much aware of his presence around the schoolyard. He’s hard to miss—fluorescent-yellow and orange high-vis vest flashing on my peripheral vision every time I glance out the window.

Just now, for instance, Sally was heading to—I assume—the library with a stack of books when two slipped from her grasp. Before she could squat and retrieve them, Will jogged over and picked them up for her. It was rather lovely, until they conversed longer than I thought necessary. And then it didn’t seem so lovely anymore, Sally blushing and blinking profusely. At one point, I thought she had something stuck in her eye.

She didn’t, beside her eyeballs, which I felt like poking out. Which is just weird, because I’m not jealous. I can’t be—one has to form an emotional connection to experience jealousy, and I haven’t done that… I don’t think.

Will hammers in a star picket then animatedly drums a beat on top of it. I smile; it’s something I’ve noticed he does a lot, tapping fence tops, walls, and nothing but air several times a day. At first, I thought it was childish and stupid, but the silly tapping has kinda grown on me. I’ve also noticed he lifts his baseball cap and runs his hand through his hair a lot, as if in contemplation, or perhaps because his head is sweaty.

“Lib!”

“What?” I snap my vision to Oliver, and he ducks his head to see what, or rather who, I’m looking at through the window.

His eyes narrow. “The bell just rang.”

I take note of the clock and let out a noise that’s supposed to be a laugh but isn’t. “Oh, really? I must’ve been in a world of my own.”

“What are your plans?”

“For what, lunch?”

“Yeah.”

“Um—”

Carly and Sal poke their heads through the doorway. “You ready?” Carly asks.

“Um, yep.” I look at Oliver. “We’re just heading down the street to the café.”

“I might join you, if that’s okay?”

Carly vehemently shakes her head.

“Sure,” I say. I mean, what choice do I have?

Carly pretends to bang her head against the doorframe, and Sally quickly nudges her when Oliver turns in their direction.

She smiles, all teeth and sarcasm. “I’ve invited Will and Jeremy too,” she adds.

I grab my purse. “Greeeat. The more the merrier.”

Ffffk! This will be interesting.

We head out of the classroom, the sun high in the sky, breaking through rainclouds and casting a rainbow over the horizon. Warmth and joy fill me as I admire the pretty spectrum. I’ve always loved rainbows. There’s just something magical about them, as if they only belong in fairy tales, and if you do happen to find the bottom of one, it’s not a pot of gold you’ll find but instead a castle in a faraway land.

“You fantasising about my body on top of yours?” Will asks, snapping me out of my rainbow-daze by nudging my shoulder.

Sal chokes then coughs, and Jeremy chuckles.

I sigh, my eyes playful. “The only way your body will be on top of mine is if we both trip and I cushion your fall.”

Oliver scoffs and shakes his head at Will. “Ouch!”

Will ignores him, eyes fixed on mine. “Best you watch your step then.”