halleyswidow

[halleyswidow]

The Great War

CHAPTER ONE — Development Day

Development week was Blake's favorite part of the school year, besides the holiday parties of course. Nonetheless, it was Blake's first development week back and she couldn't be more excited. She actually, with Ava's permission, got everything set up the week prior so she could spend her time getting back into the groove of things. Ava and Blake were an unlikely pairing but they balance each other out and have become such good friends both in and out of school. Over the four years, Ava was one of the few people Blake kept in contact with but even with constant contact it came as a shock when the younger woman reached out and said she wanted to teach at Abbott Elementary again. Which leads us to today, the first day of development week at Abbott Elementary. The brunette pulls into a parking spot, stepping out of her car. "What the fuck?" She observes a young teacher pull into the middle of Ava's barbecue party. Blake shakes her head, grabbing her purse and the little stuff she had to bring into her classroom that she forgot last week. Once the young woman drove away to assumingely go park on the street, she headed inside as Ava caught up with her. "Game day barbecue on the first day of development week, huh?" The brunette snorts, shaking her head at the other woman. As the small woman from earlier came through the doors with stacked boxes Ava attempted to hurry off. Blake rolls her eyes, turning to the younger woman. The brunette slings her purse around her shoulder, "Need some help with those?" "Yes, please. Thank you!" She says, slightly out of breath as Blake takes the stack of boxes she had. "I'm Janine, and you are?" Blake follows Janine to her classroom, "Blake Mencacci, where can I put these down?" Janine instructs her to place them on the desk and the brunette does as so. "It was nice to meet you, but I gotta dart." The older woman makes her way to her classroom and places her stuff down on her desks. One of the biggest things Blake prided herself in was her classroom. It had a multitude of different warm lighting fixtures and greenery, with a combination of little tokens she had received from her students from her previous years of teaching. Her goal was to create the classroom environment she always wanted growing up, and she definitely succeeded. After unpacking and putting away the few items she had brought with her, Blake made her way over to the full length mirror she had placed in the far corner of her classroom. The brunette was sporting some black yoga pants, a mock neck burgundy bodysuit, and her black heel boots. She had her typically gold jewelry to accessorize and her long brown hair was curled, thrown back into a loose but cute ponytail. Blake really did want to make a good impression considering she hadn't seen most of the people in years. When she left she was barely 23, and it's been four years since she last stepped foot in a classroom. To say she's scared is an understatement.

Eventually, it was time for Ava's presentation. Blake stood behind the wings of the small stage as Ava showed some photos of her on vacation, it was typical Ava Coleman behaviour and Blake expected nothing less. Sooner rather than later the taller woman eventually got on with the presentation, "I'd like to welcome back one of Abbott's finest teachers both inside and out of school, Ms. Blake Mencacci." On her cue the younger woman walked onto the stage, her heels clicking against the floor as familiar faces dropped. "Oooh! Baby she's back!" Mr. Johnson hollered from the back of the gymnasium, causing the crowd of staff to erupt in laughter. Melissa leaned over to Barbara mumbling, "That is one thing I did not anticipate today." Barbara stood up from her seat, opening her arms as Blake made her way down the stage and over to the teachers. The older woman engulfed the brunette in a hug, "How are you my dear? It has been just too long!" Blake laughed softly, pulling away from the hug. "It's great to see you again, Mrs. Howard." As the younger woman goes to converse with everybody else her phone starts buzzing in her pocket. She excuses herself and steps out into the hallway to pick up the phone. Janine, Gregory, and Jacob approach the senior teachers. "Wait so who is that?" Jacob inquires, confused by the buzz surrounding Blake. Melissa looks up from her phone with a soft smile, "Blake Mencacci, she left two years before you kids got here. Amazing teacher, and sweet girl." The redhead always had a soft spot for Blake ever since she started teaching here. She truly cared about and had passion for teaching, Melissa admired that about her. But also she was just pleasant to be around and brought comfort to everybody. The older woman wouldn't believe that a single soul could hate the brunette.

One of the camera guys pans over to Blake hurrying down the hall, shouting frantic and incoherent words over the phone. The first day of development week gets cut short for Blake on account of her shitty ex husband. As the staff of Abbot Elementary assists with Janine's crisis and all the troubles that come along with it, the young woman goes home to have a crisis of her own.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

chapter one done, how we feeling? if you guys have any requests or recommendations please feel free to let me know! i will try to get chapter two out as soon as possible, but until then enjoy!

love, halleyswidow :)