Post by catkin on May 11, 2007 3:27:44 GMT 10
hehe, thanks for the nice comments guys, glad you like Tim so much. he's actually based partly on one of my old friends from sixth form, and my mum's friend who is actually a gay teacher called Tim (yep, i stole him from real life) both these guys are camper than christmas so yeah, Jack from Will and Grace is probably their hero...
***
Thursday
Knowing from years of experience never to trust the London transport system she’d left for her course with at least two hours to spare. However, surprising as ever today all the buses and trains had arrived on time and she had got to her destination a full hour early. Sighing heavily as she entered the large hall that the course was being run in, after ten minutes of arguing with the security guard to let her in early, she took out her trusty novel and sat down in one of the middle row seats. Slowly other teachers arrived, some in groups, some on their own. She could have made an effort to be sociable, but it was too early and she was too annoyed with the whole stupid course. So she carried on reading until ten minutes before the course was due to start when an overly smiley woman sat down next to her. Abby glanced up from her book and smiled, but it was obvious the woman was prepared for a lot more than just an exchange of polite smiles. The woman thrust her hand out towards Abby, forcing her to close her book and take the woman’s hand.
“Hi, I’m Sandy Martin”
“Abby Lockhart.”
The woman stopped shaking her hand in apparent shock at Abby’s accent, “ooh, you’re American!”
Abby smiled, trying desperately to hide the sarcasm from her voice. “yes. Yes I am.”
Sandy giggled, seemingly amused by everything Abby was saying. “wow, that is novel. How do you like it here?”
“well, I’ve been living here for ten years so...”
“oh that is nice.” Sandy beamed at Abby, causing her to shift awkwardly in her chair as she continued to babble on about a nephew of hers who’d traveled in America for a few years. Abby nodded and smiled, attempting to appear interested but letting her mind wonder. Finally a man at the front of the room started to talk, forcing everyone to quiet down and listen as he started to describe what was going to take place on the course.
After an hour of barely listening to what was being said about the events planned for the following day a ten minute break was announced and Abby quickly rushed out of her seat, hoping desperately that Sandy wouldn’t follow her. As she rushed towards an exit she was stopped by a voice calling her name, turning around in confusion she stopped in her tracks and a beaming smile spread involuntarily across her face.
“Luka?” she walked towards him, noticing that the grin on his face mirrored hers. “what are you doing here?”
He shrugged “Linda was supposed to be coming, but her daughter was ill so they asked me to go for her...it was a last minute thing.”
“wow, bad luck.”
Luka smiled, “I thought so at first, but then I saw you...it’s not so bad really.”
Abby grinned, lost for words.
“do you have a partner?”
Abby frowned in confusion, “wha...i um...no i...I’m sorry what?”
Luka laughed “for today, the guy just said he wanted us to work in groups of two or three.”
“oh...ok, that makes sense.” She laughed at herself and leaned towards Luka to whisper “to tell you the truth I wasn’t really paying that much attention.”
Luka laughed and shook his head mockingly disapproving, “so? Whaddaya say? Partners?”
Abby nodded, trying to keep the manic grin off her face. “sure.”
They turned around to sit back down and were greeted by the beaming form of Sandy. She waved theatrically, in spite of the fact that she was standing right in front of them. “sorry to barge in, but you wouldn’t have room for a third group member would you?”
Abby stared at Sandy, unable to keep the annoyance off her face. Luckily Luka was less of a social retard at these events and he politely agreed to let Sandy join them. Abby followed glumly as Luka and Sandy exchanged introductions, Sandy laughing raucously at every word Luka uttered.
They sat down and waited as packs of paper were handed out around the room. The man at the front once again called every ones attention and clapped his hands together in joy.
“ok everyone, the part we all love best, a getting to know you exercise”
A wave of nervous laughter washed through the room and the man at the front laughed. “don’t worry, it’s fun I promise. What we want you to do, in your pairs or threes is write down on a piece of paper your name, subject and favourite book, film or tv show. But, and here’s the fun bit, we want you to write it using the hand of the person next to you.”
Laughter washed through the room again as people tried to figure out what exactly he meant by that. With a colleague the man at the front demonstrated what he meant and Abby stared ahead with a look of unimpressed disbelief on her face. Sandy was already giggling and reaching for Lukas hand, Abby and Luka exchanged a glance, and Abby knew that he was just as confused by the whole ridiculous affair as she was. After sandy had written her name, and that she taught History, and her favourite TV show was Timeteam, it was Luka’s turn to write. He smiled at Abby and it was clear he was just as embarrassed as she was. Abby took a deep breath and took the pen from Luka, trying to force her hand to relax as he gently took hold of it. Moving her hand over the paper to form the letters of his name they both laughed at how wonky and illegible the writing was. His name done, he smiled and inhaled “Ok, that’s the name done...”
He continued to move her hand over the page, concentrating on the letters he was attempting to write. She watched him intently, noticing the furrow of his brow as he concentrated on his task, and the stray strands of his dark hair that had fallen forwards, tickling his forehead as he wrote. He looked up after what seemed like a lifetime and smiled at Abby. “ok. I’m done.” She smiled back before looking down at the page, feeling just a little silly at how easily she’d become lost in watching his face.
“your favourite film is Casablanca?”
Luka nodded. “it’s the best.”
Abby smiled, but the moment was shattered by Sandy, giggling loudly and starting to quote Casablanca. Abby and Luka turned to her and waited for her to shut up before Abby shifted over to write her own name, subject and favourite.
Once she was done Luka read the words, “To the lighthouse?”
“it’s my favourite book, Virginia Wolfe. I love her.”
Luka smiled “I’ll have to look out for it.”
“I could lend you a copy.”
“I’d like that.”
Sandy watched Abby and Luka talking, leaning her head to the side and smiling sweetly. “tell me, is it tricky working together and maintaining a relationship? I could never work with my husband, we’d drive each other crazy I just know it.”
Abby frowned in confusion, before realizing what Sandy meant. She looked at Luka and shook her head “oh no, we’re not...we’re just friends...”
Sandy raised her eyebrows in surprise and let out a piercing laugh “oh how embarrassing...I am sorry.” She shook her head her mistake “well, in my defense you two have some very good chemistry. And if you don’t mind me saying you make a very handsome couple...” she giggled again before glancing at her watch and noticing that a break was due. “now I must pop to the loo...” she laughed again and patted Abby and Luka on the shoulders as she left.
Abby watched her leave then turned to Luka, “a handsome couple?”
Luka laughed, “I think she meant well.”
“I think she’s a pain in the ass.”
Luka laughed and looked around at the time. He sighed and turned to Abby, “do you feel like getting out of here?”
“God I wish...” she looked at Luka and raised her eyebrows “are you serious?”
Luka nodded “why not?”
“you want us to skive off?”
“there’s a pub down the road, come on it’s a two day course, the first day is bound to be all the boring stuff. We’ll catch up tomorrow.”
Abby looked around guiltily and whispered to Luka “what if we get caught?”
“we wont get caught, trust me.” Abby looked at him doubtfully and he laughed. “if we get caught we’ll tell them we lost track of time and we’re very sorry.”
Abby shook her head slowly, “you were one of those kids at school weren’t you?”
Luka grinned and took her hand “I still am”
They laughed and walked quickly out of the room and through the corridors out into the street to freedom.
***
***
Thursday
Knowing from years of experience never to trust the London transport system she’d left for her course with at least two hours to spare. However, surprising as ever today all the buses and trains had arrived on time and she had got to her destination a full hour early. Sighing heavily as she entered the large hall that the course was being run in, after ten minutes of arguing with the security guard to let her in early, she took out her trusty novel and sat down in one of the middle row seats. Slowly other teachers arrived, some in groups, some on their own. She could have made an effort to be sociable, but it was too early and she was too annoyed with the whole stupid course. So she carried on reading until ten minutes before the course was due to start when an overly smiley woman sat down next to her. Abby glanced up from her book and smiled, but it was obvious the woman was prepared for a lot more than just an exchange of polite smiles. The woman thrust her hand out towards Abby, forcing her to close her book and take the woman’s hand.
“Hi, I’m Sandy Martin”
“Abby Lockhart.”
The woman stopped shaking her hand in apparent shock at Abby’s accent, “ooh, you’re American!”
Abby smiled, trying desperately to hide the sarcasm from her voice. “yes. Yes I am.”
Sandy giggled, seemingly amused by everything Abby was saying. “wow, that is novel. How do you like it here?”
“well, I’ve been living here for ten years so...”
“oh that is nice.” Sandy beamed at Abby, causing her to shift awkwardly in her chair as she continued to babble on about a nephew of hers who’d traveled in America for a few years. Abby nodded and smiled, attempting to appear interested but letting her mind wonder. Finally a man at the front of the room started to talk, forcing everyone to quiet down and listen as he started to describe what was going to take place on the course.
After an hour of barely listening to what was being said about the events planned for the following day a ten minute break was announced and Abby quickly rushed out of her seat, hoping desperately that Sandy wouldn’t follow her. As she rushed towards an exit she was stopped by a voice calling her name, turning around in confusion she stopped in her tracks and a beaming smile spread involuntarily across her face.
“Luka?” she walked towards him, noticing that the grin on his face mirrored hers. “what are you doing here?”
He shrugged “Linda was supposed to be coming, but her daughter was ill so they asked me to go for her...it was a last minute thing.”
“wow, bad luck.”
Luka smiled, “I thought so at first, but then I saw you...it’s not so bad really.”
Abby grinned, lost for words.
“do you have a partner?”
Abby frowned in confusion, “wha...i um...no i...I’m sorry what?”
Luka laughed “for today, the guy just said he wanted us to work in groups of two or three.”
“oh...ok, that makes sense.” She laughed at herself and leaned towards Luka to whisper “to tell you the truth I wasn’t really paying that much attention.”
Luka laughed and shook his head mockingly disapproving, “so? Whaddaya say? Partners?”
Abby nodded, trying to keep the manic grin off her face. “sure.”
They turned around to sit back down and were greeted by the beaming form of Sandy. She waved theatrically, in spite of the fact that she was standing right in front of them. “sorry to barge in, but you wouldn’t have room for a third group member would you?”
Abby stared at Sandy, unable to keep the annoyance off her face. Luckily Luka was less of a social retard at these events and he politely agreed to let Sandy join them. Abby followed glumly as Luka and Sandy exchanged introductions, Sandy laughing raucously at every word Luka uttered.
They sat down and waited as packs of paper were handed out around the room. The man at the front once again called every ones attention and clapped his hands together in joy.
“ok everyone, the part we all love best, a getting to know you exercise”
A wave of nervous laughter washed through the room and the man at the front laughed. “don’t worry, it’s fun I promise. What we want you to do, in your pairs or threes is write down on a piece of paper your name, subject and favourite book, film or tv show. But, and here’s the fun bit, we want you to write it using the hand of the person next to you.”
Laughter washed through the room again as people tried to figure out what exactly he meant by that. With a colleague the man at the front demonstrated what he meant and Abby stared ahead with a look of unimpressed disbelief on her face. Sandy was already giggling and reaching for Lukas hand, Abby and Luka exchanged a glance, and Abby knew that he was just as confused by the whole ridiculous affair as she was. After sandy had written her name, and that she taught History, and her favourite TV show was Timeteam, it was Luka’s turn to write. He smiled at Abby and it was clear he was just as embarrassed as she was. Abby took a deep breath and took the pen from Luka, trying to force her hand to relax as he gently took hold of it. Moving her hand over the paper to form the letters of his name they both laughed at how wonky and illegible the writing was. His name done, he smiled and inhaled “Ok, that’s the name done...”
He continued to move her hand over the page, concentrating on the letters he was attempting to write. She watched him intently, noticing the furrow of his brow as he concentrated on his task, and the stray strands of his dark hair that had fallen forwards, tickling his forehead as he wrote. He looked up after what seemed like a lifetime and smiled at Abby. “ok. I’m done.” She smiled back before looking down at the page, feeling just a little silly at how easily she’d become lost in watching his face.
“your favourite film is Casablanca?”
Luka nodded. “it’s the best.”
Abby smiled, but the moment was shattered by Sandy, giggling loudly and starting to quote Casablanca. Abby and Luka turned to her and waited for her to shut up before Abby shifted over to write her own name, subject and favourite.
Once she was done Luka read the words, “To the lighthouse?”
“it’s my favourite book, Virginia Wolfe. I love her.”
Luka smiled “I’ll have to look out for it.”
“I could lend you a copy.”
“I’d like that.”
Sandy watched Abby and Luka talking, leaning her head to the side and smiling sweetly. “tell me, is it tricky working together and maintaining a relationship? I could never work with my husband, we’d drive each other crazy I just know it.”
Abby frowned in confusion, before realizing what Sandy meant. She looked at Luka and shook her head “oh no, we’re not...we’re just friends...”
Sandy raised her eyebrows in surprise and let out a piercing laugh “oh how embarrassing...I am sorry.” She shook her head her mistake “well, in my defense you two have some very good chemistry. And if you don’t mind me saying you make a very handsome couple...” she giggled again before glancing at her watch and noticing that a break was due. “now I must pop to the loo...” she laughed again and patted Abby and Luka on the shoulders as she left.
Abby watched her leave then turned to Luka, “a handsome couple?”
Luka laughed, “I think she meant well.”
“I think she’s a pain in the ass.”
Luka laughed and looked around at the time. He sighed and turned to Abby, “do you feel like getting out of here?”
“God I wish...” she looked at Luka and raised her eyebrows “are you serious?”
Luka nodded “why not?”
“you want us to skive off?”
“there’s a pub down the road, come on it’s a two day course, the first day is bound to be all the boring stuff. We’ll catch up tomorrow.”
Abby looked around guiltily and whispered to Luka “what if we get caught?”
“we wont get caught, trust me.” Abby looked at him doubtfully and he laughed. “if we get caught we’ll tell them we lost track of time and we’re very sorry.”
Abby shook her head slowly, “you were one of those kids at school weren’t you?”
Luka grinned and took her hand “I still am”
They laughed and walked quickly out of the room and through the corridors out into the street to freedom.
***
go away Richard!!!
I really like the whole 'British' thing, though funnily enough we don't talk like that so much up here, well I do, but Barnsley dialect is awful! 
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