A Click of Marble

From the Observation Deck in the Main Lobby

Few teachers came in very early to set up their classrooms at this particular school. Not that the district discouraged it, but this age range did not need a lot of hand holding. Unlike the elementary school age children, it was understood that these kids were either motivated to graduate or were going to drop out. There was no changing their fate that was already set by environmental factors outside the school’s control.

Sure the educators did their very best and offered as much as they could, but coming in early was not something to be counted on adding productivity. So, most teachers enjoyed their summer to the fullest until they were mandated to arrive and set up.

Elsie was not the ordinary teacher. She cared a bit too much, her coworkers often reminded her. These kids were going to either sink or swim of their own choices. The whole point was to keep them going through the system into the college applicant pool. Heroics meant nothing.

Ms Clarke arrived to the school early and smiled to herself as she watched James James returning to his podium post in the lobby of the school. He was a good guy. He was cute too. But he was uniquely charming in his opinion of the value he brought to the school.

While not her type, as she never saw him outside of his role to have any differing data, she knew that if ever she met a guy like James, she was going to be in good hands. The loyal to a fault, caring, not-smothering type. He was secure enough to know that women had functional brains that worked just fine. Yet he was adorable enough to believe chivalry alone would win any hearts.

Just for show, as she rarely ever showed any form of affection to anyone she worked with, she reached into the backseat of her car and pulled one of her heels to wear. She was casually dressed in a smart skirt and relaxed blouse. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she readied herself to walk in and check out her new classroom assignment.

There was no need to slip on her heels, as her flip-flops on a summer day was more than amply appropriate wear. However, with nearly no one in school, why not grant James a bit of what he had come to expect from her anyway. That was her nice move for the day.

James became aware that power had descended on the main lobby as he heard the distinct click of a high-heeled shoe striking the marbled landing. It was that sweet click that only one person in the whole building could create. She was very lightweight and slim. She was perfect. She was the only person he allowed to enter his dreams way more than he’d ever admit to.

The one and only Elsie Clarke.

He heard her pivot by the scratching sound her heels made, oh that delightful scratch that sometimes awakened more testosterone than he wanted. As he struggled not to turn, he pretended to be super busy reading a report as he looked at the blank screen in front of him.

To keep his official position credible, James slowly rose up and waved behind him for the guest to approach. He knew full well who it was, but had to keep his professional game face on.

As Ms Clarke approached, he did all he could to keep himself at ease and lazily looked up to see her radiance beaming. She was perfectly tanned. The beach had been great to her. She was glorious. She could have all of his money and credit cards.

HOLD UP WoW She was just too hot. This was going to be seriously problematic for the opening of school. The male staff would be out-of-order. Some of the female staff would act the fool. The kids would be like starved monkeys looking to be spoon fed bananas from her toned and tanned hands.

She

Had

Gone

To the gym…

And perfected her perfection!

Beads of sweat was now starting to form on his forehead. As if she knew how to nail the last bit of his coffin, she flipped her hair and re-did her ponytail before smiling at him and walking away.

Without… uh… signing in…

James staggered back into his seat. He was in trouble. He needed water. No. A cold shower. Something. Trying to.. Uh.

He made the mistake of looking at her walk away. The swing of her hips nearly undid his restraint. Cupid’s arrow found it’s mark, pierced his armored jacket, and splayed his heart in three.

This was a problem. A serious problem. A NASA level problem.

The junior officer chimed on the radio some quip about moonstruck madness, code for a security guard gawking at an employee of the school.

James had no response. He had violated his top rule. Never ever drool at the security details. Both students and staff. That was gross violation and dereliction of duty if he ever caught anyone on his team drooling. He’d terminated others for it. Now he was being called out on it.

Elsie, from her end of the hallway, had heard the radio call and laughed at herself. That was a bit too cruel of a joke, thankfully no one else was around to see it. For her, James was very easy to read. He loved the classics, the way things were done in the past, the way structure and formality worked. This was too easy.

Ah well, he would live it down eventually. Once school started, it would be over. Good thing she didn’t throw her hips about and allowed herself to sway too much. That would have really stressed out his heart. The man was in good shape, but if that little hair flip could move him so, he was not ready to handle her full seductive sway and focused power.

As Elsie finished arranging the things in the room as she wanted, she looked out the window. The poor guy was out there speed walking laps again. Every now and again, James pretended to be some secret agent top notch super cop. The kids hated it. They always got caught about to do something they shouldn’t do. The teachers loved it because they had an example they could point to while admonishing students to behave.

James never hesitated to crash into a classroom and make a scene when asked by a teacher. He was quick to lecture and give his opinion. Elsie never used that service option of his. No matter how much he pitched it to her in the past. Eventually, he stopped asking. He also, at her request, never looked into her classroom from outside to check on the students. Not that he was ever accused of being creepy in any serious fashion… as his antics made it seem totally natural that he’d check in on a classroom.