Jan. Week 4: Tuesday morning was...busy...

First period went by relatively easy, even if the students were a bit off kilter after the holiday weekend. Starting school on a Tuesday always threw everyone off—students and teachers. Leah stepped outside to greet her second-period students—standing in the hallway as most teacher did because they were “highly encouraged” by admins to ensure the halls were policed during class changes. It really was a smart move—even if she didn’t do it all the time she did it most times. Starting a student’s class period with a welcome and a smile was a great way to get a class period started on a good note. Even amongst the busy whirl of students there was no mistaking the stately cadence of Principal Howard's approach. Leah braced herself. He didn't waste time on pleasantries.

"Miss Williams," he murmured, glancing only briefly at her face before letting his gaze drift, as it always did, downward. "Walk with me a moment, please."

She followed him, feigning casual indifference, but every muscle in her legs buzzed with anxiety. They waded into the slow-moving current of student traffic. Mr. Howard kept his voice low, all business as he addressed her over his shoulder: "I'd like to see you during your prep, if you don't mind." He threaded the request through clenched teeth, as if discussing a school policy violation. "My office. I look forward to…catching up."

He didn't wait for a response before he headed off down the hallway to likely ruin some student’s day by telling them to take their hat off or take their earpods out. He assumed she would show up. Leah was thinking about what she was going to tell him when, not twenty seconds later, a hand the size of a dinner plate landed on her shoulder.

She whirled around and found herself staring up at the deeply lined, ebony-skinned face of Mr. Bil. He surveyed her with the same wolfish grin he reserved for the misbehaving freshmen he ferried every morning on the bus, but the glint in his eye was unmistakably predatory.

"Miss Leah," he rumbled,"I was hopin' you might swing by the uhhh usual spot durin’ yo plannin’. Got a little somethin' I need yo help with." The words seemed innocuous, especially to the passing students, but she heard the threat in every syllable.

"I—I'm not sure how my day is gonna play out," Leah stammered, eyes darting toward the receding figure of Mr. Howard. "But I'll try."

Bill's face turned to an obviously fake grin of understanding.

"Well- yous know where I'll be, darlin'," he said, then sauntered off. Leah stood rooted in place, blinking rapidly, the two appointments spinning in her head like blades on a chainsaw.

There was no way in hell she could keep both Howard and Bill happy today.

"Fuck my life..." she whispered, but the bell was already ringing, and she was swept into the next period before she could decide which disaster to prioritize.