Mia and Olivia.

“Hello, Ms. Owens.” Olivia greets the English teacher as she enters her office.

“Ms. Hughes. Thank you for coming.”

Though their tones are formal, they both know what they’re here for.

“So? What will I be helping with?” The younger girl asks.

“Sit here.” Mia says, motioning to the chair opposite to her at the desk. There’s a laptop there. “I’d like to ask you to copy these as a document in that laptop.”

Mia passes a few sheets of paper to Olivia, who gives them a quick look.

“Are these lesson plans?” She asks, curiously.

“Yes. I wrote them by hand, but I need to hand them over as a digital document.” Mia explains.

“Okay. I can do this.” Olivia nods, confident. “I’m not finding anything related to midterms here, though, am I?” She asks with a hit of hopefulness.

“I’m afraid not.” Mia chuckles. “At most you’ll know a bit of the topics we’re covering after.”

“Worth a try.” Olivia shrugs. She takes her seat opposite to Mia, opens the text editor software and gets to work. All she has to do is copy what’s in the paper, and Mia already wrote it in such a way that’s easy to translate to computer, so it’s all just mechanical work.

“We can talk with little issues here, so long as we’re not very loud.” Mia says, getting to work on her own desktop computer. “So let me ask. How have been things with your new friends?”

“Way better than expected. Way better than we deserve, too.” Olivia says with a soft sigh, but her hands don’t stop typing.

“Self-deprecating comments don’t suit you, dear.” Mia says, shaking her head.

“I know. And that’s the only one I’m letting through. David already gave me his speech.” The student nods. “But yes, the girls have been great. It’s like they’re really trying to make us feel like we belong.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Mia chuckles. “Though I wouldn’t have expected less. They’re good girls.”

“I’m worried that we haven’t been able to be with you and the others, though.” Olivia admits. “Makes me feel like I’m doing something behind your back.”

“David feels the same way. Which is part of why we’re doing this, right?”

“Right.”

“Then let’s use this time to get to know each other better. Is there anything you want to ask me? Don’t hold back.” Mia encourages.

“…This might be too much for a first question, but… is it true that you were married?” Olivia asks, looking away from the computer screen just long enough to look at Mia when asking.

“Yes, it’s true.” She nods. “Anything in particular you want to know?”

“A lot of things, actually, but… How did you recover from the break up? How do you trust someone again after that? You already feel ready to get married again, right?”

“Believe me, dear, it took a lot of convincing.” Mia laughs. “David can be very persistent, and so can Emma. That man just kept showing me how much he cared. Still does, and I have a hard time believing he’ll ever stop. How could I say no to that?”

“I believe it.” Olivia laughs with her. “Okay. Your turn. Ask me a question.”

“I’m curious about your plans for the future.” Mia says. “I’m told you’re working with your father in the management of his hotel chain.”

“I am.” Olivia nods. “I’m mostly just working as his secretary while he teaches me how to manage everything. He’s been really excited about it since I asked him.”

“Oh?”

“My dad wants me to take over for him at some point. I’m an only child and he, well… He says he wants to secure my future.” She groans.

“And you’re against it?”

“…Used to be. It’s not like I have any personal goals and I found business management to be beyond boring. But now that I have to think about the future…” Olivia swallows. “Well, I’ve seen the numbers. Dad’s business brings in a lot of profit. A lot. And since… um…” Olivia starts fidgeting in place.

“Say it, dear.” Mia says with a teasing smirk.

“…Since we’re probably going to be a big household… Taking over the business might be for the best. Dad says I have a knack for it.” Olivia says, her cheeks heating up.

“Okay, we’ll leave it at that for now.” Mia chuckles. “Your turn to ask a question.”

“I’m kind of drawing a blank now.” Olivia admits. “What are your hobbies?”

“I’m starting to get back into painting.” Mia says. “Just a bit. I bought a couple of canvases and a set of oil paints.”

“Oh? What do you paint?”

“Landscapes. I don’t do well with human figures.” Mia says. “How about you? What do you do?”

“I… play airsoft once or twice a month. I like collecting airsoft guns, too.” Olivia says, trying not to look too embarrassed to admit it.

Mia lightly slaps her forehead. “Right. You took David there. Sorry. So how does airsoft work? How do you play?”

That question makes Olivia’s eyes light up. “You see, you divide all players in teams…”

The conversation continues as they work. They ask each other simple, but important questions that let them understand each other, not as teacher and student, but as just people.