CH. 71 - A Lonely Teacher

 In September, the class sits as they listen to Ms. Samuel read them a book. The year has started off rather normally for them, so the first weeks have become routine already. Ms. Samuel stands at the front of the class happily while writing something down on the board. Hisana stares off, not a care in the world, let alone in this book, until she looks at Samuel. She stares at her for a moment before speaking openly.

 “Hey, Ms. Samuel? Why is it that you don’t have a boyfriend yet?” She asks plainly. Samuel stops and gets angry as a vein pops from her head. She turns around with a smile at Hisana despite being obviously annoyed.

 “You know, I’ve been wondering the same thing..” Samuel says sarcastically through gritted teeth. Sugawara perks up a bit at the idea.

 “Yeah, you're super pretty and smart. People must be really dumb not wanting to date you.” Sugawara says kindly.

“That’s what I’m saying.” Kitaro says casually without looking up from the book. Samuel gets a gushy look at their words.

 “You guys are so sweet.” She says warmly. “Now get back to reading along. Stop distracting me.” She says playfully but still serious. Hisana giggles as they do what they were told. Samuel then looks down with a slightly upset look.

 ‘I really do wonder though. I’m not that unattractive, am I? How come no one has made any moves on me? Sometimes it does suck being so lonely…’ She thinks to herself, letting out a sigh.

Eventually the school day ends, and Samuel waves off the students as they wave back. She cleans up her desk, packing her things into her bag as she continues to get lost in deep thought.

‘Maybe I should make more of an effort. Put myself out there and really pay attention to little things people say to me. Maybe I'm just missing the hints?' she thinks. Suddenly, there's a soft knock at her classroom door. She looks up to see Mr. Ayuma leaning in her doorway.

"Mr. Ayuma. What're you doing here?" she asks as he steps in a bit.

"Nothing really. I was just wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?" he asks casually. The words strike true in Samuel's head as she looks sharp.

'This is it! I knew it! I was just oblivious to things before! Sure, he's like eight years older than me, but beggars can't be choosers!' she thinks before smiling at him. "I'd love to! What were you thinking? Maybe a movie then the bar? Or just a nice dinner?" She asks excitedly, perhaps a bit too excited. Ayuma sweats a little with a slightly confused look.

 "Oh.. Well, if you wanted to hangout like that, I'd have to ask my wife first…" he says, a bit awkwardly. Samuel stiffens up with a blank smile. "I was just meaning if you wanted to join the other teachers and I at Rally's Tavern. It's Friday, bingo night.." he says, trailing off a little, understanding her confusion. Samuel stands there frozen as she stutters a bit in embarrassment.

"Right… I uh… I think I'll pass this week…" she says awkwardly. Ayuma smiles at her and turns to walk away.

"Alright. I'll shoot you a text if your name is pulled in the raffle." he says before waving and walking away. Samuel waves the best she can before slowly lowering her arm. She stands there for a moment before suddenly smacking her head against the board repeatedly.

"Stupidstupidstupid! GRAHH!" she shouts before stopping, then grabbing her head in pain. "ow…" she groans. She stares at the floor with an upset look as she holds her head. "What was I thinking..? Of course he didn't want to go out with me… I'm almost 28 and the last boyfriend I had was in highschool…" she whimpers before standing up and grabbing her bag with a defeated sigh.

"I might just be destined to be alone forever…" she mopes as she steps towards the door but suddenly stops with wide eyes. She looks up, filled with a sudden surge of determination. "Wait a minute, that's it! I'll go out tonight and really try to flirt with someone, anyone! It's the weekend after all. And it's like the kids said, I'm a catch!" Filled with this newfound determination, she rushes out of the classroom and off to find love! …until she comes back into the classroom and to her desk. "Forgot my keys…" she says, upset, as she stomps back out.

"Okay! Time to look the part!" Samuel says as she swings open her closet door in her small studio apartment. She digs around in her clothes as she searches for the right fit. "I'm trying to be seen, so I need something sexy but also me. I'm a teacher, so maybe a pencil skirt? No, that's too workplace affair… Maybe just a fancy dress? But I guess it also depends on where I'm going… Eh, I'll figure that out later." She says as she grabs a dress and quickly changes into it. She looks at herself in the mirror and smiles confidently.

"Perfect. Spicy look, check. Now to go out and find a good place to socialize." She says as she marches to the door but stops right as she grabs the handle. She shakes a bit before quickly turning around with a nervous smile and heading back into her closet. "Actually, it's cold tonight, so I should wear a jacket." She says as she throws on a big black jacket over her dress. She goes back to the door but stops and repeats herself. "Actually, since I don't know where I'm going, I should dress more versatile." She says before changing out of her dress, tossing clothes all around as she creates more and more excuses for herself.

Eventually, she makes it out of her home and into the city, where she walks down the street with the night sky overhead and city lights all around. She mopes as she goes and sighs with a disappointed look.

 “Even after all that, I couldn’t muster up the courage to dress sexy, so now I’m just wearing this… Who would want to flirt with someone looking like this..?”

 She looks down at herself in her large jacket with an off the shoulder baggy tshirt and skinny jeans with sneakers. She droops before wrapping herself up in the jacket a bit.

 “At least the jacket is warm. It really is cold tonight..” she says softly to herself as she continues to walk. "Whatever. Maybe tonight's not the night. I'll just go see that new movie by myself. I was hoping someone would buy me my ticket but… guess no one's gonna now…" she says before she lifts her right hand in the shape of a mouth and points it at herself

"Don't worry, I'll buy it for you." She says in a silly high pitched voice. "Oh, thank you, Simone." she says back to it casually before she lifts her left hand and does the same. "Maybe call one of your friends to join you." She says in a deeper pitched voice. "Oh, good idea, Michelle- hey, wait a minute, you just want me to call Ashley, don't you?" she asks her hand with a glare. "Duh. She gave you her number and everything but hasn't called since. You need to make the first move." Her hand says. "I don't know.. she just left me on read. I don't think she's into me…" Samuel says. "Eh. What do you know?" her hand says back. She looks offended. "Excuse me! I know plenty." she says. "Name one thing." the hand says back. Samuel glares at it then looks at her other hand. "Michelle, shut this guy up." She says, then pretends her hands beat each other up until she stops when she notices a guy staring at her as he walks by.

She smiles awkwardly as her hands droop in front of her.

"Heh… sorry." She says as the guy walks on. She sighs and goes to keep walking, but suddenly, a man goes flying out of a pair of doors from a bar right in front of her. She screams at the sudden act as the man hits the ground unconscious with swirling eyes. Out of the doors comes a large, muscular woman with violet hair wearing a leather jacket. Samuel turns to look at her but gets a confused look.

 “Ashley? What are you doing here?” Samuel asks. Ashley turns and looks at her for a moment before smiling and laughing loudly.

 “Oh! Samuel, it’s you! Great, I could use a witness cause this guy is about to die!” Ashley says with a smile before smirking viciously at the man. The man sits up with a fearful look on his face as she steps towards him with her arm pulled back, her knuckles cracking as she clenches her fist. Samuel quickly steps forward and grabs her arm.

 “No! No, that’s okay. How about we just walk away? I’m sure this guy has learned his lesson.” Samuel says defensively before giving the man a mean glare, to which he nods quickly.

 “Yeah, alright. That’s probably a good idea.” Ashley says, slurring her words slightly and blushing intensely. Samuel looks a bit upset.

 ‘She’s drunk…’ Samuel thinks. Ashley throws her arm over Samuel’s shoulders, causing Samuel to almost fall over from the weight, but she stays standing and helps her walk down the street. 

 “Hey.. can we go to your place.? Mine is… no good.” Ashley says with a mumble.

 “What does… Sure, we can go to my place.” Samuel says with a confused look then a sigh, trying not to argue with the drunk woman holding onto her. They walk as Samuel looks ahead with a slightly upset look.

 ‘Although I really wish we wouldn’t… I always dreamed that I’d be invited to a date’s house since mine is so small and messy…’ She thinks to herself with a sigh. “Oh well.” She says softly.

 They eventually make it back to her home, the small studio apartment. Samuel opens the door and carries Ashley in, struggling under the weight of the big woman. She shuts the door behind them as Ashley groans.

 “Here we are!..” Samuel says with a sweat and awkward smile. “Let’s get you- woah!” She shouts as they both tumble over and fall onto the ground. Samuel falls onto Ashley as Ashley giggles.

 “We fell… Heh…” she says with a mumble. Samuel rubs her head a bit as she props herself up over her. She then looks at Ashley under her, giggling with her eyes closed, and blushes a bit as she stares at her.

‘She’s always been so pretty… It doesn't matter what she's wearing or what she's doing…’ Samuel thinks before a subtly disappointed look comes over her eyes. ‘I just wish… we actually went out like she said we would…’ She gets an upset look on her face before getting up with a huff. “Try to crawl onto my futon. I’m gonna get you some water.”

 Samuel points to her bed as Ashley looks at it. She rolls over and begins crawling to the futon as Samuel walks into the mini kitchen to pour some water into a glass. She comes back to see Ashley passed out halfway onto the futon. Samuel sighs as she sets the water down and sits down next to Ashley. Samuel stares at her for a moment before looking away.

 “I really do like you, you know. You’re pretty and funny and loud and strong… It’s been over a year since we met and I’ve still never met someone quite like you… I wish… you would look at me the same way I look at you…” Samuel admits softly with a slightly sad look on her face.

 “I’m sorry…” Ashley says quietly. Samuel jumps back and blushes intensely in shock.

 “You’re still awake?!” she shouts. Ashley begins to sniffle as tears form in her eyes. Samuel stops being embarrassed and gets a surprised but concerned look.

 “I’m sorry, Sam… for standing you up all those times… I said we should go out… but you’re just so pretty… I got scared that you would realize I’m not so cool… that I’m loud and dumb… and not like me anymore… Please don’t hate me!...” Ashley cries on the floor cartoonishly as Samuel blushes a bit before getting a warm look.

 “You big dummy… That’s why I like you.” Samuel says softly before placing her hand on Ashley’s head. She whimpers in response a bit but tries to stop herself from crying. She props herself up and looks at Samuel with a deep blush across her cheeks.

 “I like you too! Please be my girlfriend! You’re so cute and smart, I don’t think I could find anyone else like you!” Ashley says, still with tears in her eyes and a runny nose.

 Samuel turns and sits down in front of her while patting her lap. Ashley sees this and cries more before throwing herself at Samuel, hugging her waist and laying her head on her lap. Samuel winces a bit from the strong grip but smiles.

 “Is this really how I’m not gonna be single anymore? You drunk crying while I hold you on my lap?” Samuel asks quietly and openly. Ashley nods as tears roll down her cheeks. Samuel giggles a bit. “I guess I’m okay with that as long as it’s you.” Ashley smiles a bit as Samuel rubs her head.

 ‘You know… I’m not really surprised… for some reason, this is how my daydreams went with you… I thought for sure you wouldn’t ever like me the way I like you but I guess you did after all. …I think.. we can make this work.’ She thinks with a warm smile on her face and blushies on her cheeks. They sit there together until the night eventually comes to an end.