Chapter Three: Baby Steps:

-Shona-

My head felt full of angels. Mandras hasn’t stopped being on my mind either since I learned more about him. Something about his brown eyes shot me through the heart. It’s almost criminal to think about, I mean, he’s so young. I covered my mouth to contain my squealing. I happened to look up and see Maggie staring at me.

“You feeling okay?” she asked. I lowered my hand and lowered my hand.

“Yeah…” I said. Maggie tilted her head.

“Right,” she said. “Do you have your grades in?”

“Huh?”

“You did get your students’ grades, right?”

I narrowed my eyes before I figured out what she was talking about. “Oh. I started on it, but I keep getting distracted.”

Maggie pushed her hand to her forehead. “Distracted by that boy?”

My cheeks turned a light pink. “Shut up.”

“Why? Am I lying?”

I lowered my head. “Okay… Fine, yeah.”

“Girl, you can’t let yourself get distracted by a man.”

“I’m not!” I shuffled my feet. “Although…”

“What?”

“He is pretty cute. But he’s so young.”

Maggie raised an eyebrow. “How old is he?”

“Eighteen.”

“That’s not too young.”

“I know.” I buried my red face into my sleeve. “It just feels so criminal!”

“Now you’re just being silly!”

I lifted my head. “Silly?”

“Yes. In fact, I’m surprised that you haven’t made a move on him yet.”

I gave her a blank stare. “Huh?”

“Have you flirted with him yet?’

“No.” I noticed the fake shock on Maggie’s face. “What?”

“That’s shocking even by your standards,” she said.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, eyebrow raised.

“You are kind of flirty,” she said. “I mean, thirteen ex-boyfriends by the age of twenty-four? Do I have to point out the obvious?” I sat back, pouting.

“Shut up,” I muttered.

“But seriously, if you are going to get with him, don’t dick around,” Maggie said.

“What do you mean?” I asked. She shrugged.

“Get with him or not, don’t dick around your work,” she said. “Noiz can’t afford to fire anybody.” Maggie frowned as soon as she said that. “Probably why Josie still works here.” I swallowed the bad taste in my mouth after remembering our slutty coworker. Maggie put up her hand and waved it up and down as if to push away the thought Josie from our heads.

“Anyway, get him or not,” she said. “Though, I can predict that you will anyway. Just saying.” I sneered as she walked away. I hate when she’s right about me.