I ticked a short chalk stick across the board, spelling out my last lesson for the day.
"Grammar and Mechanics." I finished with a wince when my nails dragged across the chalkboard's surface for what seemed like the fiftieth time today. I looked at the tiny unusable piece of chalk between my fingers, and set it back on the metal grooves. I'd have to make do somehow. There was no more chalk left.
I turned back to the classroom. The lights were turned off and the blinds were drawn shut to keep out the heat. No air conditioning, no fans except the ones I bought from the local store, two students to a tattered english book, and no chalk. This career was costing me more than I was earning.
But the walls were decorated with brightly colored illustrations of ideas and imagination, and well-written reports that could only impress the authors they were about. Knowing I had done well for the students and provided them with the knowledge to get somewhere in life was my only source of sanity at this point in my life.
"This'll be a short excercise, don't worry. Turn to page 336 in your textbooks and follow the directions in section 2.6. If you're using the older volume of our text, it'll be on page 329. Basically you just have to read the paragraph excerpt and correct all grammar and mechanics errors. You'll need a pencil and a looseleaf sheet of paper, and you will turn this in with your names on it at the end of class for points."
I watched as the classroom bowed their heads and ducked under their desks for pencils and paper. Shuffling sounds could be heard for several seconds until everyone got settled into their work.
I sank back into the chair behind my desk, gathering my papers together to put in my bag. However, my eyes were drawn like a magnet towards a teachers worst nightmare: the classroom troublemaker. He was what you'd imagine the class clown to be... stocky, tall, football player material with tousled dirty blonde hair and a smug expression permanently etched across his weasely face.My eyes narrowed instinctively as I watched him, chuckling quietly to his friend and using a red pen, started scribbling over the words on the book itself.
"Excuse me Mister Podbielski!" I seethed, standing up, my every syllable making a half-second rhythm, "What do you think you are doing?"
He looked up at me, his amused expression faltering for the faintest second, then returned as a fake sheepish grin, "Uh, correcting the grammar mistakes Missus."
"It's Miz, we've gone through this five times today," I said, disguising my defiance so he didn't know he touched a nerve, "and its common sense not to write in a schoolbook. The book isn't yours, unless you'd like to buy it. I'll continue to tack these fees for you to pay at the end of the year buddy boy." I looked over the rest of the class and they quickly bowed their heads to continue their work, "Now get a sheet of paper like everyone else and do your work."
The boy stood up, his fists clenched at his side. "Look, MIZ Odisark, I don't give a rats ass what you think or not... just because you got dumped by your boyfriend doesn't mean you can go all RoboCop on us.
I stopped short, staring at him. Faint whispering and chuckling could be heard throughout the classroom. The bell rang, and everyone got up, put their books back on the counter, and filed out of the classroom. Podbielski dissapeared in the crowd. Only a few papers were turned in, scattered on the desk. I closed my eyes. I could still see his smug face.

I rolled my cart of books and papers down the paper strewn hall thinking, thinking. How did he know of my personal life? I was so lost in thought I nearly ran into the person that would soon be my answer.
Our portly principal stood in his cheap brown suit that looked like it was made from burlap. He smiled at me, making his thick salt-and-pepper colored mustache bunch up.
"Miss Odisark, what a surprise," he said in what he believed was a welcoming manner, though it made me cringe a little. "How are things?"
"Good," I said, leaning against the cart, "We're out of chalk though, so I guess I'll have to--"
"Ah, I heard that you and Podbielski had a bit of a tiff today?"
"Y-yes" I stammered, "He was writing in the books, sir, I tried--"
"Ah, no need to explain my dear, we run a tight ship here." The rotund principal ruffled his mustache in a strained smile, leaning close to me, "And on this ship, you're either the metal plating on the hull or you're the craggy outlying iceberg trying to sink our ship. Right now, you're the iceberg."
My eyes narrowed and I cocked a hip. "So, this explains why Podbielski knew--"
The principal chuckled, "Yes, even the tightest of ships can spring a leak."
I pursed my lips, seething. What was wrong with this place?
"Anyway," he said, shifting his feet, "I'm afraid I have some bad news Miz Odisark, our financial situation has gone from bad to worse, and we cannot handle so many teachers' paychecks without folding over. We're going to have to do some layoffs. Unfortunately we are going to have to let you go for now. You can return your badge at the front desk, sorry to see you go. We will call if we need you again." He said with a wave of dismissal, and hobbled past me and dissapeared around the corner.
My stomach felt like it was made of lead, as it seemed to plummet down into nothing. I lost my job. After all this, I lost my job. I'm out here in the middle of nowhere, in a one-horse town without a job or anything to support me. Elliot and I have been living together for six months but I don't know how he will take this. I exhaled quietly, barely heard over the buzz of the florescent lighting. My feet felt like heavy stone as they carried me down this hall I would never walk on again.


The wheels of my father's truck scraped against the desert rocks as I shifted it into park in the driveway. It was overcast today, as it usually is in the monsoon season down here. Sprinkling rain patted the ground as I lifted my cart of useless papers and books up the stairs and into the complex.
As I fumbled for the keys to open the door I felt a slight rumbling at my feet. The nearby train probably ran early today.
I opened the door to a cool, dark room, with Elliot sitting in front of the TV. He was playing an old 80's alien invader game, his headphones blaring Rush, with a half-drank two liter bottle of Shasta at his side. A slight pang of selfish irritation nagged at me, my mind becoming jealous that he was having fun while I was miserable.
"Ha-HA! Pop goes to buttsie on the left hand side!" I heard him roar as I set my coat and bag on my bed. He probably hadn't even noticed I had come in.
This apartment sure is safe while I'm away, I thought sarcastically.
I sauntered out of my bedroom, watching the game out of the corner of my eye, while my main focus was why the glasses on the cupboard shelf were slowly shifting towards the edge. The rumbling hadn't stopped. The afternoon train wasn't that long.
I ran to the window and pushed down the blinds to see no train. What was it then? Was it...
Elliot was still lost in his game, but I strode over and shook his shoulder to get him back to reality. Making a confused sound, he lowered his headphones and gestured inquisitively.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah, can you feel this rumbling?" I waved my arm at the floor.
Elliot went silent, his fingers shifting on the carpeting, finally, he said "Yep," unplugged his game system and flew past me in a white and blonde blur. He grabbed my hand as he went past and pulled me out of the kitchen/living area.
"Wait!" I screamed amidst the shattering glass and the apartment groaning and shaking. Mr. Fish was teetering over the edge of the windowsill, and I made a dive to catch his bowl in my hands. Mr. Fish's bowl landed a bit sideways, sloshing a great deal of water out. He could still sustain himself, but I quickly added water from the faucet just in case.
"Come on!" Elliot exclaimed, his brows pinched with worry.
"I'm coming!" I snapped, trying to get Mr. Fish's bowl filled.
He tried to grab my hand but I snatched it away.
I completely lost all rational thought. "You have some nerve!" I screamed over things falling off the walls here and in other rooms, "I'm trying to look after my own and you just don't care do you?" I glared at him, my sights completely drowned in anger as he stared blankly back at me. A strange emotion seemed to be flickering behind his bespectacled eyes, but I couldn't tell what. My anger would not allow it. "I just lost my job, the only thing I came down here for and you just sit there playing video games all day! You just don't care! Now the world is falling down all around me and you still don't care... do you?! DO Y--"
My words were cut off and taken completely away as he stepped once, twice, had me pinned against the wall, and then kissed me. I squeaked from the surprise but then, closed my eyes. His lips were gentle and soft, his fingers, so gingerly caresssing my hair, the warmth of his body against mine, comforting. I felt him press against me, and by then I didn't care if the whole would would just fall apart into nothing....

Suddenly he picked me up and carried me into the hall and sat me down next to him. I set Mr. Fish at my side and Elliot and I held each other in a tight embrace while the world ended around us.


After all was said and done, there was a lot to clean up. Half of my mom's china I took with me was broken beyond repair, and even with good old superglue, there were so many tiny pieces scattered everywhere that you'd have to be some sort of jigsaw master to put it all back together. I gently set the china and whatever remnants I could find in an unused kitchen drawer, the only tangible memory of my mother back in her 'happy days' that I could cherish.
I stood up and shuffled my feet around a little, getting the blood flowing again.
"Listen, if its any help for you uh, I know your minor was in Engineering and Mechanics, so I asked around and my buddy at the local mechanic shop can set you up for a job there." said Elliot's muffled voice. I turned to look at Elliot pinning an old bedsheet to the window, making a makeshift curtain due to our blinds falling down and breaking. He must have sensed that he was being watched, because he turned around and smiled warmly at me. We'd been living platonically together for six months. He hadn't let me down yet. I doubt he'd let me down now. He was my only chance at sanity and a somewhat normal life. I want him to teach me how to love again. Maybe not again, but for real.



((lolol lame I know fffffff intermating my two deer. I MUST BE A BIG FAT LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER. anyway I think this is one of the last stories for a while, it will be followed up by comics if I can GET THEM DONE 8( ))