Nerves, Heels, and New Beginnings

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"That's good. Vivian and Peter study there too. It'll be nice having their cousin work at the same school." Aunt Stella's voice held a hint of warmth as she spoke over dinner the night before.

Aurora had only nodded.

She was two years older than Vivian, while Peter was her age. Unlike most of her peers, Aurora had finished her degree early...top of her class, the type of girl professors whispered about in staff rooms, calling her "brilliant" with raised brows. She'd landed a teaching job right after graduation. And now, she was starting over.

⸻

She barely slept that night...insomnia again...but this time, it wasn't the nightmares that kept her up. She spent hours reading about the school, organizing her files, and submitting her application online. Everything had to be perfect.

Her fingers trembled a little as she held her neatly organized folder. The one thing she hadn't planned for was how nervous she'd feel.

The early morning light crept into her room as she stood in front of the mirror. Her black hair was brushed into a sleek bun. Her blouse was fitted but modest, tucked into a knee-length skirt. She applied a soft red to her lips...something that made her look confident even if she didn't feel it.

You can do this, Rora, she told herself inwardly, taking one long breath before slipping into her low-heeled shoes and hurrying out of the room.

Peter and Vivian were already waiting.

"Hello there, cous," Peter greeted, pushing his phone into his back pocket.

Vivian didn't even glance up, chewing gum with a blank face and scrolling endlessly through her phone like Aurora was invisible.

"Breakfast first," Peter added casually, already turning back toward the dining room.

Aurora followed, cheeks slightly flushed. She knew everyone could see she was anxious. But none of them mentioned it, thankfully.

The butler had already set the table. Aunt Stella had left early for another meeting, leaving the house quiet...just the three of them and Mr. Jones moving silently in the background.

"I submitted my application online last night," Aurora said softly as they ate. "Looked through the school's programs too. Their system seems fair. Good pay. And they've got a solid reputation."

"It's not tough," Peter said, chewing slowly. "Except for the fact that most of the students are crazy."

Aurora blinked.

"But you'll be okay," he added quickly, flashing her a crooked smile.

"Lies," Vivian cut in with a laugh, finally looking up. "You'll probably get bullied. Hard."

Peter shot her a glare.

"Don't listen to her," he told Aurora.

"It's alright," Aurora said, smiling faintly as she turned back to her food. "I know how people can be."

⸻

Soon, the three of them piled into the car. Peter took the front seat while Aurora sat beside Vivian, who had her earbuds in and didn't speak a word the entire ride. Aurora sat quietly, fingers laced tightly together in her lap, nails digging slightly into her palm.

She always did that when she was nervous.

Her old college in Gret had felt like home. This place... this town, this school—it still felt like a blur she hadn't caught up with. But she was here now. And she had to make it work.

As the car drove past the school gate, Aurora looked out.

The campus was massive. Grey stone buildings stretched across the land like a fortress. Students walked across the courtyard in clusters, some laughing, some wearing earphones, some completely zoned out. The energy was loud, young, alive.

"This place is huge," Aurora muttered, stepping out of the car and clutching her folder tightly to her chest.

She swallowed hard.

The nervous feeling in her stomach was growing again.

"Where's the headmistress' office?" she asked.

Vivian walked right past her without a word.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Don't mind her. Come on."

Aurora followed him silently.

She'd stopped expecting much from Vivian. At this point, she didn't take it personally. Her focus was the job—getting it, keeping it, starting over.

They entered the main school building. The hallway was long and filled with lockers and chatter. Aurora noticed the dormitory wasn't far off.

"So students won't complain about the walk," Peter said, reading her thoughts. "They can get to class on time."

She smiled a little. It was different in Gret...dorms had been blocks away, and students were always late.

Peter finally stopped in front of a polished wooden door.

"This is it," he said with a smirk. "All you now, cous."

He left with a casual wave.

Aurora stood there for a moment, took a deep breath, and knocked.

"Come in," a woman's voice called from inside.

Aurora entered to find a middle-aged woman seated at a desk. She wore thick glasses and was focused on the computer screen before her. Her office smelled of lavender and ink.

The woman looked up. Sharp blue eyes stared directly at her.

"Who are you?"

"Aurora Ross," she replied politely.

"Oh, Miss Ross. Yes, come in. Sit," the woman said, gesturing to the seat across her.

Aurora sat, trying not to fidget.

"I saw your application last night," the headmistress said, reaching for the papers Aurora held out.

"Yes ma'am. I also brought my license and academic records," Aurora said, keeping her voice steady.

"You can call me Mrs. Gerald," the woman said, flipping through the papers with a thoughtful nod.

Aurora's heart pounded in her chest.

She could feel the anxiety creeping back in. Her fingers pressed into her palm again. Her stomach turned.

Mrs. Gerald looked up.

"You're hired."

Aurora blinked. "I'm... ma'am?"

"Yes, Miss Ross. We've been looking for a mathematics teacher. You're qualified. You're young, yes...but that's not a bad thing. A fresh face might actually do this place some good."

Aurora stared, stunned for a second.

Then she broke into a breathless smile.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You'll start tomorrow," Mrs. Gerald spoke again. "I'll have someone show you around the campus."

She picked up her desk phone and dialed. Moments later, there was a knock at the door.

It creaked open, and a girl stepped in—lollipop still in hand, which she casually pulled from her mouth as if being summoned to the headmistress' office was just another routine.

Aurora turned toward her, still holding her folder, still trying to wrap her head around the words echoing in her mind:

You're hired.