[The Morenos] The Teacher Files #2

Marshall Jennings, the most world renowned famous theater teacher at Central Arts and everyone’s favorite teacher had always been the type to direct his award-winning shows featuring his students but most of all he was well loved by his peers. Ok, all of what was said was a straight up lie. He wasn’t a world renowned theater teacher nor was he anyone’s favorite. Even his peers found him to be a bit of a pain to deal with. But no less he still acted as if he was the best thing since sliced bread. All because his tenure at the school made it almost impossible for anyone to tell him that he wasn’t what he thought he was. Of course, he did spend a lot of his time in meetings trying to argue his so-called valid points of why his theater program should be the main focus of Central Arts.

    Many a time he got his way but this time he had to deal with having to go to the school to get teachers to agree with his plans. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy as it looked. Especially since today was the teacher planning period in which all of the teachers had to report to work whereas the students got a day off. So the grunt work was left to him. Three floors of going around asking teachers to allow him to have more time for his program was going to be a job since most of them wanted the same exact thing.

    Looking around the quiet hallway he could see that most of the doors to the classrooms were closed while others had signs outside in the hallway that said ‘Do not disturb, final grading in progress’. However he did take note that two doors were open, one belonging to two teachers he knew would at least have two differing opinions. Even then the other would follow suit and agree because of their close-knit friendship. Oh, how fun this was going to be if he could at least get one of them to persuade the other.  Walking towards the first door he looked into the classroom and frowned at the sight before him…Miss Kono and Mr. Austin were together…as usual. It seemed a bit strange as the two were from differing teaching backgrounds.

    Mineko was a teacher that failed in her audition to be a part of the Radio City Rockettes. From what he heard, she had been too overzealous and accidentally lost her shoe during the choreographed routine and it gave one of the casting directors a concussion.  So the blonde gave up on that dream and took up a job as a dance teacher. Not that it was a perfect fit anyway since she was incompetent and a pushover.  So it was no surprise that she would cozy up to someone like Thomas Austin for help with her work. Maybe she was watching him grade her students’ rubrics for her rather than doing it on her own.

    Then there was Thomas Austin, a pretty well-known music director that many of the teachers in the school respected because of his time working at Central Arts. He’d been there for as long as Marshall had been there. They didn’t interact with one another unless it involved them collaborating on different events such as theater performances or working to ensure the Central Arts Showcase had a larger focus on the theater aspect rather than the other unimportant at least in Marshall’s eyes aspects of what made the school great.  It got to the point that Marshall had to make sure that none of the other theater teachers asked Thomas for his help. Not only that but it was almost like a race against time to get the band teacher to actually agree to help out in projects.  Not only that but his other skill in teaching the technical aspects needed offstage was sought after as well.

    Looking directly at his two colleagues Marshall’s eyes widened when he saw Thomas and Mineko share a kiss. So that what was going on…they were seeing each other. It kind of did make sense since they were so close. Not that he wasn’t surprised as he knew the blonde sitting atop the desk was probably only interested in getting what she wanted by using her so-called charms.  Maybe he could use this to his advantage.

    Knocking on the side of the door and clearing his throat Marshall stepped into the classroom with a smug smile.

    “Sorry to bother you two,” he said cooly. “I wanted to see if you two would help me to convince Liam to allow the theater program to take over the showcase’s main event this year.”

    “Why would we do that?” Mineko asked glancing at Marshall. “All of our students will be disappointed if the theater program takes over for the what? Third year in a row?”

    “I have to agree with Mineko, our students deserve a chance to have a main event that isn’t focused solely on theater.” Thomas raised an eyebrow at Marshall’s confident posture. Something was off about the theater teacher. “Marshall, the theater isn’t the only thing that should be the pinnacle of the showcase.”

    “I see, so that’s a no?” Marshall asked. “From both of you.”

    “I don’t speak for Mineko.”

    “I say no anyway, I really want my dance students to have more time with their performances.”

    “It’s a shame it had to come to that,” Marshall said shaking his head. “I do wonder though if Liam would be pleased to know that his top band director and the little dance teacher were engaged in an interoffice affair.”

    “What are you talking about?”

    “There isn’t anything between us.”

    “Uh-huh, and I didn’t catch you two kissing?” Marshall asked. “You both should’ve been tactful if you were going to date one another.”

    “There is nothing in the teaching handbook that says we’re not allowed to see each other and--.” Thomas fell silent when he saw Mineko step in front of him. “Mineko.”

    “Listen, Jennings, I don’t know what your problem is with me but you can’t go around trying to threaten Tommy,” Mineko said simply. “He and I are seeing each other yes, but you have no right to use that against us because you want your theater snore fest to take over.”

    “Miss Kono, you’re already on thin ice for the incident last week,” Marshall said simply. “Or have you forgotten about how your students staged a walk out in protest for the inauguration?”

    “Wow, you’re threatening me, how scary!” Mineko said sarcastically. “Listen you may want to blackmail us into agreeing with your wishes but we’re not afraid of you.”

    “Fine, fine,” Marshall walked towards the classroom. “Thomas, if you want to let Miss Kono threaten your tenure status here I do hope you enjoy the unemployment line.”

    “Why you…”

    Thomas caught Mineko by the waist and pulled her back into his chest. “Mineko let it go.” He said gently. “Marshall won’t say anything, he knows if he does no one will believe him.”

    “I’ll make sure he doesn’t, just one sock to his mouth should make it difficult for him to talk for a month!” Mineko hissed. “His jaws would be wired shut!”

    “Mineko, calm down,” Thomas said again as he held her tighter. “We’re going to be ok, nothing will happen.”

    Mineko sighed softly. “Fine, but I just want to throw that little man into traffic some days.” She grumbled.  “It’s unfair he’s using our relationship against us.”

    “Mineko, as long as we don’t show the true nature of our relationship when we’re working with our students then it’s ok.” Thomas reminded her. “We both know as long as we keep pretending there is nothing between us other than friendship then we’re fine.”

    “Ugh fine,” Mineko put a hand to her forehead in annoyance. “I still say one push down the stairs wouldn’t be so bad, it’d look like an accident.”

    “Mineko…”

    “I’m kidding.” Mineko puffed out her cheeks. “If he continues to rag on us about this, I will not be responsible for my actions.”

    Thomas chuckled. “That’s a reason why I married you.” He let her go and went back to sit down. “You’re never afraid to fight anything or anyone.”

    Mineko pouted. “Yeah…I should go back to my classroom now huh?” she said. “Marshall’s probably tattling to Liam as we speak.”

    “Go on,” Thomas said. “And Mineko remember that you can’t get angry if you are asked about our relationship.”

    “I know.” Mineko walked to the door but not before stopping and blowing a kiss to Thomas. “See you later Tommy.”

               “Have you guys noticed…?”

               “I know, it’s scary that Miss Mineko’s actually in a bad mood…”

               “Do you think she had a bad date last night?”

               “I can hear you!” Mineko said turning from the whiteboard and looked at her homeroom students. “I do not appreciate gossip, especially if it involves me.”

               “Miss Mineko, you’re not yourself,” a student said. “You’re normally joking with us and you didn’t bring us any treats today.”

               Mineko paused a moment as she realized that she had run out of the house earlier that morning and left her bag of snacks she always brought for her students. “I’m so sorry everyone, I was just in a rush today.”

               “Does it have anything to do with you and Mr. Austin?” asked a male student.

               Mineko’s face flared up bright red and she quickly turned back to the board to finish writing though she wanted nothing more to bang her head on the board to put herself out of her misery. She didn’t have any idea her students knew of their relationship.

               “No, we’re only friends.”

               “Miss Mineko, we know you two have a crush on each other,” another student said. “You two flirt with each other a lot.”

               “We do not,” Mineko said before snapping back into professional mode. “Anyway, me and Mr. Austin are only friends.”

               “Friends with benefits!”

               The students began hooting at the words while watching in delight at their homeroom teacher's bright red face.

               “Miss Mineko, if you’re in love with Mr. Austin we won’t tell.”

               “Yeah go for it! He’s really nice!”

               “For an old guy that is!”

               Mineko turned to face her students and smiled softly. “You guys are great you know that?” she laughed softly. “But you must promise me what is said in this classroom doesn’t leave it ok?”

               “We promise.”

               “I mean it,” Mineko said simply. “If you guys so much as tell anyone else then I’ll see to it that I stop bringing in snacks and not assigning homework.”

               “We promise.”

               Mineko smiled softly and began telling her students the truth. It felt great to at least get it out in the open. She hoped they would keep true to their words, at least long enough for her to decide how she was going to continue on with the charade of being only friends.

               “Mr. Austin, you left the projector on,” a student said raising their hand. “And we can see your emails.”

               Thomas quickly snapped out of his trance as he quickly turned off the projector. “Anyway, everyone please complete your assignments and then use the rest of class time to spend on your project for the end of the semester.”

               “Mr. Austin, you’re distracted.” A student said. “Are you thinking about Miss Mineko again?”

               “Miss Kono and I are only colleagues,” Thomas said quickly. “Why would you assume that I’m thinking about her?”

               “Because of your email to her,” said a male student. “No one calls a colleague by a special nickname  if they’re only professionals.”

               “There is nothing between me and Miss Kono.”

               “Come on teach, you don’t need to be shy, we’ve seen the way you look at her.” Said a female student giggling. “There is no way you can deny that you’re in love with her.”

               “please get back to work,” Thomas said. “Miss Kono and I are only friends and colleagues.”

               “Well if you want to keep it hidden then we understand.” The male student said. “Even if Miss Mineko’s really hot.”

               Thomas groaned in annoyance as he looked back at the screen in front of him and cursed silently at how he could’ve been so dumb to leave his email open before his first class of the day. It was gong to be a long day.

               “Mr. Austin,”

               Thomas looked towards the door and saw Mineko standing in the doorway. Great, she had really bad timing. “Yes, Miss Kono?”

               “I was wondering if you had a spare dry erase board pen,” Mineko asked. “Mine ran out of ink and I can’t find any in my storage closet.”

               “Yeah I do,” Thomas grabbed the pen and walked over to Mineko as he handed it to her. He saw the look in her eyes and could see that she was asking him what was wrong.
                “Umn…thank you…for the pen.”

               “You’re welcome Miss Kono.” Thomas leaned in to kiss her but stopped short when he realized they weren’t alone.

               “Go for it, Mr. Austin!”

               “Kiss Miss Mineko!”

               “We won’t tell!”

               Mineko and Thomas both turned bright red before laughing nervously as they looked away from one another. Great, these students had figured it out and it was probably going to be something they dealt with for the rest of the school year.

               “We’re only friends,” Thomas said. “Isn’t that right Minek—Miss Kono?”

               “Yeah, friends,” Mineko said nodding. “Listen, we’re not dating, if anything you guys should be focused on work not who your teachers are dating.”

               The students were unconvinced but they went back to work, none of them noticed the mutual sighs of relief from the two teachers. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad if they did admit to it, but it’d probably give Marshall the satisfaction of knowing that his so-called blackmail got to them. Which of course wouldn’t be something that they’d give him the satisfaction of knowing that he won.