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I eyed her warily. "Ok?"
"Your problems may all be caused by the same person."
I nodded slowly, putting it together for the first time. "You think? I mean Valerie's had a thing for me for years, but why would she create a dating profile for me?"
Morgan shrugged. "Scare off the competition?"
I shook my head, this was nuts. "Shit."
"I mean she might be jealous of Molly, and it pushed her over the edge. Just keep your head up. I've got your back." She smiled and headed for the door.
"Thanks, Morgan." I called after her before heading out myself.
As soon as I was in the hall, Valerie came around the corner. "Jake," her voice was saccharine sweet, but her eyes were cold.
"Don't talk to me."
A muffled, discontented sound came from her throat, but I ignored her and went to my class. The day dragged on in an endless repeat of the same slideshow on the Industrial Revolution. It was usually one of my favorite topics but not today.
My students were restless, and my mind was racing. I was a grown man and somehow I was getting my ass handed to me by a vindictive woman who couldn't take no for an answer.
As I headed to the cafeteria to monitor lunch a voice called out to me. "Jake, got a minute?"
I turned to see fellow teacher Maggie Blanchard hovering several feet back, clutching paperwork to her chest almost like a shield. Her smile seemed strained as her gaze flitted around the empty hall.
"Of course. What can I do for you Ms. Blanchard?" I replied gently. Maggie was shy and a little eccentric. But she was one of the art teachers, so that tracked.
Maggie flushed; eyes still averted as she straightened her large, framed glasses. "Yes, well, I wanted to let you know, that you’re no longer needed to chaperone the Spring Fling..."
“What?”
She extended the papers towards me, the sheets trembling in her hand. "Um, why don't you just look at this petition!"
Before I could respond, she scurried off down the corridor. I sighed, scratching my stubbled jaw, feeling suddenly toxic. Maggie had never acted like this toward me before. If anything, when we spoke in the past, she was kind, perhaps a little spacey, but never fearful. I looked at the petition showing fifteen or so female colleagues who felt my presence was not required or appropriate at the dance.
Deflated and defeated, I shoved the paper into my bag and headed to the cafeteria. The rest of the day went on much the same. I was now a pariah of the school. Everyone was whispering about me, and I didn't know what the fuck to do.
At the end of the day, moments after the dismissal bell rang, Molly knocked on my door. Her smile felt like the sun after a long winter. What a fool I was.
"Hey, you," she said, her voice cheerful and her face bright.
"Hi," I replied.
"Sounds like you've had a day," she said as she stepped in and closed the door. "Everyone is talking about it."
"So much for confidentiality." I grumbled stacking papers and shoving them into my messenger bag.
"So, it's not true, I take it."
"No, I didn't send anyone a dick pic. I'm not that guy."
"I know, Jake. I believe you. I was just teasing." She moved toward me as if to put her hand on my arm, but then she stepped back. "I'm sorry this is happening to you."
"Me too."
"Can I help?"
I pulled away from her and turned to her. "Yeah, stop Valerie from making the whole school think I'm a pervert."
