Ghost From The Past

[wvcoffeechick]

 

Rachel James divorced school teacher, age 30 lives in a small town in Jacksonville North Carolina. No children, just 2 miniature poodles, Sammi and Charlie, a boy and a girl. Those were her babies.

 

 Her husband of 10 years Jack, left her 2 years ago for his secretary "Bambie" it was definately a "B" word if you know what i mean. Rachel taught senior English at Jacksonville High School. A class full of rowdy boys with raging hormones, preppy girls smelling of the latest perfumes and a few book worms and suck ups looking for brownie points.

 

 She enjoyed the kids and had grown close to her students.

One student in paticular who made her laugh and feel young again, and usually disrupted the class . His hair was black his eyes were intensley blue he was a big flirt and quite popular with the girls. A bit of a rebel. He rode his bike to school a Harley his dad bought him. He was tall maybe 6'3 his skin was tan some of it from summer, some was the indian bloodline. Cherokee he bragged. His mother half Cherokee, his father Dutch/ Irish.

 

He'll make a handsome man someday she often thought. He often joked of how he was gonna sweep her off her feet one day. He unknowingly was the highlight of her days.  She didnt take him seriously and had no thoughts of taking him up on his offers. Yet he still made her feel like a woman somehow, Nick O Brian was 19, he had joked around and used school for social purposes and had not yet graduated.

 

 Nick seemed to need some direction, some motivation. Thats where it all began. Monday morning 5 am the alarm clock goes off as the timer kicks on the coffee pot as a new day begins . Arriving at school at 7:30, Rachel sits at her desk organizing the day. One by one the students make thier way to her room 203 Senior English.

Sitting in the back are the usual trouble makers Nick OBrian and his friends Jesse, Cody, Justin and David. Up front was Courtney, Erin, Shonette, Mae all cheerleaders.

 

The middle section was the usual mix of band members, jocks, preps, intellectuals, and members of the chess club. The back of the class by right of passage was always reserved for class clowns and burnouts. Today we will be working on page 462 in your red composition and grammer book. We are going to be identifying clauses. I want you to work in section A 1-10. She walks up to the chalkboard writing an example.

 

"Each group of words will be identified as a independant or subordinate clause". "If it is a subordinate clause , identify it as adjective clause, an adverb clause, or a noun clause". If you have a question come and see me. The room is quiet as the class began to work. Whispers and shffling along with some laughter came from the back of the class about a half hour into the hour long class.

 

 "Boys is there something you would like to share with the class"? Racheal asks firmly. A paper wad flies through the air and the back row bursts into laughter as the head cheerleader unglues it from her blonde hair. The back now boys who find this class so funny will be staying 30 min. after class into thier lunch hour with me, Racheal warns. the class is once again quiet.

 Although the boys arent  entirely dissapointed by thier "lunch date" with the slender 5ft slender brunette.

 

Her hair long and wavy, a chestnut brown. She wore it up loosely piled on her head with some curls hanging down. She wore a black skirt just above her knee with a small slit on the sides. her white blouse two buttons opened with a cross hanging down. Every school boy's dream.A young beautiful teacher holding him after class what a punishment.

 

 Class ends, the bell rings the students sound like a herd of elephants stampeded into lunch hour. Boys you need this credit to pass. "Now soon you will be graduating and you need to think of where your gonna be a year or even 5 years from now."

 

Friday we will be talking about careers and life choices. Some military personel will be here, we also have some people from graphic art and design, along with some representatives from local colleges. " You boys need to know that an education is important." Theres more to life than having a good time. Most of Rachel's lecture fell on deaf ears, but something she said struck a chord with Nick.Something she said made perfect sense, although he really hadn't thought of life after High School.

 

 Even Rachel or her students Miss James, actually seemed to care about what happened to them. Nicks mind began to flood with ideas of what he could explore beyond the walls of Jackson High School. His grades began to improve and with many encouraging words, Nick graduated and went on to college the following year. Rachel continued teaching for the next 8 years.

 

Nick O' Brian, was a 19 year old rebel, a senior at Jacksonville High School. His main reason for attending class is his undeniable attraction for his teacher.

 

 

Rachel James -young beautiful flattered by Nicks flirtatious behavior she dismissed his "puppy love" for her along with the few times their eyes had met and she had quickly looked away,knowing that what Nick had made her feel could not be acknowledged.

 He was handsome, caught between a boy and a man. Their talks,sometimes for hours seemed to help them both.Somehow he needed her,or did they need each other? The line was never crossed. She was his teacher yet she had become his friend and so much more
 
Nick was a troubled young man, he came from a family with a long history of alcohol and substance abuse.. A generational  curse that he had hoped to break. His father was both verbally and physically abusive. His mother was a meek, typical example of a battered wife. Nick felt he had no one to talk to about his troubles, until he met Rachel, who seemed to take him under her wing. He felt comfortable with her and found her easy to talk to and above all she was a compassionate listener, something that he needed.

 

Nick often thought of his high school crush and was sure she had changed his life forever. He became like Rachel a school teacher in Charleston WV. At Capital High School. Nick moved to Charleston after college to be near his dad. Rachel took some courses in writing following teaching, with a couple photography classes, to explore her creative side. She never married again after Jack she dated some but nothing serious.

 

Nick was engaged to a girl he met in college who later broke his heart. He had many lovers but never a true love. As he stood writing a sentance about subordinate clauses, he laughs to himself and he remembers Miss James. I wonder what she's doing now..... Is she still a teacher?"

 Does she think of her senior english class with the "back row boys" so many years ago? he thinks to himself.... After Jack left Rachel she was crushed, she had married him right out of high school. He was a football player she was a cheerleader. It seemed perfect. It felt like love, it probably was, but they were young.

They were very career oriented, she wanted to be a teacher he had set a goal of being a lawyer. They had talked of having children later on one or two. Racheal wanted a boy and a girl. As college began they had less and less time for each other, but they tried to make it work. Rachel knew in her heart that she gave it her best. Teaching was Rachel's first love, so after exploring other avenues she landed a teaching job in Elkview West Virginia

 

. This time it was grade school students at Bridge Elementary. She taught kindergarten, which was a switch from high school. The students were sweet and they thought she was pretty. she often thought of her high school class and missed the humor of it all.Sometimes she imagined an older more mature Nick a familliar face in a crowd. Sometims it was as if she was always looking. Something kept drawing her to him, she could feel it.

she found herself fantasizing about him. Wanting him, she even picked up the phone a couple times and tried to look him up in Jacksonville. If she only knew where he went after high school, what had become of him?. He was so young, so much younger than her. Was it wrong the way he made her feel? Was it an infatuation? Or was it something deeper? Why cant she get him off her mind? Why?

Something about the way he looked at her paralyzed her. His eyes pierced through her body. She felt him,the way he wanted her; she tried to dismiss it but she dared to want him too. She glanced up at him when he talked to her but she quickly looked away when her eyes met his.

 

She remembered a time when he seemed really upset and offered to be his listening ear. she was balancing a purse a brief case and small stack of books as she was heading for her car noticed Nick sitting on the bottom step head hung low flicking a cigarette lighter on and off with 1 hand holding a cigarette in the other.

"Hey handsome how 'bout some help over here?" She says cheerfully.

 Flipping his cigarette, after 1 last draw he jumps to his feet to help.

" How long have you been out here?"

 

 Were you waiting for me? she jokes.

 

 "Maybe" surprised she asks,is there something wrong? do you need a ride? wheres your bike?

 

 He looked broken grabbing her books and brief case, "Where's your car?"

Nick he walks ahead.

 

 

"Honey what is it?"

 you know you can tell me anything

. She unlocks her car a little green volkswagon bug. She glances up and notices his eyes are watering. She opens the door Nick lays her things in the back set.

 "Is it something at home?

"I cant talk about it he clears his throat.

"Do you need a ride?"

 "Where is your bike"?

Its in the shop. Dad dropped me off at school this morning on his way to work. Are you ok? she asks.

" Im fine and he sniffles and clears his throat."

 Get in he and Rachel go for a long drive, endng up at a secret place where she goes to think, or to get away from the chaos of life.

Up a country back road by the river they sat on a big grey rock. Nick lights a cigarette and offers Rachel one also. She declines The sound of the river flowing, a few birds singing and the rush of a gentle breeze rustle the leaves of the surrounding trees.

"Run away with me Rachel" he skips a rock across the river.

 We better get you back she says nervously.

 

"What are you afraid of?

He skips another rock and searches for another cigarette.

 You she slaps him on the thigh.

. "You scare me and I don't know if i can out run it, she hops off the rock and heads for the car.

 Nick quickly follows, hey he grabs her arm.

 What did you mean back there?

 

"I can't talk about it she smiles."

 

 "We shouldn't be here Nick." An awkward silence came between them. He brushed her hair from her face. "

You are so beautiful."

 

 

 "Don't," she pleads with him.

 

" I'm gonna marry you someday he smiles and climbs in the car."

 

The ride home was quiet a soft ballad played on the radio three times a lady making the awkwardness more apparent. The wind blew through thier hair the sound of the motor occupied thier minds, distracting them from the obvious.

 "This was a mistake",

 

"Dont ever say that he stated.

 

 You know what i mean one of these days you'll grow up and forget about me.

 That'll never happen

 

"we'll see". Where do you want to go... home?

 

 Drop me off at Bryan's im not ready to go home yet.

 

 Ok show me where,

 

 "turn right here" its the white house on the corner.

 

Thanks rachel! He looks like there is so much more he wanted to say.

 

 "Can i kiss you?" are you kidding me get out! she laughs

 

. "Can i kiss you in my dreams tonight?"

 

" Find me in ten years from now and we will see," she laughs.

 

Done deal! he smacks the car and runs up the driveway.

 

Rachel became Nick's best friend he shared his thoughts,and his dreams of the future.He always would joke about when they would get married and called her Rachel when no one else could hear. Sometimes he made her a little nervous when he stood a little too close to her,or when he gave her that look.

 

[karriewren]

I think your story has potential but it needs some work

[wvcoffeechick]

Tell me in your opinion where I need help...I have found that most place want hundreds of dollars for editing. I believe I have a good story to tell but I need help editing!

[karriewren]

sorry, I'm not good at editing. I did notice that when you had conversation in some areas you left out the quotation marks. perhaps another member of the group can be of more assistance.  When I write I find that it helps to read the story out loud. That way I am able to find mistakes easier. Good luck with your story

[wvcoffeechick]

thank you:)