Picking Up the Pieces (31 page)

Chapter 33: Lily

It had finally arrived: spring break.
I had been longing for it since Christmas, and now here it was. There was only one thing standing in the way of complete and utter elation. And that
thing
was the Swift Middle School Spring Concert. There were really very few things that were worse than a bunch of puberty-stricken boys trying to sing. And one of them was a bunch of hormone-fueled girls thinking they were all Kelly Clarkson.
This is going to be straight-up hell
.

             
The concert was set to start at six the Friday night before my week of freedom, so I decided to corral Tina and Trish and drag them to happy hour. Maybe a slight buzz would make the kids seem more talented. Though it was more likely that it would get me fired because I’d probably be unable to prevent cackling at their vocal abominations.

             
Trish was hesitant at first.
What else was new?
But I was ultimately able to break her and we all made our way to Flanagan’s.

             
“I’ll get the first round. What do you hos want?” I asked when we had settled at a high top table by the jukebox.

             
“Just water for me,” Trish declared. “I don’t want to drink before the concert.”

             
I stared at her. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

             
She drew back in her seat a little at my abrasiveness.

             
“Trish, the concert is the
reason
I’m drinking. Are you really going to toast to our spring break with water?” I was incredulous. Had I taught this girl nothing?

             
“But we’re going back to the school in a couple hours. I don’t want to smell like alcohol.”

             
“So pop in a Tic Tac and keep it moving,” Tina interjected. “I’ll take a vodka and cran, by the way.”

             
“No one’s telling you to get plowed. But you’re off the clock; you can have a drink or two if you want one. So, what’ll it be?” I leaned my hip against the table, daring her to say the word
water
again.

             
“Okay fine, you win,” Trish released with a breath.

             
“I normally do.”

             
“I’ll have an appletini.”

             
“Now you’re talking. Be right back.” I went to the bar and ordered our drinks, deciding on a Tequila Sunrise for myself, in honor of not seeing another sunrise for ten days. When I arrived back at the table, I saw Trish gesturing wildly with her hands while Tina seemed to be taking calming breaths. “What’s up?” I asked cautiously.

             
“Why don’t you tell your mentor what you were just explaining to me, Trish,” Tina said patronizingly.

             
Thankfully, Trish was either too awkward to appropriately register tone, or was too caught up in her own brain to notice it. “Ugh, I was just talking about my parents. They’re so unsupportive.”

             
“Oh, parent bashing. I can get down with this.”

             
Tina raised her index finger. “Wait for it.”

             
“They wanted me to go with them to St. Thomas for spring break. I mean, can you believe them? It’s like they have no idea how much work goes into being a teacher. Like I really have time to go on a vacation right now. I have essays to grade, lesson planning to do, materials to create. And then they had the nerve to get mad at
me
for telling them no. They’re so ridiculous," she huffed as she finished her last words and picked up her drink.

             
I sat there in shock before slowly turning my head to Tina, who simply nodded, affirming that I had heard this crazy broad right.

             
“Just in case you were wondering,” Tina said as she lifted her drink to her lips, “you failed at your job as mentor.”

             
“What do you mean?” Trish shrieked. “Lily’s a great mentor.” Her eyes bounced between us, trying desperately to figure out what we were talking about.

             
“No,” I finally said in a hushed voice. “Tina’s right. I’ve failed you, Trish. And I’m just . . . so, so sorry.” I looked at Tina. “Where did I go wrong?”

             
Tina shook her head and cast her eyes to the table. “I wish I knew.”

             
“What are you two talking about? You’re scaring me.”

             
I reached over and grabbed Trish’s hand. “It’s okay, Trish. I’m scared too. Scared for your fucking sanity,” I yelled as I dropped her hand. “What the hell’s the matter with you? You never, I repeat,
never
pass up a trip to a tropical island to mark papers and do lesson plans. Jesus Christ!”

             
“I . . . I don’t understand,” Trish stammered.

             
“That’s the problem. You don’t get it. Trish, you need to have a fucking life outside of teaching or you’re gonna burn yourself out. It’s great that you love what you do, but you need to love other things in your life too. Like yourself for starters. Not going on an awesome vacation because of your job is ludicrous. Ask me what I brought home from my classroom today?”

             
Trish sat there, scared, meek, and silent.

             
“Ask me!” I yelled.

             
“Fine, what did you bring home from your classroom?”

             
“Not a goddamn thing. And you wanna know why? Because I’m not doing anything work related over
my
break. I work hard all year. I’ve earned this break as much as the kids. They didn’t leave with work today, so why the hell should I?”

             
“Well, actually my kids did leave with work today,” Trish whimpered.

             
“Bah, no wonder they hate you,” I screamed before really processing the words. Trish looked about ready to cry.
Shit.
“Trish, I got carried away. They totally don’t hate you. I was on a roll and couldn’t rein it in.”

             
Trish picked up her glass and took a gulp. “No, you’re right. They do hate me.” She propped her elbows on the table and buried her head in her hands. As her body began shaking, I reached over to rub her back and Tina and I began talking over her head like Trish wasn't even there anymore.

             
“Smooth move, Ace,” Tina said dryly.

             
“Oh, what do you want from me? You know I have a flair for the dramatic. I couldn’t help myself.”

             
“Now what are we going to do? She looks seconds away from twisting the table napkins into a noose.”

             
“Move the napkins?” I offered with a smirk.

             
Tina rolled her eyes before leaning across the table toward Trish. “Hey, come on. Relax. Don’t listen to Lily. She’s heavily medicated.”

             
I threw one of the napkins I’d collected at her as she snorted. “Seriously Trish, this isn’t the end of the world. The first year sucks for everyone. And you’re really good at your job. I just want you to find a balance is all. You’ll be so much happier when you do that.”

             
Trish lifted her head and sniffled. “How do you two do it? Find a balance?”

             
“We just have lives outside of here. Friends, boyfriends, husbands, hobbies. What about you? Are you seeing anybody?” I wasn’t sure that last question was a good idea, but I’d asked it anyway, hoping we could steer the conversation in another direction.

             
Trish shook her head.

             
“Nobody at all?” I asked, sensing there was something Trish wasn’t telling us.

             
“Well there is one guy, but I dunno, I’ve kinda been blowing him off. I just don’t have time for a relationship right now.”

             
“You need to make time. You’ll feel so much better when your life doesn’t revolve around your students. I promise.”

             
She was still for a few minutes, seeming to weigh my words before she nodded her head. “Maybe you’re right.”

             
“I am.”

             
Trish picked up her glass and drained the rest of her martini. “I’m gonna go for it. When I see him next, I’m gonna tell him I’m interested.”

             
“Good girl,” I squealed.

             
Trish stood up. “I’m going to get another drink. You guys want one?”

             
I looked down at my nearly full glass and shook my head, as did Tina.

             
Trish merely nodded and walked off toward the bar.

             
Tina and I watched her for a second before turning our attention to each other. At which point we both completely lost it. Through hysterical laughter and tears streaming down her face, Tina sputtered, “What the hell is wrong with that girl?”

             
“She needs to get laid. Like, yesterday.”

             
“What are you two laughing at?”

             
Shit. Trish.

             
“Lily almost fell off of her stool,” Tina offered as she clutched her sides and started to calm down.

             
“Yeah, I’m a total klutz.”

             
Trish seemed to accept that answer. She took another large drink from her glass before walking over to the jukebox and sliding in a dollar. And as “I Will Survive” started blaring through the speakers, I knew the night was going to be interesting.

***

“Dude, we shouldn’t have let her drink so much,” Tina whispered as we followed a swaying Trish up the driveway to the school.

             
“How were we supposed to know? One minute she was fine and then she was annihilated. I’ve never seen someone go from sober to shitfaced so quickly.”

             
“Well we have now. She’s a mess.”

             
“You heard me try to talk her into letting us take her home. She threw a fit. What else can we do?”

             
Tina simply shrugged.

             
“What are you two whispering about back there?” Trish demanded.

             
“Nothing,” I replied.

             
“Yeah, right,” Trish said, clearly able to read my tone.

             
“She’s a sassy drunk,” Tina chuckled.

             
“Stop. We have to get her under control or she’s gonna get into trouble.”

             
“Maybe a little trouble wouldn’t be bad for her,” Tina muttered.

             
I yanked my phone out of my purse as we walked into the school and headed toward the auditorium. Adam had said he’d text when he got there. Eva wasn’t singing in the concert, but she was part of the stage crew. I gave Adam credit, even supporting his daughter when her sole job was to push a set of bleachers aside and roll a piano onto the stage. He really was a good man.
Hmm, nothing yet.
It was almost six and it wasn’t like him to be late.

             
Just as I walked into the auditorium, a couple of students ran toward me. “Miss Hamilton, you came.” Their parents walked over behind them and I readied myself to kiss some parent ass.

             
“Hi, guys. Of course I came. I told you I would.”

             
One girl, Tessa, turned toward her mother and gushed, “Mom, this is Miss Hamilton. She’s my favorite teacher.”

             
I heard a loud “humph” next to me and cast a sideways glance at Trish, who avoided my gaze.

             
As I made small talk with some of the parents, Trish kept muttering under her breath like a lunatic. Finally, Tina grabbed her by the arm and led her to the other side of the auditorium. I heard her say something along the lines of, “What do I care if these little assholes hate me?” as she stumbled to keep up with Tina. The parents looked at me inquisitively, but I quickly changed the subject.

             
“Looks like they’re getting ready to start the concert. Have a great time, everybody, and enjoy your breaks.” They all said their goodbyes and I started to rush toward Trish and Tina when a familiar voice caught my attention. I scanned the crowd, my gaze finally landing on him. I walked over to him and waited for a break in his conversation before speaking. “Hey, Adam.”