Chapter Text
I am in the nevermore band that is going to be playing at the gala, but I didn't join for the gala, I joined to watch how miss capri teaches the younger students how to read the music sheets, to listen to her angelic voice when she talks, to see how her fingers glide across the piano keys without a care in the world, and the way she praises me whenever I played the notes perfectly.
I am currently zoned out in the middle of Orloff's class, all I can think about is miss capri... I can't get her off my mind. I don't have music class today, but I might as well go in and practice after this class and hope miss capri will come in and watch.
My friend beside me nudges my shoulder, and gestures with her head to the teacher, Mr. Orloff is looking at me expectedly, "so, any answer?" I realize, I didn't hear the question that he asked me. "Sorry, sir... what was the question?" Orloff huffs and asks a different student, obviously I should pay more attention.
I put my head down in embarrassment, my arms covering my face. I slouch down in my chair, my notes getting smudged by my arms because the ink hasn’t dried yet. I am definitely going to need to borrow my friend’s notes after class, or maybe not... it’s my last year at nevermore anyways.
Me and my friend group are in our 8th year, and I will pass the end of course assessments, I am positive I will pass. I gave myself a challenge of making miss capri my mate before the end of the year, I even bet on it with my friend group, there’s 100 dollars on the bet already. I am a bit worried that she won’t let me mark her, hopefully I can mate with her and mark her, of course with consent.
The bell rings, signaling that class is over, and everyone is packing up their bags, I do the same. Zipping up my bag, I bring the strap over my shoulder, and I stand up, I walk with my friend out of the classroom into the crowded hallways. “So, how close are you to mating with miss capri?” Nova, my friend asks in a playful tone, she’s one of my friends that are betting I can mark miss capri as my mate. “Definitely needs a few more months, but luckily I still have six months until we graduate” I respond, it’s the start of June, and I stay at nevermore all year around, and miss capri volunteered to stay at nevermore in the summer to watch the students who are staying.
I wave goodbye to my friend, and I start walking towards the band room, hoping to see if miss capri is there, I open the door to find the band room empty, but miss capri’s notes are open on her desk so she probably just left to get some tea.
I set my backpack on the floor next to the door, I walk over to my guitar, and I take a seat, I lightly strum the strings before starting to play ‘evergreen’ by Richy mitch & the coal miners while quietly humming the lyrics. A few minutes later, miss capri walks in, she can already hear me playing, and she knows it’s me because I am the only one who plays the guitar in the band, plus I am usually always here after all the classes are done.
She walks in holding a tray that contains a kettle, two teacups, two tea bags and two spoons. She smiles at me, her curly ginger hair looking so soft and silky. “Hey, stranger...” her tone playful and teasing, she grins at me, she carefully places down the tray on her desk away from all the papers. I stop playing and look over at her, giving her a smile, “hey, miss capri” I say politely, I place down my guitar before walking over to her desk, she gestures to the chair across from her on the opposite of her desk, I sit down and she starts pouring hot water from the kettle in the teacups that have tea bags in them.
She places the teacup in front of me, and she places her teacup in front of herself, the tea is boiling hot from the water, we must wait ten minutes before we can drink the herbal tea. She is looking at her notes, we are sitting in comfortable silence, she’s planning what songs the band is going to be playing at the gala, I am helping her plan songs.
“Miss capri? Why aren’t you married yet?” I curiously ask, leaning back in my chair, the question catches her off guard for a moment, “well… I just haven’t found someone I want to marry yet.” She answers a little hesitant, her voice has a hint of vulnerability, she hasn’t looked up from her notes. I sip my tea, feeling a little worried by asking her a sensitive question, “sorry… I didn’t know it was a sensitive topic” I spoke softly, I gently cup my teacup and carefully blow on the hot liquid, my gaze studying her face.
I take a hesitant sip of my tea, hoping it’s not too hot, she sighs a little before speaking. “it’s alright, honey” her voice back to her usual cheery self, she takes a sip of her tea, she has a soft smile on her face, she leans back in her chair, and crosses one leg over another, “So, what are you planning on doing after school? Are you thinking of college, or just going into working immediately, or taking a gap year?” She asks softly, I pause to think for a moment before speaking, “I think I am going to stay here and volunteer to help around nevermore and take online classes” I think out aloud, I take another sip of my tea, she nods along with my words, “I see… are you going home this summer?” she asks curiously, she’s a new teacher so she doesn’t know who exactly is staying at nevermore this summer, “yeah, I am, I have nothing to do back home anyways” I give her a little shrug with my words.
“I am going to have to deal with you all summer, huh?” She teases lightly, she gives me a playful chuckle, she knows that I am going to be a handful, but she knows it also mean fun all summer, she takes a sip of her tea, while watching my face, I playfully shake my head a little, “I might be, but I guess that’s for me to know, and for you to find out” I grin, I take another sip of my tea, the teacups are warm in our hands