Lauren walked towards Mary Elliot the Assistant Principal of the school, had someone noticed and reported her to Mary. “What can I do for you, Mrs Elliot?” Lauren nervously asked the older woman. “Oh, nothing I just wanted a word came the reply.” The two women walked towards the door. “I don’t want to hear a sound from anyone while I am talking to Mrs Elliot or I will fail the whole class,” Lauren told the classroom as she and Mary walked outside into the corridor. “That was a bit harsh Lauren,” Mary said to her as she closed the door. “Oh, it was only to keep them quiet while we talked. I won't do it but it should keep their minds focused on their work rather than what we are doing.” Lauren replied. “I only came down for a quick word anyway,” Mary said. “I know I promised you a lift home tonight until you get your car back tomorrow but I can’t make it now. However, Jim is going to be stuck in late tonight so I am going to have to pick up Susan after her practice.” Mary told the apparent fellow teacher in front of her. “Oh that is ok I will just call a cab it is not a big deal,” Lauren told Mary thinking that this would give her the time she needed to catch up with Lonna.
“Oh no you don’t. I promised you a ride home and I aim to deliver, it's not your fault that I can’t do it. So I have booked you an Uber. After all, you have that visit from your aunt tonight. The one you lived with when your parents passed away don’t you?” Mary asked Lauren knowing the answer that Lauren would have given her if she had been Lonna Tran and not Lauren Rodriguez. Lauren was not sure what to say to her. “Don’t worry I have put it on the school account after all we need to make sure our staff gets home safely don’t we,” Mary told her with a smile on her face. “Anyway it's booked to pick you up at four and take you straight home young lady,” Mary said almost laughing this time.
“Oh you had better make sure you are back in here tomorrow afternoon once you get your car back. They are dropping off at what ten aren’t they?” the Assistant Principal asked Lauren who nodded in response. “I had better get back inside Mary before they tear the place apart and thanks for sorting tomorrow out for me,” Lauren said when she was able to find the words. “No problem that is what a good boss or friend is supposed to do isn’t it,” Mary said as she turned to make her way back to her office.
Lauren opened the door to go back inside the classroom at that moment the bell to signal the end of class went off and slowly the students looked to their teacher to get permission to do so. They stood up from their seats and headed towards the door to move on to their next lesson or in this case lunch as it was now 12.30. Lauren looked outside into the corridor and saw Adele McMillan walking along it. “Ms McMillan, can you come into my classroom for a moment?” Lauren asked the confused teenager. “I want you to take this note to Lonna Tran for me,” Lauren said knowing that Adele shared what would normally be her first class with her after lunch. “Yes Ms Rodriguez, I will,” Adele told the teacher in front of her without even a hint of recognition of the fact that just a few ago Lauren had been a student just like her now she only saw her as a teacher. Not just any teacher but one of the ones you did not upset with you. Lauren was counting on Lonna’s formers reputation stopping Adele from reading the note before she passed it over that and the fact she had sealed it with tape.
This was her only way of letting her know what was happening. Well, that and the fact she had included a second note to pass on to whichever teacher she had during the last period to allow her to skip that lesson and meet her in her classroom. Somehow Lauren knew that on a Monday Lonna usually did not have a class to teach and usually used it for marking. Wait a minute how did she know that? Adele took the note and headed to lunch.
