first_in_time | New Lives and Mourned Pasts

The trip was long but at least they had jobs to go to and somewhere to live even if it was small. They each had one suitcase half filled with clothes and a life they were leaving behind. Once they were left in the by the side of a dusty road on the outskirts of a small country town Barbara walked with Ian to their new home, unconsciously holding onto his hand as she had done so many times before. Their real estate agent waited at the door of their new home to hand them a set of keys. He wished the newly weds ever lasting happiness then left them to it.

"It seems I've missed my own wedding," Barbara said with a sigh as she put the suitcase down in the middle of the almost empty lounge room and chuckled a little. She was tired and felt dirty from all their traveling.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

splendid_roman

"That will make teaching them easier." He grinned and let go of her hand to pick his lesson plans back up again.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara watched him a moment then went to find her own notes and plans. She sat at their kitchen table and scrawled a few more things as she thought and worked through what she did and didn't want to do. Barbara found that the more she thought on it all, the more nervous she became until she glanced up at their clock and realised the time.

She packed her things and returned to the lounge. "Ian? We should probably go soon if we're to be there on time."

From:

splendid_roman

He looked at his watch, having lost track of time. "Oh, yes, of course." He packed his things up and went to find his shoes. "Would look good to be late on our first day," he joked.

((OOC: Shall we skip to the end of school when they can tell each other about their days?))

From:

first_in_time

"It would look marvellous, I'd imagine," she told him while watching him fetch his shoes.

Once Ian was ready, she opened the door and shut it behind them then took his hand as they walked to school together.

((OOC sounds good :) Barbara can be waiting for him in the school's office since he wasn't in any of the labs, or he can come and find her room))

From:

splendid_roman

Ian had forgotten how tiring it was to be teaching all day. He had at least managed to get the last class finished in time so that they could tidy up. So when the final bell went and his class left, there wasn't anything left for him to do.

So he gathered up his things and went to find Barbara's classroom.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara had stacked her students' work in a neat pile and was just finishing off tidying up when she saw Ian approach her room.

"Hello," she smiled warmly despite her exhaustion. She always felt better for seeing Ian. "How was your day?"

From:

splendid_roman

"Not quite what I expected." He perched on the edge of her desk and sighed. "Some of the children I was teaching were younger than eleven. Did you have any that young in your classes?"

From:

first_in_time

Barbara shook her head and gave Ian an amused look. "And here we were thinking we wouldn't have to deal with the younger children. Perhaps I'll have them all tomorrow."

She finished what she was doing then went to stand before him. "Did they cope alright?"

From:

splendid_roman

"Some of them." He took her hand for reassurance, not wanting a bigger gesture at school. "But I think I should re-do my lesson plans for the rest of the week.

From:

first_in_time

"That might be a good idea. We can put off our picnic if you'd like to spend more time working on your differentiation," she told him, her fingers twining around his.

From:

splendid_roman

He shook his head. "I've been looking forward to our picnic all day. "I'll do a bit of work when I get home and we can go out in plenty of time to catch the sunset."

From:

first_in_time

"Let's head home now, then," she said and tugged gently at Ian's hand, "I'll make us some tea and then start on dinner while you work. Then we can rest together."

From:

splendid_roman

"All right." He smiled at her. "This is why I need you," he said, thinking back to their conversation this morning, "on my own I'd just wallow." He squeezed her hand before releasing it, not prepared to walk through the corridors holding her hand, even though everyone thought they were married.

From:

first_in_time

"I'll always stop you from wallowing," she said and chuckled as she collected her own things. She held them with both hands, which left Ian to close her door behind them. "And self pity isn't terribly attractive."

From:

splendid_roman

"Then I'll make sure not to indulge in any." He grinned and shut her classroom door behind him.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara walked on a few steps ahead and turned to wait for Ian. A few students heading to after school activities or waiting for their parents lingered in the halls, so Barbara kept her flirtatious conversation for later.

"How is your lab? Do you need to change anything or decorate it?"

From:

splendid_roman

"It's fine. I'm sure the students will explode a few things sooner or later and add to the general stains on the benches." He grinned at her. "I suppose you have plans for your classroom."

From:

first_in_time

"I'd love to get some maps and ancient artwork pinned around the walls but I'd have to buy them from somewhere first...maybe I can talk to one of the other teachers about a suppliers and funding," Barbara frowned as she thought about it, "but then I suppose it's second to actually teaching anything. Maybe I can save and take a trip into the city one day to find some things."

From:

splendid_roman

"That would make a pleasant classroom." Being a different department it was hard to say what funding there might be. "Maybe you could wait until they like you and you're indispensable, and then ask about funding."

From:

first_in_time

"So never?" she asked and chuckled. "I think that a shopping trip would be more fun anyway."

From:

splendid_roman

"You should just what I do, charm everyone into giving you funding." He nudged her shoulder with his. "When we get paid we'll go shopping in the city," he promised.

From:

first_in_time

"Your charms are difficult to ignore," she replied with a grin then noticed two students watching them and coloured a little. "It will be fun to visit the city. You can show me all the pubs you enjoy."

From:

splendid_roman

With the students about he bit back the comment he'd been going to make about a perfect day out being her shopping and him in a pub. "We'll work our way through all of them," he promised her, as they reached the entrance and he held the door open for her.