Chapter Text
4:30 AM and Kate Whistler’s alarm starts to blare. She has already been awake for over two hours and is currently on her third cup of coffee. She managed to get a solid three hours of sleep last night. Of late she has adjusted to fewer hours of sleep or at least, between a lot of caffeine and a good foundation, it looked like she had adjusted.
She has the first day jitters despite this being her twelfth year as a teacher. This will be her first year at Ohana Bay High School and it is only her third day in Hawaii.
She showers and gets dressed. The white capris, cotton striped shirt, and flat sandals look professional enough for a workday but it isn’t something she would wear to teach…unless that’s how the teachers dress here. That’s another thing she will need to figure out before students start in ten days. Hopefully the rest of her clothes and other belongings will arrive before the school year officially starts. She arrived in Hawaii with two suitcases of clothes and a few of her most prized possessions. She left the fate of everything else to an ocean liner.
She locks the small apartment where she is temporarily living, courtesy of the school system, and goes downstairs to wait for the ride she ordered. She will need to shop for a car soon but for now this would have to do.
The ride only takes 20 minutes and is, mercifully, smooth and quiet. Kate needs the time to center herself in preparation for an entirely new experience.
As Kate walks into Ohana Bay High School she can’t help but think that even half a world away from the other schools where she has taught, the building still smells like bleach and stale bread. The scent hangs heavy in the air.
Kate takes a deep breath to steady her nerves before turning to walk into the main office. This is what she has waited for. This is the time for a fresh start. A new school…a new state…a new life. The unknown is terrifying. She once told a colleague that office politics were her jam. Kate does great making professional connections but she doesn’t make real friends easily. Moving somewhere where she doesn’t know anyone is either the bravest or stupidest thing she has ever done.
She walks into the main office but no one is at the front desk. There were a few cars in the parking lot but she had arrived early because she wanted to get the lay of the land before the 2022/2023 OBHS Faculty Kickoff Meeting. The school secretary had sent out an email packet of information that Kate had read through…several times. She had always felt that you could never be too prepared for any situation.
Principal Jane Tennant is the only person she has “met” here. She had her interview over Zoom and Tennant seemed like a dream boss. She had a kindness about her but was also firm and no nonsense. She made her expectations clear and that was what Kate wanted. Kate believed in firmly set lines. She was not comfortable in the gray areas.
Kate knew that she was more than qualified for the job but she still had worried she wouldn’t get the position. So many people wanted to teach in Hawaii. People yearned to escape to paradise. Kate just needed to escape.
With her National Board Certification, her innovative ideas, and her aforementioned ability to play to office politics she was hired immediately. Tennant had already done her homework on Kate and knew if she seemed half as wonderful after speaking to her, that she would prove a perfect fit for the school. Kate had numerous accolades and awards to prove that she was well valued by her peers and students.
As she walks around the corner she spots Principal Tennant’s name placard outside an open door. She takes a steadying breath before she tentatively knocks on the door. The chair at the large desk is turned facing away from her. “Principal Tennant?” she calls softly. She has no wish to startle her new boss. Kate clears her throat lightly in the hopes that she won’t have to call out again. “Can I help you?” comes a voice from behind her. Kate has a jump scare at the unexpected direction of the voice. Turning, she is met by a gorgeous woman who has one eyebrow raised in amusement at Kate’s obvious fright.
“Ah, Ms Whistler. I’m so glad you made it safely to the island.” She points to the desk chair which was now turning. “Julie will probably lead this place someday but for now I’m in charge.” She winks at Julie and nods toward the door. “Hey kiddo, why don’t you say hello to Ms Whistler and then go see if the caterers are here with breakfast.”
Even without their easy banter there is no denying that Julie is 100% a mini Tennant. She raises one eyebrow towards Kate in the same way her mother had and has the same comforting smile. “It’s nice to meet you Ms Whistler. My mother has been excited about your arrival.” She heads down the hall to where Kate assumes their meeting will be held in about an hour.
Principal Tennant motions to an empty chair and asks Kate to take a seat. Instead of going behind her desk she sits in the seat beside Kate. Kate clears her throat nervously, “Principal Tennant it is an honor to be here. I truly appreciate the opportunity to work at OBHS. I’ve heard such wonderful things.”
Principal Tennant smiles at Kate in her easy way. “You can call me Jane…or Tennant. Either is fine when we’re among colleagues. The only time we use titles are with the students. It helps them to keep us straight and helps to convey a level of respect. You must give respect to get respect but I’m sure you know all that. You have quite an impressive resume Ms Whistler.”
“You can call me Kate or Whistler. I agree the titles make it feel a bit sexist or old school. I appreciate you setting me up in the new teacher housing for the time being. I will start searching for an apartment of my own this week. I need to find a car too if you happen to know of a reputable dealer. I truly am starting from scratch here.”
Tennant looked at her for a moment, appearing to weigh her next words, “We really are a team here Kate. I’m happy to have you aboard. As an academic you are beyond impressive. But it is more than that. I want you to lean on your team. As we discussed in your interview, I need a History department chair. The others don’t want the job or I would have promoted from within. But it is an important position. I need you to be a team player and I need you to be willing to work with the others. You need to make connections here, Kate. My only concern in hiring you is that you have no ties. Your students, your team and I, don’t need someone who can just walk out without another thought. We all need someone who stays. If you don’t think you can/will then I need to know now.”
Kate thought it through for a moment. It was a lot to ask of anyone. A commitment this big, to swear you will stick it out for an entire school year. But she resolved then and there that no matter what, she would finish the year. She owed Tennant that for the chance. “I promise that I will stay, at the very least, until the end of this school year…I may need you to remind me of that on my worst days…” Kate held her breath waiting for the admonition that would surely come.
Tennant simply laughed and stuck out her hand, “Deal.”
Kate gingerly took Tennant’s offered hand. She wasn’t great with touch but she resolved to make this commitment. She shook Tennant’s hand firmly and nodded her head in agreement as well.
Tennant got up and rounded her desk. Reaching into her drawer she pulled out a key. “This is for your classroom door. After our meeting this morning the Central Office will be here for identification badges. That will serve as your entry to the building. I think I hear Julie coming, she will show you to your classroom. We have the classrooms divided into two wings of the building. Math/English and History/Science. I really think you will get along well with everyone in your wing. They’re a great team. Just remember that Kate…a ‘team.’”
Kate nodded her understanding and took the key before following Julie to her classroom.
This building was definitely newer and had more technological advancements than her previous jobs. She commented as much to Julie as they walked. Julie simply hummed and nodded in acknowledgement.
They reached her classroom door. Room 504. Julie pointed to the room and gave directions on how to get to where the kickoff meeting would be held.
Kate walked into the classroom…her classroom. She loved the promise of the room on the first workday. This year could be anything. It was exciting and scary. The smell of the freshly waxed floor, the desks stacked haphazardly in one corner of the room, the bare walls, and clean white boards were a blank canvas just waiting to be filled with a conveyance of knowledge of centuries past. They waited to inspire a new generation and Kate was so fortunate that she got to be a part of that. It was what she loved most about teaching.
She walked around her class and looked in the cabinets and drawers to see what supplies were already in the class. This school is newer so there is probably not as much fun stuff as at some other schools. She worked in one older school that was like being on an archaeological dig. Previous teachers had left so much behind.
She looks at the clock and decides to head on to the library where the meeting will be held. She still hasn’t seen any other teachers. There is one light on in a classroom at the end of the hall but she hasn’t heard any sounds coming from that area.
She gets to the library with her new notebook and an assortment of pens AND pencils and sees that several people are already seated. She takes a seat at an empty table toward the back of the room.
She sees Tennnant talking to a slightly shorter man with a mustache at the front of the room. She sees Julie talking to a man in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts. Julie sees her and motions for her to come over. Kate was hoping to spend the meeting as a quiet observer but it looks like fate has intervened. Kate gathers her materials and walks over to Julie’s table. Julie introduces Kate to Ernie Malik.
“You must be the shiny new kid! I’m Ernie Malik. You can call me Ernie…or Malik…just please call me Ernie.”
“Kate Whistler. You can call me either one really. It’s very nice to meet you, Ernie. What subject do you teach here?”
Ernie studies her briefly, “I teach science. There are four teachers per core subject. The other teachers will be here shortly. We’re all on the same hall.”
Kate looks around the room trying to see if she can pick any history teachers out of the growing group. After deciding she’s not going to have much luck guessing, she turns back to Ernie, “Are any of the other history teachers here yet?”
Ernie scoffed, “They will be late. They’re always late. They’re the heroes of the school and drift in after the meeting starts and leave before it’s over.” He looks wide-eyed at Kate, “I’m so sorry. I haven’t had breakfast yet and my blood sugar is getting low. Your team is great. Awesome people. They really are. They just aren’t here yet.”
Kate nods but feels disappointed. She was hoping to get a look at her team before she was forced to interact with them. It just doesn’t seem like that’s going to work out.
Tennant steps to the front of the room and begins speaking. She commands the attention of everyone. Teacher’s hush instantly which rarely happens. “Good morning! Welcome to the new school year.” A bespectacled gentleman at the front table cleared his throat to get Tennant’s attention before pointing at his tablet. “Neil would like for me to say, ‘Welcome to the 2022/2023 OBHS Faculty Kickoff Meeting….thank you Neil for putting this together. Maybe next year we can come up with a shorter name for it.” Tennant winks at Neil to make it clear that she is teasing. “We are very excited to have most everyone back this year. We had Maggie retire but are very fortunate to have Kate Whistler join us all the way from DC to fill the open AP History Teacher position. Please make her feel welcome as she adjusts to not only a new school but also a new state. AP Curtis do you have anything you would like to add at this time?” The man with the mustache shook his head to indicate he had nothing to add. “I will let you get up in a moment and get some breakfast. Wally’s Eatery was kind enough to sponsor our kickoff meal today. After we eat and have a chance to socialize for a bit we will get down to business.”
Suddenly a roar of laughter came from outside the library as the door swung open. It was the kind of laughter that made you laugh for the pure and simple fact that whatever was going on was something that you wanted desperately to be a part of.
Kate leaned over to try to get a glimpse of the people who entered but she was unable to see over the bookshelves.
“Nice of you to join us, Coach.” Tennant chuckles. “Come on in and have a seat, we're just getting started.”
Ernie leans over and whispers to Kate, “Your team has arrived.”
Kate finally sees a tall dark-haired man and she whispers back to Ernie, “I can definitely see how he’s the football coach.”
Ernie looks a little confused. Another man comes into view and Kate, embarrassed, leans back over to Ernie, “Oh, is he the football coach?” Ernie shakes his head and simply points to the barely visible person behind them. As they come into full view Kate feels her breath catch…her heart skip...all of the cliches hit her at one time.
“That’s Coach Tara. She’s the head football coach and one of your teammates. The others are her assistant coaches and the rest of your team.”
Kate brushes her fingers over her notebook and takes stock of her writing utensils. She feels woefully unprepared for the way she feels right now. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of Coach Tara with her beautiful hair, infectious laugh, gorgeous eyes, and so very very much more. She realized suddenly that she had lost all control of her face. Was she drooling? Looking like some lovesick puppy? She has to rein it in and try to seem professional. Ernie reaches to touch her arm and she jumps and yells slightly from being startled. He must have been trying to get her attention but her brain had gone off on its own adventure and her face…she just really hoped it wasn’t doing something hideously embarrassing. The fact that she jumped and yelled for the second time that day was not boding well for her. Her outburst was enough to draw the attention of her new team. Kate looked up and locked eyes with Coach Tara and she felt like she wanted to laugh or cry or do something to mark this event but couldn’t settle on what to do. Instead she did something that would haunt her tonight while she was unable to sleep. She gave the dorkiest little half wave and half grin that anyone had ever waved or will ever wave again.