Chapter 28

After the run, I showered and shaved. I arrived at the canteen just before they closed. I filled a plate with bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, and mushrooms. There was not much left on the buffet. I got some toast and some coffee.

There were some teachers I did not really know, so I sat at a table on my own. I had nothing planned for the day, so I decided to work on my book and relax.

After I had eaten, I went into the little tuck shop and got coffee, milk, and some goodies for the afternoon. I ran over to the accommodation block as the rain was coming down in sheets. I had been told by a couple of Scottish players that I played with for two seasons that Scotland had weird weather. They often had all four seasons in one day, and I could well believe it.

I got to my room and got changed into shorts and a T-shirt. I made a coffee and sat at the laptop. I lost three hours as I hammered away at the keyboard. I was making good progress; it was a text message that made me look up and check the time.

The text was from Marcia. She asked me if I fancied going for a beer that evening. I replied that I would, and she replied to say she would meet me outside the accommodation block at eight o’clock.

I made another coffee and sat down with a bar of Cadbury’s. I put an old comedy show on the Television. The door was knocked on an hour later; I opened the door, and Natalie smiled at me.

“Hi Zak, are you free for a chat?” she asked. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and even in her slobs, she looked hot. I felt my cock stir, and I wondered if an afternoon of fun and games was in the cards.

“Yes, of course, come on in,” I said with a smile.

She came in and sat down.

“Can I get you a coffee?” I asked, and she nodded.

I made her a brew and topped mine up. I got a packet of custard creams out of my little cupboard.

I sat in the armchair. There was something about Natalie that made me think this was not a booty call.

“So, Zak, I need you to keep this to yourself,” she said.

“It goes without saying,” I replied and took a sip of coffee. Then took a biscuit and dunked it before nibbling on it.

“You know I said I was in the running to be the new head of school?” She asked.

“Yes, you did mention it,” I said with a smile.

“Well, I was told this morning that I have the job,” she said with a smile.

“That is excellent news, I am so happy for you, “I said, and it was a genuine comment. I got the feeling she would be a great headmistress and that the school would be a different place in a couple of years.

“Thanks, it will be announced at a full staff meeting tomorrow night,” she said with a smile.

“Okay, well, I will keep it under my hat until then,” I told her.

“Well, it will mean some changes around here, “she said, and a sadness shrouded her face.

“Okay, and are you going to give me any clues?” I said and started to get worried.

“Well, there are one or two teachers as well as one of the admin staff who will be getting told the facts of life. I have told the governors I want to implement random drug and drink tests of both pupils and staff!” she said.

I did not need to ask who; it was more than obvious who she meant. I have to say it did not worry me. I do not drink that much and have never touched any drugs at all. When I played pro rugby, we had the same sort of random tests after games and even after some training sessions. Both the club and the league were hot on all that sort of stuff.

She took a long sip of her coffee and picked up a custard cream. She took a couple of small bites; it was like she was playing for time.

“There is something else...” She said and paused.

“Okay...” I said I was not sure what was coming next.

“It’s hard for me to say this and hard for me to do it, but...” She paused again. There was a tear in her eye. She gulped and shook her head.

I let her gather her thoughts and words; I sipped my coffee. I didn’t want to rush her. There were tears in her eyes.

Was she going to sack me right then and there?

Was she going to retract the job offer? I didn’t want the job, but if nothing else came up, at least I had a job, and I had been told more than once that it’s always easier to get a job when you have a job.

“It’s like this, and trust me, I am sorry,” she said, and the look on her face told me she was, “I think we had to stop seeing each other, it would not be good for my career if we were to be found out.”

I wasn’t sure what to say or do, so I took another sip of my coffee. I glanced out of the window, and the rain was hammering down. I still had Isabella and Marcia to have fun with, saying that Marcia had told me that if Natalie got the headmistress job, she would be off. That might have been a knee-jerk reaction, but you never know.

I just had to decide if I could stay at the school, knowing that Natalie was out of bounds.

“You are angry with me,” she said. I decided to be the bigger man.

“No, Natalie, not at all, I fully understand, and I don’t blame you, the role is made for you, and I would not want to do anything to jeopardise that,” I said and stood up. I was not sure if we should hug or kiss or what.

“Are you sure you are not angry with me?” she asked as she stood up.