Chapter Text
You've been at Abbott Elementary almost a year now. It's been a difficult, fulfilling job. You're not a rookie teacher, having worked in Midwest schools for the first part of your career--but you're new to Pennsylvania. It's certainly been a learning curve.
You joined Abbott just after the teachers returned from last year's Pennsylvania Educational Conference for the Southeast Area (PECSA). And tomorrow, you leave to attend your very first PECSA. You're not really sure what to expect; Janine and Jacob emphasize the quality of the conference sessions, Ava says networking is the only valuable part, and Barbara and Melissa suggest you direct your energy toward the freebies, pool, and after-hours schmoozing.
The latter plan sounds the best, you think, because free items are smart for teachers on a budget and you love to swim.
You don't acknowledge to yourself that it's because of Melissa. That if she said dumpster diving was the best part of PECSA, you'd take off your shoes and jump in after her. No need to acknowledge that. It's a professional conference—and that should be your focus, right?
--
Melissa sits at the kitchen table, drinking coffee, when her phone buzzes.
[text from Barbara] It's time. I will be there in 10 minutes. I do hope you are packed.
[text from Melissa] OK
She shoves her chair out from under her, bangs the coffee cup into the sink, sloshes some tap water in, and heads to the bedroom. Gathering up the folded clothes atop her bed, she places them quickly in her suitcase. Next, shoes. She's gonna regret this, but...she throws in a pair of heels. A South Philly girl's gotta represent. Most definitely a couple of swimsuits and a swim coverup. And her toiletry bag from the bathroom.
This conference is gonna be good. PECSA always delivers, one way or another. She and Barb know how to get it done.
Gregory won't be attending, and it's just as well: He kills the fun. Janine and Jacob will be there, eager to please as usual and fawning over the actual academic stuff...young'uns. Ava will be Ava-ing, pretending not to know her Abbott colleagues. Fine by Melissa.
And then there's New Teacher—as Ava still calls her, even though it's been almost a year—who'll probably hang with Janine and Jacob. Although she's a bit of a wild card. Maybe she could be recruited to the fun team, Melissa smirks. That'd make it a real good conference.
[text from Barbara] I am outside.
Barb, you and your damn full-sentence, grammar-perfect texts, Melissa thinks.
She grabs her suitcase and purse, shuts off the bedroom light, and heads to the door, thoughts of her coworkers floating through her mind. Especially that New Teacher.
--
The big day comes. Your bag is packed and you're ready for two busy and hopefully productive, fun days in Allentown. Janine's little silver car pulls up to your curb and Jacob bounds out the passenger-side door, wearing a wacky hat and a goofy smile.
"You ready?" he asks you, practically dancing on the boulevard. You can hear loud music coming from inside. Is that The War on Drugs?
"I'm ready," you say, heaving your suitcase into Janine's trunk. "Let's do this."
You climb into the backseat. Jacob closes your door and hops back into the front. Janine turns around, eyes shining, and shouts over the music, "Welcome, carpool buddy! Ready for your first PECSA experience?" You nod and smile.
You pull on your seatbelt and she puts the car in drive. She and Jacob sing along to the music: "Sometimes forward is the only way back to reach the hill in time..."
After a few minutes, Jacob turns down the music and asks, "So what're you ladies looking forward to over the next couple days? Sessions, parties, hookups? Please say the latter. I'm in a relationship so I need to live vicariously through you two."
Neither you nor Janine answers right away. Eventually, Janine says, "Well, I mean, conference sessions definitely. Other than that? I don't know. I'm still kind of getting over Tariq, so I'll probably just fly solo as far as that goes." She sounds a little unsure, but neither you nor Jacob decides to probe further.
"As for me, I'm okay with sessions...and I like parties."
"And how about hookups? Any type we should be scouting for ya?"
You laugh a little nervously. "Well...I mean, I'd say my types are a tall, sweet guy...or a strong, curvy woman."
Jacob pounces. "So, like Gregory or Melissa?"
Your eyes get wide as you realize how accurate one of those is. "No...not, I mean, I'm not interested in Gregory," you say quickly, having witnessed the sparks flying between him and Janine many times. "Definitely not."
"But...Melissa?" says Janine, a little too eagerly.
"I mean, I'm..." you can feel yourself blushing.
"Actually, she is really nice to you," reflects Janine. "Like sweeter, less harsh than she is with the rest of us."
"And remember that time she let you sit at her lunch table?" Jacob agrees. "The rest of us were so amazed."
"That was probably a coincidence," you say quickly. "Barbara needed to go do some prep work and it just kind of happened."
"Welllll," Jacob sing-songs, "Maybe we can help you out this weekend."
"What?" you say. "No, you don't need to do that."
"Just, like, a little help," says Janine. "Subtly."
You wonder if they can be subtle, either of these two. You stare out the window and try to imagine what really might happen over the next few days. And just how much it can involve Melissa.
--
Barbara's GPS makes her take a few wrong turns on the way up to Allentown, so by the time she and Melissa arrive, it's mid-afternoon.
"I apologize for those detours," Barbara says as they walk into the hotel, each pulling a suitcase. "I do not know what has gotten into my GPS lately."
"Not a prob, Barb," Melissa responds. "The real good stuff starts tonight." She elbows Barbara and Barbara gives her a smile back.
There's no line to check in at the front desk. The ladies stand next to each other, checking in separately. Out of the corner of her eye, Barbara thinks she sees her friend raise her eyebrows at the front desk clerk and slip him a wad of bills. But she's learned not to ask questions. Melissa gets things done.
Barbara wraps her hand around her bag handle and turns toward the elevators, looking back at her friend. "Shall we? I'd like to get a little nap in before the gala."
"You always do," Melissa says, smirking fondly at her friend.
"And you? What are your 'conference goals'?" Barbara teases in a holier-than-thou voice, knowing full well why they're here.
"Ya know, I'm really gonna focus on opportunities and learning," Melissa tosses back, an overly earnest look on her face.
Barbara purses her lips. "Opportunities to procure free supplies and learning about new drinks on the menu?"
Melissa breaks into a sly grin and rubs Barbara's shoulder. "Exactly, dear. Exactly."
--
You, Janine, and Jacob walk together through the hotel sliding doors. You spot two of your coworkers crossing in front of you on their way to the elevators. Janine shouts, "Hey Barbara! Melissa!"
They turn toward you. "Oh, hello!" Barbara calls.
"Almost the whole gang's here! This is so exciting. We can do a real Abbott team greeting. OK, hands in!" Janine says. "Abbott on three!"
She and Jacob stack their hands on top of each other, and Barbara does the same, followed after a moment by you.
Melissa has one hand crossed over her chest, the other gesturing in the air. "C'mon, Janine. This ain't T-ball. It's a hotel lobby. We're right in the way."
"Melissa," Barbara admonishes. "Be a good sport, please."
Melissa sighs and places her hand on yours. It's so warm. You can feel her thumb gently resting on your wrist.
Janine starts counting, "1...2...3...Abbott!" Everyone presses their hands down, and then lifts them up. Except Melissa. She lingers on yours for a moment, then runs her hand down your fingers and pulls away. You steal a glance at her but she's not looking at you.
Not wanting the interaction to end, you lean and whisper playfully, "Wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Nah, but don't tell Janine," she whispers back with a wink.
You head to the front desk, feeling as if you're floating. Did anyone notice the hand-stack interaction between you and Melissa? Did you imagine it?
Hotel check-in goes smoothly. You say goodbye to Jacob and Janine and head to unpack in your room, turning your mind to the first event: the conference gala. From what you hear, it'll involve good food, lots of drinks, and some dancing and mingling. You decide against a blazer for tonight, instead selecting wide-leg pants and a lacy V-neck top. Nice but not overdoing it. Or so you hope.