Chapter Text
“Christen pay attention to meeeeee” Julie whined through the iPhone screen.
Christen put her hands up in surrender, relinquishing her grip on the spatula she was using to mix the pumpkin spice cookies she was making.
“Jules chill, I can multitask”
The younger girl rolled her eyes and squared up to the camera. She had been face-timing her sister, well technically her step-sister but they had been around each other since Julie was in diapers, from her dorm room in Pebble Beach, California while Christen lived in Chicago.
“Chris,” JJ used her “commander” voice, the same one she used on the field, “you’ve been baking non-stop since Neymar left. Take fifteen minutes and talk to your favorite little sister whom you absolutely adore”
At the mention of her now ex-fiancé’s name, Press set her baking tools down and sunk into a barstool. It had been four months since her high school sweetheart and the assumed love of her life decided to cheat on her after a less than impressive win over the United States Men’s team.
“You’re right,” Christen nursed a half full glass of wine “how are you?
Julie gave her sister a sad smile; one that told Press that the younger girl sympathized with the elder’s situation.
“Eh I’m good! I’m guessing you heard that KO got the APUSH job already?”
Christen’s eyes sparkled at the mention of her childhood best friend. Kelley O’Hara had grown up with the Press-Johnston family, their dads worked together in the military. Kelley had been the bubbly and wild antithesis to Press’s quiet and introverted personality and they got along swimmingly.
Those two ended up going to college together, playing soccer and becoming Stanford’s star forwards while making a name for themselves in the NCAA world. Christen had decided to go pro, earning spots on the US National Team and the Chicago Red Stars. Kelley had opted out of professional sports and went straight into teaching high school history.
Kelley now had gotten a job teaching AP US History at Stevenson School, an exclusive boarding school in the heart of coastal California. The same boarding school that Press, Kelley and now Julie attended.
“Oh right! Mrs. O’Hara did tell me about that. How’s it going?”
“She’s hilarious per usual, and it’s nice to have her around. It makes being homesick a little less intense. Hey Chris,” Julie’s eyes lit up with an idea “we need a new art history teacher and Mrs. Mitts just left. YOU SHOULD TOTALLY APPLY”
The oldest Press-Johnston sister laughed, harder than she had in a while, at her little sister getting a little too excited over the prospect of having Christen teach and live at her school.
Honestly, Christen didn’t have a good reason to say no to Julie.
For starters, the kid was cute as shit. With her blonde hair and precious blue eyes begging for her big sister, her idol growing up, to come and be around her all the time like they used to.
And it would be nice to get out of Chicago, to leave behind the memories and the heartache that had happened within its city limits. The lease on the apartment was going to be up any day, soccer was getting old and Christen had been thinking about retirement. So really, what did Press have to lose?
“I could get out of Chicago. And I do remember loving my Stevenson days.”
JJ squealed, too excited for words. “Yes Pressy! Okay I have to go but I’ll have Kelley send the application link. I love you!”
Christen let out a laugh. Julie never failed in getting her to smile.
“Sounds good Jules, love you”
~
“Welcome back to Stevenson Miss Press” Headmistress Christie Rampone, the same headmistress that was in charge when Press was a kid, greeted her favorite student as she walked into the regal office.
Christen smiled, giving Christie a hug over an ancient and beautifully hand carved desk with Stevenson’s crest engraved into the top.
“Thank you Mrs. Rampone, I never thought I’d be so excited to be back!”
Christie laughed, grabbing a folder from the shelf and motioning for Christen to follow her out of the office.
The pair walked along the tree lined quad, the scent of cherry blossoms and the ocean wafted through the idyllic campus. Christen inhaled slowly, memories of being a quiet teenager sneaking out of her dorm at midnight with her friends in order to go sit on the beach and watch the stars.
Press felt a grin creep onto her face when she passed her old dorm, Atwood Hall, and thought back to so many afternoons doing her homework at the long common room tables. Or of giggling with Kelley and Alex long after lights out and getting yelled at by their house mom.
Stevenson was the place of so many great memories for her and Press couldn’t help but feel like she had finally come home.
“I’ll spare you the extensive tour since you’re familiar with the campus already. You’ll be teaching in McKinley, our humanities building.” Rampone opened the door to an ivy covered brick building.
“Here’s our language wing, Fraulein Krieger’s classroom borders yours on the left”
Ali Krieger, a few years older than Press but still a good boarding school friend, coached a group of sophomores through simple greetings while a hand rested on her small but visible baby bump. Press caught the eye of Julie, sitting in the front row with her lip slightly stuck out, trying to keep up. JJ happened to look over at the door and beamed, giving her sister a little wave.
“And you’ll be happy to know that Kelley O’Hara is teaching our AP US History class directly across from you.”
They paused in front of Christen’s new classroom to watch Kelley, dressed in a replica Revolutionary War coat while standing on a desk delivering a rousing period speech.
Christie shook her head, amused that her newest history teacher was still the same rambunctious and bright kid she had spent many years scolding up and down the hallways of Stevenson.
“Your first class beings tomorrow morning at nine-thirty. You’re teaching two sections of AP Art History, Honors drawing and you’ll be monitoring an afternoon study hall for the varsity soccer team. Any questions?”
Christen shook her head, running a hand along rubber tables, getting herself reacquainted with the room she spent so many afternoons in, getting lost in her art. Her fingers grazed a small carving, a set of initials, one that she had witnessed the creation of.
Four letters she hadn’t seen together in almost ten years. Ten years that came and went and one question left unanswered along with one person that Press hadn’t done right by in her seven years within Stevenson’s walls.
“Christen?” Christie pulled her former student out of her dreamy daze “before I leave you to get familiar with your classroom, you should know that a certain midfielder was just hired as our P.E coach.”
The color drained from Christen’s face.
“She’s here?”
Rampone nodded, a small smile playing at the edge of her lips. She had been privy to the relationship her two staff members had when they were young. Star-crossed lovers she had nicknamed them, whenever Christie caught those two stealing away from assemblies or late at night when they thought nobody would be patrolling the dorm halls.
“She’s here and it might behoove you to talk to her. Soon.”
Press nodded and gave her boss a small wave as she walked out of the room. Once Christie disappeared, Christen let out a sigh and collapsed into her desk.
It was going to be a long year.