Collin Wesley had ended up calling me a few hours after my interview to tell me I was hired. I could barely believe it and Will didn't believe it. It just felt too easy. But then Will and I had researched the school and found out why I'd gotten the job so easily. It was rated half a star on Glassdoor. Still, I was going to make around three hundred a week, and I wasn't going to complain about that. It was more than what I made before.

So on Monday morning, my first day at the school, I woke up eager and ready to see how the day would go. I dressed in the same outfit I wore to my interview, since it was one I knew worked. After dropping off Elliot, I was out the door.

This time I wasn't as nervous going up to the school. Although now I knew it was a school for delinquents, I figured it couldn't be that bad. So I marched up to the front doors with confidence, reaching out my arms to push them open.

When the door didn't budge, m , and the momentum of my body sent me face-first into the door. I stumbled backwards a few steps in shock. My nose throbbed in pain as I quickly looked around to make sure no one had witnessed that. I blushed at my stupidity. Of course the door would be locked. I tried every single door of the front entrance, just to find out that all of them were locked. Scowling, I pressed my face to one on the far right, peering in. Hopefully someone walking by would notice me and open the door. Where was the guard? And why hadn't they given me a key? As a teacher, wouldn't I need one? I couldn't find a visitors button either.

When five minutes passed and no one did, I groaned in frustration. Maybe there was a different entrance I missed. I didn't want to be late. So I marched back down the steps and rounded the corner of the building, hoping to find a side door. The ground went from being paved to being made out of gravel. I could feel it crunching under my flats.

A shout of pain met my ears and my head snapped up instantly, looking around frantically. When I didn't see anyone, I relaxed slightly, but kept myself wary. Another cry of pain came and I realized it was coming from my right. Was there a fight happening? Slowly, I crept along the edge of the building, coming to an alleyway. I heard voices now. And they sounded threatening. My heart rate began to climb as I kept myself hidden behind the school wall, listening hard.

There was definitely a fight going on.

"I thought you guys came here to fight, not get the shit beaten out of you?" someone said in a taunting voice.

"You couldn't hurt me with those tiny fists even if you tried," another person retorted.

"Well how about I try and find out now?"

There was the sound of skin hitting skin and a low groan. I flinched back. What the heck was I supposed to do? These people were fighting! Was I supposed to pretend that I hadn't noticed? But what if someone got hurt? Swallowing my fear, I stepped out into the entrance. My eyes landed upon four guys dressed in the school's uniform; black slacks, a white button-down shirt, a black jacket, and a navy tie.

Two of the menthem were on the ground. Well more like, one with short brown hair was lying on the ground, being punched in the face repeatedly by the other, who had shaggy mahogany colored hair. The one being punched had blood all over his face and the arm trying to cover his face was covered in tattoos. I stared at the pair horrified for a moment, before turning to the other two. One of them was tall and had dark colored hair. He was dodging punches being thrown by the other man, who had dirty blonde hair. The tides suddenly changed as the umber haired boy threw a punch, lightly nicking the blonde.

No one had noticed me yet, and I was doing all I could to stop myself from running away. I had to stop these guys before they killed each other! I took a few nervous steps closer to the men. Suddenly, my foot slipped and I fell over backward, letting out a yelp of surprise. I landed on my butt hard and winced, squeezing my eyes shut. All sounds of fighting immediately ceased and I felt my heart skip a beat.

When I opened my eyes all four men were staring at me. I stared back, becoming instantly terrified.

"Who are you?" the blonde one demanded, a scowl crossing his features.

I didn't respond at first, still gaping at the four intimidating men before me. All of them were tense, their hands still balled in fists.

The umber haired one chuckled, an amused look crossing his face. "Nice view."

At first I was surprised by his voice, he had a heavy English accent, but as his words registered in my mind I grew confused... until I realized that my legs were still spread from my fall and that I was wearing a skirt. Blushing furiously, I pulled myself to my feet, glaring at the brunet. He returned my look with an amused one.

"What am I doing?" I asked, turning to look at the blonde. "What are you four doing? I may be new here, but I'm sure that fighting is against the school rules."

The blonde gave me a withering look. "Your point?"

"We don't give a crap about the school rules," the mahogany haired one commented offhandedly. "It's not like anyone is around to snitch on us."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not anyone?"

"No," the blonde said, taking a step closer. "Because you're not going to tell anyone and I'm going to make sure of it."

My eyes widened and I took a step back, frightened by his look. He continued to advance on me, and I stumbled backward, trying to keep the distance.

"Hey."

Both the blonde's and my attention snapped to the man with the English accent. He looked at the pair of us lazily, a look of indifference on his face. "Tucker, you can threaten her as much as you want later, but we're in the middle of a fight, aren't we?"

The blonde, Tucker, scowled at him. "But she's—"

"Do you really think she's going to go tell someone? She's petrified. We have about five minutes until class begins, let's try to finish this."

"Hey," I interrupted glaring at the English guy. "I came over here to stop this fight, and I'm not going to let you continue it."

The mahogany man snorted and I turned my glare on him for a split-second before returning it to the English guy again. His lip twitched in amusement. "And how," he started, taking a few steps toward me, "do you expect to do that?"

"Uh," I hesitated, determined to hold my ground and not be intimidated by this guy "I'll, uh..."

"Uh," he mocked, an amused smirk now evident on his face. "That's such a scary threat."

I flushed in embarrassment, glaring at the man as best as I could. Tucker chuckled. "Can't we just teach her a quick lesson?" he suggested, looking at the imploringly.

"I suppose we have time," he responded.

"What about the fight?" the English one demanded, glaring at the other two. "Huh?"

"We can finish it later," Tucker said dismissively.

"What? You're just backing out because you were losing!" the short-haired brunet accused.

"Cowards," the English man added.

"That's it," Tucker growled, advancing on the English man again, fist raised. "Let's see how long your pretty face lasts against my fists."

"Hey!" I cried, moving forward to place myself between the two. "Don't!"

Tucker didn't stop. I flinched, expecting to be hit, but a hand on my shoulder yanked me to the side forcefully, and out of the way. "You're an idiot," the English one snapped, giving me a push backward. "Stay out of it."

"I will not stand here and let you guys fight," I said, standing up straighter.

All four men stared at me, varying expressions on their faces. The short-haired brunet looked the most amused. But before anything else could happen though, a piercing noise sounded across the gap.

The school bell, also known as My Savior.

"Crap!" the brunet cried. "If I'm late again I'm going to get detention for two weeks!"

Some nasty words were thrown around, but the men dispersed, the English one shooting me a dirty look as he brushed by. For a second I felt relieved, until I remembered that if those guys were late, it meant I was late too. I quickly left the gap, heading back toward the main entrance. I was in luck:, another person was walking up the steps. I walked as quickly as I could, trying to catch the woman.

"Wait!" I cried, stumbling up the steps as she opened the door.

The woman turned at looked at me curiously, but held the door open. I walked up to the door, slightly out of breath. "Thank you," I said, looking up at her.

She had short brown hair that just barely went past her shoulders and chocolate colored eyes. She looked like she was maybe in her mid-thirties. Smiling warmly, she raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, the doors were just locked and I didn't know how to get in," I told her, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

The woman chuckled. "You must be new here. The doors are usually always locked. Students can use their I.D to open the door, but there's a visitor's button you can press right on the wall there. "

She pointed out of the glass doors to a small red button that had the words "visitor's button" written above it. I frowned, trying to figure out how I hadn't seen it.

"Whoops," I commented, forcing out a laugh. "And yeah, I'm new here."

"Nice to meet you then," the woman said, holding out her hand. "I'm Emma Rose."

"Harley Allen," I told her, taking her hand and shaking it. "Nice to meet you too."

"What grade are you in?"

My heart sunk a little and I frowned at her. So she thought I was a student? Did that mean I didn't look any older at all?

"I'm actually a new substitute teacher here," I told her, scratching my head. "Don't be deceived by my looks."

Emma blinked in surprise. "Really? The new Home Economics sub?"

I blinked back at her, a little bit taken aback. Had the principal already mentioned me? "Yeah, that's me."

"I heard you looked young, but you look really young!" she responded, her eyes wide. "You're twenty-one, right?"

"Right," I responded, fiddling with my fingers in nervousness.

"Some people get all the luck! I wish I looked that young."

I forced a laugh. "Yeah..."

"Well it was nice meeting you Harley, but I'm late," Emma informed me, glancing at her watch. "Good luck with your first day! You're going to need it."

I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant, but she was already walking away. I frowned after her, a little miffed. What did she mean? I was going to need luck? Was it because of the students? Whatever she meant, it couldn't be as bad as what happened earlier with the people fighting.

Realization abruptly washed over me. If those men fighting were in uniforms, didn't that mean they were students? And if they were students that meant they could be in one of my classes...

Suddenly I was regretting my decision to take this job.

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Hmm.... I can't believe how short these chapters are. In Hired to Love I write 2,500-3,000 words per chapter. My longest was 5,000. These ones aren't even 2,000.