Chapter Text
The students of Gladstone Academy were spoiled.
That particular thought crossed Cecily Atwood's mind as she looked up at the large white ship the students would use for their extracurricular summer trip. The children who attended the academy received educational privileges many parents would kill for, albeit metaphorically. True, girls needed exposure to the sciences; such exposure shouldn't be limited to the few who managed to get into the school.
A sigh escaped Cecily's lips. She found herself in charge of the extracurricular excursion because she was the new teacher, not to mention the youngest, having fast-tracked her own education during her own high school years, making her current thoughts a tad hypocritical. She'd simply not thought of the matter much until she found herself teaching at the academy.
Pulling her sparse luggage over her shoulder, she boarded the boat hoping the trip wouldn't make her head hurt from dealing with the students heading into the fifth grade after summers end. The captain of the boat and one of the two scientists who would be teaching the girls about marine biology greeted her; she responded nervously before turning her attention towards watching for the girls' approach.
Another sigh escaped her lips upon seeing the girl approach. The clothes Amy Walton wore were inappropriate for the messy tasks the marine biologists might make the girls partake in; specifically, the tasks would likely ruin the clothes if the girl spilled anything on them, yet Cecily wasn't surprised given the fact she knew Amy was of one of the prestigious families at Gladstone.
Next to arrive was Heather Montgomery. The girl looked her teacher right in the eye, frowning as she did so. "Just to let you know, the only reason I'm here on this trip is because I got in trouble. Big trouble."
"I don't want to know how many times I'm going to sigh before today is over, let alone the girls get here." She watched Heather walk over to the side rather than going below deck to stow her luggage and begin playing a video game. Cecily decided she'd best keep her sighs in check and act like a teacher who was in charge. Stepping over, she tapped on Heather's shoulder. "You do know that you're not here to play video games."
She expected Heather to roll her eyes or throw a tantrum. Instead, she got a sigh. "I know. I'll put it away when things get started. I don't like doing nothing."
"I'll hold you to that." Despite wanting the girls to know she was in charge, she also didn't want to be the teacher who made learning a miserable task. "Watch. They'll walk all over you, and you'll regret giving a little leeway."
"Where's my room." The bubble Felicity Rhodes blew from her mouth snapped in a rather annoying manner.
"Please spit the gum out."
"Really? You're going to be that kind of teacher."
"I doubt the marine biologists would appreciate your bubble gum contaminating their work." This time she received an eye roll. She ignored the eye role and focused on showing Felicity her room. She found Amy roving the halls, yet the girl seemed a bit dazed. More importantly, she hoped Amy wouldn't live up to the dumb blond stereotype which in turn made Cecily chide herself for not giving the girl a chance.
Upon arriving on deck again, she found Chelsey Bianchi arguing with Heather regarding the games – something about cheating, trading and being one to talk. More specifically, Chelsey accused Heather of being one to talk when Heather refused to trade Pokémon – whatever that was – because Chelsey cheated at the game. Without realizing it, Cecily let out a sigh, something she wished she'd not done despite the two girls not noticing. "Please don't make me confiscate your game systems."
Her eyes caught sight of Natalie Long approaching the boat. The girl's dark eyes blinked. "I'm the last one?"
"Yes. We'll be able to leave." Cecily nodded her head at Mr. Long. "We'll be sure to take care of your daughter."
"I am hoping our Natalie will prove the most successful with the activities you give the students."
"This isn't a competition."
"I still expect her to excel and do the best."
Natalie nodded her head, yet something made Cecily doubt the girl's confidence. When her father left, and the boat was underway, she asked. "Is there a reason you think you won't do well?"
"Of course I'll do well!" Natalie nearly choked on her own words. "I checked, double-checked, even triple checked my luggage. It's not as if my careful plans have already gone awry by not arriving first."
Cecily let out a sigh, hoping said sigh would be the last, yet she knew the trip wouldn't be easy. In fact, there was an inkling in the back of her head that she might fail miserably, not to mention have a major headache when everything was said and done.