Chapter Text
You just parked your car in the school parking lot. Your hands have a slight flicker, you're very nervous about the interview you will be holding soon.
Take a deep breath and try to relax, or at least give the impression that you are relaxed and not so anxious.
Grab your bag and get out of the car, check the watch on your wrist and it's more than half an hour before your appointment, so you have time to stop at the cafeteria.
You've been here before, you needed to know the area. The café near school is really nice and you like the atmosphere inside.
You enter in the coffee shop, there are many teachers and students probably because the lessons have not started yet.
You've had other job interviews in your life, no one has ever asked you to show up at 8 in the morning, most of them started around 10:00 in the morning or 11:00 and lasted very little.
You approach the counter and politely ask for an espresso, the bartender smiles and immediately begins to prepare it.
You stand at the counter and wait for your drink to be ready.
You can hear background chatter, the tables are all full of talking people and students with open books.
Suddenly a woman joins you, she's very tall, well dressed and with lipstick of a beautiful color. She smiles at the bartender who approaches her immediately and listens carefully to her request.
The bartender nods and immediately goes to prepare the woman's coffee.
Looking away from her, you noticed that she was going to turn in your direction and you wouldn't want to meet her eyes and make her know that you were staring at her. Finally comes your espresso, add half a bag of sugar and dip the spoon stirring for a few seconds.
The bartender approaches again and hands the woman the coffee in a paper cup, she thanks and leaves.
She didn't stop at the cash, so she didn't pay. By this you understand that she's a regular customer, maybe a professor from Nevermore who frequents the cafe.
When you leave the cafeteria, it's ten minutes to eight, now you can enter the school even if you're afraid you'll stay in the waiting room hoping the principal is on time.
You remember that you heard about this job while you were on the train and you were coming home after an interview in an office (it went wrong, you were not chosen).
Two professors were talking about the principal's work and her need for a secretary. They named the school, so you looked it up online to find out more. You didn't find any pictures of teachers or the principal.
A few days later a small window appeared on the site where there was the job announcement for a secretary, you were probably the first to see it and send your resume.
A few days later you were contacted by email by the principal herself, "Larissa Weems" name you had never heard before.
The email was short and a simple:
"Good morning, thank you for sending the resume. The interview will take place on Monday at the Nevermore Academy at 8:00 am, when you arrive ask for information.
-Larissa Weems"
You reach the information point and a woman approaches you.
"Are you here for the interview?" Her tone of voice is gentle, she has a smile on her face and big glasses that make her a bit fun.
"Yes, I have not received any information about the room where it will take place" the woman shows understanding and nods.
"The interviews take place at the principal's office, go straight into that hallway, the fifth door to the right"
You nod and repeat in your mind the information. You reach the fifth door on the right and slam your knuckles on the wood.
You get an answer and before you open the door take a deep breath: it will be fine, you can do it.
"Good morning Principal Weems"
You accompany the greeting with a smile and when you approach the desk show your hand and wait for her to grab it, to greet the principal formally.
The woman gets up from the desk showing her full height. Her lips tilt in a smile and gently grab your hand.
You have no doubt, she's the woman you met at the cafeteria. A quick look at the desk confirms it, there's a paper cup just like the one that took the woman, it's definitely her.
"You have a familiar face" she says as she sits on her chair, nodding at the armchairs in front of the desk, a gesture to invite you to sit down.
You sit down and suddenly you feel very little, she must have put these slightly lower chairs on the desk on purpose.
"Maybe we met at the coffee shop, I was there"
On her lips appears an amused smile, this makes you understand that she remembered very well where you saw each other, maybe she just put you to the test to know if you remember her too.
"Oh yes, you're right, it was just a moment, I don't know how I could remember"
She opens her laptop and from the movement of her eyes you understand that she's looking for something.
"I read your resume, it's very interesting. Young but with the right experience"
You nod and agree with her.
"Why did you leave your old jobs? I saw that you assisted an important fashion icon"
Her look is sharp, it seems to intimidate you. You better settle in the armchair, keeping your back straight and your bag on your legs.
"I've been fired" you respond briefly, not wanting to go into detail.
The woman makes a gesture to tell you to keep talking. You seem embarrassed.
"I got the coffee order wrong twice, for the boss seemed like a good reason to fire me"
Admitting this detail embarrasses you, you feel a bit silly for having taken the wrong coffee twice, but you know very well that it was not a good reason for firing and it was an unfair action.
"That's it?" the woman asks with surprise, her eyes become more calm, distracted by this news that you reported.
"Lucky for you I take a simple cappuccino" she smiles.
"I don't need any more interviews. You arrived early but you waited at the coffee shop to show up on time, your clothes are fashionable and you have enough experience to manage my agenda."
You're speechless, you've never met someone so detailed.
"You can start tomorrow, come to my office at half past seven"
You smile excited, you've never been so happy to be hired as a secretary.
"All right, thank you, Principal Weems."
You get up and show your hand again, she imitates your gesture and this time the handshake is stronger on both sides.