Dream On

DREAM ON

Chapter 1

Stephanie James stood in front of her full length mirror checking if her face was ok because as a P.E teacher, she really didn't need to dress hot or too professional. In fact all she needed was her bag which contained the register, her extra clothes in case the current one got dirty and lip-gloss just to prevent dry lips. She slapped her face twice with a little talcum powder and gave herself a thumbs up while using her eyes to scan her ensemble for approval, after confirming that she looked presentable, she walked out of her room and parlor apartment, heading to work. She greeted Mrs. Johnson who had a shop down the estate she lived in, it wasn't a big estate but it was very secure and usually quiet. Taking a taxi to the high school she taught in, Stephanie thought about how the country wasn't fair to people who had degrees in other courses using herself as an example, she graduated as a business administrator and didn't get a job after completing her service to the country instead she got a job as a teacher in a private school where the students paid too much as fees compared to the little the teachers got as wages. She sighed at the back of the taxi where she sat before realizing that they had stopped at the school gates, she was happy there was not the usual traffic jam everyone experienced every morning for the rush hour which made them late to work but yet again she was still gloomy to be in the premises, she was a Physical Education teacher who mainly taught the kids practical stuff than the theories associated with the subject.

"Hey, Good morning. You came early today", Samuel the biology teacher said behind her which honestly startled Stephanie but she didn't and wouldn't let it show. He creeped her out.

"Yes, I'm early. No go slow on the road, as you like to make an emphasis on every time I'm late", she rolled her eyes at him as she gave the sarcastic reply.

"Don't say it like you're annoyed knowing you came earlier than I did, besides you know that I love you and would do anything to make you happy. I haven't seen you smile since you started working here and I promised myself to put that smile on your face". And once again, Stephanie was reminded of one of the reasons she hated coming to this school, Samuel Obi who claimed to be in love with her but she actually felt he was a stalker because he seemed to show up everywhere she was. Worst still, he always chose the worst times to confess his love.

"Yea sure, I have first period so I will leave you first" she made her words short and clear so she wouldn't have to talk to him later in the day before walking away from him.

"Alright love, I'll see you during break time" he smiled while waving but the smile never reached his eyes not that Stephanie was even going to spare him another glance, she actually never wanted to see him again. And he just invited himself to another part of her day.

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"You two at the back, come down and give me 50 push-ups. The girls you four, run round the field two times" She hissed at the teenagers who were adding to her misery, they all mumbled and grumpily came down from their seats to do their punishment.

"They seem to be stressing you very much these days, here's a bottle of coke for you to cool off" Samuel said while walking into the gym area with a smile etched in his face as usual. Stephanie always wanted to tell him that he looked creepy and really stupid but she also used every fiber in her body to avoid small talk with him because she didn't really care especially not for a conversation with him. Since she didn't want to appear impolite in front of the kids, she groggily took the plastic bottled coke from his outstretched hand not after giving him a glare.

"We'll take three minutes break for now, form two lines and get equal numbers for the lines, we'll play dodge ball after the break." She looked at Samuel who was still smiling and walked over to one of the seats where she drank half of the coke.

"Thank you very much for the drink but can you please stop popping out of nowhere and everywhere?" she said to him in a deathly calm voice, the kids had nicknamed her cold face because she had never smiled in front of them and Samuel was nicknamed Smiley mask because of the smile that he never took off.

"No can do, Princess." He winked at her but she ignored him and returned to the field to instruct the kids, she still had 10 minutes more before she could go to her office and wallow in self-pity.

"Alright, who are the team leaders?" She asked and when two students raised their hands in reply, she continued. "Good! Hassan and Mike stay at the back so the smaller ones on the team can be at the front!. Get into positions everyone and start!" she yelled out the instructions and from her peripheral vision, she saw him at the gym door looking at her with hooded eyes right before he left.

Only five minutes had passed which meant she had five more before her one hour class ended but she was starting to get dizzy when her friend, Bola came in wearing a tight black skirt and a lemon chiffon work top. "Babe, I knew you'd be in gym. Why don't you ever use the class? Hey...Bae, Steph are you ok?" "Quick, let's take her to the hospital", Samuel was already rushing back into the gym. When did he even enter? Or did he never leave? He sure did appear fast. That really was creepy.

She couldn't reply as she dropped to the floor and closed her eyes greeting the darkness that had become a huge part of her life.