Karli didn’t have a hard time hiding it, the fact that she preferred women to men. She went on dates here and there, was a flirt when she needed to be. Most people assumed she was like any other teacher – too passionate and busy molding the minds and talents of the young to focus too much on a man. The old folks would sometimes joke that she ought to settle down, raise a family. Her friends weren’t too interested in pushing her to do so, if only to tease her each time one of them got married, or announced a pregnancy, that Karli would be ‘forever the bridesmaid, never the bride,’ or that she would be able to spend all that time not being a mother herself to play aunt to their children.
She pretended that it didn’t bother her, since her loneliness was self-imposed; she couldn’t imagine herself settling down with a man to placate the town around her. There were very few gay women she had encountered, and those relationships had always been secretive, and sadly short. Her town wasn’t the most open, like many small towns, and she often found herself wondering how long it would be before her loneliness pushed her out of her beloved hometown, or out of her comfort zone of remaining under the radar.
All things considered, she adhered to keeping herself out of trouble with the fear of being discovered. Though she had dated, she hadn’t found the person that would break her of her intentional isolation, and she didn’t know if or when it would happen. That’s possibly what led her to not suspecting that when she was entirely unaware, when she was wholly not waiting for it – someone would come around that would shake her and make her question whether she wanted to continue her life as it was.
It was early in the school year, barely two weeks in. The freshman American History teacher, Mr. Philips, had suddenly announced his resignation, and made a swift, sudden exit from Pemberley High School. There were rumors all around as to why he left. Some thought that perhaps his drinking problem had become too much to deal with while working a full load with students to boot – others felt he was perhaps too old and senile and had just finally snapped in his tender old age. Whatever the case, they needed a permanent teacher. Substitutes were few and far between and only so many from the next city over were ever willing to come and play the part of teacher for their small town (a fact that caused a small bit of resentment among the townsfolk.)
A week or so went by, and nothing. It wasn’t looking good for the school, though the students weren’t too worried about it – Kari suspected that they were quite happy to have no replacement history teacher, and were entirely fine with being cast to the wayside, the gap in their education left woefully opened. That was, until the quarter was coming to a close, and the Principal McKinnon announced she had hired someone.
Kari, for the most part, thought little of the replacement history teacher. She was friends with a few of the faculty, but she had never been particularly close to Mr. Philips before he made his unexpected departure, and she was more focused on her students’ portfolios than she was on anything else regarding who was and wasn’t being hired on – until she saw her.
Mary Jordan was a stunning woman. Taller than most, full-bodied. Kari hadn’t had a sudden attraction like that for months. It was the kind that made her blush when Mary had looked at her from across the staff room as Principal McKinnon introduced her, avert her eyes and pretend like she was very, very focused on her planner (which was actually quite blank, and unused at that point in the day.) Mary had merely smiled at her, that kind of knowing smile that Kari had gotten to know quite well, the one that said I know, I’m like you too.
The unfortunate thing was that Kari knew she couldn’t make much of anything out of that smile – not working so close together, and for god’s sake she didn’t know anything about the woman! She’d stay to herself. That was better than getting involved in something that she wouldn’t be able to pull herself out of…
One Week Later
“Hi, I don’t think we’ve properly met.”
Kari swallowed, knowing the voice at her classroom door before she even looked up. To say that she had been avoiding Mary would have been a dire understatement. She hadn’t so much as trekked down the hall that Mary’s classroom was, taking the long routes around the school to get to needed to go at all times. It was dramatic on her part, she knew, but she couldn’t imagine going about the day otherwise; she was too captivated by Mary on sight and she didn’t need to embarrass herself, nor make herself look too obvious by stumbling over her words to the woman.
Mary, however, was a tenacious sort and Kari should have known by the way the other teachers talked about her that if Mary wanted to initiate conversation with her, then she would and wouldn’t hold back. When she looked up at Mary, leaning casually against her door, that bright and knowing smile on her lips, Kari knew that she had been had.
“Oh. Hello Ms. Jordan,” Kari said, finally finding her voice and but a teaspoon of gumption. “No, I don’t think we have; busy week.”
“Oh, I know it,” she said pleasantly, walking into the room. Kari almost told her not to, but reminded herself that that wouldn’t be particularly polite. Mary went on. “For such a small school, there’s so much to do. Mr. Philips didn’t leave much by way of notes on the students and where they were, and neither did any of the substitute teachers. I’m doing a lot of catching up, but figured before the first bell rang, I could formally meet the last of my coworkers that I haven’t.”
Mary stopped in front of her, holding out her hand to shake. Kari stared at it, feeling terribly like a fish caught out of the water, helpless. Her face was glaringly red once more, and she could feel it in the heat that radiated through her cheeks at it.
“It’s fine,” Mary said, encouraging. “I promise I don’t bite.”
There was something teasing in the tone and Kari couldn’t help the blush of her cheeks steadily creeping up to her ears. She shook Mary’s hand, firmer than she usually would, trying to show a bit of confidence that she didn’t have. Mary, for her part, seemed pleased with this, and pulled a seat from one of the nearby desks to seat herself at.
“I do apologize if I caught you off guard, barging in here,” she said. “I just like to know everyone that I work with, and so far you’re the only one that’s been too busy to say hi!”
“Oh, yes,” Kari said, embarrassed though Mary’s voice didn’t reveal any anger or frustration on that fact. “I’m sorry. I usually get so wrapped up in the students and their work that I sometimes forget my manners.”
Mary chuckled. “It’s alright, I was only teasing. Honestly, I’m quite impressed. The most that everyone wants to do around here is gossip the day away; I don’t think I’ve ever had my ear talked off so much. I think everyone wants to know if the big city teacher is going to be a pain in the butt for everyone around.”
Kari couldn’t help herself, and laughed, quickly stifling it behind her mouth. That wouldn’t be too far off the mark; Mary had apparently studied at one of the larger colleges out of state, had come from teaching in a city easily three times larger with five times the number of schools. There was an equal fascination and vexation with her presence that had accumulated over the last week alone.
“Well, yes,” Kari said. “They’re not used to a teacher like you, I don’t think. You have big ideas.”
Mary smiled at that. “That I do –” The first bell rang, signaling the students to begin flooding into their classrooms. Mary stood, straightening out her skirt and shirt. “Well, looks like it’s time to do some work. Don’t be a stranger, Ms. Anders! Like I said – I promise I don’t bite.”
***
Kari and Mary ended up eating lunch together that day. To her credit and surprise, Kari managed to reign in her embarrassment over the fixation that she had with Mary, holding a conversation with the woman from the beginning to the end of the lunch period. They were on different ends of the teaching spectrum – Kari, the artistic, subjective line, and Mary, the factual. They got along well, however, and Kari found that Mary was easy and pleasing to talk to, open with all her o
pinions, and far from being afraid to state what she thought about a topic. There was a certain kinship that Kari felt, an ease with which she could talk to Mary.
By the end of the week, their routine had fallen into place. Kari no longer avoided the hall in which Mary held her classes – even went to her in the mornings to talk and compare classroom complaints before the day set in. Mary would visit during their once-a-day shared free period, and at lunch they would retreat to the staff room to discuss whatever hot topic of the day was, whether it be class related or politics or art.
A week turned into two turned into three and a month of Mary working with her revealed a few things to Kari. Mary was easily the most relatable person that she had ever met in her life – she was vibrant and open in the ways that many people weren’t in her town. She was quick to call out the deep-rooted prejudices that were held by many, often speaking passionately of the progress that needed to be made in heartlands like theirs. Often, these ideas weren’t well-received from others but Kari… she understood where Mary came from, and they became fast friends.
The thing was, Kari wondered at times if friends was the only thing that could come of her interactions with Mary. She had remembered that knowing smile that Mary had given her the first day that they had met, the reassurance, the knowing in it… it didn’t feel like a simple friendly smile. And perhaps it was wishful thinking on her part, but there were often time that Mary would say something or do something out of the realms of what was typical friendly conversation or action. A lingering touch here, a comment that could be taken a certain way…
Kari told herself, many times when she would think about it after a long day and those goodbyes to Mary as they parted ways at the end of the school day, that it was nothing… but there was something stronger than even her own voice in her head telling her that it wasn’t – that she needed to at least confirm and make sure before sweeping something potentially great under the rug.
***
“Mary? You have a moment?”
Kari stood nervously at Mary’s classroom door. They had gotten out of the habit of calling each other ‘Ms. Anders’ and ‘Ms. Jordan,’ at least in private. Kari enjoyed the familiarity, but even now Mary’s name hung on her tongue nervously and uncertain.
Nevertheless, she came in when Mary greeted her, beckoning her over to her desk as she graded over papers. Kari closed the door behind her, knowing that she didn’t want their conversation overheard by any nosey coworkers or lingering students. Mary raised a brow at that, but didn’t tell her to open it back up. For that, Kari was grateful.
“Is something the matter, Kari?” she asked, head tilted, and curious. Kari shook her head, pulling up a chair to sit next to Mary.
“We’re… friends, right Mary?” she asked. Mary nodded.
“Of course. Why?”
Kari swallowed. She had never done something like this before – never at work, never with someone she had known for so little time. It was more than a little anxiety inducing, and she had to steel herself in order to go on. “I know we haven’t spoken for very long. And this… is not something I usually find myself asking of another… female coworker. But. If I’m not mistaken, you’re like me, aren’t you?” she asked, dancing around the exact words.
Mary regarded her for a moment, before putting her papers and books aside. Kari was quiet, watching, wondering.
“You mean, do I like women?” she asked. Kari swallowed.
No going back now.
“Yes. You… you like women too, don’t you?”
Mary smiled at her. It wasn’t cruel or judging; it was the same warm, knowing smile that she had given her when she had been introduced by Principal McKinnon. That reassured Kari – but not more than what Mary did next.
Mary leaned forward, bumping her nose against Kari’s before pressing her lips to hers. It was an unhurried, sweet sort of kiss. All warmth and softness that made Kari’s heart flutter in her chest and her knees weak. She was sure that if she had been standing she would have buckled, but she merely leaned into the kiss, sighing softly before they pulled away.
“I very much like women,” she said. “And I like you, too.”
Kari flushed, face redder than it had been.
I very much like women. And I like you, too.
The words repeated in her head. She had prepared herself for a negative reaction – for Mary to be disgusted, or pitying of her and her silly inquiry. But Mary… Mary was like her. Mary liked her.
Kari’s heart beat, a chaotic drum in her chest. She did the only thing that she could think of in the moment, and that was tug at Mary’s collar, pulling her close for another kiss. She was eager – elated – lips desperate against Mary’s. It was risky, potentially damaging. Should someone walk in on them and see –
She pulled away, but only just. Mary’s smile was wide, quite pleased with herself. Kari bit her lip, deciding that she could chance another question if this was how Mary was reacting to her.
“You want to go see a movie sometime?”
***
Kari waited nervously outside the local theatre. It didn’t boast sixteen screens like the town over (just a modest five) but it was the only one that locals went to, fiercely loyal to the local businesses, and it was cheap, not to mention slow during the week nights.
Mary had agreed to go see a movie with her. Kari could barely remember what the movie was, just that Mary had said she’d be delighted to go to a movie with her. It wouldn’t be seen as strange on the outside – two new friends blowing steam out one evening, even teachers did that – but Kari knew it for what it was. She was on a date. A date, with another woman, and though she reminded herself over and over again that it was a bad idea, that people might end up talking – her nerves were a product of her excitement, more than they were of her fear.
“Hey, Kari!”
She started, looking over. Mary trotted up to her, dressed prettily as she did at work, though decidedly more casual. She beamed at Kari, and Kari couldn’t help but return the smile.
“Hey, Mary. Glad to see you,” she said. She rocked a little on her feet, feeling a bit like a high school kid, in all honesty. When had she become such a flighty woman?
“Glad to see you too, Kari darling.” She gave a wink, setting Kari’s face to blush as red as it ever did. Before Mary could make her anymore a tomato than she already was, Kari nodded forward, walking them up to the ticket booth.
“Kari!” Peter, the night’s clerk, greeted enthusiastically. He was an old student of hers, still young, still trying to figure out what he wanted in life. Kari smiled at him.
“Hey, Peter. Two for –” She looked to Mary, the name of the movie they were supposed to be watching lost to her.
“Two for King Kong.”
Peter laughed. “Really? Don’t ladies like watching romantic comedies they can cry over together and talk about how hot the male lead is?” he said, nonetheless printing out tickets and accepting Mary’s payment of them. Mary laughed right back.
“Don’t you know? Ladies love excitement and hardly need to spend a movie talking about men. Come on, Kari. Let’s find a good seat!”
They grabbed drinks and popcorn on the way up, showing their tickets when needed. Kari was glad that the theatre tended to show more movies that had been out for a while, over new ones. Their screening room was completely empty, aside from them. Mary practically bounced in excitement.
“This means we’ll be able to make comments without annoying anyone in the crowd,” she said, giddy. Come on. Up there and in the middle.”
They took their seats, up high and in the middle like Mary insisted. The screen was only showing preview at the moment, and they sat in a relative silence getting comfortable and situated for the movie. Once they were, Kari shifted in her seat, gaining a bit of her confidence, since they were alone.
“Thanks for coming out with me,” she said. “I hadn’t expected our talk to turn out quite like this. I mean. I didn’t expect you to
have kissed me, let alone going out on a date.”
Though the theatre was dark, Kari could see Mary’s smile. Mary looked around before she leaned forward, nuzzling her nose against Kari’s before she stole another kiss.
“Truth be told, I had an inkling when we first met,” she admitted. “But I didn’t want to push, and I didn’t want to be wrong until I was either certain or you came to me. Things are done differently here from what I’m used to, so I didn’t want to chance doing something wrong or making you uncomfortable. But.” She grinned, mischievously. “I have to say, small town means one good thing – we’ve got the theatre to ourselves… we can be a little more cozy without other people watching.”
Kari was glad for the darkness, because the warmth on her face told her that she was blushing again. She could feel the heat all the way up to her ears, and it didn’t stop when Mary slid her hand into hers, holding it – not as a friend, but caressing.
Like a lover…
Kari’s heart skipped, and as credits started rolling it was hard for her to concentrate as Mary’s thumb circled and rubbed over her hand, soothing and tempting all at once. She wanted to kiss her again… And while she was usually opposed to chancing things in public, there was no one around to impose on them.
The opening scene rolled, and Kari leaned over, pressing a kiss to Mary’s cheek since that’s all of her that she could reach at the moment. She was going to pull away, but Mary turned her head, capturing her lips once more.
Though the movie played, Kari got lost in their kiss. She couldn’t help it; Mary’s lips were soft against her, moving with them as though they had always kissed, so openly and unabashed. She shuddered when Mary’s tongue darted out, flicking along her bottom lip, though she didn’t pull away. She allowed Mary entrance, the taste of her, and she moaned softly as Mary allowed her reciprocate the sweet exploration of her mouth.
“We’re… in public,” Kari said faintly.
“I don’t see anyone else around.”
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