Behind The Scenes [Open To Teachers]

[¡SQUEEKERS!]

It was enough to make her cry.
Why?
Why!?
WHY!? Did Antonio have to die? He was an old man, sure his time was coming, but why couldn't it come after his only son was married. "Oh poop." Tanya reached across the empty couch and wrapped her chilled fingers around the black remote. Her favorite Soap Opera: Yet Do I Weep had just killed off one of her favorite characters, and she was beyond devastated. "Who's going to save Teresa from her loveless marriage now? Huh!? I dare you to tell me! No, seriously, tell me." She inched closer to the screen, her eyes intent on the flashing pictures before her.

Then, just when the most climatic of all climatic parts was about to happen-

Bloop!

[/b]

The screen went black, the skies darkened above, and Tanya let out a gasp of terror. "NOOOO! Oh my lord, no!" In a frenzied panic she pushed every button on the remote with as much force as she dared and couldn't help but let out an exasperated sob. "Damn you faulty power lines! Damn you!" With a dramatic sigh, she flung herself on the couch, a wave of brown hair covering her paled features. "Where art thou God! Where art thou!" With a raised fist she cursed the heavens and began to plot against the power company. Devious ways in which to destroy them and bring back the one relief she had of the treacherous monotony that was her life.

"A little over dramatic there, don't you think, Tanya?" The voice reached semi-deaf ears, and was quickly replied with a sigh of pain. "God has forsaken me, Mike. The being who has put life in this very body now threatens to end it. Threatens to destroy what he had once created with his very breath!" She sat up slowly and simply flung herself at Mike's body. "Oh Mike! What am I to do? How will I know what happened to Esmerelda? How will I know it Jaques survived?"

"Oh, Tanya. Ever hear of the internet?"

She perked up, hope flooding into her eyes, she smiled, she brought her hands together before her mouth and clasped them. She then- "Wait. Are you saying I could watch any of those episodes on the computer?"

"Uh. Yah?" Mike chuckled under his breath and patted her lightly on the head. Pushing away from the couch he walked over to the counter top, resuming the chat he was having with Sam.

Tanya, blinked, squinted her eyes and once again raised a fist to the sky. "You win this time, God. But mark my words... Anyone have a laptop on them?"
[/blockquote]

[ツ PEZZY]

"Well, I would give it to you but I have more...important things to do," Greg replied cynically. "Oh! And did I mention you're doing a great job at being annoying?" He added with childish spunk.

A series of touchpad and keyboard taps followed as he checked his horoscope, ignored the friend, FarmVille and "Get to Know Me" requests, and even updated his status on Facebook, which was:

Gregory Church is surrounded by freaks.

[/color]Tap. Tap. Tap.
Bloooop! Pop! - "You have: One friend request."
Tap. Tap.
TAP.
Pop! Bloooop! - "Are you sure you want to ignore?"
TAP.

And so on.

He was wearing an Ozzy Osborne tee, dark blue jeans and converse. Could he be any less mature-looking? Apparently so, because the next site he visited was Addictinggames.com. And guess what? He was playing a pac-man game! Gloating in front of Tanya! AND eating raisins!

Typical.

[/font]

"Hey Greg! Stop being an A-S-S!" Gizette was seated across from Mke and Sam, on another couch. She picked up her mocha, took a sip and put it back on the creaky mahogany table. She looked out the window.

It was...BLAH, to say the least.

She turned back to Greg, who immediately spat a half-chewed raisin on the side of her cheek. "What. The. Heck. Can you get any more irritating?!?" She screeched, flailing her hands in an "EWY-EW! EW!" kind of way. She quickly got out of Greg's "spitting range" and sat in between Sam and Mike, who were apparently her bffls.


[/blockquote]

[¡SQUEEKERS!]

"I'm not entirely sure you should be watching porno in a room full of other people. But, that's just me." Tanya huffed at her favorite Humanities teacher. Oh, wait. He was the only Humanities teacher. Grumbling softly she hopped off the couch and flitted gracefully over to Gregory's side. Leaning over his chair, staring intently at the computer screen, she sighed. "Really? Pac-man?" She glanced at them from the corner of her eyes, one brow raising in a perfect arch.

Straightening her back she grabbed a couple of his raisins in a quick, graceful manner and nibbled on them quickly before he had much chance to do anything. "I'll make you a deal. Let me use your computer for about a half hour and I'll leave you alone for a week." Tanya smiled sweetly, batting her eyes innocently at him.

Nothing.
Nothing!
Nothing!! Would ever get in the way of Tanya and her soaps. She needed to know what was happening to Emilio. Craved the knowledge of Teresa and Jaques pending wedding, and now that Antonia was dead... Oh, curse that damn TV. Such unlucky timing. She should write a letter.

"C'mon, Greggy-poo. You know you can't resist a deal like that!"

"Oh that's bull!" Mike growled at his counterpart. Sam was sitting with a smug smile on his lips, his head very close to tilting back and letting loose a triumphant laugh. But. He didn't. He held it back. "Oh really? I think so. What do you think, Gizette?" Sam held back a chuckle as he pointed a thumb towards Gizette.

"Fine!" Mike turned his body towards her, smiling innocently. "Please, please! Tell me, you like me more then him." His voice was almost pleading, but not quite, he was partly joking, but at the same time he hoped she replied with a yes. Just so he'd have the chance to gloat.

"Ha! Waiting to be rejected. Yet! Again?"
"I haven't been rejected yet, dork!"
"Oh? I think you will be!"
Insert tongue stickage-outage here.

"Ha! You wish! I bet she'll say yes, then guess what? You're the loser!!"
Insert taunting voice, and the L sign against forehead.

"Oh. Real mature. You're the dork. I bet Gizette is embarrassed by you! Beautiful women never fall for the immature guys."
Nose stickus-upage.

"Wait? You're mature? Ha! Says the guy who sleeps with a teddy bear."
Gloating. Gloating. Gloating.

"Lies won't help you now, dork. Besides, I love Gizette more then you do!"
"No! I do!"
"I've loved her since before I knew her!"
"I've loved her longer!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"NOOOOOO!"
"YEEEEEEES!"
"PURPPLE!!"

"How about you both lose, and we call it a night." Tanya's giggles reached over both of their heads and they pouted and looked over at her. "But I win!"

[NICHOLAS FLAMEL]

((Geeze, you guys and your freakishly long posts. Make mine look pathetic.))

*sigh*

*SLAM* went the book held by Nicholas.

"Would you all mind quieting down a bit? I would like to finish this book," Nicholas said. He was usually amused by the other teachers' antics. But not today. His classes had been long and his students unruly.

Actually, this place was usually like this. Why did he come down here again?

Oh yes, coffee.

[VEE :: THE CONQUERER]

Why? Why? And I ask again, why? I'm on my hands and knees, head stuck in the mini-fridge. It's a last resort, okay? I don't actually expect to find a packet of finely-ground Ethiopian coffee beans in a fridge. But I can't, can't, can't give up yet. I need coffee. I need it bad. Raaargh!

I get up, dusting off my hands and knees, the chatter of the other teachers mercifully drowing out the other kind of chatter that I'm used to. The kind that belongs in the past, if you get my meaning. I sigh, and aim a hefty kick at the offending, coffee-less cooler. It leaves a dent in the white door. "No coffee. None. 'Cept instant. Instant? Instant..." I grumble as if it's the worst punishment anyone could devise, throwing myself into a chair.

It's been one of those days. I fly over here from Columbia, which is bad enough in itself. I was sitting next to a really old guy, and I mean really old. You know those wrinklies whose history you can practically smell? Yep. So guess what I got to watch for eight hours? That's right. World War II, the story continues. So I land, leap off the plane, to find... Yes. I left all my coffee, sitting on a countertop somewhere. So I'm shattered, I keep getting flashes of pasts which I'd really rather not see... Urgh. Why does't life like me?

It's cool to be back at Brookshire, though. I frown slightly, looking around. The staff room always reeked of coffee. So where is it? "Where are you hiding the coffee?" I ask no one in particular. Coffee coffee coffee...

[ツ PEZZY]

"Porno? No, me-I? I..never." Greg managed to say all this in a rather gravelly, dry voice. The words were only just loud enough that the whole room heard it. He completely ignored the following turning of heads. At the obvious question/statement concerning Pac-Man, he furrowed his brow. "Yes, it's Pac-Man, you can see fine. You're definitely not stoned...are you?" He kept poking Tanya with his comments full of his own special humor. Though, he didn't expect her to rob him of his Sun-Maid Raisins with such ninja-awesome skills. "Hey-no! T-Those are mine! Stop!" Greg whined, mimicing the exact image of a bratty five-year-old.

I dislike you.
Greg gave his special pouty face.

Right before he was able to finish the level, the little ghosties killed the yellow circle that was Pac-Man. In big red letters across the whole screen of his laptop, it said:

Man, you are one pathetic loser!

[/size][/blockquote]"Goddamnit!" He failed.

By the time the word flew out of his mouth, the Government teacher, Mr. Nicolas Flamel, slammed his book down upon the table and was irritated enough to ask for some quiet. Greg knew better than to keep him mad, and so made it a goal to make it out of the room today without cursing (out loud, of course).

Immediately after, Tanya just had to ask about using his laptop.
He debated with himself for a moment or two. The thought of her zipping her lip for one whole week[/b][/u] was too good to pass up.

"Throw in a Jackson and it's a deal."

By a "Jackson" he meant a $20. Yeah.
But why the money? He overheard Mr. Marx muttering to himself about some. That, and he knew that he drank the last of it this morning, hereby leaving an amazing amount of zilch caffeine in the kitchen right now.

Mmm. Vanilla coffee.[/color]

[/font]

Meanwhile, Gizette was fine with her homemade mocha.
And in an even happier mood with Mike and Sam bickering about her.

She was not a social butterfly. She was not someone who adored attention, nor craved for it. She just liked to converse casually with others, but despite these truths, not even Gizette wanted the bickering to stop. Why? Well, everyone wants to hear about themselves and if they are indeed some kind of prodigy (in whatever sense of the word they with to make of it). Gizette just wanted to make the most out of the science teachers' quick little quarrel, though when both Mike and Sam asked for her to "side" with them, she just went along with an "Uhhh..."

Tanya intervened and actually ended the banter.
"Thanks, Tanya!"

But to really settle things between these two knuckleheads, Gizette knew, was to hug them both at the same time, which was what she did.

"Anyone know what happened to the rest of the coffee?"

"Nooo..."

[/blockquote]

[¡SQUEEKERS!]

Mike and Sam glared at each other over Gizette's head, both of them wrapping their own arm around her in a friendly gesture and squeezing her lightly between them. It was sweet of Gizette to hug them, trying to end the senseless bickering those two were constantly going back and forth over the simplest of things.

Lovingly, of course.

"Ha! She touched me first! LAHOOOOOOSER!" Mike boosted just after they broke from there embrace. His hands lifting up to his ears as he wiggled his fingers in a childish gesture.
"Liar! She touched me first!" Sam glared back, pointing a finger at his best friends face.

"You wish. Loser. Accept the defeat! Accept it!" Mike's lips turned up in a smug smile, his eyes brightening in victory. His brain replaying Neener neener neeeener! in his head. Sam didn't look too pleased. Of course he knew, they both did, that this was just for show. They both loved Gizette, she was their biffel afterall, and they didn't really care which one she liked better. [They both secretly hoped it was them.] But the two of them were bored, they had nothing to blow up at the moment, classes were still slow coming, and they needed to entertain themselves somehow.

Sam stuck his nose in the air, crossing his arms over his chest in a hurt manner. "I-If that's how you want to play this, then fine." He sniffled, twice, and closed his eyes. This should give Tanya a run for her money. "Fine Mike! You win!" Gasp, sniffle, shudder, fake-sob. "If that's how you really feel. Then, then. You are no longer my bffl!" This time he made a better show of his sob, and turned completely around from Mike.

"Wait... What?" Mike blinked as he watched Sam's show. His counterpart simply raised a hand and gasped in air. "I'm sorry! But Gizette is now my one and only bffl!" Sam lowered his head, in the final show of depression, and Mike [finally catching on] blinked and jumped from his chair.

" Nyyyyuuuuuu!" He flung himself over the counter, tackling Sam and landing on the cold, tiled floor of the staff kitchen. " I'm sorry!" They both pretending to sob, cry, sniffle, hug, and Sam tried to squirm his way out from under his friend.

Then. SLAM! And Nicholas's voice boomed over them, they stopped, blinked and stared up at the older professor. "Sorry." They both squeaked.

A few minutes later.

"Pst. Hey, Gizzy. Wanna join us down here?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Tanya actually didn't plan on leaving him alone for a week. Ignoring the grump was far, far too much fun. But she couldn't help but giggle at his request for money. Pulling out a ten dollar bill she dropped it on the laptop before him. "If you want, I can add an extra zero on there for you." She held back a smile, but her eyes were glittering with one.

"Now move, Greggy-poo. I simply can't stand the wait, any longer!" It was then that Tanya noticed the show, Sam was putting on a few feet away from her. And as she gently shoved at Greg's body, to remove him from the chair, she watched Sam with a raised brow. What the...

It took a few moments, but Tan finally got the gist of what was going on and laughed. "Very nice. Although, I suggest you leave acting to the professionals, you two." She remarked to both of them over the counter. Still, gently, pushing at Greg.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[/size]

He sat in the back of the room. Allowing the shadows to hide his face as he watched the rest of the teachers go about their business. He wasn't being creepy, at least he wasn't trying to, but he started to take mental notes on all of them.

The drama teacher, is in fact, quite dramatic. Overly so...
Those two have some mental issues...
Greg still has a stick up his ass...
Nicholas still likes to bark at others....
Oh, hello, new teacher...

John stood up from the couch as casually made his way over to the counter not being flung over. His coffee cup half full as he smiled at the new teacher. "Have to know the good hiding spots around here." He gave Nathaniel a friendly smile and set his cup down. Squatting down he reached back behind the fridge, pushed aside a small portion of the wood of the cabinets and pulled out a new package of imported coffee beans. That's the good stuff.

He tossed the bag up to Nathaniel and smiled. "It's Columbian. But good. Fresh, imported, the best you'll find in this town." And it happened to be his last bag. "Seems odd to hide it in such a place, but with these people around," John pointed his thumb in Greg's general direction, "gotta hide it somewhere good." He took a sip of his own, partially cooled coffee and offered another smile. "Name's John by the way. Botany teacher."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[/size][/blockquote]

[NICHOLAS FLAMEL]

"Hey John, you have any more of that stuff? I could really use a cup of good coffee right now and my classes were unruly today. I hate the first week of school..." Nicholas said, really hoping that John would be nice enough to give him a bag too. The coffee he had smelled great and probably tasted much better than the coffee that sat next to the machine. "By the way, where do you order from? If you told me, then I could get myself some and I wouldn't have to ask you for some every time."

[VEE :: THE CONQUERER]

Sniff. Sniff sniff. I can smell coffee. Not long ago, there was some in this room...
Very long ago, two women spilled their wine on the wooden floorboards.
Not so long ago, a young man toppled head-first over the couch...
Urgh! I shake my head violently. Shut up, all of you, just shut up! Look, it could be worse. It could be one of those insane incidents where the person I'm inadvertently looking in on has future sight, and we actually have a conversation... Now there's a headache causer! I look around, for the source of the coffee smell. Ah. There. The guy with the self-satisfied, sadistic look on his face, and the laptop with pac-man on it. Pac-man and coffee. Some people just have all the luck.

Yes. Another woman asks, and it's proven. It's him. Yes, I can see him drinking the last cup with the same self-satisfied smirk, just this morning. I come very, very close to smacking him to the ground. But I restrain myself. No violence, Marx. No violence. What strange hair... I fight/game thing breaks out between two younger members of the faculty, indirectly linked to the woman with hair that reminds me of skittles. Kids, I think. Truth be told, if I knew everyone better, I probably would have joined in. But, at the moment, I'm the lost newbie.

Hello there. Approach. Made by a guy with coffee... I feel my pupils go huge in desperation.
When he was three, something happened with the family cat...
I really need that coffee. But for now, I have a distraction. Coffee... He seems cool enough. If a bit creepy. I give an equally friendly smile back, and say, "I guess I'll learn them eventually." Then I realise he's not talking about hiding yourself... And he becomes my official best friend for life... I feel myself grinning. "Dude, I think you just prevented a horrible crime..."

I take the beans, and assess them before he speaks. Yes. Columbian. Well-roasted, good stuff. I dip my fingers in, and neatly grab a single bean, and chew it. My shoulders drop, my grin spreads. "Don't worry. I'm going to do the same thing," I assure him. He offers a name, and I'm feeling so grateful that I offer mine. Not that I wouldn't have anyway. You know. "Nathaniel Marx. History. Nice to meet you... John?" That's what I'm getting from his past, anyway.

Then there's another guy joining us, and my eyes go wide. He wants my coffee! I hug it to my chest, glaring, before realising that I look like an addicted dork, and let go sheepishly. So what if I am an addicted dork? I need this coffee! Or I'll ending up seeing everyone's past... And no one'll like that.

[reaper]

Deja giggled lightly, watching the comedic escapades of the other teachers. She, herself, was not a teacher, but the others had made her welcome within the teacher's lounge for two years prior. Why wouldn't they now? She stood next to the door, clinging to a cup of coffee she'd made, just for Nick, who had been like a mentor to her in her years of working in Brookshire. She casually walked up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder, light green eyes twinkling, "Hey, Nick... I made you some coffee." She gave him a bright smile, and offered up the cup, "Just how you like it."

She knew that the History teacher needed[/b] his coffee on the first two weeks, and because she didn't drink it herself, was more than welcome to sneak in and grab some of the 'good stuff' before all the other teachers got there. She noted the new teacher and bowed to him, "Dejavee Benoit." She chirped, giving him a welcoming smile, "Counseling." After the random introduction, she sat next to Nicholas, and slid the coffee to him, "Any kids you think need talked to, Nick? You know that I am more than willing to have a sit-down with any of your students, right?" Her voice was almost musical. A light French accent caressed her calm words, amplifying her caring tone.