Page 43 of The Coach

When she’s gone, I sit in silence for a moment, staring at my laptop screen.

Jackson’s stupidly handsome face is still frozen there—a reminder of everything I thought I left behind.

And everything I now have to face.

The final bell rings the next day, and my classroom erupts into noise—desks scraping against the floor, chairs clattering, backpacks zipping. My students, full of chaotic fourth-grade energy, stampede toward the door like they’ve been released from captivity.

“Walk!” I call after them, raising my voice over the commotion.

A couple of them slow down slightly, but I’m not convinced they won’t sprint the second they hit the hallway.

I exhale, running a hand over my face.

This group is tough.

They’re smart, but they’re also bold—testing every boundary, constantly challenging me. If last year’s class was mostly sweet, this year’s is a pack of tiny lawyers, always looking for loopholes in my instructions.

As I finish stacking worksheets, a voice cuts through the noise.

“Miss Bennett, can I get a Band-Aid?”

I turn and see Landon, one of my more…spiritedkids, holding up his finger.

“What happened?”

He shrugs. “Paper cut.”

I sigh, grabbing a Band-Aid from my desk. “Alright, let me see.”

He sticks out his hand. There is no cut.

I lift a brow. “Landon.”

He grins. “I just like Band-Aids.”

I press the Band-Aid into his palm. “It’s time to go home.”

As he laughs and heads out the door, I lean against my desk, taking a deep breath.

It’s only September, and I’m already exhausted.

Right as I reach for my water bottle, a voice startles me.

“Ivy.”

I jump, spinning around to see Principal Howard standing in the doorway.

Oh, great.

She’s tall and intimidating, always carrying herself with an air of calm authority. She doesn’t smile much, and she never pops in without a reason.

I straighten immediately. “Hi, Principal Howard.”

Her eyes sweep the classroom before landing back on me. “Tough group this year?”

I let out a short laugh. “You could say that.”

She nods, stepping inside. “I’ve heard a few of them are high-energy.”

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