One thing James quickly learned was different when he 'downgraded' from teaching at university to teaching at the highschool-level was that some degree of socializing was expected in the staff room. He's grown used to it by now, no private office to hurry to and hide away in once the basic pleasantries have been exchanged. He just wants to have his tea in peace.
Usually.
Today, he's actually paying attention to the morning gossip since they're discussing a student he's been concerned about recently. Oh, everyone knew Eli Park's story within five minutes after he transferred in his sophomore year. "Poor child," they'd say, shaking their heads, "On his own already." Like he was someone to be pitied. Whatever the reasons for his emancipation, they were good enough for the State. The school didn't need to pry (though many of the teachers and office staff wished it would).
He was never a bad student. Other than his backstory, he seemed like a perfectly normal teenager. But suddenly, this year, something changed. Oh, his grades were still fine, that wasn't an issue. James noticed it, too. The other teachers were currently speculating on why the boy suddenly started cramming all his schoolwork (including the take-home work) into the day. No one could talk to him about it since his grades weren't slipping without appearing overly interested.
James figured the kid was working hard whatever he was going after school. At his age, he probably picked up a job in addition to that fancy arts academy he went to for... dance, was it? He didn't really remember.
A theory that was furthered later that day when, during study period, he went down to the school's library to see how many copies of a certain book he wanted to assign would be available. And there was Eli, way in the back, asleep in one of the study cubicles. A larger part of James wanted to let the kid sleep. He certainly wasn't slacking off or acting out. Alas, what kind of example would it make if other students saw him and assumed this was behavior the school would tolerate?
James sighed quietly to himself before wandering over to lay a hand on the boy's slumped shoulder and give him a little jostle.
"Wake up," he added, quietly because, well, they're in the library.
no subject
Usually.
Today, he's actually paying attention to the morning gossip since they're discussing a student he's been concerned about recently. Oh, everyone knew Eli Park's story within five minutes after he transferred in his sophomore year. "Poor child," they'd say, shaking their heads, "On his own already." Like he was someone to be pitied. Whatever the reasons for his emancipation, they were good enough for the State. The school didn't need to pry (though many of the teachers and office staff wished it would).
He was never a bad student. Other than his backstory, he seemed like a perfectly normal teenager. But suddenly, this year, something changed. Oh, his grades were still fine, that wasn't an issue. James noticed it, too. The other teachers were currently speculating on why the boy suddenly started cramming all his schoolwork (including the take-home work) into the day. No one could talk to him about it since his grades weren't slipping without appearing overly interested.
James figured the kid was working hard whatever he was going after school. At his age, he probably picked up a job in addition to that fancy arts academy he went to for... dance, was it? He didn't really remember.
A theory that was furthered later that day when, during study period, he went down to the school's library to see how many copies of a certain book he wanted to assign would be available. And there was Eli, way in the back, asleep in one of the study cubicles. A larger part of James wanted to let the kid sleep. He certainly wasn't slacking off or acting out. Alas, what kind of example would it make if other students saw him and assumed this was behavior the school would tolerate?
James sighed quietly to himself before wandering over to lay a hand on the boy's slumped shoulder and give him a little jostle.
"Wake up," he added, quietly because, well, they're in the library.