Trust is Earned

Veronica Channing. 36. Divorcee. Biology teacher. Don't try to be my friend. You'll fail.

[absedarian]

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

How Roni and Nellie Reassembled | Vero and Dani

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

Dani smiled back. “We’re going out tonight.” She had to assert herself if she wanted to get something done. She knew that Vero probably wasn’t much of a social person, but she had to get her to go out with her. “I’m not taking no for an answer.” She walked towards the woman’s desk to see what she was doing. She saw some papers on her desk and a red pen in hand. Corrections. So nothing that could be missed. “In fact, let’s go right now. You’re not busy.” She headed back to the doorway and then looked back, waiting for Vero to get up and follow her. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” She ushered the woman out the door into the hallway. If tonight went well, it could be the beginning to a beautiful friendship, and once they were close enough, she could tell Vero who she really was. Dani’s imagination went flying with all the possible things the two could talk about and bond over. She couldn’t wait until they were a family again. Once that happened, she could begin talking to her father again and they could all be in her little family. There was so much promise.

[vero-channing]

Vero didn’t know what to think. She suddenly regretted giving Dani that smile because now she wanted to throw the physics teacher out the window. Would it be rude to just tell her that she didn’t like her? And since when did Vero begin to care about being rude to people. But of course she knew why. Because of what had happened to Nate. She felt like being nicer to people after that. She still went off on her students sometimes. After all, a tiger can’t change its stripes overnight, but she’d been trying in her own way. She took a deep breath and got up, grabbing her purse and going out the door. She locked up and began following Dani to her car. What could be the worst that could happen? That she’d actually end up liking the woman, probably. Then again, this could probably lead to more outings and if she didn’t end up liking her, it would be a pain in the ass to try to let her down gently. Still, she was bored of grading so she supposed a drink would be good for her. She was still suspicious of Dani’s motivations but when it came to drinks, she didn’t like saying no. Especially when she was planning on convincing Dani to pay for her own drink. If Dani planned to set a precedent, she had to set her own.

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

How Roni and Nellie Reassembled | Vero and Dani

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

It was early October when she decided to talk to Vero again. Nate had been back at the school for a while so she thought it was the right time. She still didn’t know much about the woman. She’d tried to observe her from afar, but only learned the types of food she liked to eat. She seemed to like cold pasta. Dani prepped herself before going to Vero’s room. For some reason the woman scared her, and not just because the students that came out of the biology teacher’s class went in warm as a blanket and came out pale as snow. Something about her was very stern and not in the regular strict teacher kind of stern. She also felt like Vero was hiding something, but what that something was she had no clue. She didn’t even know if she wanted to know. She just badly wanted to be the woman’s friend. To be the woman’s sister. To have a sister. It was something she’d always longed for. Someone on her level to share her life with. Dani didn’t know if she would ever fall in love and settle down with anyone. So the next best thing was a sibling relationship. That, she knew she could have. This time she didn’t bring an apple. She just brought herself and she wasn’t going to let the woman postpone again. She was done waiting.

[vero-channing]

Vero was correcting homework when she was distracted by a knock on the door. She still wasn’t used to the woman’s visits so she looked up to see who it was. She wasn’t in the mood to be mean so she smiled at the woman even though it was a fake smile and she would rather have been seeing The Human Centipede knocking on her door. “Hey, Danielle. What can I help you with?” She hadn’t forgotten about making plans to go out for a drink with the teacher, but she was trying to buy some time for her to think of an excuse. Something believable that would make Dani stay away for good. Maybe some kind of disease that could be transferred in close proximity. Although if they both had the disease, there would be no reason to stay away. And then she mentally laughed because she was thinking as if the disease was actually real. As Dani spoke, she knew she was doomed. She couldn’t listen to her speak and think of excuses at the same time. And the excuse she’d already come up with was pretty stupid.

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

How Roni and Nellie Reassembled | Vero and Dani

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

Dani frowned. She doubted what her friend had was really an accident. Did drug consumption count as an accident? She supposed he at least wasn’t trying to kill himself. But then again, you never knew with drug addicts. Still, it made sense to her. Vero didn’t seem to have many friends either so to hear that Nate was her friend and that she cared that much for him made her heart warm. Dani couldn’t wait to be close enough to Vero to feel that way about her and vice versa. She had a feeling their relationship could be one of the strongest bonds in her life. After all, there had to be a reason she began to remember her during her travel through Europe. Vero was meant to be a big part of her life. “Alright, after he gets better, then,” she said with a smile. “Send him good wishes from me.” It wouldn’t hurt to get on Nate’s good side too. Maybe she could have more than just Vero as a friend. She wouldn’t mind that. Although she probably should have been looking for other friends as well anyway. “I guess I’ll talk to you later then.” She smiled at the woman and walked away. Hopefully Nate would recover soon.

[vero-channing]

“Bye,” she said as she watched the woman walk away. She locked up her room and left to go visit Nate. “Just one more time,” she told herself. She knew he had other friends taking care of him. People that knew him better than she did or ever would. After her second visit, she told herself not to go back to the hospital. She wasn’t needed there and anything that could be done was already being done by the doctors. Not to mention that she was ashamed of what she did to Nate. Maybe she hadn’t forced him to take the drugs, but she hadn’t stopped him and she had fucked him. It left a bad taste in her mouth. She’d just wait until he woke up and got better and then she’d help. The weeks passed by quickly, although her feelings of guilt made her think of her children more often, but then Nate got better and started working again. She began to brighten up again. After all, she needed to get over her sorrows and live her life. It was the only way she could survive.

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

How Roni and Nellie Reassembled | Vero and Dani

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

“Oh.” The physics teacher wasn’t expecting that, but she didn’t mind. She could just keep the apple for herself. She was a fan of them, especially since apples were an important symbol in the world of physics. “I’ll just put it away then.” She took the opportunity to open her purse and remove some tissues. She wrapped the apple with them and placed everything back inside the bag. And now it was time to get down to business, or rather, pleasure. “So, about going out for a drink…” She had been thinking about easing into the subject, but since Vero was blunt about the apple, she thought being blunt about what she was there for would be good too. “I was thinking maybe this weekend we could do it. I’ve been dying for a girls’ night out.” It was true. She hadn’t had a girls’ night out since she lived in Boston, but that was a while ago. She had all her focus on Vero, that she hadn’t thought much about making friends with some of the other female staff. Or even the male staff. She needed some interaction outside of the school environment or she was going to get cabin fever.

[vero-channing]

Vero watched the teacher put the apple away. She wished she could also cover Dani in tissues and stuff her in her purse. That reminded her of her own and she went back to the desk to get it. And there it was again. Dani asking her to hang out together. Wasn’t there any other teachers she could bug. Of course, the next thought that popped into her brain almost made her smile. But she didn’t because she knew it was a low blow. She had an excuse to not hang out with Dani. And that excuse was Nate. In a way, he was her savior. “Listen,” she began, quickly thinking of how to phrase it. “My friend Nate recently had an accident and I’ve been spending all of my free time making sure he’s fine. I just don’t think it would be fair to have a good time with anyone while he’s in the hospital getting better.” She felt that it sounded sincere enough. Although she didn’t know why she wasn’t just being rude to the woman and telling her to fuck off. She had no problem telling that to her students or other teachers. “We should postpone until after he gets better.”

[dani-rodgers-blog-blog]

How Roni and Nellie Reassembled | Vero and Dani

Vero hadn’t called Dani, yet she still held hope that she would call her. Although, she wondered if Vero had forgotten to call her because of what had happened to Nate. She’d heard rumors about his overdose the night of the Hawaiian party. She didn’t know the man, but she still felt bad for him. All the teachers seemed to be concerned about what had happened. Dani wasn’t a particularly nosey person so she kept out of it. It was mid-September and she needed to talk to Vero to ask her what was up. She hadn’t come to Connecticut to just teach privileged students. Although she enjoyed the job, she needed a break to make a friend. To have someone to talk to about her students and listen to about his or her life. She walked to Vero’s classroom with another apple. This time she’d know it was from her and wouldn’t throw it away. She’d picked it from the stack at the supermarket, thinking it was the nicest looking one and it was fit for a nice looking woman like Vero. It was shiny red and clean. She’d made sure of that. Dani knocked on the door as she got there, even though it was open, and said, “Hi, Veronica. I’ve brought you a gift!”

[vero-channing]

Nate had looked peaceful in that hospital bed and although Vero had to teach and go to work, in spirit she was still there at the hospital. She sat at her desk, staring off into space, forgetting that it was after school and she could go visit Nate if she wanted to. But another part of her didn’t want to go back. She didn’t like hospitals. They were full of death and disease and drama. She still felt bad for what had happened to her friend, whether she was remotely responsible for it or not. She was brought back to reality by a knock at her door. She saw the apple in the woman’s hand before she saw the woman. She resisted the impulse to scowl at her and instead raised an eyebrow. “Danielle.” She also didn’t smile at the woman. She didn’t want to make her feel welcome, lest the woman think she was allowed to stay. She got up and approached her, now having a good excuse to visit Nate in the hospital again. “I’m not much of an apple fan, I have to tell you,” she told her, again trying to hint at Dani that she didn’t like her.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Then they could just ask me out for some drinks, not leave me used condoms like gross confessions or something. Yeah, I think anything I could say back would just drag that downhill, so sure, I didn’t hear anything. You’re still sounding less weird than mystery condom guy, though.

'Stuck with the bill', like you shouldn't have to play for your own car getting cleaned? [smirk]

[vero-channing]

I'll make sure to tell them that if I catch them in the act. Oh good, I thought I was beginning to go crazy. It happens to single women my age, you know.

Well, I don't know. It'd be gentlemanly for the man to pay.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Okay, this is just getting more and more creepy, quit it. Mondays are bad enough without me thinking I’m being stalked by students. [laugh] What, you can’t buy yourself any?

Sure, but if they make me pay for it or something, you’re getting the bill. [chuckle]

[vero-channing]

Hey, if you're lucky maybe they're not students at all. Not of you, of the Christmas present. Then again, that still sounds pretty weird. I'll redact it.

Wouldn't be the first time I get stuck with the bill. But I'm a working girl so it makes me feel like a real woman when i pay.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Yeah, well most of the brats here have their own cars too. Probably better ones. I did, and will leave it at ‘thank you very much’.

I’ll do it Monday, I don’t know any of them to ask them when they aren’t around cleaning stuff.

[vero-channing]

Sure, but not any cars you've been in or around...or under. Ooh, I'm jealous.

When you do, you should tell them to clean my car too. Just to give them something to do.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Yeah, the mechanics, not the machines. No one’s tried to bang me in the cars, so far. [laugh] Thanks, if I batted for the other team I’d probably take you up on it. Too bad you’re just stuck with giving me presents like the one you left me on Christmas. I did get that, by the way.

Oh, yeah. I’ll just use some rags here, throw away the whole wrap…Not sure what to do about the interior, though. My budget would probably draw a line at me throwing away a whole car.

[vero-channing]

Well, you know, maybe just the association with the cars is enough for them. Oh, you did? Good. I hope it's coming in...handy.

Hmm...why don't you ask the custodians. I'm sure there's some around here. They should know what to do.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Still, if they hear sex in your class, get horny, and want to have sex there, it makes sense. If learning about gearshifts here makes them horny, then they’ve got some problems to work out.

I always do. Not that I’ve gotten the chance to, for a while…

[vero-channing]

Well, I don't know. Some people have a thing for sweaty, oily, rugged mechanics. If you didn't bat for the other team, I would have hit a home run with you a long time ago.

I meant protection while you're cleaning up.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Anywhere that’s not your classroom or mine sounds like a pretty damn good idea, to me. Hell, yours even makes more sense, you learn about sex and shit there, don’t you?

Don’t know, not gonna look close enough to find out.

[vero-channing]

I doubt even a practical demonstration would help my idiot students learn about that. But the only one having sex in my classroom should be me...and whoever I invite in with me.

Don't forget to use protection of your own.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

I get it, I’d say the same thing if it were my car. I don’t even know, I like a thrill as much as the next guy, but there’s a lot cooler places around here than on my stuff.

Good for them. Hell, they can try making babies all they want, away from my garage. [snort]

[vero-channing]

Right? Like on a couch in one of the offices. Or...I don't know, on the roof.

I just hope they knew how to use them correctly and didn't use them as finger gloves.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

[damian--vanliere]

Yours is fine, they keep using the ones that stay in here, because they know they won’t be towed anywhere. Maybe I should start doing something like that, shake them and see who runs out. I just keep finding condoms left around when I get here.

[vero-channing]

Thank god. I mean, not that they're using other cars but...you know what I mean. Why would you do it in a car though? It's so uncomfortable...

At least they're using protection.

[damian--vanliere]

For the last fucking time,

The cars in Autoshop aren’t there for you little assholes to have sex in!

You have your own dorms, why the hell—

[vero-channing]

I swear to god if I find any cum stains in my baby...

[danny-porter]

Christmas Mistakes || Vero and Danny

[danny-porter]

"I thought maybe I should bring it over to familiarize you with the basics but you’re in no state so I’ll take it with me for the time being.",he said and put the gun away. She definitely wasn’t a normal teacher she probably wasn’t from the moment she got married to a mobster and had children with him. "You don’t need to thank me. We clever people have to stick together.", he said not really wanting to say that he felt pity for her. But he actually did. He kept waiting for the tea.

[vero-channing]

She nodded, thinking that he was right. "Maybe after new year's then. I should be calm by then." Because then she'd get back into her school routine and have less time to think about how she messed up. The water was boiling so she turned off the heat and poured the water into two cups. She put the tea bags in each and handed Danny his. She waited for the tea to mix with the water. She liked her tea strong. "I do have to thank you. Over and over. You found my children. That deserves eternal thanks. And now this...You're...my hero, I suppose."

[joel-kennedy]

Drink Til You Drown | Joel&Veronica

Joel was excited for his ‘drink date’ with Veronica all day — he eagerly waited in anticipation. The hours went by more and more slowly, it seemed, up until it was about an hour before Joel was supposed to meet Vero. He turned off his TV when he realized the time and went to take a shower, singing so loudly he was sure the entire building could hear him, but he didn’t care. He dried his hair (something he liked to do because it helped him style it, but it wasn’t exactly something he told others he did). After his hair was finished, Joel pulled on a button up shirt and a pair of jeans then his socks and shoes. He sprayed himself with his cologne and looked in the mirror for a good long while.

"Damn. I look good." He grinned at his reflection then grabbed his phone, keys and wallet before heading off to Veronica’s dorm. He checked reflection again, in his phone, before knocking on the door, excited to go out with the woman who seemed so against him.

[vero-channing]

She had ulterior motives. Of course she did. Otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to go on this 'drink date' with Joel. It wasn't that she didn't like him, or that she even did like him. In fact, she didn't know how to feel about him except that she intrigued him and she liked the attention he gave her, especially when most other men just wanted a fuck. She hadn't known him long enough to figure out just what he wanted, but she was almost sure he had ulterior motives as well. She was cynical like that.

She put on a sleeveless black dress with some heels to match, light makeup, and the usual purse to go out. She didn't want to look like she was trying too hard, because she wasn't. If she was she would be freaking out more and constantly looking in the mirror to see if she was perfect. Not that she wasn't looking forward to the night. She couldn't wait to see the man's face when he realized which bar she chose.

When she heard the knock at her door, she grabbed her purse and opened the door. "Hey there, stud," she said with a smile. "Let's get out of here."