Summary: An Abbott Elementary x The Woman King inspired crossover with substitute teacher Izogie and you, a first grader teacher.
@creativepromptsforwriting “ Teacher x Teacher Prompts:” 8. It is hard to keep a serious face during the principal’s speech when the other teacher is constantly whispering flirty things into their ear.
@urfriendlywriter “25 hot traits for your character:” 1. they hold eye contact whenever you talk 6. likes to tease you a lot, 17-19.always has the top button of their shirt open slightly, biting their lower lip when they smile, rolls their tongue over their lips often, 23-25. smells good 24/7 multilingual. skilled. an all-rounder irl. smart and skilled, can easily save the world singlehandedly fr
Principal Marks, Ava’s “temporary replacement,” had a tendency for long lectures and dry jokes, which you often struggled to keep your first-graders awake and in their seats for. Today was no different as he droned on about his sincere disappointment in the “devious licks” pranks students had been playing throughout the school. You felt someone slip in the seat next to you and whisper into in your ear.
“Someone should stuff him into a trashcan. Eh.”
You chuckled and looked over to find Izogie, looking dapper as ever in her standard uniform of navy slacks with a snug burgundy button down, the top button always open. Her eyes were straight ahead, eyes like daggers scanning over her class, looking for troublemakers, but her signature smirk was present.
Izogie was a substitute teacher, who had become quite a regular face there at Abbott. She was the favorite among teachers, partly due to her ability to keep even the most chaotic of classes in line. She was also incredibly charming and loved to tease and spoil the mostly female staff, which did not hurt her favor either. By her 2nd month of working at the school, she knew each teacher and admin by name. Every time she came, she’d bring coffee and donuts or some assortments of treats. She would walk people to their cars, and hold umbrellas. She was a picture of chivalry. All the male teachers hated her.
“Like I always tell you, just Y/N is fine.”
“Yes, I agree. Y/N is fine.” You coughed a bit because you weren’t sure you heard her correctly.
“Are you okay? I can get yourwater,” she placed a warm hand on your back, seemingly ignoring your question.
“No, no, I’m okay. Thank you.”
Marks continued on, "We here at Abbot must rise above meaningless pranks and take pride in our appearance, our studies, and our building…”
“Y/N. I have a question for you.”
“How is it idiots like this one and that Ava lead these American schools?”
“Ava’s not an idiot, she’s just a little self-absorbed. She does care. Marks is just..dated.”
“They should have put you up there. Someone smart and beautiful. The children would listen to you.”
“Thanks, Izogie,” You blushed, shifting in your seat from the undeniable compliment. “Maybe someone like Mrs. Howard, but I’m definitely not principal material.”
“Rubbish. Your students adore and respect you. You are relentless for these children. You should be up there. Not this ɖù nyibú.”
The laugh escaped your lips before you could contain yourself, earning you a sharp eye from both Jacob and Janine, who sat directly in front of you.
“Sorry.” You mouthed silently to them.
“Y/N, you are going to get us into trouble.”
“It’s you who are trouble Izogie.”
“Yes. I definitely can be.”
You knew Izogie was a charmer, but were never quite sure if she was flirting with you, or if her accent or the inflection in her speech just came across that way. Sometimes, it was the way she grazed past you in the teacher’s lounge. Not so much invading your space, but close enough for you to take in her scent, smoky, citrusy, with a hint of sweetness. Whenever you talked face to face, her eye contact was intense, as if she hung on every word you spoke. Then there was the way she would smile at you when catching your eye as she passed your classroom- always slightly biting her lower lip, which would undoubtedly cause you to loose your place in the lesson. Or even the time she brought you an entire bag of whisky-caramel popcorn after trying hers and liking it one time. She was a puzzle.
You spotted Will, one of your more animated students, starting to make a fuss. You attempted to get his attention, but he was already starting to bounce around, bumping into his neighbors, who were beginning to murmur annoyingly.
“Will, come here please.” You whispered but he was already in the zone, headed for full disruption mode.
“Ah ah.” Izogie snapped her fingers, causing the boy to pivot his head towards the two of you.
“Tsetse. Here now.” She pointed to the ground in front of you, and Will moved quickly to the spot.
“Did you not hear Ms. Y/L/N call you? What have I told you about that buzzing about, bumping into people nonsense?”
“Do not apologize to me.”
“Better. Here.” She handed the boy a piece of knotted rope from her pocket. “Do me a favor, undo this for me okay?”
If there wasn’t already enough to love about Izogie, she was effortless with the students, and they loved her too. In her home country, she’d been headteacher at a girl’s academy before the civil war tore through the country, sending her to the States. She took evening classes, attempting to get her teaching degree to become a full-time educator. Often she’d stop by your class to ask questions about different childhood theories that she thought were “rubbish.”
As Marks neared the closing of his speech, Izogie leaned in again.
“Y/N I have another question for you.”
“Will you accompany me to lunch today? I believe you and Ms. Schemmenti have the same planning period. I am substituting in her class today.”
“Great. There is a new Ghanaian restaurant that I would like to try with you. It is as you all say ’ A Date.’”
Izogie smiled at you and gently squeezed your shoulder before jumping up and ushering her class of second/third graders in two tight lines out the door. As she turned the corner to leave the gym, she noticed you looking at her, and shot you a smile, her tongue ever so slightly rolling over her lips, before she exited fully. Warmth rushed over your face, dazed from the gesture and you decided lunchtime couldn’t come fast enough.
