Undying (4 page)

“Now, how do you want to do this?” he asked as we finally arrived at my bed.

“Excuse me?” I replied, stunned. “Do
what
?”

“Would you like to sit on your bed or lie down?” he explained, amused by my assumption.

“Oh… yes of course. I’ll sit,” I replied, mortified by my misunderstanding.

As he helped me sit down on the bed, I could see that he still had a smirk on his face. He then took a couple of steps back from me – his smile warmed the whole room. He was so handsome. Thankfully my ridiculous thoughts were interrupted by Jules’s high-pitched voice. I could hear a second voice that I assumed must be the doctor’s.

“Knock, knock!” Jules sang as she and a strange-looking man entered the room.

“My apologies for taking so long. He’d started his morning walk and it took me some time to find him,” Jules said, looking over at the doctor, sounding unimpressed.

“What seems to be the problem, my dear?” the doctor enquiry as he placed his worn black leather bag beside me and opened it.

“It’s silly. I’m OK now and I am so sorry to have troubled you,” I replied sheepishly. I could feel the redness returning to my cheeks, signalling another round of embarrassment.

The doctor gave Mr Barclay a puzzled look. Mr Barclay was now standing beside my desk. From where I was sitting I could now see that he was tall and had broad shoulders. He dressed well, very well. Like something you would see in a
Vogue
spread.

“Dr Simons, I am guessing Catherine is feeling guilty that she has taken you away from your walk this morning,” Mr Barclay suggested as he started to walk towards me.

“Catherine, Miss Kent and I will leave you now so Dr Simons can examine you. I’m sure everything is fine, nevertheless I would be happier knowing that the doctor has checked you over.”

“Yes, Catherine, I agree. I will come back and check on you later on and there is no rush for that tour. You should rest and recover from whatever just happened,” Jules said as she made her way out of my room.

Mr Barclay was speaking to Dr Simons, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Jules was still talking as she left.

The examination didn’t take long, and once the doctor was filled in on my self-abuse, he looked me over and warned me that I would be sore for a few days but that there was nothing to worry about. My head had stopped bleeding and there was no need for stitches. Dr Simons gave me strict instructions to do nothing but rest for the day in case I had sustained any concussion. He seemed quite shy; his voice low and gentle. He was constantly pushing back his glasses which were obviously too big for him.

“Thank you, I am really sorry to have cut short your walk,” I smiled sincerely.

“It’s perfectly fine. You can make it up to me by going on a walk with me soon. The grounds really are magnificent. Anyway, it was lovely to meet you. The other teachers will be envious that we have met already,” he said with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Please, don’t tell anyone about today,” I pleaded.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Catherine. Mr Barclay was quite clear on that matter. He had a quick word to me just then about that, and I am not about to upset the principal! Your secret is safe with me,” he promised as he packed his bag and left the room.

Finally, I was alone. I got off my bed and stood up straight. I still felt a little light-headed and it ached. I wanted to take a minute and try and make sense of the chaos that I had just caused, but thinking about it was just making me anxious about my stupidity. Talk about an entrance. Having everyone’s attention like that would be up there with what I hate most.

I went to my window and stared out hoping it would stop me from being so angry with myself. It was now raining, and I loved the rain. Most people I knew saw rain as miserable, but I saw it as homely and comforting, especially in this beautiful setting.

The grass in the grounds was deep green. It was lush. I’d seen nothing like it in Sydney where dry conditions and strict water restrictions had taken their toll on our flora. This was perfect.

I made my way back to bed. I felt cold under the covers. This time, if I fall asleep, it’s OK, I thought. Everyone wants me to rest; it was doctor’s orders, so I might as well.

I still couldn’t comprehend that within the space of a couple of hours of arriving, I had hurt myself, damaged my room door, disturbed Dr Simons’ relaxing walk, scared Jules, ruined her planned itinerary and had the principal tending to me in my room.

Mr James Barclay…

I didn’t know what to make of my reaction to him; I don’t ever remember feeling so awkward in a man’s company before. And I still can’t understand why he was so familiar to me.

How will I cope with him around me? The feeling in my body when I was in his arms was unexplainable. I’m really at risk of making a total fool of myself.

Why had this man made such an impression on me?

I continued to think about him and how ridiculous he must think I am.

There was one thing that was weighing heavily on my mind. Why had he called me ‘Catherine’ instead of ‘Miss White’? I had clearly heard him call Jules ‘Miss Kent’.

I lay down for a couple of hours, with the pain still throbbing lightly in my head. After what seemed like an eternity of procrastination, I decided it was time to leave my room and try and make a better impression second time around. I got out of bed, had a quick look in the mirror and assessed the damage to my head. All in all, I looked decent enough to leave the room. I put my boots and blazer back on and left. Down the hallway and down the flight of stairs, I reached the main entrance at the middle building where I had originally entered with Jules.

I wasn’t really sure where to go from here. That tour Jules had mentioned earlier would have come in very handy right about now. I tried to listen out for any sounds of activity, but there was nothing. Not a sound. I walked about the foyer area and was intrigued. Hundreds of trophies for polo, cricket and other sports filled shelves in the dark timber and glass cabinets. It was obvious that this school was not only academically focused. The main office was unattended; it was elegant, not like any office I had seen before. A crystal vase containing a spectacular flower arrangement sat on the desk. The furniture was antique, impressive and stylish. The walls were almost completely covered in portraits of important-looking people from different eras. I looked closely at every face, as though I was trying to recognise someone. They were all men, very serious-looking, old and dull. The last picture in the series made me smile. It was Mr Barclay, looking perfect.

“Hmm! Can I help you?” said a voice from behind me.

“Huh? Um… Oh, sorry I’m sort of lost,” I replied, sounding like a three-year-old lost in a supermarket.

“I see!” Came the reply from a very, very short man.

“Where should you be?” he asked.

“Well nowhere really. I mean, I am trying to see if there is a common room for the teachers,” I hesitantly answered.

“Ah, I knew it! You’re the new teacher from Australia, Cathy!” he declared, still with no sign of warmth or welcome.

Whoever he is, I don’t like him already.

“Yes, I am, but my name is Catherine, if you don’t mind.”

“Catherine? Is that right? Well Catherine, how did you find your room? Was it to your satisfaction?” he questioned as he reluctantly put out his hand for me to shake.

“I am Mr Kemp, science teacher.”

Ah, that makes sense. Jules had said that she had made Mr Kemp move out of his room so I could be near her and he obviously wasn’t happy about it.

Mr Kemp stood less than five feet tall, stumpy and old. He was wearing every shade of brown imaginable, from his shoes to his thick ugly glasses. His moustache was long and thin and what little hair he had he had tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to spread out evenly over his shiny head. After I had shaken his small, sweaty hand he turned around and told me to follow him. He walked so fast with his stumpy little legs; the pace was such that I could have sworn he was trying his best to lose me. Plus, I’m sure he went the long, confusing way just to put me off. He didn’t give me a chance to look at anything that we passed. Every so often he would turn and look at me with his beady eyes, checking if I was still keeping pace.

After several minutes of following him, I heard voices. We were finally there. Grumpy Mr Kemp picked up his speed just at the end. I guess he wanted to enter the room on his own. I started to walk a little faster and caught up to him so that we were now walking alongside each other. He wasn’t happy about that. ‘Mr Grumpy’ was out of breath. Not impressed that I altered his plans, he gave me a stern look.

“Thank you Mr Kemp. It was lovely to meet you.” He didn’t reply and with a deep grunt he walked away from me. I still didn’t know where I was exactly.

What exactly is this room? What if Jules or the doctor weren’t here? The room is full and they are all men? Where are you Jules?

Looking around at the deep brown furniture, everything seemed so masculine; from the leather chesterfields to the black wing chairs. Sets of these chairs and lounges were placed around timber tables, each set providing a place for five to six people. A beautiful black and white veined marble fireplace sat at one end of the room, the flames naturally heating the room. It was a formal setting in a casual and social style. But it wasn’t until I sighted a coffee machine and other appliances that I realised it was the college common room.

I tried to walk in as naturally and as confidently as I could, but it wasn’t easy. I really felt out of place and it was making me feel quite self-conscious. I could now clearly see that Jules wasn’t here and that I would have to share a table with someone I didn’t know.

Oh my! I seem to be receiving some attention now!

“Catherine!”

I stopped and turned around immediately. Standing there was Mr Barclay, positioned beside an empty chair. I smiled shyly and started to walk towards him. I made my way slowly through the crowd. He was taller than I remembered and he smiled as I approached him. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it back from my face. I looked up again at him. At that point I had a strange feeling of
déjà vu
. My heart felt like it was on fire and it took every inch of self-control not to put my arms around him. I didn’t want to lose total control of myself. I could feel my smile fading and my legs trembling as I got closer to him. The
déjà vu
feeling became stronger. I felt as though I had lived this moment before.

“Hello… please,” he said, pointing to the empty seat next to him.

“Thank you.”

I had a quick look around the room and took a deep breath before sitting down, still in a daze, my attention on him now.

“How are you feeling?” he asked with a soft, secretive voice.

“I’m fine, my door and I have called a truce,” I replied.

“That is excellent to hear,” he whispered back with a wide smile on his face.

“I gather you have already met Mr Kemp,” he whispered.

“Mr Kemp? Hmmm, well let’s just say, I don’t think he likes me, and he would have been proud of his door if he knew of today’s events.”

We both broke into a quiet laughter.

“Mr Kemp is one of a kind, that’s for sure.”

“How so?”

Mr Barclay seemed shocked with my question and unprepared for an answer.

“Other than your door, are you happy with your room?” he asked, disregarding my question.

“More than happy. I didn’t know what to expect.”

I looked around noticing more and more the environment that I would be working and living in. They were all men, old and so proper. I must seem like a student to them, and in the wrong school. I looked back at Mr Barclay who hadn’t taken his eyes off me.

“I guess, the ratio is unfair,” he joked.

I let out a giggle.

“Don’t be intimidated, you are at an advantage.”

“How?” I curiously asked.

“It will always be hard for any of them to say no to you.”

“We’ll see,” I joked back.

“Indeed we will,” he said and stood up.

“Gentleman, please, if I could have your attention.”

Silence came over the room in an instant and suddenly all eyes were on Mr Barclay.

“I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to Miss Catherine White from Australia. Miss White will be teaching English Literature at our college for the year, replacing Professor Davidson. Please make her feel welcome and help make her stay a pleasant one.”

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to stand so stayed seated but turned around and smiled and acknowledged as many people as I could. Some of the teachers had started to make their way towards me. Mr Barclay was now nowhere in sight. For the next hour I was quizzed on everything from kangaroos to my favourite composers. All these men seemed so intelligent and serious; I immediately remembered Annie’s words of encouragement about me being an exceptional teacher.

“Hello! Catherine! Coming through! Excuse me! Excuse me, please! There you are. I have been looking for you everywhere. How wonderful! You found the common room.”

To my relief, it was Jules ploughing through all the men to get to me.

“Right everyone, that will do. Go back to your newspapers and pipes. Off you go.”

It only took a minute and all the men were back in their chairs reading their papers.

“There now, is that not better? It seems you have caused quite an excitement. This is wonderful. Finally, there are now two of us,” Jules said, as she pulled up a chair and sat very close to me.

I didn’t mind her now. At least she could do all the talking and I could really see that she was genuinely happy to have me here, unlike Mr Kemp.

“Right, now tell me, how you are feeling?” she queried me, with a very concerned and serious tone as she held onto my hands.

“I am much better now, thank you. I am sorry if I gave you a fright,” I said as I slid my hand out of her grip.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. It takes a lot more than that to scare me,” she said as she smiled and placed her hand on my arm.