Bobby Finstock (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} lacrosse_coach) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} madisonvalley,@ 2024-10-22 19:45:00 |
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What: Spy school (only not really)
When: Mid Day
Where: At the high school
Rating: low
The first month of school was officially completed and there were nine more months to torture teachers and students alike.
The truth was that Finstock liked teaching, even if he grumbled. It was definitely easier to teach here where the faculty wasn’t dropping like flies and he understood teenagers would come with their own set of stupidity and drama. As long as he wasn’t overtly told that sarcasm and light public shaming weren’t allowed, he’d be okay with working until he retired. At least in Madison he wasn’t likely to die after retirement from being unable to afford healthcare.
He felt restless and poked his head out of his office. It was his prep period so he didn’t have to teach anyone, but he was getting exactly zero amount of work done today and he knew it. That’s when he saw Max.
“Mayfield!” He stage-whispered, then gestured with his arm. “Come here for a sec, will ya?”
Max couldn’t believe she had made it to senior year, knowing back home it would never likely happen unless she woke up from her coma. Part of the reason she was content staying here was knowing she had a future. However, she was unsure how she felt about almost finishing high school, especially since she’d miss certain parts and didn’t know what she planned for her future. Pro skateboarder seemed a bit out of the question here. Heading to her locker to grab something, she raised an eyebrow when she heard her name, turning to see it was Coach. An amused smirk as she went over to his office. “What’s going on?” She asked, moving into his office, curious to see what he wanted. Potentially, what little buttons she could push since it was fun to give him a bit of a hard time. It was done out of like, as Max liked him and enjoyed being on his team.
“Listen. There’s a new teacher down the hall in 205. I want you to go deliver this for me and then come back and tell me the vibe you get from her.” He held out a stack of papers that were for her class that he had picked up at the office for the new teacher, though obviously Finstock had ulterior motives.
“I got a candy bar and a coke in it, if you do.” He was not above bribing students to do things.
Max listened before an amused look appeared on her face at what Coach wanted. “Is this a weird crush thing? Because ewww,” she made a face. Not because of cooties, as she was way too old about that and had a boyfriend back home. No, it was weird to think of Coach or any of her teachers dating. Yes, she knew it happened, but still…it was weird. “Is there a note in this saying check yes if you like me?” She was aware she might have to run laps, and it would be well worth it. Oh, she was going to do this, especially since she was curious about what all this was about, but Max wouldn’t be Max if she weren’t giving the person a hard time, even if it was Coach. “Or is there another reason for the interest?”
Thankfully, even though she was going to do it, she held off on announcing that, as now she was being bribed. “Make it two candy bars and a coke, then you have yourself a deal,” she counteroffered as if that would convince her of something she already planned on doing.
Briefly he looked confused. “What?” And then she continued and the realization set in and Finstock looked horrified. “No! No, nothing like that.” Though she was attractive enough. “Piece of advice, Mayfield. Don’t shit where you eat.” A pause. That probably wasn’t very teacherly of him. “Or - however you said that without swearing.” There, much better.
“I want to know if she strikes you as a raging psycho or not. Believe me, a lot of us teachers have a few screw loose and I need to know what kind of crazy I’m dealing with here.” And if she was worth getting to know or someone to avoid with a wide berth.
He considered her offer briefly, then sighed. “Fine. Two candy bars and a coke. But that’s my final offer.”
Max was still doubtful, but she would go off his word, especially since the idea of teachers dating was still gross. Nah, she’d rather pretend he meant it when he said nothing like that, even if he was lying. “You do realize, as a senior in high school, I’ve heard a lot worse than that? But I’ll be sure to keep that advice in mind,” she stated, amused at him trying to correct himself with the swearing. It was quite hilarious, especially when it wasn’t even that bad of a swear, but she guessed teachers shouldn’t be saying that around students.
Listening to what he wanted, she knew that could be useful information. It was good to know, especially if she ended up with any of her classes in the second half. However, she played it off, nodding as if she was still thinking about it. Mulling his over his offer, or at least pretending to do that before holding her hand to shake. “You got yourself a deal,” she stated, figuring she may tell him how she had already planned on doing it once he agreed to the terms.
“So, you want me to find out all the dirt on her that I can or only about if she comes across as a raging psycho,” she asked as she picked up the stuff he had got for her to bring down to the teacher.
Finstock didn’t really care if he swore in front of a student, he was just saving grace and even then, he did it half-assed. What he really wanted, was an answer to whether she’d do this little spy mission or not. He’d try to do it, but he wasn’t as stealthy - teenagers were way easier to ignore.
“Ideally? Both. But the second one is more important. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a PD day and unknowingly picking the worst other teacher to be your partner.” Assuming you showed up to PD, anyway. “I’ll wait here while you do it.”
Max nodded at what he wanted: “Alright, I’ll be right back.” Picking up the items, she headed down to the classroom to find out what the coach wanted to know. Being polite and nice, Max used the skills she had been learning from Yelena to help in the mission, feeling more like a spy than anything right now. It was fun! Being friendly, Max seemed sweet without overdoing it, especially considering if she ended up with this woman. She didn’t want the woman to be shocked that Max had an attitude when the need arose. Hey, she said what she thought without a care, especially when other students were being an ass.
Finally, after a good ten minutes, she returned to Coach’s office, “The job is done, and oh man, yeah, she’s an interesting one.” Max said as she moved to sit on the chair before his desk. “I think because she’s new, she’s overdoing it and trying to seem all friendly and welcoming. But either a.) it’s an act until she gets more settled in or b.) until someone pushes the wrong button. A slightly mean side is hiding behind her overdoing, being so friendly and welcoming and excited to meet more students.” Max told him, double checking as she leaned back in the seat that the woman hadn’t decided to follow for some odd reason or anything.
He waited and tried not to look like he was waiting. He paced a little in his room and actually marked a quiz or two before Max re-appeared. He nodded along with her as she spoke and then when she was done, he exhaled dramatically. “I knew it. A complete psychopath.” He shook his head with disappointment. “They just don’t make teachers the way they used to, you know?” Was it all a little dramatic? Yes, but it was also on par for Finstock.
He pushed the items they agreed upon towards Max on the desk. “For your troubles, Mayfield. I also expect this buys your silence if she corners you in the hall and interrogates you.”
Max was almost tempted to ask how teachers were previously made before rethinking how that could go. She didn’t think it’d be anything that bad, but Max wasn’t quite sure where the conversation would go or how much more dramatic he’d get. Yeah, she didn’t really want to know, so she kept herself from asking that question. “Not complete,” she corrected. “The potential, and as I said, it could go either way on how it might come out.” Maybe if Max wasn’t so amused or was more mature, she’d comment on the woman potentially having some healthy coping methods; however, this was Max, and the whole thing was amusing to her. All she knew was that the goal was to avoid having her as a teacher if possible. “So, what do you intend to do with this information?” Not that it was any of her business, but she asked, curious if he’d tell her or not.
She smirked as she took the items, putting them in her bag for later. As she put them away, her head shot up, raising an eyebrow. “While yes, it buys my silence, and I’m no rat, why would I be interrogated?” Max wasn’t worried about holding her own in an interrogation, only curious why the woman would do that or think to do it.
Finstock was pretty sure every good teacher cracked eventually. Teenagers could take a lot of energy out of you without even lifting a finger.
“Intend to do? Nothing. With it, anyway. It’s not like there’s a section on the dark web to share information like this about other teachers. It will mean I have to decide every PD Day if I’m going to willingly partner up with her or not. Maybe I’ll just keep track of her eyes and when they go fully crazy, avoid like the plague.” You could always tell about a person through their eyes.
“I don’t know.” He replied about the interrogation. “Maybe she’s smarter than she looks and she’ll catch you coming out of this office and put two and two together. Or maybe she’ll accuse you of stealing the last working white board marker and you’ll just snap. Things can happen, Mayfield. Things can happen.”
Max wanted to facepalm at him, talking about the dark web and using this information there. Biting back the urge to say something like, oh yes, because the dark web would love that information. While she liked the coach, and he let the students get away with a lot, she wasn’t about to push her luck too much. “Or you can use it to your advantage. If she snaps and the eyes show it, make sure it isn’t directed in your direction,” she said, then added, “and also not at mine.” A smile as if she was innocent; then again, she had been around the coach long enough that she doubted he’d believe the smile for even a minute.
She gasps, looking insulted. “Excuse you, I’m not some person who cracks under pressure, thank you very much. I’ve handled much worse than a teacher trying to get information about me. And I’m insulted you think I’m that easy to break, Coach,” she shook her head as she said it. “But even though you have no faith in me, I can tell you I won’t be cracking. Unless you have another mission for me, I should probably get back to what I was doing before you needed my help.” Max moves from her seat to stand, grabbing her stuff.
“I didn't say I had no faith.” But she was a teenager, after all.
He gave her a decisive nod. “Good job today Mayfield. Your efforts won't go unnoticed.” Maybe the team won't have to do as many laps after school today.