Chapter Text
It was a nice day.
But to the students of Wonderland High School it wasn’t a nice day, it was the first day of school and so ended their summer of doing nothing, working during the day and hanging out with their friends at night, and not having to think about the symbolism behind a blue couch or what the square root of eighteen is.
As always the morning drop off was managed by Ms. Irving, a no-nonsense Biology teacher who prided herself in getting the best test scores of all the science teachers, and Mrs. Victor, an English teacher whose class was the hardest and not many students passed higher than a C. This morning they were cheerful as they waved parents into the drop off area of the parking lot, and gave stark reminders to the students shuffling into school, rolling their eyes when said students mumbled to them back still half asleep. In their opinion, the morning was going well, just another ordinary first day back from break.
And then Mrs. Victor heard the distant sound of ‘Someone to Love’ getting louder and louder, and a vintage Bentley pulling into the school parking lot at mark speed as the Queen song blared, and a bunch of students just getting out of their cars jumped out of the way but cheered as it passed.
“Oh they rehired him?” Ms. Irving shrieked. “What do they see in him, the flash bastard?”
The Bentley flew into its parking lot and shut off, a bunch of students from the portion of the lot it parked in all gave a whopping cheer as the door opened.
“The students love him and his class, it’s the only way I can see it.” Mrs. Victor huffed as she gestured at a student to take out his headphones. “I would’ve fired him ages ago.”
Stepping out of the car was a man dressed in all black with a silver tie slung low down his torso and black shades, with gelled up red hair and the swagger to match. He grabbed a backpack in the passenger side of the Bentley, closed the door and threw it over his shoulder as he started towards the school.
“Mr. Crowley!” called a voice making him turn around. A bunch of football players were all gathered by a car, all trying to hype themselves before going inside the school. “You coming to our first game on Friday?”
“I’d rather gaggle with holy water!” Crowley shouted back, a hint of affection in his voice. The jocks all laughed and high-fived one another as the demon began to swagger into the school, instantly surrounded on the sidewalk by eight kids.
“We thought they fired you!” Logan, a young man with a hipster style and the glasses to match, cried as the group walked with their teacher. “Willow was all panicked when you didn’t show up at your normal time.”
“Was not.” huffed Willow flicking her long blonde hair back. “I was just concerned is all.”
“Nah they can’t get rid of me, not when I produce the second best test scores in my department.” Crowley shrugged, giving a shit-eating grin to Ms. Irving who huffed and turned away from him.
“What did you do all summer, Mr. Crowley?” William asked, trying to keep up with the group, finding it difficult with a guitar slung over one shoulder and a backpack over the other.
Crowley shrugged again. “Drank and wallowed in my depression.” He muttered, wincing slightly as the kids laughed. He wasn’t joking, but he wasn’t about to let the kids know that. The first warning bell rang and he quickly gestured at the kids to get ahead of him.
“Go! I’m not writing you passes if you’re late!” Crowley hissed. But the kids weren’t threatened at all by his sharp words and hisses, several broke out from the group and hurried along, several told Crowley they’d see him later leaving the demon alone. He stood by the large oak tree that partially obscured the office window and looked up at the tall looming building that would be his home for the next twelve months.
Crowley took a deep breath, sighed, and clutched the strap of his backpack in his fist. Right. No use fighting it. With another wave to some students, he joined the crowd heading into the school, prepped and ready for another year.
The demon plopped his backpack on the science table that served as his desk and surveyed the classroom. The janitors didn’t do a bad job this summer cleaning; sure the chemicals were bothering his nose and those desks weren’t in the style he wanted, but a quick snap of his fingers and the desks were in nice islands again. Humming with contentment, Crowley began unpacking before there was a knock at the door.
“Here he is!” A Scottish voice greeted entering the classroom. Mr. Barry Macdonald was a tall, thin man with quaffed brown hair and large brown eyes and a huge smile. Most of the girls at the school had a crush on him and fought to get into his World History class. He was followed by a shorter, plumper man with graying hair but expressive blue eyes and an equally dazzling smile, Mr. Miles Nye who taught English and was never out of sight of the Scotsman. They were a pair who could not be separated.
“Barry, Miles.” Crowley nodded, pulling out his laptop. “Didn’t think I’d get rehired either did you?”
“Oh please, like the school would ever get rid of you.” Miles laughed, waving his hand dismissively. His Welsh accent perfectly complemented Crowley’s harsh London one. “The stuff you do for these kids…”
Crowley booted up his laptop but pulled himself to sit on his desk facing the teachers. If he had to open himself up to anyone, he was glad it was these two. “How was your trip to Scotland this summer?” Crowley asked Barry who lit up.
“It was the best decision of our lives. Jenny and the kids loved it. That reminds me!” Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out a box before tossing it to Crowley. “A little taste of home.”
“Cheers for thinking of me.” Crowley said sincerely, taking the box. Scottish rum chocolates. Yep, this was Barry’s idea.
“Have you ever thought of going home Anthony?” Miles asked sincerely. “Just for a vacation, you must miss it.”
Crowley shrugged and opened the box, the smell of chocolate made with liquor hitting his senses. He wasn’t much for eating but they did have chocolate in them so he counted it as a win. “Nah.” Crowley muttered, closing the box again. “Nothing left for me there.” For a moment, the demon swore he saw Barry’s eyes grow sad and Miles shaking his head, but it quickly passed by the ringing of the final bell.
“Well listen, we're still on for after school?” Barry asked as the students came thundering in.
“Course we are, bring that bloody sound mixer too, I love that thing.” Crowley said with a hint of a smile, tucking the chocolates under the desk for later.
“You better it cost thirty-one dollars!” Miles teased. With their last goodbyes, and promises to eat lunch together later, the two teachers were off to their respective classrooms leaving Crowley alone with this first block for the first time. Crowley let the kids chat for a few more minutes as the chat with his friends delayed him from unpacking further. He was pulling out a book, when there was a cough in front of him.
“Um…hi.” A young girl greeted clutching her books to her chest. She had large soulful brown eyes and equally brown hair that went half-way to her back. She looked nervous and Crowley immediately abandoned what he was doing to get down to her level. “Is this…Mr. Anthony J Crowley’s Environmental Science class?”
“Indeed it is.” Crowley said gently. “And you are….”
“Jean. Jean Lynn.” Jean said softly.
“Well Jean, welcome to class, go ahead and sit anywhere.” Crowley said, waving an arm over the desk.
Jean turned to find her seat before turning around giving the demon a curious look. “If you don’t mind me asking.” Jean said softly. “What does the J stand for? No one in the front office knew.”
“Oh it’s just a J.” Crowley shrugged. Jean still looked confused but made her way to the desks, sitting at an island currently occupied by Logan, two art kids, and a football player. Crowley put his backpack behind the desk, picked up the book and slammed it down on the table, silencing the students although a few who knew him from previous years laughed. They were used to his chaos.
“Right!” Crowley called over the silence. “I’m Mr. Crowley, you lot know me but if you’re a freshman…well now you do.” He wasn’t good at introductions. “Welcome to Environmental Science!”