Branded: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

chimes in, shaking his hand after I do.
I shift on my feet a bit and catch him staring again, but this time he smiles at me, very brazen in his clear display of checking me out.
I’m just about to call him on it when a flashing red flag comes bounding in.
“Sorry about that, Isaac. I’m back.”
The voice from my left pulls my focus from him and our hands drop to our sides.
The pretty redhead, who startled me in the bathroom, snuggles up at his side, dropping a kiss to his shoulder.
“What happened?” she asks, when she notices his shirt is completely covered in hot chocolate.
I chime in, “I wasn’t watching where I was going and I collided into your boyfriend. The drinks went everywhere. I offered to buy more, but he wouldn’t accept it.” I arch my brow, silently calling him on the carpet for checking me out while on a date.
They speak in complete unison.
“I’m not her boyfriend.”
“Oh, that’s okay we—”
Awkward.
“Well, on that note, Sawyer and I should get back to the festival,” Olivia says. “Isaac aka June, it was nice meeting you, and… you too, Not Isaac’s Girlfriend.”
I offer my apologies again about the incident and then we get out of there as fast as we can, all the while mouthing, “Oh my God” to one another.

Chapter 2
Sawyer
“Can anyone tell me what the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock in East Egg represents or symbolizes for Gatsby?” I stand at the front of my classroom with a Smart Board behind me, staring out into a group of high school juniors. Some are paying full attention and completely engaged, some are trying to sneak in their phone, but they aren’t doing a great job, others are staring off into space.
“Come on, guys, work with me here. The Great Gatsby is one of the most interesting pieces of literature you’ll ever study. I know at least one of you read it.”
A young man in the back raises his hand and I point to him for an answer.
“I think that it could represent something that Gatsby wants. It’s something he looks for every day… kind of like a goal.”
I smile wide. “That’s a great answer, Alex.” I turn and write on the board. “The green light represents Daisy and the things Gatsby wants for his future. So close, yet still out of reach.”
Growing up, the only thing I ever wanted in life was to be a teacher. I love guiding young people in the most important times of their lives and doing what I can to make sure they get the most out of life. That’s not to say it’s an easy job, because it isn’t. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, but it’s beyond rewarding.
I turn back to face my second period class.
“I’m going to be asking you to read—”
The sound of the fire alarm zings through the room. It’s loud, unyielding, and you can feel it deep in your ears.
“Ms. Westbrook, is this a drill?” Danielle, one of my students, asks as everyone bolts up to their feet.
I check my watch. “It is. This was slated to happen sometime this morning.” I go over to my desk and grab my bag from the bottom drawer. “We’ll be coming back here afterward. Just leave all of your things, and follow me down the hall and out to our designated area.”
It’s harder than you’d think to carefully guide hundreds of teenagers in an orderly fashion out the door, but somehow we manage to make it all the way out onto the football field without too much fuss.
Once I make sure all of my students are accounted for, I look around for Olivia and her class so I can pop over to their line to say hello.
“Think this will last long?” I ask, when I bump her with my elbow.
“Who knows? The fire department sent a couple trucks over to go in and make sure all of our fire safety things are in working order, but I wouldn’t think that would take too long.”
“Well, that’s good at least. It’ll make me feel better knowing those things work.”
Ever since the fires five years ago, I’ve become, I wouldn’t say paranoid, but hyperaware of fire safety and how things should and shouldn’t be.
Not that those things would have made a difference that night. My house was going no matter what we did or the precautions we took. My brother however…
“Hello. Earth to Sawyer.” Olivia waves her hand in front of my face, snapping me out of the potential very dark tunnel I was about to spiral down.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m just not a fan of this stuff or thinking about it, ya know?”
“I know.” She leans her head on my shoulder for just a moment.
I kept my experience with the Los Angeles wildfires private when I moved to Sunnyville, simply because it’s not something I want to discuss ad nauseam. I had completely left that Sawyer behind. I grew my hair out, completely changed the color, had Lasik surgery. I became a new me… literally.
It wasn’t until Liv and I decided to order sushi and get wine drunk a few months ago that the entire story spilled out in a rush of curse words and tears.
I head back down to my side of the field to check in on my class when Principal Andrews comes over the PA system to let us know we can come back into the building, and to be kind and respectful as the gentleman from the Sunnyville Fire Department are still in the halls and at the doors.
Getting everyone inside seems to be a bit more chaotic than getting everyone out, so by the time we have stepped into the cool, air-conditioned lobby of the school, I’ve ended up at the back my line of students.
Off to the side, near the lobby, there is a small huddle of two or three men dressed in blue slacks with blue shirts tucked in. The back bears a