#!!! i’m just really happy | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

a-queen-and-her-throne · 9 months ago

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Not the literal tears running down my face- and of just pure joy. 🥲 the sweet way she talks to Eli? the way she just *fits* into the family? the way she goes out of her way to help? OH I can’t handle it.

“Silently, she makes a note to check with Ava whose class Ellie would be in so she could surprise her and make her feel more at ease for her first day of school.” HAD! ME! ON! MY! KNEES!

The way Ava just knows and the way she trashed the resume?? AHHHH SO GOOD. The silliness is just delish UGH I can’t handle it.

Love Thy Neighbor- pt 2

quite a few asked for a second part to this, so here we are!

Pt 1

Summary: Your daughter starts her first day at Abbott. You have an interview at that very same school. Paths are crossed.

WC: ~4k

Since Melissa’s dinner, your daughter has been begging to have the redhead over for dinner again.

“She just makes spaghetti so much better than you!” your daughter squeals. “Please, Momma!”

“I told her the next time we have dinner, I’m cooking,” you chuckle as you settle her into her trailer for another day of DoorDashing together.

You’re able to make relatively good money in a short amount of time, and you figure it should probably be an earlier night for Ellie since she’s starting school tomorrow. So, you head to the grocery store and gather ingredients for tonight’s dinner.

As you’re locking your bike to the rack, you hear your daughter’s squeaky little voice calling, “Hi, Miss Melissa!”

You turn, and there is your neighbor, getting out of her car with a few grocery bags of her own.

“Hey, little girl!” the redhead waves and smiles. “How are you?”

“Good!” Ellie chirps. “Momma’s making spaghetti for dinner before I have to go to school tomorrow!” She then proceeds to whisper yell, “Don’t tell ‘er, but I like your spaghetti more!”

“You little stinker,” you chuckle. You grab a few of the bags from the trailer before standing up and waving to Melissa.

She waits for the two of you to make your way across the parking lot before opening the door to your building. Together, you make the trek up the four flights of steps with Ellie talking both of your ears off about how she’s excited to start her first day of kindergarten at the new school. She’s talking so animatedly that your heart melts- she’s usually so shy, but not around Melissa.

“Do you want to come over for dinner?” Ellie invites your neighbor over with a smile. She’s secretly hoping that the redhead will offer to make dinner instead of you.

Melissa glances to you, and when you nod your head and smile, she accepts the invitation. “And if your Momma is okay with it, I would be more than happy to make you your special before school dinner.”

Ellie’s eyes light up, and she jumps with excitement. “Please, Momma!”

You blink a few times, but you nod. “If Miss Melissa is okay with it,” you chuckle.

Ellie squeals with excitement, and she’s quick to hug the woman with red hair, entirely forgetting that she has groceries in her hand.

“You just made her day,” you laugh. “She’s been asking to have you over again since the last time you made her dinner.”

“Just let me put away my groceries, and then I’ll be over, okay Ellie?” Melissa grins as she lays a gentle hand on your daughter’s shoulder.

“Can I help you?!” Ellie grins.

“Sure, if that’s okay with your Momma,” the redhead glances at you. Ellie looks to you with wide pleading eyes, and you nod.

Melissa allows Ellie to run into her own apartment with a promise that they’ll be over in a few minutes. You tell her the door will be open before heading into your apartment to put the groceries away.

They make their way over after a few minutes, Ellie carefully carrying over a cutting board and a bag filled with produce for dinner.

“Thank you, little helper,” Melissa chuckles.

You’re just pulling down the wine glasses as they come in. “Red or white?” you ask the woman.

“Red, please,” she requests, and you oblige. The two of you clink your glasses together before Ellie comes bouncing up to you and holding her arms out for you to pick her up.

“My little snuggle bug,” you hold her close, pressing kisses all over her face. She squeals with delight. “Why don’t you go put on your pajamas while Miss Melissa makes dinner?”

Ever the obedient little girl, she wiggles out of your arms and runs off to change her clothes. She’s back in a flash, grinning at the two of you.

“Miss Mel, can I help you?”

The woman smiles brightly. “Of course, hun. Can you grab me a pot for the noodles, and can you grab the sauce pan for the sauce? When I get that started, you can help me stir everything.”

Ellie is all grins as she retrieves the items.

The two of them make dinner together, you watching with a smile on your face as you drink your wine and check your email for any word from any of the places that you had applied. There is one- from Abbott. You grin, email the principal back saying that you would love to set up a time for an interview before closing your laptop. You tune back into their conversation, and Melissa is asking your daughter if she’s excited to start school tomorrow.

Your little girl turns a bit red, and she shrugs. “I’m nervous,” she admits quietly. “I miss my school and friends in Utah.”

“I’m sure you do hun, but your new school is going to be great,” Melissa tries to soothe. “I’m sure of it.”

“You pinky promise?” Ellie whispers and holds out her pinky.

The redhead is quick to wrap her own pinky around hers. “You’re going to be so brave tomorrow when you come in, and you’ll love it.”

Silently, she makes a note to check with Ava whose class Ellie would be in so she could surprise her and make her feel more at ease for her first day of school.

Dinner is ready a few minutes later, and it’s as delicious as it was the last time, if not more so.

After dinner, Ellie climbs into your lap. You take her and your glass of wine over to the couch, inviting Melissa to join you.

“One show, lovey,” you tell your daughter as she reaches for the remote. “Then it’s off to dreamland.”

“One show, and then one story?” she asks hopefully. At your nod, she gently pats Melissa’s arms. “Can you read me my one story?”

The redhead looks endeared that Ellie has taken such a liking to her and wants her to read. “If your Momma is okay with it.”

“Please,” she whispers into the crook of your neck as she navigates the television and settles on an episode of Bluey.

“That’s just fine, love bug,” you tell her. “But only one story, and then it’s lights out.”

You girl nods against you, and when the episode is over, she takes your neighbor’s hand and leads her to her bedroom. Ellie picks out a story and climbs into bed, waiting for you to tuck her in.

You do, and then you and Melissa are settling on the edge of the bed to read.

The redhead is really good at reading. She uses the silly voices, makes funny faces, and brings the characters to life in a way that you never could for your daughter. It’s… impressive, and you find yourself hanging onto every word she utters even though you practically have this story memorized.

The woman finishes the story before closing the book. “Get some good sleep tonight, El. I can’t wait to hear about your day tomorrow.” She brushes a few of your daughter’s hairs out of her face with a smile before she stands.

“If you want another glass, feel free to pour yourself one,” you tell Melissa as you scoot closer to Ellie. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”

“I should probably head out with work tomorrow, but thank you for having me over again,” she says softly. “I can just see myself out.”

“Thank you for making dinner again,” you chuckle. “I promise, next time I’m cooking.”

“Thank you for dinner, Miss Melissa,” Ellie says softly, the warmth of her blankets making her sleepy.

With that, your neighbor heads out, and you press a soft kiss to your little girl’s temple. “I love you, baby girl,” you whisper. You turn the lamp off and head out, leaving the door just the slightest bit open.

You clean up dinner before heading to bed yourself.

The next morning is chaotic. Ellie is absolutely terrified of going to her new school, and you are doing everything you can do soothe her, but nothing is working. Finally, you just lift her into your arms and take her down to the garage. You get her into the bike trailer before taking off. As you’re pedaling out of the garage, Melissa passes you in her own car, waving and honking her horn shortly to say hello and good bye.

After quite some time, you’re able to get Ellie to walk into the school- tears still in her eyes, and you’re met with the principal. She leads you down to the kindergarten classroom that your daughter will be in for the remainder of the year, and you take in the sights as you know this is where you will be interviewing tomorrow.

When you get to the classroom, there is an older teacher standing there smiling brightly and talking to a woman who has her back to you, although you would recognize that red hair anywhere.

“Melissa?” you call softly.

“You know Schemmenti?” the principal raises a brow.

She spins on her heel with a smile. “We’re neighbors, Ava. Hey, Y/N.” She crouches down to Ellie’s height and smiles warmly. “Hey there, hun.”

“Miss Mel,” your daughter lets go of your hand to throw herself into Melissa’s arms. Your neighbor wraps her up in her arms and holds her with love.

“What are you doing here?” you ask.

“Working,” Melissa chuckles. “I told you I have experience with kids.”

“Miss Mel,” Ellie sighs again, clutching onto her leather jacket tightly. “I don’t wanna go to school… I can’t be brave like you said.”

“You’re already brave getting to your classroom,” Melissa tells her. “And guess what?”

Ellie hums to indicate she’s listening.

“Your teacher, Mrs. Howard, is my best friend,” the redhead says softly. “And she is so excited to have you join her class of busy bees.”

“Really?” the little girl asks.

“Really. I just got done telling her what a sweet little girl you are and telling her how lucky she is to have you join. Why don’t you say hi, and then we can check out the room together?”

Ellie squeaks out a small “hi” before hiding her face in Melissa’s shoulder again.

“Hi there, sweetheart,” Mrs. Howard says softly, also crouching down to look at your daughter. “I’m Mrs. Howard, and Miss Mel was just telling me how wonderful and bright you are. I am so lucky that you get to join my hive of busy bees.”

“Why don’t we go check out the room together?” the redhead suggests softly.

Ellie nods, but she doesn’t make any moves to leave the woman’s side. So, Melissa easily lifts her and sets her on her hip to take her into the room. You can’t help but watch in awe at how well your neighbor is handling your girl’s first day jitters.

The kindergarten teacher smiles as she stands back up straight and extends a hand out your way. “Barbara.”

“Y/N,” you shake it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“If you’d like to come in for a bit to help Ellie adjust, I would be more than okay with that,” the teacher tells you. “I find that sometimes it helps the little ones on their first day.”

You step inside, and you can see Ellie giggling as Melissa makes some of the new erasers on her desk dance.

“She’s happy now,” you sigh happily. “Oh thank God.” You make your way over to the desk that your girl is sitting at, and absolutely revel in the sweet bubbles of laughter coming from your daughter.

After a bit though, you know you have to go. The rest of the kids will be coming in soon. You wrap your little girl up in your arms, promising you’ll be back at the end of the day to pick her up, and she kisses your cheek gently.

“I love you, Momma.”

“I love you too, sweetness.” With that, you thank Melissa and Barbara before heading out.

A few minutes later, Melissa knows that she has to head down to her own room as well. She stands with a sigh, and Ellie immediately tenses.

“Miss Mel,” she whimpers. “Don’t go.”

“I have to, kiddo,” the redhead says sadly. “I have to go teach my own room, but I promise you Mrs. Howard is going to take great care of you. I made her promise to keep my favorite six year old happy. You’re going to be okay.”

“She did,” Barbara chimes in as she stands from her desk and makes her way to the door to greet the rest of her students.

Ellie nods, unsure of it all. But if Miss Melissa says she’ll be okay, she will be.

“And if you feel sad or need a hug, I’m sure Mrs. Howard would walk you down to my room for a hug.”

The kindergarten teacher nods with a smile.

“Have a good day, Ellie,” Melissa tells your daughter, giving her one last hug, before leaving the room and heading down the hall for her own room.

When lunch time rolls around, Barbara brings your little girl into the faculty room. The second grade teacher is already sitting in her seat and is scrolling through her phone when she hears Ellie’s squeaky voice.

“Miss Mel,” Ellie runs over to your neighbor and engulfs her in a hug.

“Hey, sweet girl,” the redhead smiles. “You havin’ a good day?”

The six year old nods with a smile on her face. “I jus’ wanted to give you a snuggle. I gotta go to lunch now, and Momma packed me the leftover spaghetti from last night!”

Ellie leaps off of Melissa’s lap and takes Barb’s hand. The kindergarten teacher walks her down to the lunch room before returning and settling next to her work wife.

“She’s doing okay?” Melissa asks.

Barbara nods with a smile. “Ellie is a bright little thing. And she adores you. All morning she was telling the kids that ‘Miss Mel’ is the nicest. All of my kids were so confused until I told them she was talking about Miss Schemmenti.”

The redhead chuckles. “I guess I gotta tell the pipsqueak to call me Miss Schemmenti at school.”

You bring your bike to a stop and wait for your daughter to appear at the door. You spot her clinging to Melissa, a bright smile on her face. Only once she spots you does she drop the teacher’s hand. The redhead waves in your direction with a smile before continuing to monitor dismissal.

“Momma!” She leaps into your arms, and you hug her as tightly as you can, spinning her in a circle and kissing all over her face.

“There’s my girl,” you smile. “You have a good day?”

Ellie immediately launches into a very detailed tale about her day, and you can’t be more thankful that Melissa was there to help ease her into this new routine. You’ll have to pick her up a bottle of wine on the way home to give her as a thanks.

“And Miss Mel came down at the end of the day and let me hold her hand the whole way out!”

“That was very kind of her,” you steal a glance at your daughter as you bike towards the grocery store.

You pick up the bottle of wine that you were going to give to your neighbor before heading home.

It’s later that night, once you’ve gotten your daughter to bed, that you head across the hall and knock on the redhead’s door.

She opens it, hair tied up messily and glasses sitting on the tip of her nose. “Hey.”

You offer her the bottle of wine. “As a thanks for helping out my little one through her first day jitters.”

“Oh, you don’t need to thank me,” Melissa chuckles.

“Please,” you continue to hold it out. “You made my life so much easier this morning. When were you going to tell me you were a teacher?”

“I told you I had experience with kids,” she shrugs.

You roll your eyes. “But you never said you were a teacher at my child’s school! I thought you were referring to nieces and nephews or something.”

“Nah. Been teaching for a while now. Pretty good with the little rascals, if I do say so myself.”

“Yeah,” you chuckle. You thrust the wine bottle into her hands.

“You’re really insisting on this, aren’t you?” You nod. “Well then come in and share it with me.”

“I gotta keep an eye on El,” you chuckle. “But if you really want a wine buddy, you’re more than welcome to come over and make yourself comfortable.”

She smiles, grabs her key, and heads over to your apartment before settling on the couch.

The two of you share a few glasses of wine together, talking about everything.

“And how’s the job search coming along?” Melissa asks you.

You perk up slightly. “I actually have an interview tomorrow.”

“Oh?” Melissa raises a brow, looking impressed. “And where would that be?”

“Abbott Elementary,” you deadpan, a smirk on your face. “For the third grade teaching position that they haven’t filled yet.”

The redhead grins. You’ll be taking over her portion of the third grade class that she has in her room, and she’s already been told that whoever they hire will work closely with her to ensure that the students transition nicely. She wouldn’t mind getting to work with you. She would enjoy it even. “I’ll put in a good word for you tomorrow morning with Ava.”

“You don’t even know my experience.”

She has a copy of your resume in her hand when she leaves, and she studies it long and hard before heading to bed that night.

The next morning, you’re rushing around to get Ellie ready for school while also trying to prepare yourself for this interview when there’s a knock on your door.

“It’s Melissa!” your neighbor calls.

“Ellie girl,” you call from the kitchen. “Can you open the door for Miss Melissa?”

You hear your daughter squeal with excitement as she runs to greet possibly her new favorite person in the world. “Miss Mel!”

“Hey, hun,” you hear that soft voice that she reserves for your daughter. “Where’s your momma?”

“Making breakfast,” Ellie grins a toothy grin. “I lost a tooth last night!”

“Oh!” the redhead exclaims. “Did the tooth fairy come?”

“Mhm! I got twenty bucks!”

“Twenty?!” Melissa’s eyes go wide. She lifts your little girl onto her hip before making her way into the kitchen. You look rather frazzled as you try to apply your makeup while also cooking breakfast.

“Woah. Slow down there,” the redhead tells you as she enters the room.

“Can’t,” you get out as you continue to apply some foundation. “Gotta get El to school and myself ready for this interview.”

“How can I help?”

You shrug, continuing to put on your face.

“El,” Melissa looks at your daughter. “Can you go finish getting ready for your momma?”

Ellie wiggles her way out of Melissa’s hold before running into her bedroom to continue picking out her outfit.

“Twenty bucks?” Melissa chuckles as she takes the spatula out of your hand and starts tending to the eggs in the pan.

“The tooth fairy was a little tipsy last night and grabbed the wrong bill,” you groan. “Hey! Give me that back; I can do it!”

“What you can do right now is let me make breakfast and take Ellie to school with me while you focus on this interview you have coming up,” the teacher tells you as she holds the utensil just out of your reach.

“What? No,” you protest. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Let me help you,” the woman says. “It’s not like taking El to school is out of my way either. She can just hang out in my room with me until school starts.”

Flustered and frazzled, you shake your head to ground yourself. “Okay, okay. Thank you.”

“What time is your interview?”

“Nine,” you sigh as you apply some concealer to hide the bags under your eyes.

“So… while I take Ellie, you’ll have plenty of time to put yourself together and get to the school,” she promises. “You’ll do your interview, and you’ll be great.”

“Thank you,” you say softly. “Seriously, thank you.”

“Go. Put something nice on- the principal loves people that dress well. I’ll handle this, feeding El, and get her to school with me.”

“There’s a booster seat by the door for her,” you sigh as you make your way towards the bedrooms.

You stop at your daughter’s room, and she’s put on her favorite sundress. She’s spinning in front of her mirror, giggling.

“Little miss,” you knock on her doorframe after a few moments of watching her pure delight. “Momma’s gonna get ready for her interview while Miss Melissa makes breakfast, and then she’s going to take you to school.”

“Really?!” she stops her spinning, and her eyes go wide. She breaks out into the biggest smile.

“Really,” you smile. “So, I expect you to be the sweet little girl that you are and listen to Miss Melissa. Can you do that for me?”

Your daughter nods, and you crouch down to open up your arms for her to fly into. She does with such a force that you nearly fall over. “I love you, sweetness.”

“Love you too, Momma,” Ellie sighs softly. She kisses your cheek. “Good luck with your view!” And with that, she’s running into the kitchen bellowing Melissa’s name.

You’re trying to decide on an outfit when you hear the front door open, and they both shout their goodbyes.

Ellie talks Melissa’s ear off the entire car ride to the school, and Melissa couldn’t be happier walking hand in hand with the little girl to her classroom.

“Alright, little girl. I have to go talk to Principal Coleman, and you are going to sit in the office quietly for me. Sound like a plan?”

Ellie nods enthusiastically. “Can I pick a book to take with me?”

“Sure.”

After a few minutes, the two are walking down to the front office. Your daughter finds a seat and opens up the book, swinging her legs idly. Melissa knocks on the principal’s door to put in the promised good word for you.

She ends up going off on a tangent about how wonderful you are, and how Ava would be a fool if she didn’t hire you.

Ava grins.

You take the bus to the school, knowing you don’t want to show up to this interview sweaty from a fifteen minute bike ride. God, you can’t wait until you get your car out here- life will be so much easier.

You walk into the front office looking confident, and Ava grins.

“Y/N,” she extends a hand, and you shake it firmly. The principal looks you up and down, clearly impressed with your outfit choice. She leads you into her office and takes a seat.

You hand her your resume, which she promptly puts into the trash. That… shocks you.

“I don’t even need to interview you to know you’re gonna be just fine here as part of our team,” the woman flashes you a smile and hands over the documents that you need in order to make your employment official. “You start next week.”

“What?” you ask, clearly shocked.

“A little birdie came in here earlier to tell me about how wonderful you are and that I would be a fool to not hire you,” Ava says. “So… the job’s yours.”

You don’t quite know what Melissa told the principal to get her to hire you on the spot without an interview or a demo lesson… but you know you’re going to have to get her a bottle of wine as a thank you- a bottle of wine that the two of you will inevitably end up sharing tonight in celebration.

#I genuinely started crying and had to put it down for a second #why? because I’m a dork that’s why.#but it doesn’t matter this is so good and cute and wholesome and did I say good #I don’t even have intelligible comments #I’m just really happy #this like …feeds something in my soul rn

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