High School Populaire

Chapter 7

The day after his fight with his daughter, Erik had a singing lesson with one of his students. The girl, which was around Angel's age, followed his instructions and sang her part good enough to satisfy him.

"That will be all for today. Practice your breathing and stance better, and I will see you in two days" he said as he stood up and lead the blond girl to the door.

"Thank you Maestro Destler," she said and giggled s Erik opened the door, only to come face to face with Christine.

The two adults stayed quiet as they looked into each other eyes, no words coming from their slightly parted lips. The teenager decided it was time for her to leave, and so she slipped away from them.

"Christine," Erik said with barely any breath, her name escaping his lips in the most musical way she had heard.

"Hello Erik," she said and looked down for a second, playing with the hem of her black skirt while mastering courage. "May I come in?"

"...Yes..." he said little hesitant as he moved aside and allowed her to walk in.

His heart was beating faster, and his light blue eyes didn't leave her figure as she took off her black jacket and hanged it, staying only with the midnight blue shirt and black skirt. Her brown dove eyes looked around, taking in the place with a small fascination and a faint smile.

"Would you like... some tea?" he asked as he managed to get a hold of himself and closed the door.

"Tea sounds lovely," she said with a smile, and the two of them walked to the kitchen. Christine sat down on the chair as Erik put some water to boil. He kept his back turned on her, and his attention on the cattle. "I like how you made this place."

"...Yes... it is good enough... How have you been?"

"Ups and downs but now with Esmé and Gustave, life is much...livelier."

"Children can do that."

There was an awkward pause between them, the tension thick enough to be cut with a knife. They kept not looking at each other, each one deep in their own thoughts. The whistling from the cattle broke the silence, and Erik immediately started to prepare the tea.

"You must wonder why I came."

"Yes," he said as he placed a mug of tea in front of her and kept his on the kitchen bench which he decided to lean on with his back, finding it too awkward to sit down with her.

"As you have been informed. My children are holding a sort of a sleepover in the manor, and Angel has been invited."

"And you must have been informed of my answer. It is a no" he said, his voice now more stable as the whole incident slowly tipped his anger.

"Why, Erik? Why do this to her?"

"I do nothing to her Christine. I am merely protecting her"

"From who? All you do is isolating her more. Thought you didn't want your child to pass through the same thing you did."

"I didn't choose my isolation. I had no choice" he said, his voice rising as he gripped the kitchen bench with enough force to make his knuckles turn white. His other hand held the mug, and he took a few deep sips to calm himself down, not wanting to unleash his temper on her.

"Well, acting the way you do; Angel has no choice," Christine said as she emptied her cup of tea, keeping her calm in the situation; knowing too well how to talk to him.

Indeed, her words pierced him like razor blades, and Erik stayed quiet; slowly mentally admitting that the woman was right, and he was wrong.

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