School Affair

Chapter 25

 Jessica can't believe what she just heard from Maximillian, but she collects herself and takes a deep breath.

"Listen, Maximillian. I really appreciate your feelings, but I think what you are feeling is probably a regular crush. I am much older than you and I am you teacher. I can't return your feelings- "

"You think I don't know my own feelings!? You've got to be kidding me! If I wasn't sure, I never would have come here!"

 He tightens his grip on her hand and stars at her, Jessica tries to choose her next words carefully, she doesn't want to do anything that will hurt his feelings too badly, also knowing to well that she has feelings for someone else.

"You don't have to answer this, because I already know the answer. You love Mr. Johnsen, right? I am probably the only one who noticed, but I can tell because I know you so well." Jessica doesn't responds and he lets go of her hand, stands up and grabs his bag.

"I don't need an answer right now. But I want you to think about it. Bye." 

Standing there dumbfounded and she notice that Maximillian left his cell phone on the table. Jessica reaches out, takes the phone and rushes to the door hoping that he is still at the floor. While she opens the door she finds him in front of her door looking through his bag.

"Maximillian, you forgot your phone."

"Thanks-"not finishing his sentence he looks to his left and frozen, turning her head and instantly regretting it. Standing there was Nathan, with his arms cross and a serious face.

"Why did Maximillian just leave your apartment?"

"I showed up without asking. It is not her fault at all."

"I don't know what's going on between you two. But you better be careful. Don't forget you are a teacher." Nathan glares at her and leaves to his own apartment, his attitude cold as always.

"I am going to leave now too." Maximillian says and leaves.

Jessica didn't sleep much that night, with a lot on her mind and her life being a mess, plus tomorrow is another practice test. She needs to focus or it won't be fair to the students, opening the door to the staff room, she greats the other teachers and she feels uncomfortable and she is not sure how to face everyone and she notices that everyone is just staring at her. Maryam runs over to her and grabs her arm and whispers.

"What the heck is going on. You are in serious trouble." As she says that she hears the strict voice of Amelia Waters calling her and she sees Maryam looking at her with concern and Jessica has a bad feeling about that.

"Miss Hower, I need to talk to you. Follow me." Following her to her office, she starts to shake, and they arrive at the office.

"Do you know why I called you here?" Jessica is not sure what to say and she stays quiet, so Amelia continues.

"I will get straight to the point, then. Is it true that you are in a relationship with one of your students? Someone contacted me and told me they saw Maximillian Curtis leaving your apartment yesterday. You need to explain what is going on here Miss Hower."

It is true that Maximillian come over to her, and she realizes why people would get the wrong idea. But the only person who saw him leave was Nathan. Thinking about it, Jessica thought if he would really report her and that he really must hate her now. She bites her lip so hard it goes numb, being this nervous, cold sweat starts running down her back and before she could say anything the doors suddenly bursts open and Nathan come in the room.

"Ms. Waters! Please wait! I have something to say!" Jessica never saw him like this, complete out of breath, he obviously ran all the way to the office.

"I am in the middle of a very important conversation here. If you need to talk to me, you have to come back later- "

"The rumor about Miss Hower and her student is not true! It is true that Maximillian went to her apartment, but I was there too. I can confirm that nothing improper happened between them at all. She would never do anything to endanger her job." Jessica feels so much courage now that he said that, and she takes a deep breath and looks up.

"Ms. Waters, the student did come to my apartment yesterday, but as Mr. Johnsen said, there is nothing inappropriate going on. Thank you, you gave me the courage to speak."

"...Of course. Being positive suits you much better than a frown."

"Well, I have heard what you have to say, and I am glad I have an eyewitness in you, Mr. Johnsen. It is not that I don't believe you, but the fact that this problem happened in the first place is a problem. That's why I can't let you off easily. Miss Hower, you are suspended for the time being."

Time stood still, all Jessica could hear is the ticking of the clock on the wall and Nathan trying to talk her out of it.

"I made my decision. I am going to re-check the situation and contact you when I have made my final decision." Finding her voice back, Jessica asks with a quiet voice.

"So, there is a chance I could get fired?"

"That's right. This is the end of the discussion." Amelia says simply and then turns around and Jessica is not able to say anything else and she leaves the room Nathan following behind her. Wondering down the hallway, it feels like she is walking through thick mud.

"Watch out, or you will run into that wall." Realizing that she stops and turns to another direction.

"Thanks for what you did back there by the way...But why did you stick up for me?"

"What were you even thinking? Even if there is nothing going on between you two, you shouldn't have him in your apartment. You treat the students too much like children. They are not as immature as you'd like to think."

"You are right..." Faced with her own mistake, she feels even more depressed and she can't say anything back to him.

"...Anyway, right now got to class. It is almost time."

"I am sorry. I know I am not your assistant teacher anymore, but I am sorry I got suspended at such an important time."

"If you think I am going to sit here and lecture you, you are wrong. When someone regrets their actions, they feel bad about it and I can tell that you do that, so you don't need me to say anything else. And, about Maximillian. I though very long and hard about it, but I had him to stay home today. We don't want the rumor to spread even more, when they see you two together."

"Right. Thanks..." leaving her alone, Jessica sighs and thinks how he is totally fed up with her.

As soon as she enters the room, everything goes completely silent and the student's eyes turn to her and she can tell by the mood that they know.

"I have something to tell you before we start class. Starting tomorrow, I..." like usual she is not able to finish her sentence, because one of her student interrupts her with a question.

"Miss Hower, are you really quitting? We heard you might get fired because...of Maximillian. We don't know what happened, but we don't want you to go away, Miss Hower!"

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up and it makes it even harder to say that, but I'll be away from school for a while. Now let's start class! You guys have an important day tomorrow, right?"

"That's right! It's the practice test!" She looks over the class and refocus her energies and pushes down all the anxiety inside of her and open her textbook.