The Music Teacher

Chapter 7 - Leah's POV

Later when I came down to the kitchen my mum was sitting with some tea and a magazine.
"Hey..." I said sheepishly. My mum just gave me a smile.
"Where's everybody?" I asked.
"Dad took Jake out shopping," she said. I went to the kettle and got some water, it was still hot.
"So, honey..." my mum said. Oh fuck. Here we go. "I know you're an adult now and you can do as you please, but we would appreciate it, if you kept the sex noises to a minimum," I could tell that it was hard for her to say it.
"Sorry, mum," I just said, I didn't really wanna argue about it.
"So, who's the bloke?" she smirked.
I rolled my eyes. Straight from lecture to gossip.
"He's no one, mum."
"So you just brought a stranger home?" she said disapproving.
"He's not a stranger, he's... Just a lad i know, but it won't happen again."
"Why not? It sounded like you had a good time," she smirked.
"It's complicated, mum."

It was tuesday. The first day of music class for Jake since I last saw Tom. And I was on pick up duty again. I just had to play it cool like last time and everything would go back to normal.

Today when I sat down to wait outside the classroom, I could hear that Tom was playing a song for the kids. God, that voice is so beautiful! I couldn't really hear the words, but I enjoyed listening to the song and his voice. When the class ended and Jake ran out to me, Tom followed behind him. He had a searching look on his face and he quickly scanned the hallway until his eyes landed on me. His face broke out in a smile.
"Hiya Leah," he smiled.
"Hey," I said and tried to seem distant without being rude.
"Can I talk to you inside for a second?" he asked. Oh no. Abort!
"Err... todays not so good-" I started, but he put his hand on my arm and stared into my eyes.
"Please? It won't take long," he said. I shrugged and followed him into the classroom. That one judgemental parent was staring at us, but I ignored her.
"Jakey, can you just wait here for a minute, while I go and talk to To- Mr. Fletcher?"

Tom closed the door behind me as I began leaning against his desk.
"So, what's up?" I asked him as he approached me.
"Erm yes... so the thing is..." he began but stopped to nervously bite his lip. I just looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"I wanna ask you out on a real date, because I think you're really cool and I want more than just the... great sex," he said and smiled, hope glistening in his eyes. I sighed.
"I also think that you're really cool, but I just dont think its a good idea," I said. He gave me a disappointed look.
"We shouldn't even have slept together in the first place-" I began, but he cut me off.
"I hear what you're saying, but can I just say one thing?" he asked. I nodded. Then he gently grabbed my face and kissed me. I instantly kissed him back, wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer. I pulled back after a few seconds.
"Even though that's a very good point, I just dont think its a good idea," I said. He gave me a bitter smile.
"Fine, I won't pressure you," he said.

The rest of the day I was in a crappy mood. I did want to go on a date with Tom, but I just didn't think it was right. It made me sad though, because he seemed like such a great guy.
At dinner I stayed in my room, telling my parents I wasn't feeling well and wasn't hungry. Later that night my mum came to check on me.

"Leah, hun, are you alright?" she said as she came to sit down on the edge of my bed.
"Nah, but ill be fine," I said.
"What's wrong?" she said and gave me those eyes that only mothers can where they see right through you.
"It's... Nothing..." I lied, knowing that she wouldn't believe me, but I had to try right?
"Is it about that guy from the other night?" she said and smiled a bit. I sighed.
"Maybe..." I said and suddenly felt like I was fifteen again.
"What about him?" she asked. Oh fuck, should I just tell her?
"Promise you won't be mad at me..." I said. She looked confused.
"Why would I-"
"Just promise me."
"Fine, I promise..."
"I actually really like this guy. He's sweet, talented, funny, fit... And he asked me on a date, but I said no..."
"Why?"
"It's... Jake's teacher."
"What??"
"You promised you wouldn't get mad!"
"That was before I knew you were shagging a fifty year old man with a wife and kids!"
"What? I didn't say anything about that..."
"You said it was Jake's teacher!"
"...Not Mr. Johnson, oh my God mum! It's his music teacher, the new one!"
My mum calmed a little bit down after that. I told her about Tom, how he was my age, how Jake adored him - even though she had also been witness to Jake's ramblings about him - and how I couldn't ruin it for Jake by dating his favorite teacher.
"But... You're already involved with him, right?" she said. I nodded. "And nothing's changed with Jake and his teacher, right?" I shrugged. "I guess..." I said.
"So, I think you should just take the chance, if you like him so much..."

So here I was, picking Jake up once again and determined to talk to Tom and tell him, that I wanted to go on a date with him after all. My belly was full of nervous and excited butterflies as I sat down outside the classroom. It was oddly quiet and when the door opened, the kids quietly shuffled outside instead of skipping happily as they used to. I was worried now.
"Hey bud," I said as Jake approached me quietly, "What's up?"
"Mr. Fletcher isn't here today," he said disappointed.
"Why?" I asked. He shrugged. I went to the door to see who'd taught the kids today. There was a middle aged man at Tom's desk.
"Excuse me?" I said, and he looked up at me, "Yes?"
"I was just wondering where Mr. Fletcher is?" I asked.
"I just know that he called in sick, Miss," he said and smiled politely.

It was like that for the next week. Every time I would come to pick up Jake from a silent music class. The thing was, that apparently they had a maths teacher fill in for Tom, so the kids didn't play any music with him. I was starting to get worried. Was it something serious? When was he coming back? I didn't actually have any of the other guys' phone numbers or anything, so there was no way for me to know. I didn't want to ask the school for Tom's number, I thought that would be kinda weird.