A Fractured Lover (Student/Teacher)

Chapter 6

Heading towards his classroom was like heading towards certain death. Death from humiliation.

I hadn't quite decided on how I was going to approach the situation. A part of me wanted to simply march in there, say thank you like an adult and walk right back out with my head held high. The other, less developed part of me, was contemplating writing him a note and slipping it onto his desk before he could notice me and then run like the wind.

Both options would get the point across, but only one was going to get Rachel off my back with this whole thing.

With a sigh, I made my way over to the door and surprised myself by doing one last sweep over of my appearance in one of the glass frames hanging in the hallway.

Even though it was hot out today, I attempted to cover myself by up a little more than usual, per the events of the past weekend. I wore normal jeans, and a maroon colored swoop neck shirt, and due to the healing bruises on my neck, a scarf was placed gingerly around my neck, hiding the marks beneath.

Once satisfied that the scarf was in place, covering as much as it could, I spun on my heel and walked until I reached the dreaded door. The door that was my only barricade between me and the man who had supposedly saved me that night. The man who embarrassed me in front of the whole class. The man who I just happened to be extremely attracted to for all the wrong reasons.

Yeah, this should go well.

I reached my hand out to the door knob but an unknown force seemed to have taken over as my hand just hovered there, not moving any closer to the knob. "Come on, Alex, " I muttered. "Just open the fricking door!" I said, scolding myself for being so immature.

"Just walk in, say thank you and leave." I repeated this mantra in my head about 8 more times before placing my hand on the doorknob and turning it.

No backing out now.

I hesitantly took a few steps into the room before spotting a familiar head of thick, brunette hair. Mr. McCoy was standing at his desk, both hands resting on the desk as he mulled over some papers.

"I'll be with you in a moment," he spoke without looking up from his work. His voice came out rather exhausted, making me reconsider ever stepping foot inside the room.

I stood silent for a moment, waiting patiently like he had asked, but the longer I waited the antsier I got. In reality, only about 15 seconds had passed but it had felt like a century to me. Internally debating on turning back or staying put; the coward in me was quickly winning the battle. Finally, about to combust with nerves, I concluded that a note on his desk at the end of class would have to suffice.

"It's alright, I-I have to be going actually..." I mumbled while turning my back to him and heading for the door.

"...and done!" he exclaimed.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath realizing that any chance at escape was now gone. Sighing audibly, I turned around to face him.

"Now, what can I help you with?" Mr. McCoy picked up a large number of papers and patted them down until they were in an even stack then finally looked up to find me standing there awkwardly. His eyebrows shot up in surprise and something passed through his eyes but was gone before I could decipher what it was.

Neither of us said anything for a moment. Both of us seemed to be frozen in time and our spots.

I tore my gaze away from him and started fidgeting with the ends of my scarf, pretending to be interested in what was written on the board.