Four Page Letters (TeacherxStudent)

Chapter 13

Rosalynn

Three weeks.
It has been three weeks since Charlotte has uttered a single word to me. Not a simple hello, good morning or even so much as a wave. Yet my feelings are only getting stronger.

Ever since I read her response to that assignment that day my heart has been completely overwhelmed. I actually made a copy of it and it now sits at my bedside table. Creepy, I know. Although I'm not entirely sure the piece was about me, it warms my heart everytime I read it. Its very frustrating that she won't even talk to me. I dont know if she's upset about the whole thing with Jack or what. Everytime I try to get her to stay after class, she just runs right out the door. But that ends today.

It's currently two minutes before class is set to end. Any minute now the bell will ring, and I know for a fact Charlotte will make a run for the door. But this time, I will be there to stop her. I got up from my desk and went to open the door. I stood against the frame, watching the minute tick down on my watch. When the bell rang out, I let out a nervous sigh. My palms are all sweaty and I honestly don't know how this is going to go. Students began walking out, saying their goodbyes. Student after student, and then finally she hurriedly walked out. Quickly, I grabbed her arm making her turn to face me. We were so close my heart began to race. I dropped her arm and cleared my throat. "We need to talk." I said. She looked around and I knew she would either try and make a run for it, or come up with another excuse. As she's done the last several times I've attempted to talk to her.

She began to speak but before she could, I cut her off. "Im not asking you Charlotte, I'm telling you. Please just.. I need to talk to you." I really did. I didn't care if we talked about why she's been icing me out lately or her favorite damn color. I just know I miss her voice. Without any rebuttal, she turned and walked into the classroom. I followed behind her and closed the door. She was sitting at her normal desk which was almost in the back of the class. I went and leaned against my desk, "Charlotte I'm not going to bite you. Can you sit up here please?" She didnt move. And I am growing more and more annoyed at her stubbornness. For Gods sake Im not even sure what I did wrong to make her turn and act so cold towards me. If I indeed did something to upset her, there's no way I can fix it if she doesn't even tell me.

"Charlotte look. I have been trying for the past three weeks to get some alone time with you." I ran my hands through my hair as I began pacing back and forth. "But you've completely iced me out! And to be honest I have no idea what I did wrong. I mean if you're still upset about what happened at my house then its not fair. Because I have been trying to explain that whole situation but you won't even hear me out! You've never given me the chance to tell you my side you just.. took it for what it was and .. God I dont know." I leaned against the board, trying to steady my breathing as I felt myself getting all worked up. I looked over towards her. She sat with her head to the ground, still not saying a word. "Charlotte please talk to me. Tell me whats going on so I can try and fix things. Its killing me to see you every day and know for some reason you resent me."

Silence.

I went and sat behind my desk. Feeling like this conversation is going absolutely no where. Charlotte means a lot to me and I want nothing more than to work through whatever this is. But I cant if things are going to be one sided. At this point I dont even know how to feel. My feelings for her are growing each and every day and I'm starting to realize maybe that is one sided as well.

Maybe she never did have any feelings towards me. Maybe I just jumped the gun and was so wooed by her assignments and even the time we were in my car and I had my hand on her knee I thought we .. I don't know. By the silence in this room I think it's safe to say my imagination has gotten the best of me. I cant believe I have been naive enough to fall for one of my students. After what seemed like an eternity of silence I couldn't take it anymore. Being in the same room with her, knowing she doesn't feel the way I do is literally breaking my heart. Sighing, I stood up and went to open the door. Going back to my seat, I pulled out assignments from today to begin grading. Without looking up, I addressed her once again. "You can leave now." I continued grading but she didn't leave immediately. I hadn't heard any movements. About five minutes had gone by and she finally got up and left. She didn't leave immediately after I said it though, so that has to mean something right?

                                    ****

I've been tossing and turning all night. It's currently around 2am and I haven't gotten a wink of sleep. My feelings are all over the place and my mind just won't shut off. Sighing, I turned over once again and tried to fall asleep.

Not even ten minutes later I heard my phone vibrating on the night stand. Why in the world would someone be calling at this hour? Deciding to ignore it, I rolled over. If its of any importance, they will call again. Shortly after, it started vibrating again. Groaning I rolled over and snatched the phone off the night stand. Looking down, my heart immediately sank. She was calling me.. Charlotte was calling. I immediately answered, "Hello?" Silence. "Charlotte are you there?" I flicked on the lamp on the table as I sat up in bed. She still hadn't said anything and I was getting worried. "Charlotte, honey whats going on?" I asked her again. I heard her sniffle then exhale a shaky breath, "Im sorry to bother you." She started. "You're not bothering me love, what's happened?" After a few moments of silence she spoke again. "Umm.. if you dont mind.. could you come and g-get me?" At this point I was already getting out of bed and searching for a pair of shoes.

"Yes, are you at home? I can be there in maybe twenty or thirty minutes. Is that okay? Are you okay?" By this time I was slipping on a robe and heading towards the stairs. "Im.. Im not home." She said so quietly I almost missed it. Heading out the garage door, I unlocked my truck and started the engine. "Ohh okay. Then where are you?" I said, putting on my seatbelt. "I .. Im near the diner on Lexington and Fourth Ave." I thought to myself, trying to envision where she is. I repeated the location a few times to myself before it finally registered. "Charlotte what the hell are you doing all the way over there? Especially at this hour! Are you alone? How did you get there?" There were so many questions going through my mind. Especially what the hell she was doing in that neighborhood. It wasnt the safest, lets just leave it at that.

She hadn't said anything, and that only made me more nervous. "Charlotte is there some where you can wait until I get there. I have to be honest love its going to take a bit to get over there." Well, if I run a few stop signs and a couple red lights I could be there in twenty minutes top. Otherwise it would be at least thirty to forty minutes. "My phone is dying." She said. Great. Sighing, I raised my garage door and backed out of it and onto the street. "Charlotte, just sit at the front of the entrance Im on my way. Are you okay to wait for me? I dont want to keep you on the phone in case it dies." "Yes.. okay. Im .. Im okay. Theres people walking around..." I made it out of my complex, and onto the main road. "Honey I will be there as soon as I can I promise. What percent is your phone on?" I asked her. I heard the phone shift away from her ear, before coming back. "7%." Oh fuck me. "Charlotte we have to hang up. I dont want your phone to die. If anything happens before I get there, or if those people try and bother you I need you to be able to call the police okay? We have to hang up now."

Looking around, I ran through the first red light I came across. "Okay, I will." We said goodbye and I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. She is all the way on the other side of town, and I cant stop thinking about why she's there to begin with. Especially at this time of night. Im going at least twenty miles over the speed limit. If there were any cops out tonight, I would just have to let them chase me until I got to her. I am so worried I dont know what to do.

Twenty five minutes later I was pulling into a parking lot. I had to drive around the building to the front where I saw Charlotte standing, arms folded and a man standing right next to her. Immediately beginning to panic, I jumped out of the car. "Charlotte!" I called walking up to her, I pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. I didnt want to let go. I pulled back, and held her face in my palms while I examined her. "Are you okay?" She nodded, "The guy there waited with me until you came." She said pointing back towards the man, whom Im sure is homeless. I pulled her back into my arms and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for waiting with her." I told him. He nodded his head and I turned back to Charlotte. "Lets go honey." I grabbed her hand and led her to the passenger side of the truck. I let her get settled in before I went to the drivers side and got in, taking off down the road.