Saving Persephone

Chapter 5

Sephy's POV

I looked around the classroom, I was so embarrassed. There was blood all over pretty, lacy, long dress I'd worn to go out with my mum. Mr Barker sat beside me, not taking his eyes off me.

"How are you?" He finally asked. I didn't want to answer, I didn't want this to be real.

"I am so sorry," I said, nearly crying.

"I didn't ask if you were sorry, I asked how you were." This made me smile inside. He cared about me, he actually cared, not many people did.

"I'm hurting," I replied honestly.

"You're not on about the cuts are you?" He asked. He got me. I shook my head, knowing I wouldn't have to explain myself any further to him.

He held my hand with his strong hands, comforting me. I squeezed back.

"Are you going to ring the police?" I asked, knowing that he probably had to. He was a teacher after all, that was his legal obligation.

He just laughed at me though, "You think I'd ring the police on you?"

I shrugged.

"Do you not know me at all? Everyone makes mistakes, this one isn't going to hold you back," He smiled. "I want you to tell me what's happened though."

"Cami's back," I sighed. "My dad had a heart attack so he's in hospital and now she has to come back. My mum brought her back without even asking me. Who does that? I was the one who stuck by her. Then I'm expected to be upset by the fact my dad had a heart attack! He left me and hasn't been in contact since, not even a birthday or Christmas card!" Tears came pouring out then and I couldn't control them. He hugged me tight, making me feel like nothing was wrong with the world.

He always made me feel like that, I met him on the first day of year 10. I'd picked Business studies as an option and then when my teacher was called 'Mr Barker' I decided that was enough of a reason not to go, and skipped the lesson, opting to sit on the field with some friends instead. Mr Barker personally came to my next lesson to get me out and talk to me. I was shocked and knew I'd made the right decision skipping the lesson, expecting him to have a massive go at me. He didn't, instead he laughed when I told him. From then on we made each other a promise, he'd never moan at me like a boring teacher if I never skipped his lessons. I mean, which kind of teacher does that? I was amazed.

"Sephy, you're amazing, you know that don't you?" He smiled. Was he in to me? He told me I was amazing and he was looking right into my eyes. He must have been in to me.

Before I knew what I was doing I leaned in and kissed him. His lips were perfect, so soft but he quickly pulled away.

"I thought..." I started.

"I'm so sorry," He frowned, looking down.

"I thought you liked me," I said.

"You're seventeen." Those words hurt more than I knew they could.

"I'm legal!" I said, defeated.

"You're so special to me," He said. "You know you are, you mean the world to me. I'd do anything I could to make you happy. This is wrong though, I'm your teacher."

"I'm not good enough."

"Hey!" He said, pulling me towards him so we were face to face. "Don't you ever say that, you're perfect. You are absolutely perfect. I do care about you, I really do. I think you're beautiful but I can't kiss you, it's wrong."

"Would you want me if you weren't my teacher?" I challenged him.

He thought for a long time. I knew from this the answer was either yes or that he just really didn't want to hurt my feelings. My heart was thudding by this point and despite all the alcohol, I felt completely sober. "Yes." He finally gave me the answer. He would want to be with me.

I seized my opportunity and I wouldn't let him say no again, I pulled myself closer to him, brushing my lips against his ever so slightly. I saw his eyes visibly get bigger, he was interested, intrigued even. Taking it slow, I ran my hands down his face ever so gently, kissing his neck sensually as I did so; now I could feel him going mad.

"No one has so know," I whispered as I moved up to bottom of his neck, kissing every inch as I did so. I worked my way to his cheek, kissing all over, while sucking slightly, just to let him know what was in store. I got to his lips and this time he didn't move and I pushed mine against his. Our lips danced perfectly together, feeling like they were meant to be together, they just fit and I knew that he could feel it too. He held me tight when we kissed and I could just tell he didn't want to let go. After what felt like a lifetime, a glorious lifetime, he pulled away.

Mr Barker put his head in his hands, a look of stress upon his face.

"I'm going to take you home," He said, helping me up, knowing my legs were extremely sore. I didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin the moment we'd just had. When we started walking out to his car the pain kicked in, my legs, arm and face were killing and were covered in cuts and bruises. I thought about the horror on my mums face when she would see me.

All these different thoughts were going through my head, like why Mr Barker was at school, I imagined it was a meeting or marking, or something like that. I also thought about how Tyler had been there for me, I hoped that he was okay too.

We drove in silence, not awkward silence, peaceful silence. I looked at him in admiration, he was my hero. When we pulled up outside my house a few minutes later, I just sat there, not really wanting to get out.

"I've watched you turn into a beautiful woman, Sephy," He smiled. "You're amazing, I don't think you realise that and I am here for you no matter what. I shouldn't do this, but here's my number, text me if you ever need to chat, I'm always there for you."

I took his number from him and left the car. The walk up my drive felt like the longest walk every, I prayed my mum was upstairs and not there to greet me. She'd be mortified. As I slowly opened the large red door, I was right to worry, the house was lit up like a Christmas tree, she was definitely up.

"Sephy!" I heard the second I walked through the door. My mum ran up to me, hugging me close while trying to soothe my face. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a very concerned looking Cami and I challenged myself not to look at her, not to give her the satisfaction of any attention.

"What have you done to your face?" She cried. "You're covered in blood! This is all my fault!"

"I fell over," I said bluntly, walking up the stairs, ignoring her as she carried on talking to me, all I wanted was my bed.