This love (Teacher/Student)

Chapter 44

EDITED

"Before I forget you left this at the garage." Zach said as he reached into the back of the SUV and handed me my biology textbook.

"Oh thanks." I said and opened my bag to put it in.

"So, I'll pick you up at 3:15 yeah?"

I smiled slightly shoving the book in. "The same time you've been picking me up for the past month?" He sighed. "Yes."

"I'm just making sure you're okay." I nodded.

"I am, really. You don't need to have this watch on me 24/7." I laughed and he scoffed.

"I drive you to school and home. You missy are the one who comes to the garage just to do homework." He grinned and I looked away embarrassed. "You've got your last therapy thing today, right?" I nodded with a sigh as I watched other students walk into the school building.

"Yeah. I'm thinking about ditching. I don't really need it anymore." I said.

I had seen the school's therapist twice a week in the month since Luke's death and nothing had changed. There was still a hole in my chest and he was still dead.

Zach nodded.  "You should go. Consider it an achievement. You completed grief counselling 101." I cringed but laughed at the same time. "If things do get too much...you know you can call me." I nodded.

"I know Zach." I sighed and tucked hair behind my ears. "Thank you for being there for me since...well you know." He nodded.

"Well I did kind of promise Dano I would look out for you." He smirked.

It has been a month and I couldn't help myself from asking one more time. "Have you heard anything yet?" Zach's smirk dropped.

He coughed but shook his head. "No Hayls I haven't." He said and looked at the students from the driver's side. "I told you I would tell you when I do." We hadn't spoken much about Daniel over the past month. He was still in the back of my mind though.

Despite everything that happened with Luke, I hated feeling like the one person I needed wasn't here. "You should get to class." Zach said as he started to light a cigarette.

I nodded. "See you at quarter past?" He nodded.

"I'll be here." He said without looking at me.

I jumped out the SUV and walked towards the school. As usual Zach didn't leave until he saw me walk in the front doors. I knew the real reason he drove me everyday. He thought that if he didn't I wouldn't come. And he knew school was a distraction for me.

I had taken off a week after Luke, the rest of my friends taking a few days extra. Alex took 2 weeks but only because she had to confess to our parents what he had really meant to her. Matt and Ollie had only just come back. It had hit everyone. The guilt.

I didn't think I was going to survive it. It had seeped into me taking over every other emotion. The questions of 'what if', 'was it me'. It consumed me. So, I had made sure to keep busy.

Every single day of the past month I made sure I was occupied, extra shifts at work, parties, and races with the guys. Study sessions with the girls. Loneliness was what took Luke and I wouldn't be taken too. "Hey." I smiled as I caught up to Megan and Scarlett walking towards the library.

Megan looked over Scarlett at me. "I text you this morning, to see if you wanted a ride?"

I shook my head. "Sorry I didn't see it. Zach drove me."

She instantly looked away from me with a look I was sure was anger. Scarlett however, didn't look away. "Is that why you didn't see my text last night either about going to the pub tonight?"