Stolen Innocence (Evergreen) [Student/Teacher Love Story]

forty six

That Monday, I haven't received any physical green light from the admin but I decide to show up to campus anyways. I've decided I'm not gonna let them force me to stay home, it's been long enough. The weekend that followed after I left Ethan hanging by my locker was painful and long. He didn't try to contact me at all and, as painful as it was, I didn't either. I don't want to think about the fact that he may be done with me, but it's very possible considering I told him I was still in love with Michael.

Shaking him out of my head, I try to get to class unbothered but I'm unable to when I see Ethan's mom - Linda - charging her way into the main office. Wanting to ignore it with all my might, but being unable to, I creep to the doorway, trying to listen in. The door is being propped open, but even if it wasn't I think I would hear Linda anyways.

"No, I don't care about that. I need to talk to somebody about keeping Iris Lund away from my child," Hearing my name stings but I can't help but be compelled to listen closer.

"Mrs. Rodgers, that's not really something we can contro-"

"Then get me someone who can," I hear the front desk lady clear her throat and there's a pregnant pause.

"If you don't mind me asking, is there a problem with Iris? Did she do something to-"

"Ethan. And yes. She's precocious and sick. Something needs to be done to keep whatever is wrong with her from spreading to other kids," I actually scoff out loud at this, my heart hammering in my chest as I feel my stomach sink.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Rodgers, Ms. Lund is a victim, you cannot talk about her that way," I hear a familiar voice speak up after a door is opened and I glance in to see Katie defending me. I wish she wouldn't have used the term 'victim', but I'll take the show of support.

"I don't care what she is, I want her to stay away from my son,"

"Why don't you just ask her?" I finally step into the doorway and all three of them turn to look at me.

"Iris?" I hear my name called from behind me and I cringe slightly. Turning ever so slightly on my heel, I see Ethan making his way up to the office. He looks beyond me and his eyebrows scrunch slightly at seeing his mom here.

"Mom?" She smiles awkwardly at him and I notice Katie and the receptionist both glaring at her.

"Hi, honey, why aren't you in class?" She looks past me but I can feel the tension between us as if it were a live wire. He shakes his head, his eyes finally connecting with mine and I can't help but smile slightly.

"I saw Iris...wanted to talk to her," The tardy bell rings but no one seems to notice.

"So...what was it you were just saying about me staying away from your son?" I smile at Linda and I catch a glimmer in her eye of pure hared. Feelings mutual, bitch.

"What?" Ethan snaps, finally walking between us and up to his mother who is now faking a smile at him.

"She didn't hear the whole story, that's not exactly what I was-"

"You followed me into school to tell the administration to keep Iris away from me? Is that it?" He surmises and I would laugh if the atmosphere wasn't so tense. Everyone else in the office seems to be clued in to what is happening now, but I'm used to being stared at at this point.

His mom falters, caught between wanting to lie and being seemingly physically incapable of doing that.

"She's not good for you, sweetie. She's a problem child. I've read about girls like this. Girls that go after older men-"