My Last Request (teacherxstudent wlw)

E I G H T

Ms. Sanders POV:

Zienna
I can't come, something came up.

Jacob
Again? You know I want to see you.

Zienna
I know, I'm sorry. Maybe you could've seen me if you were actually there the last time.

Jacob
One of my employees told me she could close, I forgot to tell you. You know I'm sorry.

Zienna
I know, but I'd still appreciate you telling me. Dahlia is a good employee though, she insisted on making me leave.

Jacob
You know her?

Zienna
She's one of my students.

I lay my phone away from me as I wait in my car. Dahlia said she'd like to come home with me, which is not in a creepy way but in a comforting kind of way.

She's a good student, I can't lie about that. She's talented, and even though she says she hates reading and writing, she's honestly good at it. I have wondered numerous times if I'm teaching a soon-to-be famous writer, or a student who will just waste their potential – like the rest of my students.

I snap out of my thoughts as the car door opens.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, my locker wouldn't close." She apologized.

"It's alright, no worries." I smile at her, and she smiles back.

I turn the key as Dahlia shifts in her seat.

"Seatbelt." I turn on the steering wheel and take a turn. I turn the car radio on as we drive down the street. 'Cruel Summer' starts playing and I skip to another radio station, sighing.

"God, they play that all the time." I look at her, but she's already looking at me. With an irritated look.

"Don't tell me you're a swiftie." I look back and forth from her to the road as my thumb goes to skip back to the last channel. She starts humming the melody as the song plays. God, I'm sitting in the car with a swiftie. Even worse, I'm about to take her to my house.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Taylor Swift, I have something against her fans. You know, those fans who would crash her wedding to get an autograph, or know her home address. Let the girl be, she's just trying to live her life. Leave the drones at home. I'm not a giant fan of her songs either, but I'm not one of those people who forces people to hate her either.

On the way home, she practically danced the whole way, while I focused on the road.

We arrived at the house, and I unbuckled my seatbelt. As I walk to the front door and twist my keys in the keyhole, Dahlia stands by the car just looking at me.

"Come on, we don't wanna talk outside, do we?" I smile, and she picks up speed to walk to the front door.

Dahlia stepped through the front door, and I followed closely behind, closing it gently behind us. We slipped off our shoes and our jackets before going to the kitchen.

"Make yourself at home." I offered.

"Would you like something to drink? I can make some tea, or if you're more the water type, I can give you that too? Snacks?"

"Just water, thank you." Dahlia glanced around the room while she spoke.

I headed to the sink, filling a glass with water before turning to her and handing her the glass. She sat at a stool at my kitchen island, while I just leaned against it. The silence was loud, a bit too loud.

"Well, I invited you over for a reason." I smiled at her as I crossed my arms.

Dahlia took a sip of water, her gaze down at her feet.

"I've been feeling a bit lost." she admitted, her voice soft.

"Lost in what way?"

"In every way. You know, with Elena." Her eyes darted to mine. She has that one look, sometimes I'm certain she wants nothing more than to strangle me and kill me.

"I'm sorry, Dahlia, I really am. It was the best thing to do, I was only trying to help."

She took a sip, ignoring what I said.

"Well, I invited you over for a reason." I remarked, smiling gently as I crossed my arms, hoping to get an answer out of her. I want to help her, I do, but it didn't help to put them together as a pair earlier, I just now realize that.

Dahlia took a sip of her glass of water, her gaze stuck on her feet. I could see just by her facial expression, she was thinking. Alot.

"I've been feeling a bit lost." she admitted, her voice soft and barely above a whisper.

"Lost in what way?" I asked.

"In every way. You know, with Elena." she replied, her eyes shooting me a look before flickering away. There was a familiar look in her eyes, one I've seen there before. She's scared of something, but I don't know what... maybe if I say something she doesn't want to hear, or if she says something wrong?

"I'm sorry, Dahlia, I really am." I said, trying to change her eyes. "It was the best thing to do, I was only trying to help." It helped, thank god.

She took another sip of water, seemingly ignoring my attempt at explanation. The air between us felt heavy with unspoken words. I'm not good with this kind of awkward silence.

"You're not alone, Dahlia." I reassured her gently. "We'll figure this out together, okay?"

She nodded, looking like she understood my words. Despite the challenges she faced, I just know she's stronger than them, and I'll help her if she's not strong enough.

We moved to the living room and sat on my soft, beige couch. As we sat together in the quiet of my living room, I felt a bit awkward, but also comfortable, which is a weird mix of emotions, I know, but it's true.

Later on when Dahlia left, I felt happy that she had me if she needed to talk to someone.

A/N

I haven't updated in ages, I know, I'm sorry.

I'll write at all times, I just had to break this barrier, because I literally had no ideas of what to write in this chapter, but it turned out okay.

Continue to have a good day/night.