Back To You

Running Away

Malakai Davis

"How was your Christmas, Ms. Montgomery?" I slipped into the almost empty classroom for the first time in many months. Well, I had shown up to class of course, but never early. I was avoiding a particular conversation with Ms. Montgomery but I was praying that she had forgotten by name.

Ms. Montgomery closed the door behind me and I knew that was a terrible sign. She cleared her throat and pointed to the spot on her desk where I usually sat. I perched myself on her desk. "So you're a stripper."

I sighed and nodded. I should have stayed in my damn car. "I was hoping that you would think Wynn was a liar."

Ms. Montgomery sat in her chair. She stared up at me with an unreadable expression. Then again, she was an unreadable woman when she wanted to be. "Well the way you've been avoiding me convinces me otherwise."

"I have not been avoiding you." I lied.

Ms. Montgomery gave me a knowing glance, that let me know she didn't believe me one bit. "Yes, you have. No need to lie."

Still, I continued with my lie. "I keep sleeping in and leaving my house late."

"Right." Ms. Montgomery snorted. "Your breakfast is on your desk." Even though I was avoiding her Ms. Montgomery was still bringing my breakfast.

I felt bad. "You really don't have to do that anymore."

"Because you have a job?" She guessed. I just nodded in response. "I'm assuming you're spending your money on things other than yourself?"

"I am saving it for my future," I told her.

"Does your mother know?" Ms. Montgomery asked.

"Are you planning on snitching?" I glanced at the black phone attached to the wall. Ms. Montgomery had used it to call my mother during my freshman year because I had racked up over eleven missing assignments. "She wouldn't approve."

"For a good reason, Miss Davis. This is not a life you want to live. This is not a job you want to be trapped in." Ms. Montgomery scolded.

I looked down in shame. I knew that all too well. "I am just trying to stack up money for the time being."

"Get a job at a grocery store, don't strip for old men." Ms. Montgomery touched my thigh lightly. I could already feel the tears brimming in my eyes. I politely pushed her hand off of me. "I am not saying this to shame you. I care about you, Miss Davis. I want better for you."

"I'm trying to leave this town the second I graduate," I admitted. It wasn't anything that I had told anyone other than Oscar, who was trying to do the same thing by dealing.

"Why?" Ms. Montgomery questioned.

"This town sucks and so do the people in it." I looked at her, and she looked confused by my words. "Don't look at me like that, you're running away too."

"Running away?" She crossed her arms. "Your diction and word choice are very telling."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you would think so. You're an English teacher."

Ms. Montgomery pursed her lips, almost as if she were debating telling me something. "If you must know I'm not running away. I am getting married, sometime in the summer."

"To who?" I asked. Ms. Montgomery hadn't told any of her classes about someone she was interested in. And no one had spotted her with some random man. News like that traveled fast in a small town.

"Miss Springfields's uncle." Ms. Montgomery said.

"Oh." My jaw dropped.

"Oh?" She asked, clearly offended by my reaction.

"I never imagined you marrying a man." I had always thought that she was too dominant for a man. But that could've been due to my freshman fantasies of being dominated by her. "I'm not saying you're unmarriable or whatever."

"Oh, I think I know what you're implying." Ms. Montgomery smirked in amusement. "But no. I going to get married to a man. And we're moving to where he lives since marriage is all about compromise." She said the last part in a bit of a mumble.

"Mhm." was all I said.

Ms. Montgomery glared at me and pointed her finger at me. "I don't appreciate your grunts of disbelief."

"Where are you going?" I asked, abruptly. She raised an eyebrow. "I plan on following you."

Ms. Montgomery laughed. "I'm sure you do. Prepare plans to move to Oregon."

"And you'll be teaching college students there?" I recalled the time she told Hiraeth, me, and Wynn that she would be teaching college students.

Ms. Montgomery peered up at me. "Stop stripping."

"Oh... you're still on that?" I mumbled. "I plan on ceasing once I leave this town. I'll have raked up enough money to move by then."

"And if you haven't?" Ms. Montgomery questioned.

I just struggled because I truly didn't know. So I changed the subject. "You should come to my club for your bachelorette party."

Ms. Montgomery laughed and shook her head. "Yes, because receiving a lap dance from my student is so appropriate."

I sighed, remembering the fact that Ms. Montgomery was truly leaving. I would never see my favorite teacher again. Not even if I came back into town for the holidays. "Can I come to the wedding?"

Ms. Montgomery sighed. "Don't look so sad, Miss Davis. I'm not gone yet."

I flexed my foot. "I'm not a fan of change. That's why I request the same seat every time I get your class."

"Tell you what, we can exchange numbers after your graduation. That way we can stay in touch." Ms. Montgomery offered.

I perked up a bit at the offer. "Oregon and Connecticut are so far from each other so I'll never be able to visit you. "

"Connecticut?" Ms. Montgomery asked.

I nodded. "My girlfriend's going to Yale." I had no doubt that Hiraeth's smart ass would get accepted into Yale.

"And you're planning on following her?" Ms. Montgomery asked.

"Of course I am. I love her. And I really don't have any other plans." I would follow Hiraeth anywhere. "I mean I do want to become a tattoo artist but I'm sure they have tattoo parlors in New Haven."

Ms. Montgomery stood up and hugged me. "I wish you luck Malakai."

"I wish you luck too," I said softly.

The bell rang signaling the beginning of passing period. Meaning there would be about two minutes before people tried to come into the classroom. I hopped off her desk and slid into my assigned seat.