I Loved You Before I Met You (New Version)

76

   "What is it?" I ask just as her office door opens.

   "Ahh, Ms. James... and Ms. Adams. Nice to see you both here." I glance at Lauren and she just shrugs.

   "Have a seat, Superintendent Jones," Lauren says as she sits down at her desk. He sits in the chair beside me and looks around the office.

   "Doing a little end of the year cleaning huh?" Mr. Jones asks as he breathes in. I have to turn my head to keep from laughing. If he only knew what we were actually doing and that Lauren sprayed air freshener to cover up the smell of sex in the air.

   "Of course sir" Lauren says and I can tell by her voice she is wondering why he is here. Hell, I'm wondering the same thing.

   Mr. Jones scoots to the edge of the chair "Lauren, we need to talk about graduation. The ceremony was great. Everything seemed to go as it should and we had no issues." He looks at me and I just slightly smile at him. "Look Lauren, I have had a few faculty members and concerned parents contact me about something. It was overheard that Ms. Adams asked you out on a date and that you accepted. They're concerned about you going on a date with a student. There are quite a few of the parents and even a couple teachers that want you fired."

   I quickly interrupt "I'm not a student anymore and didn't ask her out until after I had graduated and was no longer a student."

   Mr. Jones looks at me then back at Lauren. "That should have never happened. It's highly inappropriate and I don't quite understand why you would accept a date with a child." I stand up so fast my chair nearly turns over but I grab it before it does.

   "I'm not a child, I am 18 so there's really no problem with her accepting the date." He stands up and walks to the side of Lauren's desk and sits on the corner facing her not even paying me any attention.

   "Lauren, you were married to a man. If you want to date someone, I can guarantee you, there are plenty of available male faculty members just at this school that are more than willing to take you on a date."

   I start to walk around Lauren's desk to be beside her but she glances at me and shakes her head. "Mr. Jones, I'm sorry but my personal life is just that. It's personal. I probably should have waited until we were away from school to accept Kyler's offer for a date but I didn't see anything wrong with it since she was no longer a student."

   He laughs "well honestly you shouldn't have accepted it at all. You're a very beautiful woman and there's no way you are gay. Any man alive would love to show you a good time. I might be married but I would...."

   Lauren cuts him off "I think it's best if you don't finish that sentence Mr. Jones." She stands up from her desk and looks at him "I quit you perverted, homophobic asshole. Now, you don't have to worry about any of the faculty or parents. Also, I can date anyone I damn well please." She starts gathering her personal belongings and puts them in an empty paper box.

   I just stand there for a few minutes because I'm in shock at what Lauren just did. I mean I understand why she quit her job but I'm shocked that she actually did it. I was not expecting that at all but I'm so proud of my woman. I grab some of her personal belongings and set them in a smaller empty box so we can get out of here.

   "Kyler, lets go." Lauren says as she walks towards the door. Mr. Jones grabs her arm "Now come on Lauren, I think we can work something out. Don't you think you can do me a favor and then we can put this all behind us? You will get to keep your job and I get something I want in return."

   I quickly walk over and jerk his hand off of Lauren's arm. "Don't touch her again and don't even think that she will sleep with you!" Lauren slaps Mr. Jones across the face then opens the office door. She grabs my hand trying to pull me with her. I grab the small box with her belongings and tuck it under my arm. I stop and look at Mr. Jones and with a smirk say "hope you enjoyed your seat on the corner of the desk."

   He looks at me confused, "what do you mean?"

   I smirk again, "I had just finished fucking Lauren on the desk before you arrived." Lauren pulls my hand harder making me follow her out and I start laughing at his expression.

   We stop at the front desk and Lauren hugs Mrs. Scott and tells her goodbye and that she quit. Mrs. Scott turns to me after releasing Lauren from their hug "you better take care of my girl and treat her right you hear. I've never seen her so happy as what you make her."

   Lauren and I both laugh but I look at Mrs. Scott "I will, don't worry." And with that we both walk out of Alamo Vista High School for the very last time and head home.

   The ride home is quiet but I really don't know what to say. The realization set in that Lauren quit a job that she loved and it's my fault after all. I know I should have never asked her out after graduation but it was an in the moment thing. Hell, I know I should have never pursued her in the first place and she would have never been put in this situation. She loved her job and I came along and ruined her whole life. What was I thinking?

   As I'm staring out the window I feel Lauren's hand rub my arm but I don't look at her. She moves her hand from my arm to my thigh and rubs circles on my thigh with her thumb. I still can't look at her because I feel like such a terrible person. She squeezes my thigh hard making me look at her. "Stop over thinking Kyler." She says as she glances at me and smiles. It's not her full smile because it doesn't reach her eyes like it usually does but at least it's not a fake smile.

   I look back out the window and Lauren grabs my hand "hey, look at me" she says. I look at her "I know what you're thinking and it's okay. I promise, so stop" she says, glancing between me and the road. We pull up at the gate to the apartment complex and she enters the code then we drive around to the apartment.

   Once Lauren parks her car I look at her, "it's not okay Lauren. I have ruined your life and your career. I didn't think anything would happen since I would no longer be a student."