Teach Me (18+)

Chapter Thirty Two

Gianna's Point Of View

I groggily opened my eyes to find Eden's alarm blaring in my ear. The harsh sound cut through the quiet darkness of my bedroom, the world outside still cloaked in night.

Eden quickly reached over to turn it off, but not before it had already jolted us both awake. It was 4 am, and the darkness outside seemed to press in on us, heavy and foreboding.

Eden threw off the covers and started getting ready, her movements swift and fast. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to process what was happening. "Hey, there's no rush, right?" I asked my voice husky from my sleep.

But Eden just shook her head, her expression tight. "I have an important meeting today. I need to get Lily up and ready for school."

I knew better than to push her. Something was bothering Eden, and she wasn't talking about it.

It's been like this for days. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her eyes seemed to cloud over. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but she was already pulling away.

Watching her get dressed, I realized she was running from something. But what? And why wouldn't she let me in? I felt a pang of frustration, mixed with concern growing inside me.

What was going on with Eden? And how could I help her?

"I'll see you later?" my voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'll text you," she said, bending over the bed to kiss me.

"Okay," I said as she pulled away.

As I lay back in bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Eden's sudden departure had left me feeling abandoned, and it stirred up old memories.

My mind drifted back to Raine and how she left me feeling vulnerable and used. She was gone as soon as she got what she wanted from me.

No explanation, no goodbye. Just a space where she once lay.

The memory still stung, and Eden's behavior was bringing it all back. I felt like I was reliving that same abandonment, that same vulnerability.

I tried to push those feelings aside, telling myself that Eden was different, that maybe she loved me and cared for me as I did for her. But the fear lingered, refusing to be silenced.

As I lay there, I wondered if history was repeating itself.

Was I just a phase for Eden, a momentary distraction? The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I knew I needed to talk to her to clear the air and reassure myself that our relationship was real.

I threw myself into my morning routine, trying to shake off the lingering doubts, but my thoughts drifted back to Eden.

After showering and getting dressed, I headed to work, my mind still clouded with thoughts of Eden.

The drive was a blur, the usual landmarks passing by unnoticed as I replayed our morning repeatedly in my head. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping away, and I could not stop it.

As I arrived at school, the familiar sounds of children laughing and playing filled the air. It was a small comfort but did little to ease the unease gnawing at me. I made my way to my classroom, trying to focus on the tasks ahead.

By mid-morning, I was deep in a math lesson with my class after I had already done three other lessons with them.

My classroom door unlocked and opened, revealing an unreadable Julianna. Her light eyes locked onto mine as she handed me a envelope. "Here are your tickets to the charity event," she said, her voice neutral.