The New Principal

6. The Whispers.

*Thomas texts will be in italics. Joel texts will be in bold.*

     Joel and I have spent every minute of free time together the last month. After the night at my house, I can't seem to go a day without touching him or him touching, or fucking, me.
     One place that is still a hard spot in all of this is work, the school. We aren't shy around each other, I no longer avoid him like I did for awhile. But, we're careful. We spend our lunches and breaks in the break room, touching secretly under the table, but we try not to be obvious.
     No matter how sneaky we think we're being, I've started to notice people looking at us. Sometimes we laugh and the heads of our colleagues turn to us, noticing how close we are or how Joel lightly touches my arm as he laughs. Steph and Reena obviously know what's going on but I was hoping to keep it at that.
     I decide to skip a break room trip and stay in my room but am quickly interrupted by Steph standing at my room door. "Hi, Thomas. Why ya hiding?" I shake my head, looking down. "I'm not hiding, I'm busy."
     She comes to sit on the corner of my desk, looking down at me. "You're hiding. Is it because people are talking about you and principal?" My head snaps to her, my eyes wide. "Excuse me?" She frowns, letting out a long breath.
     "I heard Bill and Sharon talking about you guys, something about being too close. I quickly let myself be seen so they stopped." She just looks at me, waiting for me to answer. I don't even know what to say.
     "Well shit," is all I get out. She laughs, making me smile. "How do we get them to stop talking?" She just shrugs, as confused about it as I am. "Tell me if you hear more stuff, yeah?" She agrees, kissing my cheek before leaving the room. It isn't long before I get a text.
You're not here :( where are you? I can't help but smile at his texts. I've gotten to know him so well I can easily picture him pouting, his plump lower lip stuck out.
I'm in my room working on a sheet for a project coming up. You can always come see me. :) He wastes no time and is in my room in within five minutes. He shuts the door and moves to me, kissing me quickly. "Hi handsome, how are you?"
     "I'm okay. Steph came to see me, said people are talking about us." Joel frowns slightly before rubbing his chin with his thumb. "Uhh, yeah. I've heard that actually. I don't even care." I'm surprised, my brows furrowing at his words.
     "Really? This could be bad!" He smiles at my slight freak out, rubbing his hand along my arm. "It'll be fine, Thomas. We're careful here, nobody is allowed to say anything about our private time. So we keep it private. No issue."
     I nuzzle into his hand as he rubs my cheek lightly. "Okay," I smile at him. "Calm down, yeah?" I nod, kissing his palm before he removes his hand. We agree to meet up at my place later and he leaves, breezing out the door with seemingly no care in the world.
•••
     If I had been hoping that the old assholes I work with would find a new topic of interest, I would be severely let down. It's been two weeks since Steph warned me of their gossip, and I'm tempted to pay her to do something scandalous so they stop talking about me and Joel.
      Joel and I have continued on as normal, limited touches and time at school, wild kisses and exhausting sex outside of school. I think I'm starting to really like him for more than just his penis.
     I'm in the bathroom, hiding from the kids if I'm honest, when I hear Bill and Allen walk in. They clearly don't know I'm here since I'm who they're talking about. "Didn't know he was into that sort of thing," Bill says to the other man. "Me either. Makes sense though. I kind of always assumed he was pining for Stephanie, he was always with her," Allen adds.
     "Do you think he's just in it because Mr. Stafford is the boss? Goes gay for better pay?" They both start to laugh. I can't take anymore. I push out of the stall to the surprised looks on their faces. "Excuse me," I say, moving past them and back to my room.
     I feel sick, disgusted in them and their words and in myself, for allowing myself to get into a position where this could happen. I should have known to stay away from Joel. I text him, telling him what I'm thinking.
I don't know what to do. Just heard Bill and Allen talking shit about me. Saying I fuck you for better pay. I'm freaking out.
     I know he'll come to my room since he's aware of my break. I move and lock the door, pulling the shade down so he can't see in. Right as I'm done, the door knob jiggles from the outside. There's a knock. I know it's him but I can't let him see me right now.
Let me in, Thomas. Come on. Let me see you. But I can't. So I don't. Not right now. I'll see you later. Please just let me be for now.
     Okay fine. I'll see you later yeah? I don't answer him, just go about my day, pretending my whole career isn't being questioned and mocked.