A Forbidden Finale (Student/Teacher Romance)

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

I resisted the urge to clamp my hands together. When I opened my mouth, it was going to cut all the elation from the situation. Liliana was the first one to speak, though. "This is going to sound really weird, but I think Mr. Langley was at a power plant I tried to blow up the other night."

My face paled. "What?"

"Me, Callum and Dean went to try and plant a bomb at the power plant at Woodside and two people were there to stop us. I have no idea how they knew, but someone shouted at us. I'm sure it was him."

I guess my second plea for help of the night came in now, then. "Can you trace an email address?"

She blinked, staring at me as if I was mad. "Have you heard anything I just said?"

"Yes. That's part of the reason I'm asking. Could you trace where an email address was sending emails from?"

"Possibly." She scratched the back of her head. "Why, what's going on?"

My willpower lost out and my hands fidgeted with each other. "I've been being blackmailed. Proper blackmail, not Amber's bullshit. Someone knew I was at the chemical plant and they blackmailed me into going and stopping your attack on the power plant." I swallowed. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know what to do other than to do what they said. I was scared."

Liliana was glaring at me so hard I thought she might slap me. "You and Mr. Langley stopped my attack?"

"Yes."

"Why was he there?"

I shifted my weight. "He found out what I was being forced to do and showed up to help. I told him not to."

"I can't believe it. I really thought you were my friend at one point, you know?"

"I know. I'm so sorry, but." It was the same excuse again, and I wasn't sure whether she'd buy into it this time. "This person is targeting you through me. Don't you want to know who and why, even if you don't want to help me?"

She rubbed her temples. "I can't believe this," she repeated the sentiments again, he foot tapping on the ground. "What's the email address?"

"I'd need to get it from my room. It's all random numbers and letters."

"Go fetch it, then meet me back in my room. Don't knock, just come in." She turned away before I could thank her.

I rushed to my room and grabbed my laptop. Maybe having the actual email would be some kind of help to her. My hopes had been lifted once more; maybe tonight could solve everything. Liliana, after everything that I'd done to her, was the key. I didn't deserve it.

I slipped into her room and switched on my laptop, opening my emails for her. She took it from me without a word and began typing away on her own computer. She'd probably told me to come back to her room so that she could work in silence whilst her roommates slept.

Her fingers danced over the keyboard, but the laptop was turned away from me and I couldn't see what she was doing. I wouldn't have understood it, anyway.

After half an hour, my eyes were beginning to droop. The performance was tomorrow, and I was exhausted. My limbs needed to rest. My adrenaline from seeing Amber's horrified face was wearing off.

Just as I was about to steal one of Liliana's pillows and rest my head, she slammed the laptop shut, her jaw tight and tears shining in her eyes.

I stared at her. "What's wrong?" My voice was still a whisper, but Liliana's face looked like she'd respond with a shout.

"My parents. It was my parents who were blackmailing you. It was at least one of them, anyway."

She stood up, handing me my laptop, and walking to the door of her dorm room. I hurried after her, clinging the laptop to my chest. "I'm so sorry, the thought never even crossed my mind."

Liliana shook her head, closing the door behind her so we could speak. "I mean, I always knew they didn't agree with me on this stuff, and that's fine. But blackmailing my friend? That's so stupid." She paced, running a hand over her face. "How am I going to face them now?"

That was kind of my question, too. I didn't want them to get annoyed and release what I'd done anyway.

Whatever happened, they weren't going to do it before I got to perform tomorrow.

"I'm going to confront them, tomorrow," she decided, her fists clenched at her sides. "I'm going to tell them that I don't want anything to do with them, whether they cut off my funding altogether or not. I can't believe they've done this!" She threw her hands up and a few tears escaped. "You should get them jailed, you know."

"I guess."

"You guess? I never realised they were this evil."

"I can't do that. The police would find out that we were involved in the chemical plant attack and they'd get us into trouble. I don't want that. I'm sorry."

"Oh, right." She shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't even think."

"No worries. I'm really sorry, I thought it might just be someone who was all about capitalism or something, I never thought it would be this."

"No, I'm glad I know." Liliana shook herself out of it. "Now I have the knowledge to properly cut them out. It's for the best." She wiped her tears from her eyes, but her hands were still shaking. I wanted to hug her, but I didn't know whether she'd take it as an insult. She gave me a beautiful smile, but I was unconvinced. If she wanted to play that she'd recovered, I'd play along, though. "So." She leant against the wall. "Mr. Langley put his career on the line to try and appease your blackmailer, huh?"

My cheeks turned scarlet and I cursed them. "I guess he did. He's just too kind. We're friends, you know?"

"I don't know. That seems a bit extreme for a friendship."

"Not really. We're close friends. He's been teaching me one-on-one for like six months now." I could have told her, and it might have earnt back my friendship, but it wasn't worth it. I couldn't risk Ethan. Not for anyone. "You're reading into nothing, I promise you."

She stared at me for a second, before shrugging her shoulders. She'd decided I was lying to her, and she was right. "Well, anyway. I'm sorry that my parents blackmailed you, and I understand why you did it. It doesn't mean I can entirely forgive you though—for this, or for the first reason we fell out."

"Yeah, I get that." I had expected nothing less.

"I'll see you around, Carly. Good luck in the performance tomorrow."

I smiled, and it was genuine. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

She returned to her dorm with shaking shoulders, but I didn't follow. My comfort wasn't the one she wanted. She'd probably call Callum and he'd make her feel better.

I returned to my own dorm, and I slipped back into my bed, a satisfied smile on my face. I felt bad for Liliana, but it couldn't overpower the joy at having my problems solved. Her parents still might take their information to the police in revenge for me involving Liliana, but it wouldn't be in time. I'd be on stage tomorrow, and that was all I'd ever wanted.

I checked my phone and saw a text from Ethan.

I'm glad you're staying.

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Just two chapters and an epilogue to go! And I'm soooo close to breaking into the 100s on the Romance List! Thanks so much!