Forbidden

Chapter Twenty-Five

Olivia chuckled slightly.

“Yeah, I’m starting to catch onto that,” she replied, waiting for more.

“Your mother has told me that she saw you with one of our staff members at your father’s funeral in a rather inappropriate embrace.”

            Olivia’s eyes shot to her mother. So she had seen. Why didn’t she talk to Olivia about it on the way home, or when Olivia got back from Nick’s? Why did she bring it to the school? Olivia was lost in thought when Liz broke in.

“Oh, now you have nothin’ to say?”

            Olivia pulled back from her mother and had a disgusted look upon her face.

“Excuse me? You know, I have always been respectful towards you. I’ve never given you a hard time about anything and now you’re gonna pull this crap? Really?”

“What you’ve done, Olivia, is against school policy,” Liz snidely responded.

            Olivia took a short breath and she could feel her brows furrowing.

“This couldn’t be a matter of jealousy, could it, mother? Because from what I recall, you’ve never given a damn about anything goin’ on in my life. Suddenly you do?” Olivia laughed. “You truly believe with all your heart that you are just better than everyone. But guess what? You’re not. I have friends because of who I am. You have friends because of what is in your bank account. You can thank my father for that.”

            Liz was about to respond when Mr. Landry interrupted.

“Alright, ladies. Let’s just stay on track here, okay? Olivia, were you with Mr. Cereno or not?”

            Olivia’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Nick’s name. She turned to her mother again.

“A day after Daddy’s funeral,” she stated with a look of disbelief on her face, “you didn’t know what to do with yourself now that all the drama is dyin’ down, is that right?”

            She turned back to Mr. Landry.

“Yes, sir. I was with Mr. Cereno. Suspend me, expel me, do whatever you have to do. I’d like to hope you wouldn’t because my grades and attendance are perfect. I’m a good student, Mr. Landry.”

“I would never argue with that, Miss Chandler but the fact is that you broke school policy.”

            Olivia shook her head. She couldn’t believe this was happening.

            Mr. Landry turned on the speaker button on his phone and paged the office secretary.

“Allison, could you have someone get Mr. Cereno for me? Thanks.”

            Olivia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She looked down at her hand that had Nick’s promise wrapped around it and she couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“You can apologize to Daddy for me not graduating,” Olivia said to Liz. “I worked my ass off. I have straight A’s, I take advanced classes. I could have gone to any college I chose. But your selfishness and heartlessness is more important than all that isn’t it?”

            Olivia wanted to strangle her mother in the middle of that office. She had hoped that maybe with her father passing, she and Liz could somehow rekindle their relationship. But that wasn’t possible because Liz was a heartless human being that Olivia was ashamed to call her mother.

            Olivia saw Nick coming in from the corner of her eyes and she grew nervous. She wouldn’t be graduating and Nick wouldn’t have a job and then what? Olivia buried her face in her hands to keep from knocking her mother out.

“Mr. Cereno, come in and have a seat please.”

            Olivia’s eyes met with Nick’s before he finally saw Liz. Nick knew what this about.

“Mr. Cereno, Olivia’s mother here came to me this morning with some disconcerting news. Would you like to explain?”

            Nick looked at Olivia unsure of what he should and shouldn’t say so he opted to stay quiet.

“You were with Miss Chandler in an inappropriate way, is that correct?”

            Nick lowered his gaze and stared at the floor.

“Yes sir, I was.”

            Olivia could see Nick’s jaw tightening, causing a vein in his temple to protrude. She wanted to take his hand to calm him down but this wasn’t the time or the place. Mr. Landry sighed loudly.

“Nick, you were the fresh face this year and you’ve completely blown past my expectations as a teacher. But this is unacceptable, as I’m sure you already know.”

“Yes sir,” he repeated.

“At what point does the law get involved in this?” Liz chimed from her cowering position.

“There’s no need, Mrs. Chandler,” Mr. Landry said, “Olivia is eighteen. No laws have been broken. Only school policy.”

“So fire him!”

“Can you shut your mouth?” Olivia demanded.

“Nick, I’m sorry, but there’s no other way around this. I mean, we could have a board meeting but I think we all know how that would go. We’ll have to let you go.”

“Can’t you just let him resign so there’s nothing against him on record?” Olivia asked.

            Mr. Landry pondered over her question for a moment.

“Would you be willing to resign, Mr. Cereno?”

“Yes, of course. I’m not lookin’ for any further problems, sir.”

“Alright. Look, you are a good man, Mr. Cereno. You’ve gained the respect of everyone here which is the only reason I’m allowing you to resign. You’re being punished enough by losing your job, I don’t want anything being on your permanent record. You’ve been a great asset to this school. You’re a phenomenal teacher and I hope when you get back to teaching again, you remember this and never act on impulse again. That situation could end a lot worse than this one.”

“Of course, sir.”

“As for Olivia, I’m not going to expel or suspend you. There are only three months remaining in the school year and you are too bright of a student to lose your future because of a mistake you made.”

“Thank you, Mr. Landry.”

            Liz looked back and forth at Nick and Olivia.

“You disgust me. You both just get away with it. I can see how serious you take these matters, Mr. Landry.” She stood to leave and Olivia stood, too.

“I have somethin’ to add before you go Momma.”

“What could it possibly be? Don’t tell me you’re pregnant, too,” she scoffed.

            Olivia smiled sweetly.

“No. I’m not pregnant.” She held her left hand up for her mother to see. “I’m engaged.”