The Drama With My Drama Teacher

Chelsea Dagger

Chelsea Dagger

I said tell me your name, is it sweet?
She said "my boy it's dagger"

-Chelsea Dagger, The Fratellis

"No, we can't talk, I've said everything that I want to say to you" Sarah snaps at me down the phone, and I sigh, this not being the answer I wanted to hear.

"No, we haven't. You need to stand up for yourself, and for me, and for all the other girls this has happened to otherwise it'll just keep happening" I tell her, hoping with everything I have that I can convince her "We can take this to the police"

"They don't want to listen to us" Sarah sighs down the phone "There's no point trying"

"That's where you're wrong" I fire back "If you don't try, then you've just let him win. You haven't moved on with your life Sarah, and I don't think you ever will until you confront it"

There's a pause. I'm surprisingly comfortable with the silence between us. I think Sarah says more when she doesn't speak than when she does.

"It's been almost three years to the day..." She whispers, her voice low. I can barely make out the words she says. "Since... Since he..."

"Yeah, I get the picture" I interrupt, cutting her off. I won't make her say it. "But you know I'm right, you need to confront this. Why don't you come to the school today, come meet me?"

"I can't" Sarah panics instantly

"Yes, you can. You don't have to see him, I swear. You can come see me, the place where it happened and you'll have conquered your fear, and then you can move on. The best way to get over a fear is to confront it head on" I explain, and I can hear her beginning to protest.

"No, no, no, I can't, I can't do that, no" Sarah begins, and I can hear the pitch of her voice rising in her panic "No, I can't go back there"

"You can, Sarah, I'll be there to support you. Just come tomorrow and-!"

"No! I won't do it!" Sarah shouts through the phone, and then the line cuts off instantly. I try to call back, but there isn't a response.

Instead, I leave a message on her answer machine. I simply tell her that I understand, and that if she wants to meet me tomorrow she can, and if not then that's fine too.

Sighing, I climb out of the bed. Usually, I'd think the outside of the bed is colder than the inside of it, but knowing that Finn willingly left my bed this morning makes it somehow easier to leave.

It's already cold.

I head for the bathroom, stripping down and climbing into the shower. I set it running, and the cold water that initially spurts out of the top is enough to shock me into waking up.

Within a few seconds, the water begins to run warm. I have a quick shower, being conscious of time as I have to wash and dry my hair before school.

Within half an hour, I'm dressed, ready and driving to school in Daddy's car. I had to wake him up to ask permission to borrow it before I went, which cost me more time, so I'm driving a little quicker than usual because I don't want to be late.

Dad had fallen asleep at his desk, and gave me a sleepy nod of consent. I managed to rouse him enough to get him to go upstairs into his bed.

I'm about five minutes away from the school, so I decide to slow down just a little bit. I certainly don't need a speeding ticket. Although, the closer I get to the school, the more the feeling of dread begins to set in.