Bending The Rules

Chapter 14

CH14
Ana POV
"It doesn't matter anyway. It's not like I believed any of it," I say again, feeling the burn in my cheeks and the sting in my eyes when I know I'm about to lose it. I look up at him and I cannot fathom what is going through his mind. I can't read his face and I know deep down that it was a colossal mistake to come.
He just stares at me; my insecurity makes me relive the horrible memories of what Elena had told me all over again. But what if there was truth in what she said? What if—for some crazy reason—he did see me as something more than a student...
"I-" Mr. Grey began and then shook his head.
I wait for him to finish but instead his eyes just stared into mine. What are you waiting for? Deep grey orbs stare but reveal nothing. I break the stare. Looking away was the only hope I had not to release the tears that were about to breach my eyelids. The teacher who was too strict and serious a week ago was gone now, and in his place was a frustratingly handsome man with glinting eyes.
"Right," Mr. Grey finally said, though his voice didn't sound as smooth and controlled as it always did. "Elena. Elena is—and can—be a handful at times. Please don't let what she said upset you."
"Like I said, I didn't actually believe any of it," I say, attempting bravado.
He pulled out a duo-tang and handed it to me, "I finished editing your essay," he said softly, effectively breaking me away from my thoughts and putting an end to our conversation about Elena. "I have to say, it was impressive. You must have had a great teacher last year."
"Thank you. Is there anything else?" I picked up my things to pack back into my bag and glanced toward the doorway.
"You have to leave soon? It's Friday and I bet you can't wait to start your weekend. Do you have any plans?" I can tell he senses my impatience.
"Technically, I'm here for detention. So I suppose I'm here as long until you say the word, sir," I say and hope that he releases me from this detention. "But no, to answer your question I don't have any plans. I do have a new book I want to read."
Mr. Grey's smile dropped the slightest bit, "Right. I have the rest of your things graded, I just have to enter them into the computer. You did a great job with everything. You can look over this essay now."
I look down at the paper and smirked at the 100 % score at the top of the paper. I wonder if this mark is to make up for the situation with Elena instead of the hard work I did in writing it.
"Other than that, I guess we're done here..." Mr. Grey said softly.
"Does that mean detention's over?"
"Detention's over," he nodded.
"Okay then." I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. My phone slipped from the side pocket and clatters along the floor. I pick it up and slide it back into my pocket.
"Anastasia," he said slowly. His expression did not match his tone; it makes me wonder where he was going to with this. "Did you lie to me?"
"Lie? When?" I quickly run our conversations through my mind and I come up blank.
"You said you didn't have a phone," he answered, pointing at the hand that just held my phone.
"A present from Ray," I state, "It was really nice of him. He worries about my safety." I say flatly, and hope this doesn't encourage too much more awkward conversation.
His expression softened, "Oh. It's good to hear he's treating you well."
"Thanks, but I do really need to go now." I don't know how to respond to him and I feel the urgency to go, so I turn to leave with the little dignity I have left. I am Icarus flying too close to the sun. Hubris or not, I turn and take flight. How many more times can I humiliate myself with this man? I feel so foolish. It was nice to dream that he is attracted to me the way Elena said for that brief nanosecond. But it's time for me to face reality. Smarten the Hell up, Steele.
Tears fall as I make my way to my locker. I wish it was not so far from his classroom. I have too much time to sob out the humiliation before I get there. Posters and doorways blur past me as my footsteps take me farther from Mr. Grey. I enter the last hallway and see that there is something taped on a locker door but cannot make it out clearly.  As I near it, I see that it is a white rose sticking onto it. I see that it is on my locker.
I lean into the locker and rest my forehead against the cool steel. I place my hands on either side of my head. I am gasping for air from the run to my locker and make a silent promise to myself that I need more exercise.
I think about the long first week of school. Meeting Jose and Jack on Monday, meeting Kate on Tuesday, enduring that painful date with Jack and seeing Mr. Grey with that horrible, horrible woman, and of course getting ambushed by same said woman. I bite my lower lip and wonder if this week could get worse.
My tears slowly fade as I gather myself so I tear off the tape and pick up the rose. I trail it down and under my nose, enjoying its soft fragrance. I am left wondering who left this rose for me, but also saddened because I know it could not have come from the one man I would ever want one from...

Christian POV
I watch Anastasia flee. This conversation did not go where I expected it to and now I become even more angered as I know Elena is to blame. I pull my phone from my coat pocket and dial.
"Hello?" Elena's sickly sweet voice drawled.
"Elena. Leave Anastasia alone," I said through clenched teeth.
"Oh, you've talked to her? Is she here?" I can almost hear Elena's lips turning up into an amused smile. "Maybe I'll see her on her way out again."
"Wait - you're at the school again? Jesus Christ, Elena, if you don't leave her alone I swear—"
"Oh hush," she says, and I hear a door open and close. "Can't I come visit my own dear husband at work?"
"You hate him," I remind her.
"Ah, look, there she is now!" Elena coos, using her most childlike tone. "Looks like she has another admirer based on the single white rose she is carrying..."
I don't know if she is bluffing. "Leave her the fuck alone. I'm being serious-"
"Oh I won't talk to her," Elena said a bit too happily.
With my phone still to my ear, I run for the door.

Ana POV
I am almost free of the school when I see Elena at the doorway of the front office. It is right next to the school's main entrance which I planned to exit from. Really? Can I not go a day without seeing that woman? Friday just cannot get any worse. She is on her cellphone and has a Cheshire grin on her face. She looks like that cat who ate the canary, but I wonder if it could be literal...
"She's such a lovely girl," Elena says into the phone that she's holding up to her ear. I try to ignore her eyes which seemed to leer as they run up from my Mary Janes up to my face. She taps her fingers over her chin as if in deep thought, "Her innocence... You'd destroy it."
I try to swallow the lump in my throat. Who is she talking to? And why the fuck is she staring at me so intently? I hear muffled angry shouts coming from her phone.
"Oh sweetie, don't be so harsh! I'm a little jealous that you found her first. I could have had fun with this one." Elena continued. It was then that someone opened the door opposite her and she turned to see who it was. Her spell was broken and I am glad she finally tore her eyes away from me. "Mr. Rodriguez, thank you for helping out today."
"No problem, Mrs. Lincoln," Jose answered with a polite smile, then looked over at me. "Hey Ana, I'm glad you're still here!" He was excited and in this moment I am glad that he is here.
I notice Elena smiling at us, looking pleased. "Yeah. I'm heading home now."
"Me too," Jose replied. "I'll walk you."
"Well, only if you want to. You don't have to bother yourself."
"Anastasia, go on, accept the boy's offer. After all, that's why high school is so great," Elena said, the phone still held to her ear. She turned away from Jose and stage whispered to me, "You get to meet boys your own age and have fun with them. You must tell me which of your admirers gave you that beautiful rose." There was a loud voice from her phone and she laughed, "I have to go," she says and disconnects. Elena exits with a flourish, tosses her phone in her purse and flips her red silk scarf over her shoulder.
"Wow, that was weird," Jose said. He turns to me and takes my hand. "Ana, I've been waiting all week to ask you out but we always get interrupted." He is speaking softly but seems to sadden as his eyes linger on the rose. "Could you, I mean, will you go out with me?"
I know I eventually have to let him down gently. It was a sweet albeit surprising walk to Mr. Grey's class earlier today. I distract him with talk of Elena. Irony in its entirety when I willingly want to use her as a topic of conversation. "Who is she anyway?"
"You don't know? Didn't she call you by your name earlier?"
"Yes, but who is she?" I stress the who so he can understand my meaning. "She came over while I talked to a teacher," I lie. Jose doesn't need to know any details. I gently pull my hand free, hoping he wouldn't question it further.
"She's the wife of one of the administrators, but everyone practically knows her here," he explains. "There was a rumor going around that she was cheating on him with a teacher." He seems a little smug with that bit of gossip. I think he's trying to impress me.
"What?" She's married? She was on a date with Mr. Grey. Maybe it wasn't a date. He had to know she is married and if it wasn't a date, then why meet up in a restaurant? Why not just talk at school?
"Yeah, I know, right!" Jose glances around and lowers his voice, "They don't exactly have the best relationship but I think Mr. Lincoln has too much pride to let her go. I help out in the office a lot, and they barely talk to each other when they're in the same room."
I couldn't hide the incredulity from my face. Jose gave me a questioning look but thankfully didn't push it.
X x X
The moment Jose and I parted ways I grabbed my phone and texted Kate. I decide that the planned book reading can wait and that I desperately need some girl time, especially after this crazy week. I've never really had close friends before and now is the time that I get a best friend.
I like Kate. I see strength and a loyal fierceness in her. She is a Valkyrie warrior in pink lipstick and Gucci loafers. I know I can trust her. I don't know why. I've never had a sister but she feels like one to me. I have only known her a few days and all the time spent with her she was always looking to protect me. Especially from Jack. I really should have listened to her about that!
"Earth to Ana," Kate smiled, waving her hand around a bit.
"I'm sorry, what?" I shook my head slightly and looked up at her.
"I asked if you were up for a party," Kate fakes a frown. The smile in her eyes puts me at ease. I can get used to terse words if I know they are only teasing. I think back to mom and Steve's place and his tones and facial expressions never matched. They were never proper to what one would expect in conversation. In Steve's house, a quiet voice was something to be feared. His quiet voice only ever meant one thing. But in Ray's house a quiet tone could mean so many different things. It could mean almost anything. But every meaning still meant everything safe.
"It's more like a club, but Ethan knows some people to get us in," Kate grinned, tearing a piece from her pizza before popping it into her mouth. Her eyes were gleaming with excitement; it was almost impossible to say no to her.
"I don't know," I drawled thoughtfully. "I'm not very good with parties."
"You don't have to be good at them Ana," Kate chuckled, nudging my arm a little. "Just have fun in them, and I promise I'll help you have fun."
I still am not very convinced, but I do enjoy her enthusiasm.
"How many parties have you really gone to Ana? Think of this as a welcome-to-the-neighborhood party, it'll be fun I promise. We can even find you a hot guy," Kate sang, moving her eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"You really should come; I don't want to be stuck with only Jose all night." She throws her hands in the air in mock frustration causing her slice to fall on the carpet.
"Please Ana?" she pouts and bends to pick up the mess, "I have a few dresses that will look great on you," she winks at me, "Plus, there's total babes in that place."
I do like listening to music, even though I am not much of a dancer. "I guess we have a party to get ready for."
"Yes!" Kate smiled with triumph. "I'll get some dresses out for you to choose from. You should tell Ray your having a sleepover too, we're probably going to be home pretty late."
X x X
Christian POV
This had to be the worst week from Hell. Young Ms. Steel's first week of school was a rollercoaster of surprises and upsets to say the least. I had managed to make it to the main doors in enough time to see her leaving with Jose. He stood way too close to her and I had to push back the green-eyed monster down. I will relax now that I know Ms. Steele will be tucked in safely at home reading this weekend.
I need a distraction. I have been putting off Elliott's constant nagging to go clubbing with him.
Time to call Elliott.