The bell rings and school's over. I grab my stuff and immediately leave the building. Everyone is too preoccupied to notice me just casually go behind the school. When I get there, I take out my phone and put my bag on the ground and text my Mom. I tell her I'll be home later. As I wait for Jimmy, I put in my ear buds and separate myself from the world by putting on some music. I feel like some Pearl Jam. I get more anxious as time goes by. I sit down on the cold cement ground. Jimmy suddenly comes out of nowhere and screams ''Boo!'' I put my hand on my heart. ''You scared me to death!'' Jimmy chuckles. ''I'm sorry, Rose.'' I notice he has a briefcase and a sports bag. ''I brought a soccer ball, so if you want, we can talk and kick it around.'' My father would never take time out of his day consisting of drinking to do this. And this is my teacher doing this. ''Of course! I love soccer!''
We were laughing and talking and having a great time. It's been an hour. It's getting darker out. He begins to gather everything together. ''Do you feel comfortable with me driving you home?'' My expression is blank. ''Uh..uh..yeah...''
He leads me to his White Mini Cooper convertible (BMW) and lets me sit on the passenger side. Now it is dark out. But it's still bright. All the city lights fix that. He gets in after he puts all of the stuff in the back seat. He puts the key in the ignition, but before he starts the car, he lets out a stressful sigh. ''Have you told anybody about this?'' I look up. ''No, no I haven't. And it's not like it's anything bad. It's just you being a mentor for me. You'd make a great father. I would rather live with you, Jimmy. You make me forget about the pain my father puts me through. People may take it the wrong way, like an inappropriate teacher-student relationship. This society is screwed up. Maybe the student needs a mentor.'' Jimmy smiles widely. ''I understand. You may think I'm weird or unusual because you're so used to the way your father treats you, you're not used to being treated normally by a man. And I care about you, Rose. I can't watch you make the wrong decisions. You don't have a good example set. You need a father in your life to set a good example, and you don't have one.'' At this point, the car hasn't even been started yet. He didn't even look bothered by me calling him by his first name, after all, he is a teacher. ''Jimmy, you should start the car. Where do you live?'' He clears his throat. ''Fifteen minutes away. You'll see.''
I enter the door quietly. My father turns around. ''What the hell are you doing out this late without my consent, you loser. You're a piece of shit.'' I look at him like he's on crack. ''I was out doing homework with a friend. And I texted Mom and had her consent.'' His demeanor makes it so evident he's drunk. Glassy blood-shot eyes. Slurring of the speech. Cussing like a truck driver. Not to mention, he has a beer sitting on the counter. He also is inconsistent with what he says. ''Yeah, okay, you're both idiots. Go to hell.'' Times like these are the times I wish Jimmy was by my side.
YOU ARE READING
Temporary
RomanceRose moves to a new area and doesn't know anyone. She's shy and isn't good at making friends. She feels her father causes her to feel so depressed and lonely. She doesn't like the fact people come and go in life, and there's nothing you can do to st...
