(CHAPTER FIVE)
I opened my eyes and saw my new English teacher’s back. I didn’t have to look at his face to know it was him. As if sensing me too, he turned around and his eyes immediately found mine.
Oh crap.
I looked down so fast I thought I’d get a headache. I heard an alarming noise and looked up to see Gabby in the desk next to me with her eyebrows raised. When did she get there? I shrugged to her unvoiced question.
“Hello class, I’m Mr. Maas.” He introduced himself, before turning to write his name on the blackboard. I let out a shaky breath as I turned to Gabby. She fought to keep her eyes off of him and I admired her for that. She smiled softly at me. I was grateful she wasn’t going to apologise or ask me if I was okay. She knew I wasn’t - so did I - and bullshitting ourselves wouldn’t do any good.
‘Jeez-Louise you’re a lucky bitch’ Gabby commented through the mind link. I mentally shook my head.
‘Ah, but I’m not really. You see, he’s married’ I returned playfully, pretending as if she didn’t know. Gabby tsk-ed,
“Such a shame,” She said out loud. I don’t know if she knew she did or if she didn’t care. All the eyes flew to her as she scribbled on her notebook. By the smile horribly hidden on her face, I knew she knew.
“Miss… ugh,” He looked down to his desk. “Wills?” He asked as he lifted his head to look at Gabby. Gabby looked up at him with pure, unadulterated hate in her eyes. Under the intensity of her glare, he flinched slightly. Obviously not expecting this,
“Yes?” She barked. She wasn’t even blinking. I was downright scared of my best at this moment. It took a few seconds for him to readjust himself,
“Uh, um, is there something you’d like to share with the class?” He answered sharply.
“To the class no; to you maybe,” Gabby replied smartly.
“Well, do tell.” Through the tiny bond I so wished I didn’t share with him, I could feel his enjoyment and his anger. It was kind of sick that he enjoyed embarrassing his students.
“Okay,” Gabby started after clearing her throat. “First of all, don’t abuse your privilege of being a teacher to embarrass your students.” Wow, great minds do think alike.
“Second - as I said before - it’s such a shame we have you as our teacher.”
“Please elaborate.” He ordered her. She growled silently. Gabby didn’t like being told what to do.
“I’ll be honest with you; you’re extremely attractive and you’re young. That is a bonus for us female students. But don’t think for one minute that your looks will leave us feeling vulnerable and intimidated. So stop with the flirty charm, do your job and remember: you are our teacher and you’re married.” Gabby answered confidently. I let out a sharp breath. Why? Why did my best friend have to be so ballsy? She just ruined everything.
“I’m sorry you think that Miss Wills. Perhaps you’d like to inform the principal about your thoughts.” He snapped from the front of the classroom.
“I’d be glad to share that with him… but, that can wait until after class.” Gabby smirked up at him one last time before looking back to her notebook. She looked up at me and smiled sweetly. I gave her a weak smile in return, still shocked about what she had done. I could feel everybody’s eyes on me now. I turned up to look at them and raised my eyebrows.
“What?” I snapped at them and they returned to their books. I could feel only one set of eyes on me and I really wished they would just hurry up and look away. I lifted my head and looked at him innocently. He smiled softly before sitting down at his desk and started sorting through the mess on the desk top.
I returned to my work, a smile on my face. He smiled at me. The gesture was basically nothing but it still felt like something; a big something.
~
I had stormed out of the school building and walked down the path that took me to my home. I had reached my house in eight minutes of the usual twenty minute regime. My legs were aching and my breathing was erratic, probably due to the fact that I was silently arguing with myself and swearing at the air the entire journey. I was shot dirty looks as I passed the elderly and people with children. I didn’t really care though.
I recently learned that my mum was gone for the night from the stick-it note on our front door. I shut the door quietly as an apology for so roughly yanking it open.
The house was a small one despite it being two stories high. Two bedrooms; one and a half bathrooms; one semi-large kitchen and a den in total made up the internal part of the house. Our lawn wasn’t much bigger either. We had a larger front lawn than a back. The backyard being the size of a city yard, and the front lawn being the size of an average back yard; just your average, run-of-the-mill screw up from the people who built our house.
I walked into the kitchen and sat at the island counter. Setting my bag on the ground I grabbed my homework books and found myself spending my afternoon doing schoolwork.
What seemed like years of me battling with my mathematical problems; I was literally saved by the bell. I walked up to the door literally feeling like I had been slain. I rubbed at my eyes as I reached the door. I looked outside the window and noticed it was dark, like, really dark.
Who would be coming here so late? I knew it wasn’t Gabby or Kyle or anyone from the Wills’ family. They were early sleepers, so they’d be dead to it now. And my mum was gone for the night, wherever it is she may be I don’t know, but I do know she wouldn’t return home unless it was an emergency- dire or not.
I twisted the knob and groaned. There stood the two people I didn’t ever want to see. All happy and joyous, it broke my heart.
(Short, I know. But they'll get longer. I promise.)
