Secret Torture (Student/Teacher) - COMPLETED

Chapter Thirteen: Decisions

As he drove, I kept my eyes away from him. I couldn't stop shaking and I couldn't stop crying. I didn't know where he was taking me, and I didn't care, either. 

And then I felt it. Overwhelming nausea.

"Stop the car," I said, immediately regretting drinking so much.

He glanced over at me.

"Sir, I'm going to be sick - Please, just- just pull over."

The car quickly pulled over on the side of the road. I ripped my seatbelt off, pushed the door open and stepped outside. I fell to the ground, vertigo getting the better of me. Even as I lay on the ground, it felt as though my entire world was spinning. 

I felt a pair of warm hands rest over my bare shoulders.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded my head slowly. The nausea had passed for now, but I still felt overwhelmingly dizzy. 

"I'm so sorry," I muttered, eyes shut, hands still shaking. The night earth and air was cold. I shivered under his grasp. 

"I guess I'm not the only one with a tendency to drink a little too much," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.

I breathed out a laugh. "Shut up,"

He laughed in return, but it didn't last very long. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was staring straight ahead, refusing to meet my gaze. The feeling of horrible rejection filled me for the second time tonight. I looked down, eyes burning with fresh tears.

Then I felt his hand rest over my head, gently running his fingers through my hair, pushing a few strands softly behind my ear. 

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"Like this?" I laughed. "Do you know what my mother would say?"

He smirked. "Yeah, I guess I forgot about that."

A short moment of silence passed between us. Feeling much better, I pulled my body up from the ground. His arms helped me to stand upright, holding me until he was certain that I was standing.

He smiled down at me. A sharp gust of wind blew between us. His hair blew into his face, over his dark eyes.  Mine whipped all around me. And then, just as quickly as it had came, it disappeared.

"You could always… stay with me," James suggested, with a little hesitation. 

I wasn't sure what to say. I looked away, but I could still feel his eyes watching me, waiting for my reaction. I wanted to, I did - but I wasn't sure if that was just the drink talking. Maybe I should just go home - drunk or not. 

"Only if you want to, though. You don't have to. Don't think you have to," he added.

I glanced back up at him, and I knew that I couldn't deny what I was feeling. The mixture of my surging excitement and my already too-high blood alcohol levels led to what was probably a very bad decision on my part.

"I… could tell my mom I decided to stay at Georgia's house," 

***

He pushed the door open, and allowed me to enter first. I stumbled as I stepped inside, falling against the wall. I turned back to him and laughed. He smirked, closing the door, walking towards me. I grabbed his tie and pulled him dangerously close to me - our lips only inches apart.

"This is a little familiar," he smiled. "Only this time, you're the one who's painfully drunk."

I laughed, enjoying the elated feelings I was experiencing. I felt free.

"That was fun," I told him. 

"I thought you seemed frightened," he reminded me, with another smirk.

I giggled. "Yes, you were very, very scary, Mr. Halter."

Suddenly, his lips leaned in to meet mine. His hands pulled my body against his. I kissed him back. It was better than anything I'd ever felt in my life. 

He pulled away, still holding me close to him.

"We shouldn't be doing this," he said.

"You're the one who kissed me, sir," I smiled. 

"I know. Believe me… I know," he sighed. "But I can't do this. You're drunk, Allison. Drunk and vulnerable and-"

"Prone to making irresponsible decisions?" I asked, teasing him with a smirk, batting my eyelashes.

He smiled, but frowned and shook his head. "Please, don't do this to me."

"Do what?" I asked, moving in towards him.

"This!" he exclaimed. "I'm a weak man."

"But, sir!-"

"-My name is James, Allison. Nor sir-"

"-But you like it when I call you sir, don't you?"

He paused, his eyes narrowing, his mouth lapsing into another helpless smile. He groaned. He shook his head and laughed under his breath. "Don't tempt me," he sighed. "Come on, I'll take you to bed. For sleeping purposes only."

I laughed. He kept his hand locked in mine as he led me upstairs, into what I assumed was his bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed. It was soft and white, like my dress. He tossed me a shirt of his to wear as pajamas.

"Sorry, it's really the only thing I have that would fit you."

"Where are you going to sleep?" I asked.

"Downstairs."

"You're sacrificing your bed for me?"

He smiled. "Yes, I am."

"Well, isn't that sweet?"

He chuckled. "Go on, get dressed and get to bed."

I looked down. "Bad things happen when I wear this dress," I muttered, speaking only to myself, really. But he heard me.

"Yes, they do," he sighed. 

James walked over to me. He leaned down and kissed me once, just once, on my forehead. 

"Sweet dreams," he said.

"Goodnight, sir,"

He laughed. "Goodnight, Allison."