Fourth Of July

•9•

I get a mouth full from my mother. Yelling and asking what I was thinking. How she sent me to college to get an education not a jail sentence. I don't argue back and let her belt it out to me. When she's done I take a deep breath.

"Mom I love this man." I say simply. Her eyes soften and I know I have her calm again. "It's not what everyone thinks. It's sweet and caring and an actual relationship. I'm of age and I want something with him. He takes good care of me and cares." She sighs and tilts her head. "You really care about this man don't you, Sean?" I nod softly and smile. "He makes me so happy. Sure this won't make him very happy but he does make me happy. And I haven't been happy for a while." She nods and smiles.

"I'll bail you out but you get yourself a job and pay me back. I want to go to dinner with you two and meet him." I nod enthusiastically. "Sure. Thank you mom, really. When I'm out I'll call him." She nods and an officer comes over. They talk while I fiddle with my hands. He curls his finger to another and he pulls me from my seat. "Looks like your lucky day. You're getting out." I smile brightly and he leads me back to the front. She pays the bill and they hand me my clothes back. "Don't come back." The Officer smiles and I hug my mom. "Thank you." I whisper.

Marks P.O.V

I pace around anxiously as my boss, the school funder, comes in. He sends me death glares and sits down.

"I already know Mark. I just want to know why. You knew when you got this job that relationships like this wasn't tolerated." I shake my head. "Listen, it wasn't going to be this. It wasn't going to at all and I was going to try and get out of it but I fell in love. And I'm not trying to make this the heroic love story everyone wants to hear but I'm serious. He's a great guy and we both thought it was legal. We never did anything on campus. He did and I don't want him kicked from the school. He needed extra cash." He holds his hand up and I sigh. "Mark, I have to let you go. I can't have this on my record." I drop my mouth baffled. "No sir please-" He shakes his head. "I can't Mark. You knew and you still did so. He's a minor here." I shake my head in disbelief. "So I'm fired?" He nods sadly and I scuff. "When do I gotta go?" He looks around. "End of this week preferably. We are looking for a person to take your spot. Jack will be taken off the roster and kicked out. If you want to continue the relationship then you can outside of this school. I wish you both the best." He stands up and I do as well. I shake his hand and frown. "You were the best we had. I'm saddened to let you go."

"Then don't." I say. "You know better Mark. W have to." I nod sadly and he smiles. "You'll find a good job. I won't put it on your record. You'll have your pay check mailed to you." I look around my room and he leaves quietly. I look at every seat and my eyes drift to Jacks. "He ruined my life." I mutter. I grab my stuff and throw it on quickly before gathering small things to fit in my bag. I throw it on my shoulder and walk out.

Start song

I get so far down the hallways before running. I needed to go somewhere, do something. I needed out.

I run as far as I can, running down sidewalks and skid to a stop on a bridge. I look over the edge and take deep breaths. I sniff and throw the bag and jacket down on the ground. I step closer to the edge and feel wind tug at my shirt and move me. My eyes dart around the water while my mind hurts. I think over everything that led up to this and my mind keeps wandering to Jack.

I look at my hands and they shake. I drop them and step over the barrier that blocks people and cars from the edge of the bridge. I sit down and look over the edge. I dangle my feet and tilt my head, feeling myself breaking. I look at the sky when it starts to rain and I scream at the top of my lungs, desperate for someone to hear my plea. "I love you!" I cry out and slam my hands down in defeat. "I love you and I'm not supposed to!" I whine and look around.

"I need to go find him." I stand up and feet the wind pull at my sides and wick around my clothes. "I love him. He's mine."

And I run.

My mother once told me a story about a boy and girl. It was destiny and planned with no avail with change. Marriage was being spoken along with dates. Curiosity however got the better of the young boy and he fell in love with a older, more wise human. Between love and lust, he made his mind up.

I run for what feels like hours to his dorm. I rush into the building and go straight to his room. I don't bother to see who's inside or the kids around me wondering why this teacher is rushing through.

I hurry and push his door open, looking for him but find nothing. I search and grab his jacket, needing something with me to keep me going. I lost my boy and job and all sanity in one day. What could get worse?

I jog back down stairs and my phone starts ringing. Normally I would care who was calling me since I was busy, but I look at the caller id.

'Jack 💓'

In a rush I answer and fumble with his jacket and my bag. "Hey, my mom picked me up from the holding cell with bail and she kinda wants to go to a dinner with you." He mumbles.

My world stops. 'Why'd He go to jail? Did he hurt someone, himself?'

"Jack, where are you?" I rush, skidding to an abrupt stop. "Don't worry, moms driving me back here. It will take a while, papers have to be signed. Just go home and I'll call you or meet you or something. Please."

I realize he didn't want to talk about this right now and I agree. "We have a lot to discuss, it will depend on if I'm pissed off or crying." He laughs his laugh and it's music to my ears.

"I'll get back to you about this dinner. I'm okay, just got shoved in a car and brought here. I'm surprised you didn't come with me." I hear him let out a deflated sigh.

"I'm old enough, and didn't do anything bad with the law. I just lost my job." I say exasperated.

"Mark." He sighs his pitiful sigh. "I didn't mean to, I'm sorry." I lean against the wall of the building and think.

"Don't, it's okay. You saved me from the hell hole I was in." I hear him talking on the other side.

"I've got to go, talk soon. I mean it, I'm sorry. More to come. I love you." He whispers the last part like it's our little secret.

"I love you too." I whisper and hang up. I lean my head back against the brick and smile. "I love this boy, more than the job I had, more than the endless people I taught and more than my sanity. He's my world." I mumble to myself and lean back up.

Now, I have to think about all the questions I have to ask.

Jacks P.O.V

I hang up with Mark and pocket my phone, standing closely to my mom while she fills out forms. I scratch my arm anxiously, unsure of mine and marks standing right now. "How long did you and Mark do this?" She ask casually.

"Few weeks. Not long." She nods in approval. "Did it interfere with your education?" She ask and I shake my head quickly. "We never did anything to hurt the classes he taught or my learning. We were good." She sighs and hands the pen and papers over to the cop behind the glass window. "I don't want to see you back now, Sean." I offer a small smile and she smiles back at me. "You two can go." She gives my mo approval and I follow her out like a lost puppy.

"I want to see this Mark and have a good talk with him." She explains on her way to the car.

"Don't worry, Momma. I do too." I say grimly, wanting to be back with him.