Staying With My Teacher

Chapter 14

Everlys POV

Ezra and I walk through the thinking snow that has covered the ground. I feel Ezra look over at me and stare for a second. I finally bring my attention to him after a while. He meets my eyes almost immediately and I see his mesmerizing hazel eyes almost black because his pupils are so wide. My eyes travel over his face to his hair as his eyes move down to my neck. Our faces are only a hands-width apart, but I don't mind because I love being so close to him.

I absent-mindlessly raise my finger into his surprisingly soft hair. I keep my focus on his hair because I am so amazed at how smooth it is. I never saw him brush it in the past week or so I have known. I only look away when I hear his angelic chuckle. His smile is so -and I hate to use this word- dreamy. I can't help myself but admire him for a moment.

"Are you done yet kitten?" Ezra said, bringing mine out of my daze.

"Yes," I said embarrassed "Im sorry, daddy"

"It's an okay kitten, I love it when you look at me" Ezra assured me "I was doing the same to you." I can't help but blush when he says the last part.

"Let's get going kitty," he says to me. I reach my hand for him and he accepts. As my teacher pulls me through the crowded sidewalk I see my mother on the left side of the sidewalk.

We make eye contact, but quickly lose it when she notices my teacher pulling me to the place we are going. She starts making her way over to me, and might I add very drunkenly. She almost trips over her own foot. I grip onto my teachers hand tighter. Please don't hurt me again, mom. Ezra looks behind himself and instantly pulls me closer to him when he sees my face. Now I am beside him. I start walking faster.

I see an open door of a shop, getting an idea. I take Ezra into the shop with me. I raise myself to my tippy toes

"My mom is on that sidewalk looking for me" I whisper to him. The look on his face changes from confused and protective to angry and protective.

"Everly," he says dead serious, he never calls me by that anymore. Right before he was going to say anything I see the face that has yelled at me countless times and neglected me for years. Ezra notices as well because he picks me up with his arms instinctively. He hurries over to the sign that says 'restrooms'. He opens the door to the ladies room and carries me into a stall, letting me go. I swallow the fact that my teacher is in a locked stall with me.

"Give me your phone," he says sternly. Before I can comprehend what he said he sees it in the pocket of my dress. Grabbing it immediately he starts typing something in it. Then he hands it back to me.

"Stay here and call me if I'm not back in five minutes" he instructs me. I nod my head. Ezra squeezes my shoulder reassuringly and leaves the stall.

I am left in wonders of what he is doing. But he told me to stay in here so I should do what im told like a good girl.

10 minutes later

I was about to call Ezra for the 3rd time when he barged into the stall.

"Come with me Everly," he said impatiently, holding out a hand. Im guessing whatever he did didn't go well because he is still calling me Everly. I take his hand, even though I'm wary of him being angry. I know he will never hurt me, his touch is always gentle.

Ezra walks us out of the store and to the car. We never got to the park. I kept glancing over at him curiously as we walked down the crowded streets yet again.

"Everly, please don't hate me after I say this" he pleads me.

"I could never hate you, daddy, what is it?" I promise him. He takes a deep breathe in.

"The other day when you told me about what your mom did to you I wrote an anonymous letter to the police about what she did to you," he says, then looking up at me to see if it was alright. I nod my head thoughtfully. He takes this as a cue to keep going.

"Well, when I got out of the restrooms I saw your mom looking for you in the store, saying your name over and over again. I looked outside the window and saw 2 cop cars park on the curb. The cops came inside, asking your mother if she was "Martha Hartweck" she nodded her head lazily" he explained. Im in complete awe at this point. How could I have not heard any of this in the bathroom? I have to know the full story.

"And?" I prod him.

"The cops cuffed her and said that she is under arrest for abuse and murder... The murder of Wilbur Hartweck..." he says, looking down at the steering wheel. I take in a sharp intake of breath. That's my dad, Wilbur Hartweck. My mom murdered my dad. How could she? I do remember my mom not letting me see the death certificate, she just told me it was from cancer. I believed her because my father did have cancer that he was battling. But in reality, she probably just didn't want me to know the cause of death was something that made no sense to me. I hadn't noticed I started crying until I feel something wet slide down my cheeks. I have one last question.

"D-did they um f-f-f-" I stutter out. I literally can't get out a word. Ezra notices im crying and choking up so he puts his arms out. A hug does sound really good right now. I delve into his arms and he tightens them around me protectively. He rubs one of his hands in a circular motion on my back and his other hand is on the back of my head, pulling me closer. I wrapped my arms around his waist. My eyes have dampened his shirt with my tears.

"It will all be okay, im here for you Mae" he comes in my ear. My sobbing fades away and I stay in his arms. I am emotionally exhausted. My breathing has calmed down now so I ask my question.

"Did they find out how?" I slowly say each word, afraid that I might start crying again. I feel a ball rise up in my throat, telling me I'm going to cry.

"She drugged him," he told me. His grip on me tightens as I lie there in his comforting arms. I can't cry anymore, I feel numb to pain.

Authors note
So what did you guys think of this chapter?