Secret Torture (Student/Teacher) - COMPLETED

Chapter Thirty Four: Passion

That Saturday, James and I went for a walk together - with Leo in tow. We drove out of the town, and up to the hills, where we started making our way down a forest trail. Leo skipped ahead of us, and I walked alongside James. It was a steep and very unsteady path. I found myself stumbling with every second step. Luckily, James was always there to catch me. 

"Easy there," he laughed, grabbing hold of my arm before gravity had a chance to pull me under. 

I smiled up at him. "Sorry. I'm not used to hiking."

"Hiking?" he laughed. "This is a far cry from hiking, sweetheart."

I smiled again, feeling almost unable to stop. James was having one of his good days. It was rubbing off on me. 

James took hold of my hand and squeezed it tightly, grinning at me. I giggled - and he instantly pulled me into his body, his arm enclosing around my waist, and holding me there as we walked together.

"You know," he whispered, smiling down at me. "In about two months time, you will no longer be a student."

"I know," I laughed. "Where are you going with this?"

"I will no longer have to hide you in my house. Or in forests," he chuckled. "You will be mine for all the world to see."

I smiled, looking down at the passing earth beneath us. 

"You'll no longer be my secret."

I glanced up at him. "Does that mean I get to meet the parents?"

He laughed. "You wouldn't like my dad."

"And your mom?"

James suddenly slowed his pace, eventually coming to a complete stop. I stood still, turning to face him.

"You don't know," he said under his breath, with a soft smile, shaking his head. He brought his hand up to his neck and scratched it. "My mom is dead, Allison."

I suddenly felt extremely stupid.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry - I didn't know-"

"That's my fault. I just - I forgot, I guess," he shrugged, laughing nervously. "It was a long time ago. I was just a kid at the time."

"Um… How did she…?"

I didn't need to finish my question. He knew what was being asked.

"She drowned, actually. She was sailing. It was a freak accident. I don't know. I don't think I remember it very clearly."

I was shocked at how completely composed and, well, civil he was. It had been years. James was obviously very used to talking about this.