Those Blue Eyes

Chap. 9: What Should I Do Now?

(Picture of Miss Lucy Cross Above *click on picture to see full view*)

   
              My courage, after I stood up to Mr. Taylor and left early without giving notice, soon faded away as I got to my car. I broke down into sobs and cried for 20 minutes straight. I tried to call Renee but I figured she was still at work, Shauna's Aura (massage place!). So I called Lucy. She answered on the third ring.
                "Helloooo?!" Lucy giggles when she answers."Whassup girly?"
                 "My Boss just verbally assaulted me." I sniff, pushing my glasses up from the tip of my nose. "And I totally called him out on his bullshit. Then I clocked out with 5 hours to go."
                 "Oh, my God! Brooke, are you okay? Did Evan stand up to him?" That name sends chills down my spine.
                 I forgot about one major detail: telling Evan about what happened. I should tell him EVERYTHING and I will. But I feel too sick to my stomach to go crying into his arms once again. I have to handle this myself and I will. But to who? I could go to HR (Human Resources), but what would they do? The last time an incident like this happened at another company, it ended up on the news and the entire company was shut down. God. Evan would lose his job over it. More tears pour down my cheeks. I feel so trapped.
               "You still there?" The sound of Lucy's bubbly voice brings me back. "Brooke?"
             "Yes, yes. I'm here!" I sniff, wiping my tears. "I'm just trying to decide on what I should do."
              "Come by the school, help me with the kids. It'll make you feel better." Lucy says, "I need help anyhow."
              "Okay."

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       After I got my visitors pass, with the help from Lucy, of course, I spent some time with her first grade class. We sat down and I read to them and helped with them with their math. They were so sweet to me. Giving me a ton of hugs and so excited to learn. It'll all end when they get into 5th grade.
             "Miss Adams!" One of the little boys shrieks for me, raising his hand urgently. "I need help!"
               Smiling, I walk over and explain his math for him. Lucy helps a few children at her back table and some sit on the carpet playing flash card games. It's funny because I once wanted to be a teacher. But I wanted to be a book publisher instead. Anything to do with writing, so I quit the teaching dream. Now look where it got me.
            The bell rings for recess and the kids all quickly put things away. My phone buzzes in my skirt pocket. I 89.5% know who it is and I am not taking any calls right now. Lucy walks to her desk and grabs her phone. I walk over and help her with her clipboard and things.
             "Did the children therapy work?" Lucy says happily.
             "Much better than Mr. Taylor." My phone vibrates again.
              Lucy gives me a concerned look. "You should talk to him and tell him what happened. He's probably worried sick over why you left so early."
                My brows furrow as a small whine escapes my lips. "Lou, out of all the shit—I mean stuff, Mr. Taylor said, there was one thing he pointed out that made me feel weak and sicker to my stomach than the rest of what was said. Evan does treat me like a helpless child A LOT. He is always ready to fight FOR me, rescue me, and lets me depend on his arms to be my safe place."
"Well, he's VERY overprotective of you." Lucy sips on her water, "He's consistently calling you and begging you to stay—thank you Hannah—over at his place and—thank you Blain—to be his 'cuddle buddy'."
"I don't want to lose him, Lou." I say with tears threatening to spill over again.
"He's your first love." Lucy says softly, smiling just as soft.
"Besides you and Renee, Evan is the only other support system I have. My parents are gone, I don't have anybody else. I was lucky enough to even get through college with my grant." I say unhappily, Lucy only nods to me. "But I can't let him run things like he has been."
"Put your foot down then." Lucy turns to the kids who are standing in line waiting, "We have 5 more minutes! You can wait for 5 minutes."
"Should I report Mr. Taylor?" I say scared, whispering as if it were a sin to even mention it.
Lucy puts her hands on her curvy hips. "The only way to stop a bully, is to start where it will hurt him most."
I let out a drunk like laugh (not actually drunk, just distant kind of laugh). "I tear him away from the only thing he takes pride in; his work."