“So in love with you, I’m love struck, and all the things you do, it’s a love struck,” I sang quietly to myself, bending over to re-lace my shoes. “I know you’ll get me through, I’m love struck. A la la la, la la, la la la love struck.”
“You’re in a good mood.”
My heart leapt into my throat as I quickly erected myself, twisting around on my heel. My mom raised her eyebrow at me. My face blazed and I quickly ducked my head to hide my blush.
“In fact, you’ve been in a good mood all week,” my mom commented thoughtfully. “And you’re ditching me tonight, even though I’m home…”
I looked back up at her with a frown. “Sorry…”
She held up her hand. “Hey, you made plans first. It’s not like I’m going to make you cancel them. Besides, if my hunch is right, you wouldn’t cancel these plans anyway.”
“What hunch?”
She smirked, giving me that awfully creepy, knowing smile. “Rhymes with Fister Meyhood.”
“Sorry mom, I don’t know any nun named Sister Kayhood,” I responded cheekily, feeling my face heat up again. She was too smart for her own good.
My mom laughed. “Good one. How are you getting there?”
“He’s coming to pick me up.”
“That works out perfectly! I have to go back to work later, so I need the car,” she explained. “It’s going to be a very late night. I probably won’t be back until the early morning… Why don’t you ask Chris if you can stay the night?”
I looked at my mom in shock. “What? No, mom. I’m not asking that.”
The doorbell suddenly went off, startling me. My mom grinned widely and locked gazes with me. I knew at once what she was planning to do. We both started for the door at the same time.
“Mom!” I called after her. “Mom, no!”
“I’m just answering the door, Holly!” my mom responded, giving me an amused look from over her shoulder.
Before I knew exactly what happened, I found myself lying face-first on the ground. A groan of pain escaped my lips just as I heard the front door open. My mom greeted Mr. Heywood enthusiastically as I glared at the floor in front of me, cursing my clumsiness. I had tripped over the rug.
“Holly, get off the floor,” my mom ordered. “That’s rude.”
Mr. Heywood chuckled as I pushed myself back to my feet, brushing off my shirt. It was just my luck I decided to wear black. It brought out the dirt fantastically. My mom disappeared from the hall, leaving Mr. Heywood and I alone. He smirked at me and I felt my cheeks heat up.
“You’re coming with me to the grocery store,” Mr. Heywood informed me, swinging his keys around on his finger. “Hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t,” I said quickly, causing his smirk to grow.
“Okay, Chris, I have Holly’s bag here,” my mom said, suddenly reappearing with my backpack in hand. “It’s got everything she needs.”
I stared at her in bewilderment. “What? For what?”
“Staying over, silly,” my mom responded, rolling her eyes. “I told you I’m working late.”
“But— but,” I spluttered, turning to Mr. Heywood, to my mom, and back again. “Wait a second. Did you guys have this all planned out before hand?”
YOU ARE READING
A Proscriptive Relationship
ActionHolly's new, young teacher has a dark past, and a dangerous future. She soon finds herself charmed by his ways, and gets thrown into the chaos. Who knew having an ex-gangster for a teacher could be so troublesome? As Holly and Mr. Heywood grow close...
