Teenage Fever

That Part

Brie gently pushed me from the room and into the hall. Concern was all over her face.

"Leslie? Are you okay?"
I couldn't find the words to speak. Couldn't find the words to piece together since my mind was all over the place.
Was I seeing things now? Or was Tahj really in that room? After last night I didn't know what to believe anymore.
"Who was that guy in there?" I finally ask.
"Who? Some of the students in there you've probably never met because they weren't always here. Remember?"
"But, there's..."
There's someone in there who isn't a student, I wanted to say.
"Les, we have to get these students onto the bus soon. I'll give you a minute because we can handle it from here. I hope you're okay, though."
I clear my throat and nod. Maybe I am seeing things. The mind is crazy.

But that thought goes flying out the window when Tahj does indeed walk out of the room.
Brie turns to him.
"Tahj, can you please go back—"
"I just wanted to talk to Mr. Les for a second."
Brie was about to reject it but I tell her he's fine and to head back to do the attendance.

Tahj and I were alone in the hall.
He smiled at me while messing with his facial hair. Facial hair that wouldn't make you question him being younger than 18.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Isn't it obvious by now?"
I couldn't look at him the same. I kept seeing Section 2 him. It was eerie. Whatever that thing was it embodied Tahj's mannerisms perfectly.

This wasn't the Tahj I knew anymore. Especially now with him being here.

"You're in the program? This whole time?"
"Remember when I was picking my brother up the other day?"
And all those students were staring at me. Even his father. The confused looks I got.
"Shit!" I breathed. "How?" I asked.
How did he manage to get around me?
"I hardly came around when I found out you were working here."
He goes to lean on the white hallway wall.
"You lied," I said.
He shrugged.
"Same as you," he smiled at me.
I closed my eyes shut. What the fuck? That "thing" knew as well, so was that real what happened in Section 2? No. But was it some sort of eerie premonition?
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
Tahj blew out air from his mouth.
"I saw you, Les."

I immediately felt chills.

He did follow me this weekend.

"Outside the center. Damario picked you up and you were practically eye fucking him right there."
My mind drew a blank until it came back to me. It happened hours before I went to Tahj's place.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Yeeeah," he says. "So I invited you over and decided to reward you."
I look back at him. I didn't like the sound of that.
"How old are you?" I asked.
He lets out a sound. It was a quick noise of amusement.
"Oh, Les. I like you, I do. I want to try to make things work, I forgive you," he paused. "I won't tell anyone."
It was as if the floor fell beneath me.
"We can make things work. We should talk more, maybe later tonight, once at the hotel."
He straightens up and heads back to the room with one last look at me before going inside.
This was the fuck up.

I didn't want to be here, but I had to stay professional in front of my staff and students. It was hard because I could feel his eyes burning into my back. It doesn't help that his little friends kept smirking at me as if they knew something.

When it was time for them to get on the bus I stood back and watched them. Tahj walked by me without looking at me at all. I shut my eyes and let out a deep sigh from the realization that I was to spend a whole week around him in front of these other students and staff.
Shit was embarrassing.

"Is everything okay, Leslie?" Brie asked me again. She sat beside me on the bus. I sat by the window, staring out into the night.
"I'm okay, Brie."
I watched her. She was looking down but I could tell she was thinking about something.
"Leslie," she whispered. "Do you personally know one of the students here?"
I just chose to silently nod at her question.
"Is it Tahj?"
I hesitated before nodding again.
She exhaled.
"I knew something was off when he stopped coming in like he used to."
I turned back to her. She looked at me briefly.
"He used to show up a lot, was pretty popular. He hung around Shawn and Raheem a lot. I'll be honest, I got a weird vibe from all of them. I suspected that they were always up to something."
"How old is he?" I asked.
She was quiet at first, probably wondering how could I know him personally but not know how old he was.
"Sixteen, he's a junior, Les. When he first showed up here back in September it was his first year here. He didn't know Raheem and Shawn because they are seniors. But he grew attached to them as the year went on, we're in June now."

I recalled Raheem asking me how I knew Tahj. And there was Shawn trying to shut that conversation down. I knew something was off then and there.
But I couldn't believe he was only 16. He didn't look like no fucking 16!

I had sex with a 16 year old.

"Is there a bathroom on this bus?" I asked.
She nodded and pointed to the back.

I stared into my eyes.
How the hell did I get here?
I thought about calling someone. I only had D but he was probably asleep. I ran my hands under water and ran my hands down my face.

I could go to jail.

I was pained by the thought. That's what he meant. Is he blackmailing me?

"Fuuuuuuck," I groaned.
This was a fucked up situation but I had to keep calm. I'll call D later on today. I don't know what help he'd be but I at least need a friend.

When I opened the door Tahj was standing before me. I jumped a little by his presence.
"Hey, Mr. Les," he said.
There wasn't a lot of space so I brushed right passed him.
"I hope I'm in your group, Mr. Les. This way we can catch up since I haven't met you yet."
I stare back at him over my shoulder. He's giving me a small smile before he slides into the bathroom.