I just stared at him, open-mouthed for a moment. My head was buzzing, and I felt like I was falling in and out of reality. This couldn't be happening, he can't know. Nobody can ever know. I felt my chest constrict with panic at the idea that someone else knew about us. He had the power to ruin everything, and that scared me almost as much as the consequences of him ruining everything.
"What makes you think that?" I said calmly – much more calmly than I felt. I was careful not to confirm or deny anything until I knew if he had proof.
"I knew you found him attractive since day one. I mean, you stare at him a lot. And like, I knew he was fond of you, but I figured it was just one of those 'you're my favourite' things, so I didn't think much of it. But then...I don't know. The way you two act is way too close for students and teachers, even ones who've known each other for almost three years. That was only a passing thought, though, but still it didn't go away, and it tainted everything. I started to notice the way his eyes followed you when you walked, or the way you stared at each other from across the lunch hall. It was only today, when he came in with scratches down his back, and you came in with those lovebites that I really put it together. It's not the first time it's happened, either. The last time you came in with lovebites, he kept looking at you and talking about it, and even then I thought it was a bit weird. The thing that really pushed it into place for me, though, was the look on his face when Chris said I gave you those hickies. You told me your guy was jealous of me, and what Mr. Way showed was jealousy and more. It was like he would shoot me dead if he could for even pretending that I'd touched you." He said, his voice still strong, but going weak at the end – almost out of fear. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, noticing in the back of my mind that I was shaking. He sighed when I didn't reply.
"I'm right, aren't I? That's the flaw that means that you two can't be together – that he's your teacher? That it's illegal? It's all true, isn't it?" he asked slowly. I could deny it. I could yell at him and tell him he was being stupid, and that he shouldn't accuse me of things. Instead, though, I let out a deep breath and looked at him pleadingly.
"Don't tell anyone." I breathed. He exhaled and looked down, like he'd been wounded. I guess he was holding out some hope that he was wrong.
"So it's true." He mumbled. I nodded, even though it wasn't a question.
"How long?" he asked softly.
"Maybe a month? It all sort of kicked off the week before my birthday."I admitted.
"How?" he said, his voice hoarse. I paused and glanced up at the door.
"Maybe we should go back to my place. I don't want him to hear us." I said, dropping my voice. Cameron laughed bitterly.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because he'll be upset that I told you." I said simply.
"Why should I give a shit if he's upset?" he said harshly, and I winced. It wasn't normal for him to be this sharp, and it was making me uncomfortable.
"You don't have to, but I do." I said softly. His face softened and he nodded.
"Okay, but only because I really, really want you to explain all of this to me." He said, sliding his hand in mine, and my heart fluttered in my chest – even after what he knew, he still wanted to be near me. I held his hand and led him to my place. We didn't say a word to each other the whole way there, but I could almost feel his eagerness to know what was happening. I, on the other hand, couldn't have been less excited to explain it to him.
"Go on then." He said once we were in my room. I sat down and held both of his hands in mine.
"It happened by accident. I didn't find him attractive, and then I did, and then we started flirting, and then he caught me touching myself during class and he-"
