This love (Teacher/Student)

Chapter 42

EDITED

I flinched when the familiar bell dinged as I opened the door. I don't know why I acted surprised every time it announced my arrival.

I let it fall shut behind me as I took a deep breath, shoving my hands into the back pockets of my jeans just to hide how much they shook. The footsteps started coming up the stairs and disappointment washed over me as Zach's figure appeared on the other side of the counter.

He appeared confused for only a second before understanding took over his features. The look of understanding told me all that I needed to know. My assumptions were right. "He's gone." I voiced out loud for the first time since I left his classroom yesterday.

Zach slowly nodded. "Yeah." He said simply folding his arms over his chest.

"Did he say goodbye to you?" I asked, slightly jealous of any answer he would give.

He chuckled. "Not in so many words."

"Is he coming back?" I sighed, my heart pounding so hard in my chest that I was sure he could hear it.

Zach nodded again. "Yeah. He'll be back." It did nothing to reassure me and it looked like he knew that as his eyes drifted to the clock above the door. "Why don't you come through. We can talk." I didn't give him time to change his mind as he held open the staff door for me to pass through. "Tea?"

I nodded and took a seat on the familiar leather sofa as he flipped on the kettle. "Thanks." I forced a smile as he placed a warm grey mug into my hand and sat down next to me. His matching mug clasped between his fingers.

"Are you okay?" He suddenly asked, using the same gentle voice I had only heard a few times in our time together.

I sighed and placed the mug on the coffee table in front of us. "I guess. I think I'm just worried." I lied.

"He'll be okay. This isn't the first time he's done it and it usually takes a few weeks."

I frowned, suddenly shaking my head, angry and confused at the same time. The question in my mind, did I have time to stop him? "I thought it was like a switch? Like he just flipped it off?"

He shrugged. "Turning it on, happens as quick as turning on a light. But to turn them off, he needs determination and pressure. He's trying to turn off a part of his brain, it's like taking every human thing about himself and tearing it to pieces." He turned towards me slightly, placing his own mug next to mine, like he knew I had something I needed to say.

"He's not answering his phone." I settled on.

Zach's eyes squinted a little. "And why would you be trying to call him?"

He already knew. There was no point trying to deny it. "To tell him to come home. To tell him not to do it."

Even though he already knew, Zach groaned and buried his hands in his hair. "Fuck sake. Would you stop this?" He suddenly spat, turning back to me with hard eyes. "You're being selfish."

I shook my head. "I went to his classroom yesterday fully prepared to work things out. To get back to how we were but he was already gone. I need to stop him."

He waited a moment, took in my pleading expression with narrowed eyes, like he was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth but then he simply shrugged. "It's too late." He mumbled. "I have no idea where he is. There's no way to contact him, we just have to wait till he comes home." I opened my mouth, but he stopped me. "And he will come home Hayls."

I didn't want to accept it, but I couldn't fight it right now either. "How many times has he done this?"

Zach took a deep breath, picked up his mug again and scooted back so he could lean back on the sofa. I watched as he crossed his ankle over his knee and took a slow sip from his mug. "The first time, he was 14. Young Alphas have the worst control, they're basically like puppies on crack. We were at a party and Danny was getting with this girl. Well long story short, said girls boyfriend came in. Thought he could take Danny and well they both lost."