Unknown Number

by Victoria Hyder

  “You can get that in England,” Lucas deadpanned.

  “Y-e-a-h of course I can! But it’s the wrong kind of heat. British heat is cloying and makes everything sweat. Spanish heat, is dry and tans you up nicely.”

  “Are you high?”

  Bonnie scowled, but before she could continue, Eleanor piped up. “Why don’t you two go on a holiday together?” she grinned, her eyes growing wide behind her glasses.

  A muscle twitched in Lucas’s jaw. His palms were clammy, and he tried to discreetly wipe them down on his thighs. He grimaced; he was sweating so much; he would need to throw everything in the wash when he got home. “Can I just get back to work on Monday and go from there?” he asked in a hoarse tone.

  Silence.

  “Sure … Nothing needs to be rushed,” Eleanor faltered. Cavan thought it was the first time, in the two years he’d known her prior to this moment, that he’d ever seen her disheartened. It was as though all the energy had been zapped out of her.

  The rest of their evening seemed to pass without too many awkward moments. They steered clear of any topics that would mean thinking of plans for the future. The latest movies or shows that were on TV seemed to be the unanimous safe topic, until the final bill came, and it was time to leave.

  Outside on the street, they all said ‘goodbye’ to one another, Cavan getting a couple of hugs from Eleanor, Bonnie and a firm handshake from Fletcher and Rodrick whilst Lucas smoked a few paces away, his eyes staring off into the distance. Cavan tried to unsuccessfully duck away from Milo ruffling his hair, before making his way over to Lucas as the older man ground out the butt of his cigarette.

  “Ready to go?” Cavan asked.

  Lucas sighed, “Yeah let’s go.”

  The ride back home wasn’t as bad as the previous one, only because Cavan had a vague idea of what to expect. He leaned a little easier when Lucas leaned, and he was sure the older man went a little faster just to make him hold on tighter.

  Walking up from the private parking area, Cavan ruffled his hair back into place, inhaling the cool evening air. He felt buzzed from the evening; the last time he had laughed like that had been his birthday in March and that felt like a lifetime ago. He was dimly aware that he needed to check-in with Sophie and his Mama, but in that moment, he was just happy beyond belief. Being with Lucas made him happy in all its simplest forms and he felt so blessed to have such a wonderful man in his life.

  Lucas was slotting his key into the door when Cavan caught up with him from the stairwell. The flat was dark as they entered, eased their shoes off and hung their jackets up on the pegs.

  Lucas turned left into the kitchen, the light was blinding as he filled the kettle up and turned it on. “Want a tea, kid?”

  “Uh … sure, I don’t mind.”

  Lucas grabbed another mug from the cupboard.

  Cavan frowned, “Are you upset with me?”

  “No, why would I be?”

  “You’ve been very quiet all evening.”

  Lucas turned back to face him, the harsh lightning making the dark circles under his eyes even more prominent. “It’s been a horrible weak for me, Cavan. Yes, I’m glad that my job is safe, and I can go back on Monday, but do you really think this is over for me?”

  “W-what do you mean?”

  Lucas raked a hand through his hair and let his arm drop heavily to his side. “People talk,” was all he said.

  “Do you really think that’s worth worrying about?” Cavan hedged.

  “I’m sure I’ll have to at some point.” The kettle boiled and Lucas prepped the waiting mugs and then filled them with hot water. “The worst part is they won’t say it to my face because they’re all cowards.”

  “You’ll just have to ignore them,” Cavan said, trying to be as reassuring as he could.

  It was the way he’d been raised; to ignore people who had the nerve to gossip about you and hit the people who dared to raise a fist at you first. That last part was generally from his Oma, but he liked the sentiment behind it. After all, gossip was just gossip; as long as you knew the truth about yourself, what did it matter?

  Setting the two mugs of tea on the small kitchen table, Lucas pulled a chair out and settled down into it. He looked as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and, in truth, that is exactly how he felt. Getting the good news from Rodrick had only lightened his spirit a little. It would take another couple of weeks for him to get back into his usual routine again. Cavan hesitated for a moment before easing himself into the chair opposite. He took a few, cautious sips of his tea, wincing as it burnt the tip of his tongue. They sat there in silence, the ticking of the clock above the door seemed deafening. Lucas had his hands steepled before him, his eye staring through the centre of the table into thin air.

  “Lucas?”

  Grey eyes refocused and looked up at the man sitting across from him. Seeing Cavan’s face twisted up in confusion and helplessness really did make him feel awful.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  Removing his hands from his mouth, Lucas took a sip of his tea and took a few deep breaths to steel himself. “I’ve been thinking a lot over the last week. About you.”

  In any other scenario, those words might have been endearing, however the hard edge to his voice and the stoic expression on his face had Cavan perched on the edge of his seat and breaking out in a cold sweat. “What … uh … what about me?”

  “It’s their anniversary coming up,” Lucas said. “I … Would like if you could come with me.”

  It was on the tip of Cavan’s tongue to ask, ‘who’s anniversary?’ however, a moment later his brain caught up with the topic at hand. “Oh …” he managed to say. “A-are you sure? That’s an awfully personal thing, I can’t just -”

  “Cavan,” a firm hand rested on his own. “I’m asking you to come with me. Please. I -I need you.”

  “I can come,” he managed to say. “Just … Only if you’re a hundred percent sure you want me there!”

  “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you there, kid.”

  Cavan smiled at the nickname. He bowed his head over his mug in a lame attempt at hiding the smile. “Okay. Okay, I’ll go with you.”

  “Thank you.”

  That night, as they settled down into bed, Cavan was amazed that Lucas didn’t put his glasses on and start reading his book where he’d left off. Instead, he switched his lamp off and turned on his side so that his cheek was leaning against Cavan’s shoulder.

  Cavan himself was only reading articles and online comics on his phone. He didn’t mind when Lucas asked a few questions about what he was reading. He liked the man’s witty or snarky remarks, it never failed to make him smile. It was almost midnight when he realised that Lucas had said anything for a little while. Glancing down, he saw that the beautiful grey eyes were closed, and the man was breathing deeply with one fist curled loosely around a handful of Cavan’s shirt.

  It was the first time in ages that Lucas had fallen asleep before him.

  Chapter 29

  Monday AM

  Lucas looked at himself in the bedroom mirror. He’d been far too anxious to go on his run that morning and his hand had trembled as he fastened the tie at his throat. He had to keep taking deep, calming breaths.

  Everything would be fine; he was cleared of all charges, Rodrick had made an announcement to the school and he was returning to his job. Everything was going to get back to normal at last.

  Casting a look over his shoulder at his best, he felt his shoulders slump. He’d driven Cavan back home last night and had returned to his flat to see just how empty and cold it felt without the young man’s presence in it. He had barely slept last night, partly because he missed Cavan, and no amount of texts or calls could make up for that, and partly because he didn’t know how he was going to feel walking into that school first thing.

  His watch beeped for 7:15AM.

  With a sigh, he grabbed his jacket and bag from the peg in the h
allway, pocketed his keys and left.

  He drove his usual route and parked in the spot with his name on it. The weather was turning warmer now and he was quick to discard his jacket when he went up to the staff lounge for the Monday morning briefing. Rodrick had said to ease back in, but Lucas didn’t do that sort of thing.

  As he hung his jacket up in the lounge and went to make himself a cup of coffee, he heard a faint whispering from behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck prickles at the weight of eyes watching him. He tried not to visibly bristle, but it was difficult. He made his coffee and didn’t acknowledge anyone as they continued to bow their heads together.

  ‘Let them gossip and speculate,’ he sneered to himself. ‘If Rodrick doubted me at all, I wouldn’t be here, and they know that.’

  Still, it irked him. It was going to be a challenging day that was for sure.

  The door opened and Rodrick walked in. As much as Lucas liked to verbally spar with the man, he was glad to have his former commander on his side. “Good morning everyone,” his voice boomed out, shaking a few bleary-eyes colleagues out of their stupor. “First of all, I’d like you all to make your students aware that detention is not optional; if any students decide to not attend their detention, they will get two chances, until a letter is sent home to their parents.”

  There was a vague murmuring of agreement.

  “Secondly; I am pleased to announce that Lucas is back working with us as of today, after the false allegations against him. If he needs to be caught-up on anything, please don’t hesitate to e-mail him. And thirdly; exams are nearing so we need to make sure we’re prepping our students as much as possible. Everyone needs to volunteer for at least one exam prep session after school. E-mail me with the date you would prefer to do so. Okay, dismissed.”

  Lucas reclined in his seat, wanting to indulge a few extra minutes before he was unleashed upon the children again. Drinking his coffee, he tried to shake-off the feeling that everyone was watching him. They were curious, he supposed he could understand that. Maybe he could even tolerate their staring and whispering for the rest of the day. He was patient -to an extent.

  Finally the bell rang out.

  Rinsing his mug in the sink, Lucas gathered his belongings and brushed past his co-workers. Striding briskly to his classroom, he slung his bag under the desk, coat on the back of his chair and quickly flicked through the notes he’d gotten over the weekend from Rodrick.

  His first lesson was with the Year 8’s; good, that was easy. They’d finished learning about slavery in the USA, now it was time to get them started on the Black Death in Britain.

  As he started writing the lesson plan up on the board, the door opened and in trooped the bleary-eyed youths, their shoulders slumped and mouths hangings open. Some people seemed to freeze at the sight of him, but Lucas didn’t break his composure.

  “Hurry up to your seats, I’ll not start the lesson late because you can’t wake-up properly!” he barked out, his deep voice seeming to knock some sense into their thick skulls.

  “You’re back, Mr. Trunell?”

  Glancing over his shoulder, he narrowed his eyes, before returning to the board. “Yes, Lydia, I’m back. Now that we’ve all stated the obvious, I want you to open your books to page 54.”

  There was a moment of silence. Lucas finished writing the last question on the board before turning to them, arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised. They stared right back at him, dumbly.

  “Well?” he snapped. Books flew open, pages shuffling to the right page in a frenzy. “That’s better.”

  The first few lessons seemed to fly by and come 10:30AM he was glad to have a fifteen minute break in his office just to gather his thoughts. He made a cup of tea and opened his phone to text Cavan. He’d been good, having zero distractions all through the day and was even delighted to see that his boyfriend -God, that word still took some getting used to -had already text him. He leaned back in his chair, opened the message and began tapping out a reply.

  (10:17) Hey, I know you’ve probably been awake for hours, I know what you’re like ;P but I just wanted to say to have a great first day back, don’t over-work yourself and I love you! X

  (10:21) Also, smack Eleanor next time you see her! X

  (10:33) So why do I need to smack one of my friends?

  (10:34) Hey, you survived the morning!

  (10:35) Well, one I know it’ll make you feel better, two, you seem to do that anyway and three, she gave us a surprise prep session today and I HATE IT!

  (10:36) It’s exam season for everyone, brat, I have no sympathy for you.

  (10:38) Where did the romance go? D:

  (10:38) We had romance?

  (10:39) Damn your emoticons!

  (10:40) So how has it been? Anyone giving you grief?

  Lucas stared at that message for a few moments, his thumbs hovering over the keys. He could say it had been a strained start, in the staff lounge, but he knew that would only worry Cavan. The last thing he needed was for the kid to get himself worked up over nothing. Besides, it was only a few whispers.

  (10:43) No, everything’s been good so far. Have to teach year 9’s in a minute.

  (10:44) Okay I’ll let you get back to it. Is it okay if I call you tonight?

  (10:44) Of course.

  (10:45) Great! Love you x

  (10:45) Love you too

  Sighing, Lucas turned his phone on silent and slid it into his pocket. He downed his tea and straightened himself down before heading back to his classroom. Adjusting his glasses, he made sure he had the right lesson plan, before he started writing the days plan up on the board.

  The students filed in and took their seats, exclamations that he was back ringing through the air. He barely acknowledged them, just asked them to recap him on what their supply teacher had them learn, before scoffing and drawing their attention to what was written on the board.

  ‘Just two hours until lunch time,’ he thought, as he started a discussion on the faults of medieval medical practices. The sooner he could just unwind for a while and not have to put on a façade, the calmer his mind would be.

  Monday PM

  Lucas made a point of not eating in the staff lounge. On the one hand, he wanted to just to make a point, on the other hand he had a perfectly good office that afforded him all measure of privacy. Still, had made a point of making a cup of tea to take back with him. He said ‘hello’ to a few of his other colleagues who he sometimes worked with, and they only seemed pleased to have him back. Usually, Lucas didn’t give a toss about the other teachers however the weight of their eyes was starting to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

  There were a few teaching assistants that were being a lot less discreet in their gossiping. As he made to leave the lounge and return to his own office, he caught a snippet of conversation.

  “-it really safe to have him back? If someone accuses you of that sort of thing, surely the honourable thing is to just quit teaching, no?”

  “Ha! As if! You know he and Rodrick are in each other’s back pockets!”

  “I heard that Lucas is gay; you reckon that’s how he even got the job? Probably didn’t even get his degree.”

  Lucas frozen at the door, his back ramrod straight.

  He clenched the handle of his mug so tight he was sure it would shatter.

  Turning back to the room, he glared over at the three women huddled together near the sofas. There were a few others scattered about, their heads bowed, and ears pricked, listening to the gossip-mill churning without doing anything to correct the young women. People watched him as he approached the table, the three women didn’t even notice he was standing right behind them until he spoke.

  “I take it you ladies weren’t at the briefing this morning,” his voice sounded out like a roll of thunder, even to his own ears.