by Abby Gale
But instead of telling him that, I murmur, “I don’t want to go to prom.”
He chuckles. “Babe, we’ve been talking about that for the last two weeks.”
“Yes, but it was easier to let you convince me when there are still weeks to that night. Now, it’s all real. I don’t want to spend my night in the prom with people who hate me.”
He hugs me and kisses right under my ear. "It's in a few days, and you should go. You'll regret you didn't years later."
“I wish you could’ve come with me,” I whisper.
He doesn’t say anything. The distance I feel lately shows itself again. He only caresses my hair and kisses my temple. That’s the answer enough.
He's my teacher, and I'm his student. No matter the semester is almost over.
Taking a deep breath, I get out of the bed, and he doesn't stop me. I almost start to cry when he doesn't follow me into the bathroom like he always does. It feels like we've already begun to say goodbye to the short bliss I had in my life.
With the lump in my throat, I take a shower longer than necessary to warm my suddenly chilly limbs. When I finally get out of the shower, the guesthouse is empty. Elijah is nowhere to be seen, and there is a piece of paper in the bed where we just had sex.
I have a few errands to run. I’ll try to be back before you leave for the prom, but if I can’t have fun.
I swallow. Damn. Now I feel like crying.
Shaking my head, I take a deep breath.
I'm ridiculous.
Mr. John must be calling for me because of something I’ve done again. The only problem is, I don’t know what I’ve done this time. Since Elijah and I got close, I haven’t been thinking about my parents’ lack of existence in my life. Elijah filled every emptiness in my heart, I didn’t feel the pain and loss as much.
Finally, I get the courage to knock Mr. John’s door.
"Come in." I hear him say from the other side of the door.
I enter, but why do I feel trapped when I close the door behind me?
"You wanted me, Mr. John," I murmur, forcing my feet to move toward the chair in front of his desk.
"Yes, Evangeline. I wanted you," he says slowly. Every word comes out like a drawl. Is he drunk?
“Guys your age don’t cut it for you, Eva?” he asks. His voice is laced with malice.
I swallow. “Pardon?”
He chuckles and walks around his desk. I expect him to sit the armchair in front of me, but instead, he comes toward me.
Leaning over my chair, he cages me. “You like older guys, don’t you? Maybe the ones who have some authority over you?”
I cringe with the alcohol stench in his breathe. I’m paralyzed with fear.
But the moment his hand touches my knee, I snap. Pushing him off me, I stand up. My legs are weak, my hands are shaking with fear.
Just when I’m about to head for the door, he grabs me by my hair and pulls me back to his chest.
“You bitch. You’re a cock tease. A slut. You wanted to be fucked, didn’t you? All those non-existent clothes you were wearing… and you got your wish, right? You seduced that boy, Richards. You let him fuck you like a whore, don’t you Eva?”
I struggle in his hold. Fucking bastard is strong. I try to kick him on the shin, but my attempts don’t find the target.
"I watched you, you know? In the football field. You're a dirty little slut, aren't you? You like it hard, and you know what? I'll give you hard."
Tears well up in my eyes. His words cause my muscles to tense up. Scared doesn’t even cover the state I’m in. I’m terrified. Paralyzed.
“You give it to everyone anyway. The school slut, right? It’s only fair for me to have a taste, too.”
I should scream.
I should scream.
I open my mouth, but only a sob breaks free.
I hear him chuckle behind me.
“You don’t even fight or scream. You want this, don’t you? I knew how filthy you were.”
His words disgust me. He sickens me.
I don’t want this. I don’t want this. I don’t want this.
I want to scream, but I’m locked up.
I want to fight, but I’m paralyzed.
My legs don't carry me, I feel like I'm falling down. When my knees buckle, he pulls my hair so painfully it feels like my scalp is ripped, but that pain erases the block in my body. Something snapped.
And this time when I open my eyes, I scream.
I scream so loud, I feel free.
I keep screaming when someone breaks in the door.
I scream when I fall to the floor when my rescuer punches him.
I scream when I see blood cover the bastard’s face.
I only stop screaming when familiar arms are wrapped around me.
“I got you, baby. I got you. I’m here. You’re safe. I’m here.”
My rescuer says the same words over and over again.
“Eva? Evangeline? Look at me, baby? I’m here. Elijah. It’s Elijah,” he says and shakes me.
Elijah…
He’s here.
I’m safe.
25
Elijah
I’ve never felt rage this bad.
I've never been violent before, but after seeing that son of a bitch hold Eva like that, all I can see is red with the fury boiling inside me. When I look at the fear in Eva's face, I want to kill him. I didn't even realize when I moved and hit him punch after punch until he lay there without moving. That was when I realized I can't murder this bastard. He wasn't my priority.
My priority is the beautiful girl who’s shaking in my arms and to take her away from this piece of shit.
I kiss her forehead again and again as I carry her out of the building.
Jake, her driver runs toward us when he sees her in my arms. He doesn't ask what happens, only look behind me to the building and grit his teeth when I just nod.
I don’t protest when Jake shifts to the driver side of my truck. I don’t think I can let go of her even to drive her home and as she hugs me tight, I know she doesn’t want me to.
She shakes in my arms. Her sobs muffled in the crook of my neck. Her hold on me never loosens, and I don't know how to calm her down except whispering the same things over and over again: "Shh, I'm here. You're safe."
She whimpers at every bump in the road, and I want to turn back and kill that bastard. I hold her tighter and close my eyes when I hear her breath hitch. When I reopen my eyes, we arrive home.
“I’ll be here if you need anything,” Jake says as I get out of the car with Eva in my arms.
I nod, but my real focus is on Eva.
After we get into to guest house, I sit on the bed.
"Eva?" I whisper, and she starts to cry again, hiding her face into the crook of my neck.
Stroking her hair softly, I wait for her to let all out.
“H-he saw us,” she finally says when her sobs subdue.
I sigh. “I know, babe.”
She leans back to look at me. “He’ll tell everyone. He’ll report you. You’ll be fired.”
“Evangeline,” I whisper in wonder. That son of a bitch put his fucking hands on her, but this amazing girl is thinking of me, worrying for me. “Baby, I don’t care what he does to me as long as you’re okay.”
She shakes her head, trying to get up from my lap.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“I need to talk to Jake,” she says.
I frown but nod. "Okay. You stay here, I'll bring him."
When I come back to the room with Jake, he looks at her disheveled way and keeps some distance between them. And I appreciate his effort not to scare her.
Jake and I became closer after that talk he warned me about Eva. He's an ex-army, and he sees more than he lets on. I know I can trust him when it comes to Eva.
"Jake… tha-that guy… he was drunk, and he tried to hurt me. And he has recordings… recordings of Elijah and I," Eva murmurs and I hold her shaking hand in min
e.
“Okay. I’ll take care of him. Don’t worry,” Jake says in a soft voice I’ve never heard him use before.
"And… Elijah hit him. He may go to the police. I don't know."
Jake snorts. "He won't go to the police."
“I left him in his office. He was unconscious,” I say, not feeling guilty at all.
He nods.
“Okay. I got this. I’ll let you know when things are handled down.”
I frown. He sounds dangerous, but I can’t find it in me to pity that bastard headmaster.
When we’re alone in the room, Eva says, “I want to take a bath.”
I nod and head for the bathroom to start the water. Closing my eyes, I take a steadying breath. I could’ve been late. Thank God, I wasn’t, but what could’ve been is enough to make me insane. I grip the bathtub, trying to control my panic, fear, and anger.
My mind is a mess. I wonder if I’m like that fucker who tries to take advantage of a teenager. Remembering how scared Eva looked when I barged into the office, I shudder.
God… am I any better? What if after what happened she thinks I’m just as bad as him?
“Elijah,” Eva whispers behind me, but I can’t turn my head to her. I’m afraid to scare her with the rage, guilt, and insecurities I’m sure my face carry. I feel her getting closer to me, but I busy myself with setting the temperature of the water.
When her hand rests on my back, the breath I’ve been holding escapes from me in a whoosh. Facing her, I study her face. Tears dried on her cheeks, her lips are trembling, it’s her eyes that slice me open. They’re scared but also hopeful, looking at me like I have the power to make everything right in her life.
The weight in my chest lifts a little.
God, I love this girl.
26
Eva
He takes my face in his hands and places a kiss to my forehead, before leaning back to look at me with the same tentativeness he's been doing since we left headmaster's office.
“I’ll give you a bath, okay?” he asks hesitantly.
And I swallow. I was shaken on the drive home from school. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry when Jake left us alone in the guesthouse. I felt weak and scared, but seeing him treating me that way hurt and scared me so much more than that disgusting piece of shit could ever do.
His hands shake as he slowly unbuttons my shirt. With every movement he does, he searches my face, for what I don’t know. Before peeling the shirt off my shoulders, he looks at me again, like asking for permission.
That’s when something snaps.
I couldn’t take it.
Grabbing his hand, I place it over my bra covered breast.
"Don't," I say, and when he tries to pull his hand back, I press my hand over his even harder. His hand palms my tit as a reflex. He looks at me panicked like he's afraid of my reaction. I like his touch, even right after another man's touch made me want to gag and clean my skin with bleach.
“Don’t be hesitant to touch me,” I whisper.
His eyes widen with my words. "Baby, I'm just worried about doing something that would make you uncomfortable."
“You’re doing it. You don’t touch me freely like… like I’m contaminated.” My voice shakes. Even though I know he’s trying to make me feel comfortable, I can’t help but feel that way.
"What?" he breathes out and pulls me closer to him. Lifting my chin up, he makes me look at him before whispering, "I was afraid of you being scared of me."
What? I shake my head at his incredulous thought.
“You saved me. Why would I be scared of you? And… you’re the only one who can make me forget that man ever came near me.”
With that, his eyes get the fire I love so much back in them. Leaning down, he captures my lips with a soft kiss. And I melt in his arms, the fear, worry, and sadness evaporate like nothing.
He continues taking off my clothes. This time without hesitance.
When I get into the bathtub, he gently rubs my skin with the sponge. Every stroke, every touch of water makes me feel better, but the real cleansing comes from his hands on me.
I let him bathe and dry me, taking pleasure from his caring way.
I get inside the bed with a towel wrapped around me and watch him as he takes off his t-shirt and jeans to join me. Peace washes over me as I lay my head on his chest.
That’s when I’m sure of the feelings I have for him without a doubt.
27
Elijah
I’ve been watching Eva sleep when I hear the knock on the door. Carefully, I move her off my chest.
I see Jake waiting outside. Joining him on the porch, I close the door behind me.
“I have news,” he says.
I give him a curt nod.
"When I arrived at school, he was lying on the floor, still unconscious. I contacted Mr. and Mrs. Faye. I didn't give them much detail, but I gave them enough. They took care of the rest. The founders of the school had fired him before we even left the building. Everyone will be announced about that tomorrow," he says.
“That quick?”
“Eva’s parents have all the right connections.”
I snort. “They only lack at that connection with their daughter, hmm?”
“They care about their daughter, Elijah. They’re just… in pain. And I guess they don’t know how to cope with it except giving themselves to work.”
I nod, not really feeling empathy for them since I know how alone Eva was feeling. “No one will know his departure has anything to do with Eva, right?”
“No. Mr. and Mrs. Faye are very secretive people. Eva’s name won’t be involved in anything.”
I sigh in relief.
"But he deserves to go to jail," I murmur. If I wasn't in time, that son of a bitch might have… I shake my head.
“I have someone digging deep about him. I have a feeling he may find something to put him in jail. Even if we can’t, Mr. Faye said he won’t be able to find any other job in schools,” Jake says, bringing me from my thoughts.
I nod.
“Where is he now?” I ask.
“Still in his office. Tied to his chair.”
My eyes widen when his answer comes out like we're talking about the weather.
“What about the cleaners? What if someone finds him that way?”
“School is empty. Cleaners come to school in the morning. A few hours before the school time,” he explains.
“I’ll have to see him. I need him to do something before he’s officially fired.”
Jake looks at me suspiciously, but realization must hit him because he gives me a small smile and nods.
Jake follows me as I drive to the school. When I get out of my truck to head for headmaster’s office, I have to stop to remind myself Eva is fine and this fucker has gotten what he deserves.
“Elijah,” the prick says in hope. Like I may be here to rescue him. It makes me sick.
I’m not like him.
I’m not like him.
I repeat the same words again and again.
“Elijah, we can talk this out. Think about it,” he says.
“I did. Here, my resignation letter. Sign it,” I snap, watching him sign the paper and put it on action.
“You’re gonna regret it,” he says, but his voice turns to groan when Jake’s fist makes contact with his face.
I smirk. “Never.”
“You’re just like me. You wanted a piece of her for yourself. How are we any different?” he yells.
Stopping in my tracks, I turn to face him.
I wait for shame and guilt to find me, but they don’t. Instead, things become clear.
Even if I'm at fault for having a sexual relationship with a student, I'm in a different position. I've fallen in love with Eva, and I know she loves me, too. I could never ever do anything to hurt her. But that piece of shit… I fist my hands.
I’m nothing like him.
Eva isn’t afraid of me like she was afraid of him.
>
The only issue with Eva and I are we're two right people in the wrong situation. And I'm going to fix that situation.
“I love her!” I tell him with all the passion I feel in me. “I don’t want a fucking piece of her. I want all of her. I want everything that’s her. I want her in my life, my future.”
I leave the room for Jake to take care of the situation like he said.
As I walk back to my truck, I feel free. Like the teacher role that was forced on me was actually my prison.
Now, I’m back to myself. The guy who hates authority. And I feel good.
Good guy who looks like a bad boy…
I smile at Eva’s words when we first made love.
God, I can be whatever she wants me to be.
28
Eva
It takes me a few seconds to catch up with what happened earlier today when I open my eyes. Turning on the bed, I expect to see Elijah, but the bed is empty. The bathroom door is still open, showing me he’s not in there either.
When I hear some noises from the kitchen, I leave the bedroom. Instead of Elijah, I see Stacey and Jessica in the kitchen.
“Miss Faye? How are you feeling?”
“Do you need anything?”
They ask in unison. Their concern is obvious.
“Jake mentioned there was an incident at school. We were so worried,” Jessica adds.
Their concern feels like a warm blanket over me.
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know. They just left though.”
I nod.
“Are you okay?” Stacey asks.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“I assume you’d like to stay at home tonight,” she says softly. And I remember it’s Prom Night.