Five
Betty
I walked into the principal Charles’ office expecting calm instead I found a storm, one I could barely control or understand.
The tension with Mr Bolton, the devil's spawn Michael, principal Charles, and me was palpable. My heart raced despite my desperate attempt to hide the nervousness. I was slowly taking deep breaths to calm myself, I couldn't let them notice my weakness or they would prey on it, everything would turn around against me.
And now that I had stood my ground I could tell annoyed Mr Bolton was annoyed, even after learning the truth from his vile and perverted son he still acted with irritating obliviousness that made my skin crawl, this is exactly why I can't tolerate rich egoistic people they walk around like they own the damn world.
But still, I couldn't afford to lose this job I had just gotten back barely four years ago. I had so much at stake.
Finally, he struck a one-sided agreement and didn't even wait to hear my response, and left, as if only his opinion mattered. And the idiot who caused all these? He just stared at me, not in the usual filthy manner but in a way that almost… depicted guilt.
Then he slinked out of the office leaving me alone with Principal Charles.
The sound of him clicking his pen made me feel uneasy like he was secretly plotting my judgment. But I am the victim after all, if there was anyone who needed to be punished it has to be Michael.
“Sit, please,” He gestured towards the chair opposite him.
I sat without saying any words, there wasn't much to say anyway.
He straightened in his seat, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. Anytime he did this I knew he meant business “ Professor Graham,” he began, his tone laced with disappointment. “What the hell happened back there with Mr Bolton? I didn't want to speak to you harshly in his presence because I thought you would be responsible enough to do the right thing.”
So now he says the right thing? After condoning all that nonsense.
I stayed quiet and didn't want to say anything that would make the situation worse than it already was.
His gaze was still now fixed on me, “I think you have forgotten so quickly how many strings I had to call in for you to get you reinstated into this college without any problems!”
My hands began to tremble and I gently hid them behind the table. My nervousness was beginning to expand now, but I didn't react because I knew that was what he wanted.
After all, he takes any chance to remind me of my past scandals
“Principal…”
He raised a hand in dismissal, “ How could you give Michael an F?”
He said it like I had just wiped out his entire family from the face of the earth, each word dripping with disdain.
“Sir, I grade based on performance and Mr Michael Bolton wasn't taking the course seriously,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. He wasn't the one I was angry at so there was no point lashing out at him.
“Performance? I read through that paper and it didn't deserve an F like you claim. I know it's a bit… um, vulgar language and all but you know how these college students are, this isn't the hill you want to die on Professor Betty.”
I swallowed hard, unable to believe my ears, how dare he justify Michael's uncouth actions?
And now can he expect me to sweep this under the carpet like it was nothing, he had disrespected countless times and this was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
I sat upright, placing my hands on the table, “ No, he disrespected me and this isn't the first…”
“I don't care!” he cut me off, “You think I care about what happens in your class? What I care about is my job, his father is very beneficial to this school and he can get both of us out of here on Monday morning if you don't get in line.”
My lips quivered immediately, as the realisation sank in deep, it wasn't just an ordinary matter it was a play of power.
“I understand your plight about Michael, you aren't the first teacher he has bullied,” his tone softening now like that would make me feel better. “ But you need to reconsider this job, don't make me regret fighting to bring you back, don't throw it away over one spoiled kid with no frontal lobe!”
Always reminding me of the favour he did for me, trust me, I was grateful for it but he never ceases to remind me when I wanted to keep it buried, after all, it happened ten years ago.
“They don't care if you are the best professor, they would take you out if you stand in their way, and I brought you back for a reason, don't make me look like a fool for saving you, my job is on the line too,”
“And my complaints? What's the administration going to do about it?”
“I will have a word with Michael, he won't bother you anymore.”
I knew that was a lie, he would say anything to get me to comply.
I sucked in my teeth and nodded, that's all he wanted after all.
I get up and leave without another word.
As soon as I was out of the office I clutched tight to my chest, feeling the rush of adrenaline seep into my bones. The hallways were filled with noise, students laughing and life moving on without me but that didn't matter to me.
It was like I was having a deja vu because this was how humiliated I felt when the school found out about the photos and emails. About Adam and me.
I purse my lips and head off in anger.
Finally, I was back home in my tiny apartment, the one I shared with Kitty. Immediately she sensed me she weaved between my legs purring like she had no worries in the world.
“Hello kitty,” I said, lifting her in the air, then I poured cat food in a bowl and poured myself a glass of strong vodka.
I drank it in three gulps trying to calm the storms in my head.
It was so quiet in here exactly how I liked it, I stared out the window at the city beneath me and let out a sigh.
I hate my life.
Drinking alone since I had no man to come home to, or drink with after all the only man I allowed into my life tried to ruin it, once.
I won't give anyone that access, not anymore. But then, I won't die of loneliness in my home.
I finish the glass and take a brief shower and change into something revealing, then I grab my brown leather coat and head out to the club. It was popular in the city so it was expected to be crammed. Perfect for me, I preferred to stay unknown.
But I still go to wear a pink wig as a disguise so my students wouldn't recognize me.
I leaned towards the counter, the bartender was a middle-aged man with icy blue eyes, he was attractive but certainly not my type of man. He takes my order, another glass of vodka.
All of a sudden I could feel eyes on me.
I glance to my side and I see a man with an eye patch sitting two stools away. There was something creepy about the way he stared at me, like he recognized me.
All of a sudden I lose interest in my drink, I pay and head to the bathroom.
I pushed open the ladies’ room door, closing it softly behind me, and I heard a click behind me. I turn to see the one-eyed man standing right in front of me like a ghost.
“You shouldn't be here,” I gasped, he doesn't respond.
“ Are you following me? “I asked again
Then I slant my eyes, “ I know you, you are Adam’s bodyguard! Tell him I have moved on, so he should please leave me alone!”
“He wants you back…”
“Too late! I’m seeing someone else now!”
I couldn’t stay here any longer so I ran towards the door, our shoulders barely brushing against one another, and then I ran into a random man in the passage.
I had already kissed him passionately before I realized it was Michael.
I could see the shock on his face when he realized it was me, “Professor Betty?”
“This.. this never happened…”I said my voice barely above a whisper, I could barely look into his green eyes, I didn’t wait for his response, instead, I just scurried away like a stray cat.
I hailed a cab, as soon as I was inside I took off my wig, my heart racing so hard like it ran a thousand miles. I was still trying to process everything that happened.
I leaned against the seat letting out the breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
First, it was Adam, he was still out there searching for me.
And now
I had just kissed the boy I threatened to fail.
What have I done? I had just complicated things even more.