Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Luci!” Her Mom screams.
“Go,” I repeat, and this time, she does.
Chapter 19
-Luci-
“How could you?” I slam the door. “That was so embarrassing!” I watch Josh through the window, getting back into his car, feeling ashamed.
“Oh don’t even start with me!” Mom clenches her teeth, hitting the gas.
“I thought you liked him!” I shout. “You used to!”
“I do, as a teacher!” She replies. “He’s too old for you, and isn’t he married?”
“Not anymore. Plus, we’re just friends.”
Gracie lets out a loud laugh, and I kick her seat.
“What the hell?” She shouts.
“I don’t need your comments!”
“Both of you stop!” Mom’s voice booms, a sound we haven’t heard since we were kids, and it’s a quiet ride home.
We pull into the driveway and go in through the garage. Gracie gives me a nasty look before running up to her room, while Mom makes me stay behind.
“So let’s pretend you told me what was going on at school,” she laughs coldly. “What’s going on now? You kiss friends?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything!”
“Don’t be disrespectful!” She shouts. “I want Gracie out of his class!”
“That’s irrational!” I shriek. I take a step back, shocked by her enragement.
“I’m your mother and you will not talk to me like that!”
“I’m sorry,” I lower my voice. “But you’re going to get him and me in trouble if you start raising the issue again. It’s under control.”
We quiet down, and both of us take a few long, deep breathes.
“What happened to that friend you told me about who ended up with your teacher?”
“That was different,” she huffs. “She’s not my daughter!”
“Hey!” Dad walks into the room. “What’s all the yelling about?”
“Nothing!” I tell him, and Mom shoots me a look.
“Honestly,” she signs. “I don’t want to worry you.”
“I feel fine,” he laughs. “All of you treat me like there’s something wrong. I have cancer. I’m not dying! Not all people who have cancer die.”
“I started hanging out with Mr. Harrington outside of school,” I swallow, waiting for his reaction.
“Wait a minute now, Luci,” Mom laughs angrily. “Jay, I caught them kissing.”
“She’s an adult, Sue,” Dad defends, and I offer him a small smile.
“He’s too old for her,” Mom replies. “He was her high school teacher. He’s a divorcee! He has a child!”
“To be fair,” I sigh. “That kid you saw him with at my graduation wasn’t his. He doesn’t have any children.”
“That’s still a lot of baggage,” Mom argues. “And your age difference!”
“It’s eight years!” I yell.
Dad stares between us, watching our fight unfold all over again.
“Invite him here,” he interrupts, and Mom and I both stare at him, shocked. “Then we will see.”
“See what?” I jump. “I can make my own decisions! I’m an adult!”
“Jay there are rumors going around the school that they were sleeping together while she was his student!”
I cringe, ugh! That’s not something to talk about in front of my Dad.
“They’re just rumors!” I lie. “Because we started hanging out.”
“That damn school,” Dad shakes his head. “She’s smarter than that!”
Well this is just fucking great!
I say nothing as I run up the stairs, meeting Gracie’s eye before storming off into my bedroom and slamming the door.
The next day, I go to Josh’s classroom during my free period. I know it’s risky, and stupid, but he hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts last night, and I have to see him.
“I have class in ten minutes,” he’s shuffling papers around on his desk as I shut the door behind me.
“Right,” I shift my weight between my heel and toes, biting my lip nervously.
“Look-”
“Luci-”
We both talk at the same time before falling quiet.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “My Mom, she had no right-”
“She’s your Mom,” he sighs.
“I told them that nothing happened,” I swallow.
“So you lied,” he runs his fingers through his hair. “I really should finish this up before class.”
“It’s okay,” I fold my hands over my chest.
“It’s not,” he shakes his head. “You should go.”
“What?” I drop my hands, stunned.
He sighs and sits back in his chair.
“Please don’t be mad,” I plead, stepping up onto the platform.
“It’s like we’re hiding all over again,” he shakes his head. “I want your parents to like me, and I don’t want to keep feeling like this bad guy anymore. I’m sick of all the obstacles!”
My jaw drops as sadness overcomes me. “So are you done with us then?” I brace myself. “Giving up already?”
“Never,” he sighs.
“Then what?”
“I thought you told them about us,” he shakes his head. “I was surprised when I found out you didn’t, and then your Mom got so upset when she saw us.”
“They want you to come over sometime this week,” I nervously tell him.
“I don’t know,” he shakes his head, and I place my hands on either side of his chair.
“Please?” I whisper, moving closer, placing a soft kiss on his lips.