Is there something going on? I think about his question. My parents are gone for months at a time; if I don't graduate, I lose millions of inheritance money from my grandfather, and I am attracted to my teacher. "Umm, no sir, not really," I tell him, holding his gaze, and wondering how he could be spot on with what's happening in my life.
With a narrowed stare, his expression turns cold. "I'll not tolerate lying in my classroom Harlyn. I don't see how your grades have dropped so drastically, yet you say nothing is going on. Actually…" He stands and starts walking toward his desk. "…maybe you're not ready for my help. You can go."
I scoff at his brush-off. If he doesn't want me here, then I'm not staying, but when I bend to retrieve my bag, images of my parents leaving time after time swirl through my mind. They'd rather be anywhere but here, in Silvercrest with me. If Mr. Harrington is offering to help, and I don't have to go home to an empty house, then why not. Other than Quinn and Lance, I have no one. "There is something."
Mr. Harrington stops mid-step almost to his desk, but he doesn't turn around. "Go on."
"Not expected to return for a couple of weeks, my parents are out of the country, and without their guidance, I guess I'm not studying as hard as I should." It's mostly bullshit. I mean, my parents are out of town, but they could care less if I studied or not. I'm going to ace this class, and then once I'm standing on that podium, it'll be the biggest fuck-you they've ever seen.
"Anything else? A boyfriend, maybe?" He asks.
Taking a moment, I consider how to answer. It's none of his business, even if my relationship with Lance is a bit rocky right now, I'm not going to tell him anything about us. With a hand on my hip, I go on the defensive. "And what if I do?"
"Do you spend a lot of time together?" He asks, turning his dark eyes and threatening stare on me.
"I guess, but why does that matter?" I ask, offended by his prying.
He takes a step closer, and I drop my bags. If I need to run, there's no fucking way I'm dragging these books with me. "It matters because I'm going to tutor you after school every night until your grade is satisfactory."
"Tutor me? No, that's not going to happen." I argue, taking a step back. "I've got things after school..."
"Like?" He asks, closing in.
The chair hits me in the back of the leg, and I drop into my seat. I have nothing after school but need to think of something, and quick. "Job…yes, I have a job. My parents think it builds character."
He leans down, one hand on the desk and one on the chair caging me in. I can feel his warm breath on me. "Not anymore, you don't." Grabbing my bag, he sets it on the table. "Tell your parents you're quitting. I'll expect you here every night after the final bell rings.
"But…"
"Harlyn, it's not negotiable." With that, he straightens himself and heads toward the door, tossing out, "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon," as he exits the room.
I'm left there, alone, and dumbfounded, wondering what the fuck just happened.
Chapter Three
Francis Harlyn Aldridge
When I leave Mr. Harrington's room, the halls are empty. There's still an hour of school left, so everyone is in their last class. Since mine is study hall, I've decided to ditch and just head home. Quinn will be pissed I didn't wait for her, but I don't give a shit. I need to get somewhere and think.
It's not a minute after I've exited the building when my phone starts chiming.
Him: Hey babe
Him: U on your way
It's Lance. I'm supposed to meet him at his place after school, then we'd planned on hanging out by the pool at some friends' house. Well, his friends. I have nothing in common with them, especially when they start drinking. Don't get me wrong, I can hold my liquor with the best of them, but after my day, I'm not in the mood for dealing with a drunk jealous boyfriend.
He's not the type I'd seen myself with. Bad boys generally aren't my thing. Everyone in this small town knows that in high school, Lance was the epiphany of a bad boy. His days of skipping class and getting drunk got so bad his parents sent him off to a military boot camp.
The reserved town of Silvercrest was much quieter once he left; some were even relieved. See, Lance isn't a Society kid and his presence around those who were, played havoc with The Society parents, including mine. That's when they made the decision.
It wasn't until the Mayor was elected that Lance was brought home and celebrated a hero. Not because he went to war or anything like that. It was more about him making something of himself. The day he returned is the day he caught my eye. A new man. All man. The uniform didn't hurt either.
It's always been love for him. When we got together, it wasn't, but a week or two after we started seeing one another, he told me he loved me. At the time, I couldn't bring myself to say it back. For me, it's always been and will probably always be a deep like. I mean, I would do anything for him, and I'd never intentionally hurt
