Chapter Fourteen
We were moving. And it felt like my heart was breaking. I had hoped Rebecca could talk my father out of his impending decision but she didn’t. She wanted to stay here with her clients, even if that meant breaking up the family. To be honest I liked the idea of her staying here and us moving far away from her, but what I didn’t like was the solemn look my father wore.
He walked about the house, ignoring her and she ignored him. I liked the fact that they weren’t speaking with each other but not at my father’s emotional expense. Rebecca was going to have to get with the program or she was going to be in deep shit. I didn’t want her around but I also didn’t want my father being so upset.
They were both in the kitchen but refused to look at each other or talk with one another. I hadn’t heard a silence this strong since he’d gotten into arguments with my mother. He was always so gentle with Rebecca, never really arguing with her for long. Normally it made me sick but to see the both so upset with each other was not get for any of us.
“Okay, look.” I began. “I don’t like this situation any more than you two do.”
“I actually love the situation,” My father said. “It’s good money and good for the family.”
“It is not time for you to speak, papa.” I told him, earning a stern look that I just shrugged off. “You two need to get over yourselves, especially you Rebecca. Thinking you can just stay here and break things off when you two work so well together, is very selfish of you. I don’t want this move either but I’m trying to think of ways to work around it, not to just say lets end everything we hold dear to our hearts. You love him and you love her. I don’t like it but it’s true.”
“But-”
Rebecca began but I finished. “There are no buts here. You two will have made up before I get home from school and that’s final.”
With that I took my bag from the counter and walked away from them, and out the house.
This whole situation was getting blown out of proportion. It made me sad, not the fact that the folks were fighting, but the fact that my father was actually considering this move. He had actually put his foot down about this. I was going to be taken away from the people I loved and to be honest I wanted to break down and cry. I wasn’t a crier.
This was something that I had to bottle up inside, something that no one else could see.
So that’s what I did. I bottled it up just as I did with everything else.
Throughout the day no one noticed my quietness but when English was over and I stayed behind as usually Devin could see right through my ruse. He wasn’t exactly sure what was wrong but he knew something was bugging me. That’s what I liked about Devin and not about Jack. Devin could see my true feelings because I was almost positive he loved me, but Jack loved his football career. Yes, he looked at me adoringly but not with love. He couldn’t see when I was really hurting on the inside. But Devin could.
“Are you okay?” He asked coming from around his desk.
I was sitting on the right hand corner watching as he graded papers when he asked and my when I didn’t respond immediately he began to hover.
“Yeah.” I smiled as best I could. “I’m good.”
“Whatever it is you don’t want to tell me is it something going on at home?”
I shrugged.
“Is it Rebecca?”
I pursed my lips, thinking for a moment. It wasn’t a lie if I told him it was Rebecca. But he wanted the truth, which was something I couldn’t do. It would devastate him. If he loved me like I thought he did, like I was certain he did, I was sure it would nearly break his heart as much as mine felt snagged.
So I nodded. There was no need to worry him right now. Things probably weren’t even set in stone yet. I’d told them they needed to work things out at home and maybe my father had decided not to take the job. I knew that thought was wrong but there was no harm in wishing.
I didn’t feel like having him stare at me that like, all concerned and stuff, the whole time so I decided it was time for a distraction. But I knew the distraction was mainly for me.
Taking his shirt in my hands I pulled him down towards my level since I was much shorter than him, even sitting on the desk, and brought my lips to his. His response was to immediately kiss me back, arms wrapping around me. And I loved it this way. I wanted him to hold me and to never let go.
This was the way it was supposed to be and I was going to make sure it stayed that way.
As his tongue parted my lips and danced with mine I couldn’t help the moan that escaped. I could taste his very essence and I loved it. It was what I needed at the moment, something familiar to take my mind off the situation.
He hoisted me from the desk and before I knew it my back was hitting the white promethean board and his hands were gripping my bottom tightly.
The smile that formed across my face now was not one that was forced. It was as real as his body on mine. And boy did I love his body on mine. Within seconds, clothes were removed and his heat warmed me to my core.
******
I tried to ignore the goofy smirk that rested upon Devin’s lips as I buttoned my blouse.
“Do you really have to leave so early?” He asked zipping his pants.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got to go. If I miss Jacks practice again he’ll think something’s up.”
I didn’t have to look at him to tell he was giving me a look that said let him figure it out. But instead of voicing it, he stayed silent.
“I’ll call you later?” I asked looking towards him.
He shrugged as he sat in his chair.
I smiled, walking over to him. “Don’t be like this. You know I have to go.”
“I know that but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
I placed a small kiss on his lips but that didn’t ease up on the frown.
“What’s wrong?” It felt weird having to say that since I was that one who was upset just half an hour ago.
He sighed and looked away from me for a moment. “Maybe you should just…see Jack.”
I knew it pained him to say because it pained me to hear. But I tried to keep my composure.
“What do you me by just see Jack?”
“You’re…you’re just a child, Layla. Maybe, I’m holding you back. You should be doing things that people your age are doing.”
I didn’t comment on the child part, not wanting to cause an argument.
“Trust me. I am doing things people my age are doing.”
“With people your age.”
I pulled back from leaning on his chair. “What are you saying?”
“I’m just saying you shouldn’t be so consumed with me.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It is, Layla. I’m your teacher. I shouldn’t be taking advantage of you like this.”
“But-”
“Yes, I am, Layla. You’re a child-”
“I am not a child, Devin. If you’re trying to piss me off, it’s working.”
“Well, maybe it’s for the best.”
With those words I almost cried. It felt like a slap in the face. All the lying I’d been doing to my best friend, to my father, to Jack, and just to have him give up on us because-
No, he wasn’t giving up on us. That’s not what he said. He’s just feeling guilty. He’s feeling guilty because he thinks he’s taking advantage of me. And with that excuse he was trying to push me away. But he wasn’t taking advantage of me. I loved him.
“Why are you smiling?” He asked.
“Because you’re a man.” This confused him s I elaborated. “You’re a man and men are stupid.”
“Hey-”
“No, let me finish. You think just because you tell me these things I’m going to give up on us? I won’t do it. You’re stuck with me Devin.”
His smile returned though it didn’t meet his eyes as I still told him I was leaving.
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