Eva.
I bolt upright, my heart hammering so hard it feels like I’m about to go into cardiac arrest.
Oak straightens, returning to his side of the desk and sitting in his chair. “Who is it?” He calls, then mouths to me, “Sit in the chair, Eva.”
I swallow hard and sink into the chair opposite him, feeling my cheeks heat.
“It’s Professor Jameson.”
My stomach dips as I wonder if she heard me moaning the principal’s name.
“Come on in,” Oak calls, barely appearing affected by the fact we almost got caught in a rather uncompromising position.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, remaining rigid as I face forward, pretending to focus on a textbook on Oak’s desk. Ever since we started this fucking lesson, he’s hardly touched this book. All he has done is spank me since the first day and now…
I can hardly think about what we just did and what it means.
“Hi, Oak.” She stops when she sees me. “Oh, I apologize. I thought you were alone.”
Oak shakes his head. “No, I teach Eva discipline in her free periods, since she is new to the school.”
Professor Jameson smiles at me, but there’s an edge to it. “Hi, Eva.”
“Hi, Professor.”
“Shall I come back later, Oak?” She twirls a strand of her strawberry blonde hair through her fingers flirtatiously. “I wanted to discuss arrangements regarding the winter formal.” She flutters her eyelids, and I suddenly have the urge to stand up and punch her in the face.
My stomach churns at the mere thought of violence. My desire for Oak is becoming a bit of an obsession. Professor Jameson seems like the perfect woman for him, smart and beautiful and most importantly, about his age.
“Sure.” He pulls out his timetable. “We can discuss it after school in the staff room with Archer and Gav.”
I notice the disappointment on her face, but she quickly masks it with a fake smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Of course.” She nods at him. “See you later, then.”
He grunts as she turns away and walks out of his office, shutting the door behind her. It’s as if the moment she leaves, Oak’s demeanor changes entirely. His shoulders sag slightly, and he gets to his feet, pacing the length of his office.
“Are you okay, Oak?” I ask.
He stops pacing and stares at me with a look of pure anguish. “No, Eva.” He shakes his head. “I’m not okay.”
I watch as he walks back to his desk and sits down, staring at me.
“I’m sorry.” He shoves his hands through his dark, thick hair. “What happened was inappropriate.”
I open my mouth to tell him I’m not sorry, but he holds his hand up to stop me.
“Listen.” His gaze turns stern. “You will speak of this to no one, and from now on, we will not have discipline lessons together.”
His declaration makes my stomach dip and my chest ache. “But-”
“I said listen,” he growls.
I fall silent, twiddling my thumbs in my lap like a naughty little child. That’s how he’s making me feel right now.
“You will forget this ever happened, and we will stay out of each other’s way.” His eyes are cold and unfeeling as he stares at me. “It was a stupid mistake.”
The words punch me hard in the gut as I feel tears gather in my eyes, but I don’t allow them to fall. Instead, I hold my chin high and meet his stony gaze, allowing him to see all the emotions I currently feel.
“I never wanted to come here, Oak.” I shake my head. “This isn’t where I belong, and even though I have friends, there’s always one thing that stops me from ever fitting in.” I sigh heavily. “I’m nothing like them. I never want to be a criminal. I never want to be the head of my family.” I swallow hard as Karl’s face flashes into my mind. “Do you know the one thing that made this school bearable?”
Oak doesn’t reply.
I feel the pain clawing at my throat like claws scraping down the inside. “You,” I murmur, holding onto the tears that so desperately want to fall. “You were the only good thing.” I laugh at that. “Sounds ridiculous, considering that you’ve inflicted pain on me every day for just over two weeks.” There’s a slight shift in Oak’s eyes, but it’s not clear what he’s thinking. “I guess that’s how fucking pathetic I am that I clung to you, even when you hurt me.” I stand and throw the discipline textbook onto the desk. “Goodbye.”
I walk out, and only once I’m in the corridor do I allow the tears to fall down my cheeks. A small, pathetic part of me had hoped Oak might have stopped me, might have told me he feels the same.
Who am I kidding?
Principal Oakley Byrne is out of my league and always has been. I don’t know why he kissed me and why he touched me the way he did, but it’s clear it has nothing to do with the way he feels about me.
He probably hates me just as much as my parents. It’s my life story. Everyone I care for tosses me aside. The only person who didn’t was Karl, and he’s gone.
I rush through the corridor to my dorm, knowing I can’t face any more classes this afternoon.
Fuck it.
If they punish me for it, so be it. I don’t care anymore. I want out of this place and out of my parents’ lives. All I want is to start afresh somewhere no one knows me-a second chance, but I know that despite my plan to escape them, it’s probably wishful thinking.
There’s no escaping my parents’ reach simply by running away, which means I need a new plan-a fail-proof one.