Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
I avoided Mr Silver after that.
I made sure I was the last to arrive at his classes but the first to leave. I answered him when he spoke to me in lessons, and to my surprise, I could hold my own reasonably well. I began to imagine I had over-analysed that evening at his house, but I knew that I hadn’t.
One afternoon, I was waiting for the bell to ring when he asked me to stay behind.
He couldn’t be serious. Did he not think I was mortified enough?
I slumped into my seat, wondering how quickly I could make tracks. He waited until everyone had left before he closed the door.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Mr Silver asked bluntly, folding his arms over his chest as he studied me with those piercing green eyes.
“I’m not.” I lied.
My eyes tried to drift away, skirting down his jawline before coming to a stop at the opening to his shirt .
“Come on, Jain. Can we not speak honestly as adults?”
“Sorry, Sir, I’ve got no idea what you are talking about. I’ve got to go.”
“Jain, please ,” he murmured, his hand catching mine as I walked past him.
He dropped it instantly as I exhaled slowly, turning around to face him.
“I’m aware I was unprofessional the other night, and I want to apologise. I hope I didn’t make you feel at all uncomfortable or under pressure to behave a certain way.”
His eyes burned into mine when I forced myself to look away.
“Not at all, Sir. Is that all?” I hoped I sounded confident and disinterested, but he seemed to buy it.
He smiled faintly before running a hand through his hair.
“Yes. I’m glad we cleared the air.”
“Yes, Sir, me too.”
I went to walk away when he spoke, my senses whirring with lust and animalistic desire.
“I said call me Evan,” he muttered, and I turned to flash him a bright smile.
“No, Sir, because surely that would be unprofessional, like closing this door, for example. If I were any other girl, I’d think you had a soft spot for me.”
He laughed then, even though he paled slightly.
“I doubt it—I don’t have favourites.”
“Are you sure?” I whispered before he turned and walked around to his desk, not answering me.
I walked out of the door, feeling irritated. What was the point of him asking me to stay behind? To apologise for what exactly?
I’d arranged to go out with Sarah for some drinks in town finally, and for once, I was grateful Kate wouldn’t be there.
I felt like we barely had many conversations, as Kate usually dominated the whole evening.
I rounded the corner before remembering my timetable had changed, and I now had a free period. I doubled back on myself, walking out of the exit doors and towards the library block. I walked past the groups of students that were busy chatting and gossiping, noticing the eyes on me as I walked through. The gossip fell silent, and I felt the familiar pull of anxiety in my stomach.
What was going on?
I heard the odd snicker, and I frowned as I continued to walk forward. I turned the corner, relieved to be away from the inane chatter when I saw them.
Arden was kissing her, his hands lost in her blonde hair. Her light pink nails dragged through his hair as she kissed him back, one leg hitched around his waist as he held it there with his hand.
I couldn’t move.
I began to walk backwards, but the crowd had followed me, meaning I had no option to walk forward. I knew the crowd wanted a reaction, but I wasn’t going to give them one.
“It’s alright, Doe, I’d still do you,” called out one of the guys as I cringed inwardly. Arden dropped the girl’s leg like it was on fire, his arms releasing her as my stomach dropped.
Kate!
Kate glared at me, folding her arms as she raised her eyebrow defiantly. I met her eyes and saw no regret, no emotion, nothing other than pure smugness.
She didn’t care about me. She never did .
“So, he’s that much of a deadbeat you decided to have him yourself? Wow .” I shook my head in disgust, ignoring the way my body trembled.
Arden walked over to me, but I brushed him off, refusing to make eye contact with him.
“Why are you pissed off? We weren’t exclusive—”
I stopped then, turning to him as I noticed everyone around us waited with bated breath.
“No, you’re right. We weren’t. But now, we’re nothing. Good luck to you both. I’m done.”
“Ah fuck, Doe-”
“My name is Jain .” I snapped back as Kate smirked.
“With an I, typical teenage mother.”
I stopped as Arden stared at Kate in anger.
“Is that what this is about? You hating her? What the fuck Karen?”
I let out a laugh then, as Kate’s face turned puce with anger. He didn’t even know her fucking name.
“I’m done.”
I walked away blindly, refusing to turn back. I walked despite the tears, and I didn’t stop until I was off school property. I couldn’t face the stares or the questions. I didn’t want the sympathetic looks, and I damn well didn’t want his explanations. I realised I was aimlessly walking until I found myself waiting at my bus stop.
I couldn’t help but cry, but I did it silently so as not to draw attention to myself. Finally, the bus came, and I huddled in the back seat the entire journey. I turned my phone off before finally getting off near my house.
My mum was on her day off, and I knew she wouldn’t take kindly to me coming home from school because of an incident with a boy, so instead, I told her I didn’t feel well. After grilling me to make sure I wasn’t pregnant, she left me to my own devices. I showered before climbing into bed.
I hated Kate.
I hated Arden.
But most of all, the man with the green eyes seemed to anger me the most, and I wasn’t entirely sure why.