Chapter 19
Oliver
As soon as the end of day bell goes, I dismiss the students, then rush back to my office to pack my bag.
I want to track down Huxley. He never texted after lunch and, other than a very brief moment together this morning, I haven’t seen him all day.
My head’s still reeling from our date and my first sexual experience with a man.
While it had felt different than with a woman, it had also felt right.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the hardness of his muscles, the faint scratch of stubble against my skin, and the familiarity of a body like my own.
Some of Huxley’s kisses were more…aggressive, I guess.
Or maybe just more assertive. I liked it—the urgency and passion of it.
Thoughts of being with Huxley have barely left my mind since Saturday and my body is desperate to experience more.
On Sunday, I talked to Koa for over an hour.
My friend’s face was a comical array of reactions as I relayed the date.
I tried to keep the sexual details to a minimum out of respect to Huxley, but I needed to share it with someone—it was too much to process alone.
Koa is happy for me, if not a little shocked at how fast this is happening.
I pray that, when Koa finally meets the famous Ashton Harrington, he’s somehow as happy as I am.
But everyone knows Ashton’s reputation as a bisexual playboy who shatters hearts wherever he goes.
I’ve warned Koa so many times, told him to give up the fantasy, but he continues to harbour hope they will end up together one day.
Besides, he’s way too old for Koa in my opinion.
Closing my backpack, I'm about to head down to Huxley’s room when he appears at my door.
“Hey, I was just about to come and see you.” I drop my bag back on my desk and step towards Huxley. He looks terrible. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Not sure I want to tell you.”
I tug Huxley into my office and close the door.
I pull him into my arms, because he sure looks like he needs it.
“I wanna help. Talk to me.” Stepping back, I take Huxley’s hands; they're cold. He averts his eyes, something I’ve noticed he does when he’s anxious.
I wait, stroking my thumb over the back of his hand.
“Williams dragged me into his office today to tell me I can’t wear my pride pin.”
At first, I think I’ve misheard, but then I remember what Jennifer told me about Bob and some other teachers having a problem with it.
I briefly close my eyes, understanding how much this impacts Huxley.
Not just personally, but also his professional goal to be a teacher who is a visible role model.
“He can’t do that,” I say, shaking my head.
“Apparently he can, and he did.” Huxley finally looks up at me, his eyes dull.
“Well, I’m going to speak with Williams tomorrow and let him know that there are faculty members who disagree with this. I’m sure I can get more support to fight it.”
It’s Huxley’s turn to shake his head. “Don’t, Oliver. I don’t want you getting involved. It might negatively affect you, too. You love your job here.”
“I won’t love working here if I find out that Williams and other people in leadership are homophobic.” I frown and my voice rises. “It’s illegal to discriminate in the workplace based on sexual orientation, and I won’t have it.”
Huxley pulls his hands from mine. “Oliver, please calm down. It’s okay. You think I’m not used to this type of bullshit? You can never beat it.”
“But you shouldn’t be used to it. And if it affects you, then it affects me. I don’t like seeing you like this.” I circle my arms around Huxley's waist and pull him flush to my chest.
He resists, his body rigid, but I don’t let go. Instead, I cradle his head and kiss his curls, waiting until he relaxes and his weight falls against me.
“I’m fine. Really Oliver, I’m totally fine.”
I pull back, placing a kiss to his forehead, then his cheek and his lips. I’m already thinking about how to handle the situation, but, for now, I just want to make Huxley feel better.
“Alright, but we need to talk more about this later. On a better topic, are we still on for our mid-week date?”
“Yes. I’ll pick you up at 6:30. We’re meeting Maddie and Lara at 7:00. Are you sure you still want to meet them?”
“Yes, definitely. 6:30 sounds great.”
Huxley looks at his watch, then apologetically at me. “I have to go. I have an appointment to get to.”
“Damn, and I wanted to make out with my favourite teacher, Mr. Sinclair.”
Huxley cracks a smile, and that’s a win. Backing him up against the door, I move in for a steamy kiss, but he suddenly flips us, pushing me into the wall.
Well, this is unexpected. And I kinda like it.
Slipping my hands down Huxley’s back, I get a firm grip on his ass cheeks and squeeze.
He hums his approval, so I walk him backwards until we hit the desk.
Picking him up, I deposit him on the desk, licking at the seam of his lips.
Imagination on overdrive, I picture laying Huxley down on his back and shedding him of his clothes.
The fantasy comes to an end when his palm lands on my chest and gently pushes me away.
“Why Mr. Turner, you’re making me late for my appointment.” There’s a smile on Huxley’s lips and a glint in his eyes as he stands and backs away from me. “Lunch tomorrow then?”
“I’ll be waiting,” I say, pleased to see he’s feeling better.
He opens the door and walks out, throwing a flirtatious smile over his shoulder.
Well, I never! Huxley is a tease. It’s sexy, even if I am left standing alone in my office, hard and horny.
After spending last night reading through the code of conduct, I arrive extra early at school this morning. I’ve concluded that Williams is twisting the intended meaning of the code to suit his homophobic agenda. I’m pissed off to say the least.
Once I’ve dumped my laptop and backpack in my office, I walk over to the main campus building and down the corridor until I come to Bob Fellows’s classroom. Without knocking, I barge straight in. “Bob!” I say, startling the man at his desk.
“Oh, Oliver, what a surprise. How can I help you?”
I sit on the edge of Bob’s desk and stare down at the object of my ire. “You can help me by answering a few questions.”
Suspicion settles over Bob’s features as he realises this is not a friendly visit. He stands, so I follow suit. Since I’m at least four inches taller, I step closer to intimidate him.
Bob rocks on his heels. “What seems to be the problem here, Oliver?”
“Did you pay a visit to Williams’s office and make a complaint about another teacher?”
Bob frowns, looking perplexed, and I wonder if I’ve got this wrong. “I don’t think so. And so what if I did? I’m a senior member of the faculty and I would have every right to...um…” Bob pauses, eyes darting away as he folds his arms over his chest.
There it is! I lean forward, forcing him to look me in the eye. “Every right to what, Mr. Fellows?”
“It’s really none of your business, Oliver. It doesn’t affect you in the slightest.”
“And that’s where you’d be wrong, Bob. Because I think it’s everybody’s business if someone is being discriminated against.”
He scoffs. “Discriminated against? No one’s being discriminated against. This is about what is appropriate in a school environment. There are children here, in case you hadn’t noticed, Oliver.”
It’s hard to maintain my composure now that he’s admitted it. “How is wearing a pride pin inappropriate for teenagers, Bob?”
He waves his arms around, his face screwed up like an old prune. “Teachers shouldn’t be flaunting their sinful lifestyle or letting kids know who they have sex with. This is a Christian school, Oliver, or have you forgotten that?”
The disgust is thick on Bob’s tongue.
I step back, not wanting to be around the man any longer.
“Bob, judging someone else doesn’t seem very Christian to me.
I also don’t know how you think a pin the size of a ten-cent coin has the magical ability to tell you who someone is having sex with.
But I do know that students know you’re married to a woman.
So maybe you better keep your lifestyle and who you’re sleeping with to yourself from now on.
” I turn on my heel and storm out, ignoring Bob as he continues to bang on.
“Now hold up, Oliver. Being married is a very different thing to what this teacher is…”
Late morning, with a free period up my sleeve, I’m grateful for a moment to catch my breath.
I’m still pissed off at the conversation I had with Bob and can’t help but wonder how many other teachers think the same way.
Needing a break from my thoughts, I open my phone and scroll through the photos of me and Huxley on our date.
It instantly puts a smile on my face. But it also reminds me why it’s important not to let people get away with blatant discrimination.
I make a cup of coffee and sip it slowly, readying myself for the next person on my list. I send a quick text to Huxley saying see you at lunch and then head off.
Standing outside Principal Williams’s door, the nerves kick in, but that’s not going to stop me from doing what needs to be done. I knock three times.
“Come in,” Williams calls out.
The moment Williams sees me, his smile dips. Shit!
“Morning, sir. I wondered if I might have a word?”
“Sit down Oliver. I was about to email you to come in and see me anyway. I’m sure you know why.”
I take a seat but wish I was still standing. “Yes, I do, and I stand by what I said to Bob. It’s the same reason why I’m here to see you. I think it’s important that you hear another teacher’s perspective.”
“Oliver. Let me be frank. You have confronted a senior teacher, and, from the sounds of it, have been very aggressive and unprofessional. Jodie and I already discussed this rainbow pin matter at length and stand by our decision. You are not to speak to Bob about this again. You owe him an apology. Do I make myself clear?”
“I have no intention of speaking to him again as he is homophobic and has outdated and uninformed views. And I most certainly will not be apologising.”
Williams grunts. “Oliver, this is a side of you I haven’t seen before, and I can’t say I approve. You must be respectful of your colleagues even if their opinions differ from your own.”
I lower my head, taking a few deep breaths. I see that I’m not going to get anywhere if I don’t change tactics. “Sir, I apologise for my tone, but I feel very strongly about this. If you’ll allow me to explain, you may see why.”
Williams sighs and rolls his eyes. “Continue then, but make it quick.”
“Wearing a pride pin is merely a way to be visible in the community. This is important because young people need role models to look up to. Representation matters, Mr. Williams. When a LGBT+ student sees Mr. Sinclair wearing the pin, they won’t feel alone.
They’ll know they have support and see a happy and successful queer person.
This isn’t about sharing personal information with students or crossing some line into inappropriateness.
Honestly, Mr. Williams, forbidding a teacher to wear a pride pin opens the door to the school being sued.
This seems unlawful and discriminatory, and I believe most teachers and students would not agree with your decision. ”
Williams sits back in his chair and folds his arms over his chest.
“Mr. Turner. I remind you once again that you are a junior teacher, and I find your behaviour here today out of line. I have made up my mind on this issue, and I don’t wish to hear about it again.
Let me also make it clear that you are not to discuss this with Bob again, and he is well within his rights to raise a formal complaint against you.
Apologising would be the Christian thing to do.
And do not incite your fellow teachers. Now, good day, Mr. Turner. ”
I stand, knowing I need to reassess how to handle this. “Good day, sir.”