46. June
CHAPTER 46
JUNE
P er Doug’s instructions, we should keep a low profile until people are less interested in our story. Unfortunately, I can’t stay locked in my apartment for days, and on Monday morning, I head to work despite the boys’ protests.
I’m a ball of nerves, not knowing what to expect. By now, everyone must have seen the video. I’m not sure how people found it so quickly after it was posted. Doug believes Wendy might have targeted members of the school faculty, and she made sure to let the tabloids know it was me in the video.
I didn’t tell Principal Prescott the reason I had to leave work early. I just said I was feeling ill. But on Saturday, I had to come clean and explain to her what had happened. It was mortifying, to say the least, but I had to try to save my job.
She didn’t say I shouldn’t bother coming to work today, so here I am. But the fact that she didn’t fire me over the weekend doesn’t mean that I won’t get fired later. I checked my inbox this morning, expecting to see an email from her calling me into her office. There was nothing. Usually, this early, I’d head to the faculty lounge and grab a cup of coffee, but like a coward, I go straight to my classroom. I can’t face my coworkers.
I turn on my laptop and go through my class schedule for the week. Then I check my email one more time. There’s a message from Louis’s mom, telling me he has a doctor’s appointment, and he’ll come in a bit later.
When my students start to flow into the classroom, I watch them closely, dreading that some of them might have seen the video. Kids nowadays have so much access to things they shouldn’t. But no one looks at me funny. They all greet me like always, then proceed to chat with their classmates.
The bell rings, and I start my day. I begin to relax, holding on to the notion that if I was going to be fired, it would have happened before class. It was a false sense of security. Thirty minutes later, Nerissa, the music teacher, tells me Principal Prescott needs to see me in her office right away. She’ll cover for me while I’m gone.
“Did she tell you what this is about?” I ask her on the way out of the classroom.
“I’m sure you can guess,” she answers without making eye contact with me.
I swallow hard, then go back inside the room to grab my purse and laptop. If I’m receiving a pink slip, I might as well have my things with me and save myself the humiliation of getting them after. Any other possessions I leave behind, Katrina can get for me.
My heart is heavy as I walk down the hallway, each step bringing me closer to my doom. I feel like a dead woman walking. My pulse is banging in my ears and, suddenly it’s like I’m outside of my body, and everything that follows is happening to someone else.
I enter Principal Prescott’s office and take a seat across her desk. Her face is solemn when she tells me she’s done everything she could, but due to the number of complaints the school received from parents and pressure from the board, she has no choice but to fire me.
“I understand,” I reply numbly. “Thanks for trying.”
She makes a pitiful face, flattening her lips. “I sincerely hope that man is worth all this, June.”
“Those men,” I correct her. “And yes, they’re worth it.”
My face is burning, but at least I don’t cry. That might happen when I recover the ability to feel the full blast of my emotions. I stride down the corridor, wanting—no, needing —to get out of here before anyone can see me. I have the sense the walls are closing in, and my air is running out.
I’m heaving when I finally walk out of the school building and bump into Louis and his mother.
“Miss Summers! Did you come to get me?” Louis asks with a big smile.
Sensing I’m seconds away from bawling, I bite the inside of my cheek. I can’t let Louis see his teacher break down in front of him.
“No, I’m go—” The sound of tires screeching pulls my attention to the street.
A blue sedan just stopped in front of the school, and a man wearing a wrinkled suit and stained shirt gets out of it.
“Anne, you stupid bitch!”
Louis’s mother gasps, then steps in front of her son. “Harold, what are you doing here?”
“Did you think you could get a judge to keep me away from my son?”
“You’re not allowed to come near us. I’m calling the cops.” Anne takes out her phone, but her ex-husband knocks the device from her hand, sending it flying. It cracks when it hits the ground.
“Dad! Stop, please,” Louis begs.
My heart is beating so fast, it hurts my ribcage. “Sir, you need to leave now.”
“I will, but I’m taking my son with me.” He takes a step toward Louis, but Anne tries to block him.
“You’re not taking him.”
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” The school’s security guard finally decides to show up.
Harold takes a gun from inside his jacket and shoots the guard. He collapses and doesn’t get up. Oh my God! We all scream, but that doesn’t stop the deranged man. I fear he’s going to shoot Anne next.
“Come on, boy. Let’s go!” He makes a grab for Louis.
Louis jumps back and clutches my side. “No! Leave me alone.”
Harold’s face twists in anger, and he points the gun at me. “Come with me, boy, or I’ll shoot your teacher.”
Anne grabs Harold’s arm and tries to pry the gun from his hand. I watch them struggle for a second before I snap out of my paralysis and urge Louis to run into the school.
“I’m not leaving my mom!”
I turn and see the barrel of the gun pointing in our direction. I jump in front of Louis, prepared to carry him inside with me, when a loud pop goes off, followed by a burning pain in my shoulder. The impact of the bullet sends Louis and me to the ground. Even though I’m wounded, I try to cover him with my body. We’re all too young to die, but if someone has to go, it’s better if it’s me.