Theo
SOUTH brONX CLASSICAL
Friday
I had a few days to think over what happened, and after coming in my hand more times than I could count, I came to the conclusion that I was completely, royally fucked.
The things I did to Mia in that closet were tame compared to what I wanted to do to her, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to lift that tight skirt, bare her smooth skin, and run my fingers along her soft, wet slit.
I knew what I would’ve done if she’d let me.
I would’ve taken my time, pushed her to the edge, found out what pace and rhythm made her moan.
I would’ve made her come hard, right before I pushed my cock into that dirty little mouth of hers.
I would’ve pinned her wrists above her head, wrapped her legs around me, and buried myself inside her.
I would’ve ruined her.
Ruined my daughter’s teacher. In a classroom closet. Where I held her down and told her to stay quiet.
I was so fucked.
I almost couldn’t believe what I’d done. I had more sense than that, didn’t I?
Everything I did, I did for Kira. I couldn’t risk her future for a fucking fantasy. Kira was my whole world; she was all I had left. And after what she’d been through, nothing was worth upending her life again.
So when Mia’s head teacher, Lilly Fares, called me in for a meeting, I thought I’d fucked it all up. I’d gone too far with Mia and crushed my daughter’s chances of getting through that program.
It wasn’t until she mentioned Kira’s progress over the phone that I realized Mia hadn’t said anything.
And if she wasn’t going to say anything, neither was I.
The meeting was going about as well as I could’ve expected. Kira’s first assessment didn’t meet their standards, and Miss Fares was concerned about my reaction to the book they were studying.
“And you have issues with… Kira’s teacher as well, am I right?”
I hesitated. The small meeting room just outside of the principal’s office felt suffocating, and I didn’t know if it had anything to do with the space or the fact that I was here with Lilly instead of Mia.
“Could you explain why?” She tilted her head at me, almost in the same way Mia would.
I knew enough about Miss Fares to know she was Mia’s best friend and boss. I had to assume that whatever I said here would get back to her. And after what I did to her in that closet, I had to choose my words carefully. I couldn’t afford any more mistakes.
I sized up Miss Fares, taking in her mass of brown hair, her innocent, freckle-dusted cheeks, her wide green eyes. She seemed so young. Like Tash before the disease set in.
“Look, I know I haven’t gotten along with Miss Walker, and the things I’ve said about her are probably baseless, but I think you can understand where I was coming from when I said them. My only priority is Kira, and this program is important to her.”
She nodded once. “I get it. You met Mia at the fundraiser, and the impression she gave you wasn’t a great one. Mia is passionate about teaching, but she’s not afraid to be herself. And sometimes, that can give people the wrong idea.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I understand why you reacted the way you did when you realized she was Kira’s teacher, but I’m also glad you changed your mind after watching her in action. But then, you had an issue with one of the play rewrites, too?”
I sighed and rubbed my temple. “Yes, and I blamed Miss Walker for them.”
“And that’s why she decided it was best for you to talk to me about your daughter’s progress.”
I struggled to meet her eyes as I nodded. The reason Mia decided to end contact was because I almost fucked her in a closet, but the last thing I wanted was for her boss to know that.
“Tell me about your issues with the book she’s studying. Misplaced.”
“Well…” It wasn’t easy to put this into words. My daughter didn’t want anyone taking pity on her. She wanted to earn her way through this placement. It was what Tash wanted for her.
“Have you read it?” she asked.
I shook my head. “But I know what it’s about.”
She gave me a weak smile. “It made me cry.”
And now I was just uneasy. I didn’t want to think of Miss Fares as this helpless, upset woman with tears streaming down her cheeks, and that must have been obvious because she laughed at the expression on my face.
“My mom died when I was sixteen. Reading something like Misplaced brings it all back for me.” There was a knowing look in her eye and a sympathetic tilt to her smile as she asked, “Is that what you think is happening to Kira?”
I clamped my jaw shut, then tried to relax. She had to be fishing. There was no way she knew about Tash.
But maybe… she should have.
I was tired of watching Kira struggle to hide how she felt. It must’ve been exhausting for her. And if Miss Fares understood why this book was an issue for Kira, maybe that would be a good thing. Maybe hiding this wasn’t helping either of us.
I gave in. “Kira lost her mom to cancer a few months ago.”
She nodded, her expression softening. “And that’s why you moved here?”
“Oakhaven… doesn’t have the kind of opportunities South Bronx has, and Tash wanted more for her. But she was going through radiation therapy when the acceptance letter came through. Before it was over, she made me promise to bring Kira here.”
“That must’ve been difficult for you both. To watch someone you love go through that and then have to pack up your life after.”
It was difficult.
Months had passed since we lost Tash, but I just couldn’t get my head around this move or our new life here. Without Tash, none of this was easy. And I missed her. I missed knowing that I could call her any time, that I could talk to her about our daughter.
Miss Fares shifted in her chair. “Kira might benefit from meeting with the school counselor. Do you think we could tee up some sessions?”
I paused, letting the question sink in before shaking my head. What was the right move here?
Kira didn’t want to be treated differently. But maybe she had to be. In any case, I needed to talk to her about it first.
“I think she’ll be fine for now as long as we give her a different book to study. She hasn’t gone too far into the program. I could help her catch up. Then we could look at counselling.”
Miss Fares nodded, her gaze unfocused, as if in thought. “Would you mind if I passed all this on to Miss Walker? She’s been worried about Kira, and this would explain a lot.”
I sighed. “It’d be better coming from you than me.”
She gave me her attention again. “You two just got off on the wrong foot. You’d probably get along if the situation was different.”
I couldn’t help the sudden snort she pulled out of me.