Honor Student (11 page)

When the day ended
I was overcome by sadness. I did my best to have ‘girl talk’ with
Claire and Becka, but eventually they made their way to their cars
and I was left sitting alone in the parking lot. My phone vibrated,
jarring me from my self loathing.

You are incredibly
beautiful, even when you’re sad.

I smiled, then suddenly
realized I was being watched. I refused to look around.

Is that why you broke my
heart?

I sat waiting for what
felt like an eternity for his response.

I would
give anything to take back all of the pain I have caused
you.

Some of
the pain we enjoyed.

I bit my lip and waited
patiently for his response.

Go home Emma.

I glanced over at
Mr. Honor’s car. Angela, the school secretary, was standing by his
door and he had gotten out to talk to her. Jealousy consumed my
thoughts.

Now!

He texted again. I
put the car into drive and sped out of the parking lot. My vision
quickly blurred by my tears. As much as I hated to admit it, I
couldn’t hate this man so much if I didn’t love him.

Slow down.

His text sent anger
coarsing through my veins. As the light at the end of the lot
turned green I stepped on the gas as hard as I could. I drove over
to Becka’s house to grab the clothes I had left over the weekend.
She wanted me o stay longer but the thought of being around anyone
else right now didn’t sound appealing. I made up an excuse about
having to be home for dinner, even though I was pretty sure that my
Aunt wouldn’t even be home.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

As predicted my driveway
sat empty as I pulled in. I parked inside the garage and made sure
I locked the door behind me as I entered my home. I set my books on
the table and walked back the hall to my room. I opened my bedroom
door and stood in the doorway, unable to move my feet.

“
So you enjoy the
pain?” William asked, his blue eyes flashed to mine and he had the
hint of smile. “Close the door.” He said in a low, commanding tone.
I stepped inside and pushed the door closed behind me, leaning back
against it. “If Angela knew about you, she isn’t going to say or do
anything about it.” He said confidently. He read the look of
confusion on my face and answered my unspoken question. “She’s
married. The last thing she wants is for her husband to find out
she likes fucking other men.” His words stabbed me. I had been
hoping that William had never gotten that far with her. I looked
down at the ground, biting my lip. “She wasn’t really my type. I
like my woman all to myself.” He walked towards me and put his
fingers on my chin, tipping my head up to meet his gaze. My heart
began to thud in my chest. “Breathe Emma.” I drew in a quick breath
as I steadied myself against the door. Every emotion imaginable was
flooding through me and it left my head swimming in dizziness. He
slowly ran his finger along the line of my jaw, as his other hand
slid down my waist. His fingers glided over my hip bone and down my
thigh. He stopped underneath of my knee, pulling my leg up suddenly
next to him and leaning in hard against me. As his face moved
closer he brushed passed my mouth to my earlobe. “I miss the taste
of you on my lips.” All of the strength left my body and if he
wasn’t pressed so tightly against me I would have melted onto the
floor. I let out a low heavy breath in his ear and I felt his body
respond against me. He rested his forehead against mine, his thumb
tracing my lower lip. I slipped my tongue out, gently touching it
to the tip of his finger. A small moan escaped his lips and he
pushed his finger back against my mouth. I opened wider, letting
his finger slip inside as I gently swirled my around it. His mouth
ran open along my face. “I should go.”

“
No” I replied with
more desperation in my voice than I intended. He smiled, leaning
his forehead against mine as he closed his eyes. “I tried to stay
away from you Emma, but I can’t. You consume my every thought.
After graduation we should get away from here for awhile.” I hadn’t
realized that graduation was only two weeks away. More importantly,
had William just asked me to go away with him, alone?

“Where?” I aksed, not
believing I had heard him correctly.

“Anywhere. It doesn’t
matter. Just… far away from this place. I want to wake up to your
smile.” His look was serious and I tried my best not to grin like a
fool. Inside I was jumping up and down with joy. The emotional
rollercoaster this man has put my on from one moment to the next
had finally reached its peak. “Say yes.” His bright blue eyes
burned with wanting.

“Yes, Sir” I smirked. He
pressed his lips hard against mine. Electricity surged between us
as I clung desperatly to his touch. “Be a good girl.” He smirked
but there was an underlying warning to his words. I moved to the
side, and he walked out of my bedroom, leaving my wanting more of
him.

I spent the rest of
the evening catching up on school work and deciding on something to
wear for graduation. Every thought went back to William. He was
obviously more emotionally damaged than I was but something about
us together worked. He craved control and I needed someone to keep
me from being self-destructive.

That night I dreamed of
William and I. I pictured us in a small home in Michigan with a
white picket fence. We were happy and caring, waving at our
neighbors as they passed by, but as the door opened to our quaint
little home my thoughts twisted into a gruesome nightmare. Mr.
Honor’s face contorted into an evil madmad, whip in hand. The walls
where lined with woman, chained and shackled begging to be set
free. I sat up in my bed, dripping with sweat and unable to control
my breathing.

“Everything okay in
here?” Aunt Judy asked as she flipped on the bedroom light. I put
my hand up to cover my face from the harsh intrusion.

“I’m fine. Just a bad
dream.” I explained. She rolled her eyes.

“
It’s always
something with you, Emma.” She groaned as she pulled my door shut
behind her. I barely slept the rest of the night. As the sun began
to rise I got out of bed and got a head start on the day. I brewed
a fresh pot of coffee and took extra time to primp myself.
Something I hardly ever did before meeting William. I spent the
remainder of the morning searching the internet for romantic and
secluded places that William and I could go after graduation. I
wasn’t sure what price range was suitable, but judging by his
expansive living space and shiny new sports car, he had money that
did not come from a substitute teacher’s salary. There was so much
about him that was a complete mystery to me and I hoped that during
our time alone he would let me inside that beautiful mind of his.
My thoughts began to wander to his very particular tastes in the
bedroom and I wished I knew what had made him this way. He
obviously had a very caring side to him but he struggled to keep
that hidden from everyone, especially me.

I had wasted away
the morning and decided to get ready and head to school. For once,
I would actually make it there early. I filled another cup of
coffee and headed out on to the highway. I cranked the radio,
singing along to Harder to Breathe, the lyrics taking on a whole
new meaning than they had before.

The lot at school was
virtually empty, aside from a few teacher’s who began to file in.
My phone muted as a text message came through.

Eager to learn Ms.
Townsend?

I smilled like a drug
addict who had just gotten their fix.

You are a great
teacher.

There are so many more
things I would like to teach you, Emma.

Euphoria swept over
me. Every inch of my body tingled with delight. Cars began to fill
in around me. I got out and made my way into the school. As a
turned the corner in the main hall I ran directly into the school
secretary, Angela Brown. I literally ran into her sending my books
crashing to the ground around us.

“
I’m so sorry.” She
clammered and bent down to pick up my books. I bent down, helping
gather my things, not able to take my eyes off her. She smiled
apologetically. She held out my books, waiting for me to take
them.

“
Thanks” I said,
grabbing my things. She continued on her way, leaving me standing
in udder confusion. She had no clue about William and I. So if she
wrote the note, what did she mean by she knew what he was doing and
that she was going to make him pay? Why would someone who is
married make such a threat to a man that obviously needed complete
and total control? She had to have known how he would react. None
of this made any sense. Perhaps there was more going on than Mr.
Honor had told me. Not a shocking surprise considering I knew very
little about his past.

I walked down to
the gym and changed quickly into my workout clothes. As I sat on
the bleachers waiting for the class to begin Jeff hobbled over next
to me on a set of dull gray crutches.

“
You’re alive” I
joked and he looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

“
Broke my ankle and
got a few bumps and bruises, but I’m okay.” He shrugged and lowered
himself down to sit next to me. I stared ahead at the other
students as they filed out of the locker rooms. “So…I had fun at
the club with you.” I rolled my eyes. Jeff, along with everyone
else, didn’t even acknowledge my absense after I had left the dance
floor.

“Yea, good times.” I
said, pushing off the bleachers and walking across the room. He
struggled to get up on his crutches and follow after me.

“Maybe we can do it again
sometime?” He asked, a little louder than he meant. I stopped,
turning around to look at him.

“I don’t think you will
be dancing anytime soon.” I glanced down at his ankle. His cheeks
turned red and he rubbed his hand through his hair.

“Hey guys!” Becka called
from behind me, putting her arm around my neck. “Hey Jeff.” She
winked.

“
Alright class,
let’s run a few laps.” The instructer called from across the room.
We all began to jog the perimiter as Jeff hobbled back to the
bleachers. I was thankful for the distraction.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The morning flew by
and I was in a great mood. I even finished the disgusting slop they
called food during lunch. Nothing could bring me down from the high
that I was on. I decided to hit the bathroom before Mr. Honor’s
class. I ran my fingers through my hair and applied a fresh coat of
lip gloss as the bell echoed throughout the building. I smiled at
myself, knowing he would ask me to stay after class for being late.
I grabbed my book sand walked down the hall. His door was closed
and I peeked through the tiny window. His eyes caught mine,
narrowing slightly.

“
Ms. Townsend” he
nodded as I took my seat. “See me after class.” I smiled and bit
down on the end of my pencil. “Everyone clear your desks for the
chapter quiz.” The class collectively groaned as he passed stacks
of paper back the isles. Mr. Honor took his seat behind his desk
and I got to work on the test. My phoone vibrated on my lap and I
glanced down to read the screen.

I know just how to
punish you.

I bit my lip and
glanced up at him. His eyes locked on to mine.

Slide the phone between
your legs and leave it there.

I glanced around the
room. Everyone was working on their tests and oblivioius to our
secret conversation.

Now.

I slipped the phone
between my thighs and looked down at my paper. It suddenly vibrated
again, sending pleasure shooting though my body. I grabbed the edge
of my desk and looked back at him. His lips twisted into a wicked
grin as he sent another. I parted my lips, trying not to pant
aloud. He licked his lips as the phone virbated again and again. I
squeezed my thighs together, trying to stop the sudden rush of
pleasure that had taken over my body.

A knock came at the door
and he frowned at me. I took a deep breath, thankful the torture
was over.

“Come in.” he called
across the room. The door opened and a tall brunette walked inside.
She glanced around the room and I recognized her face immediately.
Mr. Honor kept a tiny picture of her in his dresser drawer.

“Abby” he said, unable to
hide the shock in his voice.

“
Will” She said in
an icy tone. She called him Will? Who was this woman? Why did he
have a picture of her hidden away? Mr. Honor stood and quickly led
her out of the room into the hallway. I stared down at my test
paper, unable to make sense of anything. The bell rang and everyone
got up from their seats. I sat still, feeling like I had been hit
with a brick. Finally, I pushed myself up, taking a deep breath. As
I walked out of the class I came face to face with Mr. Honor and
this mystery woman.

“Emma, we can discuss you
being late some other time.” His words hung heavy with sadness.

“
No. She can stay.
I’d like to get to know the woman who is fucking my husband.” She
stared at Mr. Honor, never bothering to look at me. Her words
ripped though me like a knife. I subconsiously grabbed my stomach
as my heart sank. I looked at him, desperatly searching his eyes
for answers. His jaw clenched and he looked like he was ready to
lose all control.

“Oh, she didn’t know?”
Abby said with a laugh.

“Go” He commanded,
gesturing for Abby to go inside his classroom. His eyes turned sad
as he looked at me. I looked down at the ground and walked back
inside.

“I’m not here to ruin
your fun, Will. I just came to get what is mine.” She explained,
leaning back against his desk.