Teacher/Student Affair

“Finally,” she sighed. “We’re done.”

“Yeah, now you can go home.” I smiled. I gathered all the test papers and neatly placed them in a pile on the corner of my desk, ready to hand them out in tomorrow’s lesson.

“You don’t expect me to go home all by myself, do you?” Hilary asked from beside me.

“You’re a big girl, I’m sure you can manage.” I shrugged. I picked up my side bag from the floor and slung the strap across my shoulder. “Well, see you later.”

“You’re not being serious, right?” She asked gripping my arm.

I stared at her slightly worried face and almost burst out laughing, but I knew I had to compose myself if my plan was going to work. “Nope, I’m being 110% serious right now.”

She scrunched up her face in confusion, “Then why are you smirking?”

Damn! “I’m just imagining all the bad things that could happen to you when you’re all alone.” I lied.

“Nothing will happen to me,” She prophesied sticking out her chest proudly.

“Alright,” I spun on my heels. “If you saw so.” I walked out of my classroom and waited for her to get her things and then locked the door after she exited. “Well, see you tomorrow morning Miss Clarke.” I smiled.

I walked down the corridors; all the lights were off, even the ones in the classrooms.  It felt strange being in school when it wasn’t so busy and rowdy. I walked out of the building and up to my car, I had noticed that I hadn’t heard Hilary’s footsteps trailing behind but I was guessing she took another route out of the building. Nonetheless, I knew I’d still meet her out her. I pulled out my car keys and opened my passenger door; I turned around and smiled at a confused Hilary. “Hey.”

“C-Could you drop me home?” She asked quietly.

“Say please.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” She exclaimed.

“No, if you really wanted a ride home you’d ask nicely.”

“Can you please give me a ride home?” She muttered.

 I laughed quietly and even though I heard her loud and clear, I pretended that I hadn’t. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Can you please give me ride home!?” She shouted loudly.

I stepped back, “whoa, no need to shout. I’m right here.”  I laughed.

“Just move out the way,” She glared.

I bowed and shifted to the side, “Certainly.” She stepped into my car and I closed the door behind her.

I ran round to the driver’s side and got in; I started up the engine and reversed out of the schools car park. “So, where are we going then?”

She told me her address and I nearly skidded out of the lane we were in. “You live there?” I asked completely shocked.

“Yeah,” She answered slowly. “Is that bad?”

“That place is… expensive.” I said relaxing into my chair gently. How could her parents manage to afford such a house? You had to be at least a millionaire to at least be allowed to view one of the houses. Damn, this girl really was rich. “You don’t like someone who can afford a house like that.”

“What are you trying to say?” She asked offended.

I examined her clothing and I could tell none of them were from a known designer; the only expensive looking things on her were probably her earrings and Blue Dr Martens.

“Just because I don’t dress rich don’t mean I ain’t rich.” She snapped once she noticed what my eyes were trying to tell her.

“Why don’t you dress with more quality if you have the money too? It would certainly make you more popular and more respected.” I suggested.

She folded her arms and look out the window. She no longer had a frown on her face but she was staring blindly out of the window; she looked so cute, like a lost puppy.

“Hilary?”

“We’re secret millionaires.” She told. “We don’t like telling people were rich because of what happened last time,” She explained looking down at her lap.

What does she mean last time? “Did someone rob you?”

She shook her head and I could see a tear drop down her cheek. “No, worse than that.”

“What?” I whispered. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and wipe that tear from her cheek. It broke my heart to see her cry, and to know she was crying because of me just made me feel even worse.

“Just take me home, please.” She said quietly. Usually I’d argue with her and demand she answer my question, but she looked so tired and weak. I guess I just made her open closed broken doors, and that’s probably what set her off.

I nodded my head and turned swiftly into her street. Neat large 3 storey houses lined up on each side of the road, they were mansions, for sure. Each house had a security gate surrounding them, the gates were high and fancy looking, and even though they were about 5x taller than me, each house still over looked them. “So, which one’s yours?” I asked her driving even slower down her road just in case we were about to approach it.

“That one,” She told me quietly pointing to a large oak one; it looked old and vintage and was surrounded by big white metal gates. I drove up to her house and stopped by her security gates.

I looked over at her and smiled, “Well, we’re here.”

She weakly returned my smile and opened her door and stepped out. Before she closed the door she bent down to look at me, “Thank you.” She managed to croak out before closing the door. I watched her type in her security code and go inside before I began my journey down to my house.

After my few hours of being her company, I never thought I’d actually see her cry. She looked so strong and tough but after seeing that tear fall down her cheek I knew she was not. It was all just an act, and act to cover up her tragic and life changing story.