Page 42 of Her Forbidden Teacher

Theo: I’m running about 15 minutes behind. I’ll make you a key this weekend, so you don’t have to wait in your car if this happens again.

I’m grinning as I make my way out of my last class and through the hallway. A key. We’re already there in our relationship. This may not be conventional—the whole teacher/student thing—but it’s right for us. Just two people who were lonely and sad who found each other.

Heat blasts me as I step outside. I’m grateful for remote start so the AC can start cooling off my vehicle. Kids push past me, eager to make their way to their cars to go home. I take my time since I’ll beat Theo to his place if I hurry. By the time I reachthe parking lot, it’s mostly cleared out. After unlocking my car, I throw my stuff into the back seat. I’m just sitting down into the driver’s seat when tires squeal.

Curious, I whirl around to see what idiot is peeling out. It’s a common thing around here. A jeep barrels my way and abruptly screeches to a halt in front of my car. When I see Nick in the driver’s seat, my heart starts pumping hard.

And then I see who’s with him as she bolts from the vehicle.

Lucy.

Her features are contorted into one of rage, skin almost the same shade of red as her hair. It’s what’s in her hands that has me suddenly gasping for air.

An orange baseball bat. It’s the practice bat Nick uses for the school team.

I attempt to close my car door, but the bat makes impact. The glass shatters and shards explode everywhere. She flings open my door but I’m already climbing across the console to get away from her. When she grabs my ankle, I kick back at her, my shoe smacking her right in the face. I make it to the other side of the car and push through the door. But Nick’s there, blocking me with a sinister look on his face.

“You bitch!” Lucy roars from behind me and then swings her bat again. I manage to duck out of the way, slipping on gravel as I sidestep Nick.

“You and your asshole brother ruined my life! Liars!” Lucy screams, slamming her bat into the side fender of my car.

I dart around my car, trying to keep space between me and Lucy. Her makeup is smeared and the air is permeated with the scent of liquor. My own face is drenched with sweat and tears streaming down my cheeks. I can’t let this girl get to me.

A guy notices the commotion and calls out. When he starts to intervene, Nick shoves him to his ass. I’m distracted by it longenough Lucy makes her move. The bat swings out again, clipping my arm. I howl in pain. That’s going to leave a bruise.

I scramble backwards, desperate to get away from her. In my efforts, I roll my ankle and fall hard on my hip. Lucy pounces on me, bat swinging toward me like she’s trying out for the Major Leagues. It connects with the front of my thigh, just above my knee. Hot-white pain explodes up my leg. My resounding scream is so loud I’m surprised they don’t hear it three counties over. Before I can move out of her way, Lucy shoves me so hard my head smacks against the asphalt.

And then she’s on me. Again.

This time, she raises the bat above her head like she’s going to whack-a-mole my face. All I can do is frantically hold my hands up to try and shield myself from it. As the bat swings down, I close my eyes, waiting for it to likely kill me.

“Ahhhh!”

Lucy screams as someone tackles her off me. There’s a lot of yelling and cursing and commotion. Sobbing, all I can do is crawl away as fast as I can despite the throbbing pain in my leg.

I have to get away from her.

She’ll come after me again.

When strong hands grab my shoulders, I screech in horror.

“It’s me. Principal Renner.”

The relief that floods through me as me sagging against him, clinging to him for protection. The chaos ensues behind me. When I gain the courage to turn around, I see Nick in a headlock, Coach Long snarling something into his ear, and Theo has Lucy pinned to the ground beneath his knees, eyes boring into me.

“Adam!” Theo yells. “Is she hurt?”

Principal Renner tries to talk to me but all I can do is cry. Everything hurts and I just want Theo. I’m afraid to leave the safety of these arms, though, in case Lucy gets loose.

“As far as I can tell,” Principal Renner calls back. “Cops should be here soon.”

Not soon enough.

When the police arrive and take over the scene, Theo races over to me. He scoops me into his arms, holding me like he can fix everything with a hug. I grip onto his shirt, crying uncontrollably. His palm runs comforting circles on my back.

I’m vaguely aware of things happening around me, but I sort of check out, shutting down in Theo’s safe embrace. When the EMT arrive, he even goes with me into the ambulance so they can check me over.

“Adam called your dad. He should be here soon,” Theo says, never letting go of my hand. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby.”