Teach Me (10 page)

Liam

Sarah was still in the bed when my phone rang. I knew who it would be. I knew it was the chancellor.

I picked up. “Hello.”

“Mr. Downs. I need to see you today. Can you meet me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now.”

I hung up the phone and ran my fingers over my face. It was time to clean up the mess I’d made.

Sarah

The spot next to me on the bed was cold when I woke up. Liam had been up for a while. He wasn’t in the house when I walked around and my stomach dropped. Layla was pushing her food bowl around the floor, so I filled it up.

I bit my nail and paced before I realized I probably needed to get ready for the day. The door was unlocked when I came in and my heart thudded an extra beat. Zeus was hiding underneath the futon, and I could hear rummaging in my bedroom. I tiptoed into the hallway and barely peeked through the crack in my door.

Matt was throwing things around, rummaging through my stuff. “What the fuck!” I yelled.

He turned around. His eyes had bags underneath them and it looked as if he hadn’t had any sleep. “Sarah,” he mumbled, stumbling forward.

Was he drunk? It was ten in the morning?

“What are you doing here?” I asked, looking around at the mess in my room. “What are you doing to my room?”

He let out a shaky breath and held up the Post-It note Liam had left on my pillow. “How long have you been sleeping with him? Since he got here?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Yes, the fuck it is!” He threw his hands in the air. He was wearing sweats, and a wrinkled t-shirt. He looked like shit. Exactly how I felt.

“No, it’s not. You’re not my boyfriend anymore, Matt. You fucked up. We don’t even love each other. We didn’t connect.”

“Well,” he let out a shaky laugh, “I guess you’re not going to be
connecting
with Liam either. I called the chancellor today. Liam is gone to meet him now.” He smiled like a Cheshire cat.

That’s where Liam had gone. A sick feeling erupted in my stomach. He was going to lose his job because of me. Because of me. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Okay. But, it doesn’t make a difference with you or me. You’re not in my life anymore. I want you out of my room and my sight! Get out!”

“Baby,” he whispered, stepping forward.

“Matt. I forgive you for what you done, but I don’t want you back. I don’t want to feel comfortable. I want to be with someone who makes me feel. Makes me want him, makes me feel special. You’re not him.”

Matt’s eyes turned dark and he threw the lamp closet to him. “You fucking bitch.”

I pointed to the door, not sure how I was even keeping a straight face. He scared the shit out of me. He stormed from the apartment, and slammed the door. I fell to the ground. It was over.

My phone rang a few minutes later. It was the chancellor. He wanted me there. I buried back the tears and got dressed to meet them.

Liam

Sarah was pale. She knew. I could only imagine when she got that call how she felt. The chancellor sat behind his desk, fingers intertwined and looking at us. We didn’t dare look at each other. There wasn’t any reason to torture ourselves. I wanted to hold her to my chest and tell her it was going to be okay, but I didn’t. I kept my hands in my lap.

“I’m not going to fire you, Liam,” he finally said after a few minutes. “I’m not. You’re new here, it’s your first time teaching and your young. But, I am giving you a warning.” I sighed.
Thank, God.
“As for the situation. I’m going to have Sarah transferred from your class, and into another. I’m also forbidding you two to have any contact. If I hear or see you two together again, Sarah you will be expelled and Liam you fired. You’re about to graduate Sarah, don’t ruin your chances, okay?”

Sarah color hadn’t returned. She nodded and smiled at him. “Thank you, sir.”

“Okay, you are both dismissed. You can talk it out, but if I see you together after today, it’s over.”

I stood up first, my heart thumping against my ribs. “Than you, sir.” I left the room, feeling sick to my stomach. It was the first fucking week of school and I’d already fucked up.

I waited by Sarah’s car, and she finally came out. She was staring straight forward. “So,” I said, trying to grab her hand, but she pulled it away.

“I’m sorry, Liam. I’m sorry I ruined this for you. It’s all my fault. I knew it was wrong.”

I tried to hug her but she stepped aside. “It’s both of our faults. I am…I was your teacher and I knew the consequences.”

She nodded. “Well, I guess I need to go now, huh?” She glanced up at me with green eyes.

“Sarah,” I asked. “We could see each other at home. It will be the same--,”

“No!” she yelled. “We’ve already been caught. It’s over. I can’t jeopardize your job anymore than I already have. I’m sorry, Liam. I have to go.”

I didn’t stop her. She got into her Jeep and sped away. My stomach hurt from rejection, and her leaving me with nothing. I’d only known the girl a week and I knew I should let go, but I didn’t want to. I was selfish and greedy. And I didn’t give a flying fuck what anyone else thought. But she did, and I would respect her wishes. For now.

Three Weeks Later

Sarah

My stomach growled when I walked into my apartment. Cody must have gotten off early, because I smelled cooking from the kitchen. I placed my bags on the futon and took off my shoes. I hadn’t talked to Liam since that day. I was transferred into another class, and I never came out of my apartment except for school. Cody tried to get me to go out, but I couldn’t make myself go.

Liam hadn’t tried to talk to me and that was worse. I couldn’t even take a shower without thinking about the things we’d done in there. I groaned and walked into the kitchen.

“Something smells good…” I stopped in my tracks. Matt was standing in my kitchen, no shirt cooking. I hadn’t spoken to him since his outburst in my room. He smiled over at me.

“Spaghetti your favorite. Thought you’d be hungry.”

I stood there for a minute trying to get my mind straight. I’d seen Matt around campus, and Jamie was behind him. She hadn’t even looked at me since then, and it hurt. She’d been my best friend. Now she was nothing. “What are you doing here, Matt?”

His smile never faltered. “Fixing dinner.”

“Why?”

“Because, I miss you.”

“Oh,” I said, anger rising in my throat. “So, you think that you can just come in here after me telling you to leave and start over? News flash, buddy. You can’t. I don’t want you in here. I want you to leave.”

Matt slammed his pot down on the stove, and leaned over closing his eyes. “I want a lot of things that I don’t get, but I don’t get them. You see, if you’re not with anyone and I’m not with anyone, then I don’t see why we can’t work it out.”

“Because I don’t like you!” I screamed, my hands shaking beside me.

Matt yelled and stormed toward me, taking my shoulders in his grip. He pressed his mouth to mine. I tried to scream but he stuck his tongue in my mouth.
No, no, no.

“Please,” I said, muffled by his mouth. He pressed harder, sliding his hand up my shirt, and pulling down my bra. Biting his lip, he pushed harder. I could taste the blood in my mouth. Without warning, he slammed me to the kitchen floor. My head began to spin, there were stars, and I could feel blood coming from my head. He held me down with his body, ripped my clothes off and held my mouth.

Tears streamed down my eyes, mixing into my mouth. Matt pushed my jeans off and slid his finger between my panties and sex. “No,” I screamed out, but he pressed his hand down harder on my mouth.
Oh, God. Please, no
.

I screwed my eyes shut and then his weight was lifted off of me. I felt a rush of wind, and then my body being picked up. Nothing made sense, I tried to force my mouth opened to speak, but someone hushed me. I feel back into the darkness.

When I woke up everything felt wrong. There was something poking my arm and my bed felt hard as hell. “Ouch,” I said, prying my eyes opened. There was a blinding light.
Oh, no. I’m dying.

“She’s awake, doc.”

Doc? Did Jesus prefer to be called doc?

“Ah there is those pretty green eyes,” someone said. Then the light was gone. “Was that bothering you?”

I nodded. “Where in the hell am I?”

“Language, Sarah Jean.”

“Mom?” I yelled, blinking back the stars. She was in my face, freckles, blonde hair and a smile. “I’m so glad you’re okay, sweetie. Thank, Jesus.”

I nodded. “What…where is he?”

“He is in jail.”
Oh, Matt
. I had been talking about my hero.

“No, who saved me?”

“Oh,” Mom said, smiling. That was a
he’s cute
smile. “Right outside. I’ll go get him. He’s name is Liam, sweetie.”

Liam. My heart whelmed up with joy, and in the same instant broke. I had left him standing in the paring lot. He was willing to give us a chance. But, I knew it was for the worse. He didn’t need me in his life. He needed a job to support himself. And with me, that couldn’t happen.

Liam walked into the hospital room, giving the nurses and doctors a few smiles. “Hi, Liam,” the doctor said. “We’ll be out of your way in two seconds. I know you’ve been waiting for this.”

Been waiting? How long had he been waiting? How long had I been out? What had happened?
“Ms. Thomas. You suffered a concussion, and some minor wounds to the head. You’ll be up and going in no time. You can actually go home tomorrow.” The doctor said, his voice soft and gentle. He had a kind smile and a head full of gray hair. It was so dark, it reminded me of Liam’s eyes.

I nodded. “Okay,” the nurse said, adjusting with the IV. “We’re done for right now. Feel free to talk.”

After they left there was an unusual silence in the room. Liam’s eyes never left me. He had a dark blue beanie on and he looked hot as hell in it too. His white shirt fit tight to his chest, and his jeans low on his hips. He had dark circles underneath his eyes, like Matt had that night. I winced thinking about it.
Why had he snapped?
He had been fine before.
“He’s bipolar,” Liam broke the silence. “They diagnosed him yesterday.”

I swallowed. “How long have I been in here?”

“Four days.”

Four days. Damn
. I shook my head. “I’m sorry. Thank you for saving me. I know we’re not supposed to be around--,”

“Fuck not being around each other, Sarah,” he snapped. “Fuck it. I’m not concerned about it. I’m only worried about you. I want you to be safe. I don’t give a damn about the chancellor or my job.” He knelt beside my bed. “Just get better, okay?” I nodded. He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room. A dull ache shattered in my heart. He’d risked his job and saved me.

The next day the doctor released me. Cody was waiting in the living room with a bunch of flowers, candy and ice cream. “Yay,” he yelled, scaring my mom who frowned.

“Calm down,” she said. “She isn’t on hundred percent yet.”

Cody stuck his tongue out when she turned her head. “Okay, Mom.”

She hated when he called her that. I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Okay, Cody. I can’t stay here and take care of her. I have to get back to work. So, I’m going to need you take care of her for me. I put some soup in the cabinets, some Sprite in the refrigerator and threw away those Mike Hard Lemonades.”

Cody narrowed his eyes. “Those were mine.”

She shrugged. “Ya don’t need ‘em, hon. Okay, baby,” she kissed my forehead, “if ya need anything let me know. Don’t hesitate to call.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She grabbed her purse and walked out of the door. Cody jumped down beside me once she left. “Whew, thought she’d never leave.”

I laughed and sat up on the couch. “I really feel better, my mom is just overprotected. My head hurts a little bit though.”

Cody smiled. “That’s what Moms are for. So, have you talked to him?”

“Who?”

Cody snorted. “Stop acting like you don’t know.”

I twirled my finger around Zeus’ hair. “Not since yesterday. I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know what I’d say to him if I did see him. I can’t get him fired. I won’t be the reason he gets fired.”

Cody slapped his palm against his forehead. “Sarah. I’d like you to really think about your situation right now. You have a guy that is willing to get fired and risk his life for you. Not to mention he is fucking gorgeous. You’re going to regret not going over there and at least talking to him about it.”

I sighed. “Ugh, you don’t have to act like my mom.”

He gasped. “Take that back,” he said.

“Okay, but stop acting like a normal mother please.”

He nodded. “Better. Anyway, do what you want babe. But, I think you should light a match underneath that toned ass and go get ya man.”

“If you stop talking like that, I’ll think about it.”

He smiled. “I’m going to take a shower, call me if you need anything, okay?” He winked before he disappeared behind the door.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and rested my head on the futon.
This is nuts. I need to talk to him sometime. I need to get this over with. Decided. Done with
.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to Liam’s apartment. My hands were shaky as I rapped my fingers against the door.

A few seconds later Liam opened the door and my breath caught. I knew this had been a bad idea. I knew that once I saw him that I’d be gone. And I was. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. First problem. My eyes wouldn’t leave his abs. The perfect V poking out of his low-rise jeans, made me want to lick him. His face was scruffy. It was the first time I’d seen him so scruffy, it was worse than the night I’d first met him. His gray eyes were intense, his jaw heavy. “Sarah,” he said my name so softly, it seemed not to be real.

“Hi, Liam,” I said, giving him a pathetic wave.

“Oh,” he ran his fingers through his hair. “Come in.” I walked in and took a seat at his kitchen barstool. “So,” he cleared his throat. “You’re feeling better?”

I played with the fringe on my jeans. “Yeah, my head hurts a little but nothing major. I feel a lot better. Thank you, Liam.”

He swallowed and nodded. “I was so scared. I heard you scream, and I didn’t have a key. I was so scared. I couldn’t get to you fast enough.”

“You did. I’m fine. If it weren’t for you I could be in worse shape, or dead. No telling what he would have done to me.”

Liam rubbed his eyes with his hand. “Yeah.”

“So, I guess we need to talk, right? I mean…about us. I know I left things badly. I was just concerned that I would get you fired. I couldn’t know I was the reason. You were given another chance, and I can’t…I can’t be responsible for your failure.”

Liam watched my face carefully, before a smile crawled up his face.
Was that funny?
“Um, why are you smiling like that?”

Liam reached over to the other side of the bar and handed me an envelope. I raised an eyebrow but pulled out a letter. At the top was a
University of Arkansas at Crossett
letterhead. I furrowed my brows and bit my lip as I read. My eyes popped opened. “You’re going to work at Crossett?”

Liam smiled and nodded. “I talked to the chancellor and he got me a history class to teach at Crossett. It’ll be a thirty-minute commute. But, I will no longer be a teacher at UAM.”

The letter fell from my hand. “Liam. Are you telling me we can see each other?”

Liam stood from the stool and took me neck in his grasp. A cat like smile reached to his eyes. “I’m telling you that we can have each other.”

A tear slipped from my eye. “Good, because I’m not good at breaking the rules.”

Liam laughed, his deep sexy laugh. “Oh, Ms. Thomas. I’m sure I can teach you.”

I reached over and pulled his shirt over his head. “Mr. Downs, I’m begging you to.”