That next morning, Gina awoke with a splitting headache.

I drank way too much last night. Gina thought with a groan as she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled over to the bathroom to have a fast shower to get her day started. The cold water hitting her skin her a wake-up call. She then glanced at herself in the mirror, even after the shower she still looked like shit.

She let out a breath, then went to get changed for work. Thankfully she had everything planned for the coming day, she always did so if she had a bad day and went for a drink then she wouldn’t have to worry about what to wear for the next day. Of course, she had a designated lesson plan in case anything came up, but still, the last thing she wanted was a substitute teacher messing up what she worked hard on. Say what you will about not liking the job someone had, but Gina was the kind of person to work hard on whatever she was given. Probably the only quality that her parents even liked.

Her head still pounding, she went to go and make some coffee and take some medication to remove her headache only to find the machine had already started. Then saw a note taped to the top with Layla’s handwriting.

Hey, figured you’d want to have something in the morning, I know it’s a bitch to get this going but I noticed if you pre-set the timer, you’ll have it ready by the time you get up. Also, remember the thing I taught you about cooking an egg? Do that for a quick breakfast.

Also-also, I added my number to your phone.

Give me a ring whenever.

It was good to see you G.

~L

Gina smiled despite feeling like yesterday’s garbage.

After dressing in a long skirt, tank top and big sweater, she used makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes, put her dark hair up in a clip, grabbed her glasses, and schoolwork, put it all in her shoulder bag and headed down to her car with a coffee in hand all the while bracing for what the day to come would be.

She hoped that she wouldn’t get yelled at by anyone today, be it teachers, parents, her parents… “Okay…” she said with a sigh. When she parked in the school’s parking lot, trying not to become tense, noticing how her knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly. When seeing this, she let go, her hands shaking. She rubbed her hands together to try and get them to stop. The kids would notice that. Amalie especially. Gina needed to show that she was a strong and capable teacher, she should have never let the bullying continue, and if possible, she wanted to try and make things right.

She just hoped that Amalie would at least accept this as a form of an apology. But then again, she might not, with how pissed she was, the little girl could very well hold a grudge.

No, Amalie isn’t like Mia. Gina thought as she left her car and walked to the school. I doubt she’s the kind to hold a grudge. But then, what did Gina know about that kid? Amalie was more or less a silent observer, maybe she enjoyed watching people? Maybe she was wary of them because of her father’s fame. Alastor didn’t seem the type to brag about his wealth, but Gina could tell because his clothes were all high-end. After all, her parents were the same, but they bragged whenever they bought something.

When school began and the kids shuffled their feet to class, some were excited, others reluctant and a few were tired. Yet when she saw Mia come in, Gina felt a sudden sense of shock seeing the young seven-year-old girl who came in rather stiffly, like she had been hurt. Did something happen at home?

But before Gina could go over to speak with Mia a small voice spoke up. “Um… Ms. Miller?” she looked down to see Kaya Ortiz. “Do you know if Amalie is coming in late today?”

Wait, what?

Gina’s eyes quickly scanned the classroom but didn’t see Amalie at all. Was she not coming to school today?

“Uh… I’m not sure.” Gina told her. “She might be here later this afternoon. For now, just go to your seat, okay?”

Yet when the class ended with little to no fanfare, and when the first recess rolled out, Amalie was still nowhere to be seen.

“No, she hasn’t come by.” Mr. McCrae told Gina when lunchtime came after the third class and still there was no sign of Amalie. “You’re her teacher, shouldn’t you know?”

It was a genuine question, but a part of her felt like it was a dig at her for how she handled things the day before after the incident. “I guess her father didn’t want her to come in after what happened.”

“You guess?” Mr. McCrae repeated. “Gina, you let those kids bully her relentlessly, why are you even surprised?”

Gina broke eye content, she couldn’t even deny that.

Mr. McCrae then did something he didn’t expect. “I know you’re dealing with something personal, regardless of what it is though, you can’t neglect the kids. We’re supposed to be here for them and help them. Not just teach. And if this isn’t a job you like, why not just pursue something else that you enjoy?”

That was something she didn’t expect to hear and just found herself looking up at him completely stunned. “What?”

“I’ve seen you in the art room, you go there quite a bit on your breaks and always work on some small paintings, they’re good. Why didn’t you apply to be an art teacher?”

Because my parents wouldn’t let me… but she could say that, in fear if what she said got back to her parents.

Mr. McCrae seemed to realize why and then merely told her. “You’re allowed to live your own life, regardless of what others say. No one should judge you if you just want to quit.”

Again, Gina couldn’t say anything, he sounded like he knew what she was going through, maybe he did, but that gave little comfort. Her parents would never let her, in some instances, she wished she could have been more like her coward of a brother, then at least she would be able to run away when her parents least expect it.

“You’re just a woman! What good do you think you could ever bring to the table that your brother has done better?!”

“If only you were born a boy, things would have been better.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Words like that had been beaten into her verbally throughout her life.

And whenever she felt like those words hurt the most, she’d always find herself in the art room, there wasn’t a single student in the classroom. Amalie hadn’t come to school with it only half the day left, given how she looked maybe she was to hurt to come back, maybe her dad didn’t want her to come back at all.

Gina couldn’t blame him for that, or any parent who decided not to have their kid come back if they were relentlessly bullied.

If things were to change, however, Gina at least wanted to try and speak to Mia and the other kids who took part. For it seemed like it was done on purpose. However, such thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice spoke to her from the door to the art room.

“So, this is where you were,” Gina turned to see Nick Green by the door. Always with that smug smile on his face, she had found it alluring, but now, after how angry he had been at her previously, she didn’t find him the least bit attractive. “I’ve been looking for you.”

This usually meant one thing, since there were no students and classes wouldn’t happen for at least twenty minutes. It wasn’t the first time, but somehow it all just left a bitter taste in her mouth, and she didn’t know why.

“I’m not in the mood,” she says intending to leave but he blocked her path.

“Oh, come on, you can’t still be upset about how I acted. I was angry, what did you expect me to do?”

Gina just looked at him. “I have papers to grade.”

He leaned down with that knowing look in his eyes. “Like that’s ever stopped you before.”

She looked him right in the eye and gripped the doorknob tightly. “Well, it does today. I couldn’t finish grading last night and I have a headache. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go back to my class.”

He scoffed but lowered his arm letting her open the door, only to grasp her wrist and yank her back pinning her to the wall with him not giving her a way of escape.

“You think I’d say yes? Let you do what you want?” he demanded. “You came on to me, remember? You’re lucky I’m even willing to spend ten minutes with you. So shut your mouth and do as I tell you like always do. Besides, I know you get off on this, why else would you dress in a skirt for me to have easy access?”

Gina squeezed her eyes as Nick’s hand reached to touch her underneath her long skirt, she liked it when he was aggressive, but now, she felt ashamed, disgusted, and afraid. Was this what Shannon warned her about that Gina ignored before she had been injured? Blinded by a need to be seen, to be wanted by another person, even if it was by the hands of a man, who, while she had found him attractive, seemed like a completely different person, like he was when he snapped at her.

She was going to just bear with it, but then her phone rang with a specific ringtone, a ringtone that she put for Layla and the moment she heard it, Gina pushed Nick off her, causing the man to stumble back and fall on the floor with a stunned look on his face.

Before Nick had the chance to say anything Gina quickly answered her phone. “Y-yes?”

“Heeeey G!” Layla said on the other end. “You on your lunch break? Got a minute to spare?” Gina didn’t answer right away, just stared at Nick. “G? Gina? You there?”

“Yeah,” she said while eyeing Nick, realizing how pathetic she was to even think for one moment, that this dick was a good guy. He was a bastard. Just like her shit stain of a brother. Thinking that alone was enough to look at Nick with disgust. Not just at him, but at herself. “I’m, sorry, something came up.”

“I’m not interrupting anything important, am I?”

Gina opened the door. “No,” she said. “Nothing important at all.” then left the art room with Nick just looking bewildered by the whole thing. “What did you want to talk about?” she asked as she made her way back to her classroom, closed the door and locked it, just to be safe. It was then that she noticed her hand was shaking.

“Hey, did you hear me?” Layla asked snapping Gina back from her thoughts.

“Sorry, no, could you repeat that?”

Layla was silent for a moment. “What happened?”

Gina paused; she recognized that tone of hers. the kind that meant she knew something was wrong and wasn’t about to let it go. How Gina both loved and sometimes, hated that about her friend. “Nothing,”

“That sounds like bull,”

“Well, it’s not,” Gina said as she moved to sit in her chair. “Believe me, I’m fine Layla.”

“You don’t sound it.”

Gina was silent for a moment. “I never do, do I?” though when Layla said nothing Gina realized her mistake. “Sorry,” she didn’t mean to sound so down. “Look, I shouldn’t have said that. My mind’s been all over the place recently.”

“I imagen that’s why I saw you drinking so much.”

“Yeah…” she then changed the topic. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Ah, right, I know I disappeared on you but there was something I wanted to talk to you about—”

* * *

When school was over, Gina decided to just pack up and headed to her car before Nick could try and corner her again, she was having none of that today.

But once she got entered the hall after the students had gone for the day a shill voice grated her eardrums. One that Gina had hoped not to hear. “Mother?” but was surprised to see not just her mother but her father too. “Why are you both here?”

“Maybe if you bothered to answer your calls you’d know!” her mother snapped angrily. “Do you know how many times we called you last night?”

“No,” And even if I did, I know you’d just yell at me. Like always. “Besides whatever it is, you know I can’t do anything for you. I’m busy with work.”

“That’s why we’re here! What were you thinking about letting such a thing happen in that class with the Hilmarsson girl?”

Of course, they found out. Gina thought with a slight scowl. She was angry that someone decided to let their loose lips go to her parents’ ears. But wasn’t at all surprised by it. Especially since they seemed obsessed with Alastor, and what it could give them if she somehow ended up in a relationship with him like a leach.

Her father scoffed. “You're so busy all the time, just when do you think you’ll get married like this if you can’t even do your job properly?”

Not this shit again. “I don’t know Dad, when are you going to get all that money from Gilbert that he ran off with?”

“Regina!” her mother snapped. “Where do you get off talking to your father like that?”

Gina didn’t answer.

“If you had just listened to us then you would have turned out better…” her mother growled wanting Gina to take the bait so she could yell some more.

At least I’m not like you. Gina thought as she felt the urge to just say fuck it, and tell them what she really thought of her folks, consequences be damned.

“Actually,” a familiar sing-song voice practically purred in her ear from behind her. “She has an appointment with me.” He looked at her with a sweet endearing smile. “Isn’t that right Ms. Miller?”

Her worst nightmare. She didn’t even hear him approach, and from the looks of things, neither did her parents as they had their stunned expressions. “Um…” but right now, she’d rather deal with him, than her parents. “Yes, yes! You’re absolutely right Mr. Hilmarsson. We can speak in the classroom. Please, follow me.” She then glanced at her parents, who looked like they wanted to shout but as this was the man they so desperately wanted Gina to have a kid with, they held their vitriol. “I’ll talk to you both later.”

And before her parents could respond, she walked with Alastor to her classroom and closed the door.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!! Her mind panicked the moment she became in a closed room with the one man she hoped just a day before, to never be alone in a room with.

And now she was. Talk about some irony!

She glanced at Alastor, seeing him looking at the small desks of children, eyeing Amalie’s desk in particular. It hadn’t been cleaned as there were still graffiti left from when Mia bullied the girl just the day before.

A subtle smile resting on his beautiful face.

“Mr. Hilmarsson?” he turned to face her as she hesitantly approached but still kept herself at arm’s length. “May I ask, why you helped me?”

“You looked like you required assistance.” He answered promptly to her question. “I doubt you wished to continue being yelled at by those who are supposed to care for you.”

Gina couldn’t say anything against that. But all this still begged the question. “Why are you here?”

She noticed how his smile twitched slightly. “My daughter goes to school here, does it not make sense that I, as her father, come here from time to time?”

“Yes but…” It’s my fault your daughter was bullied. But she couldn’t bring herself to say that last part.

Alastor, for whatever reason, answered her initial question. “I came to collect some of Amalie’s schoolwork. She’s going to be home for a few days, but I didn’t want her to get behind, so that’s why I’m here. I’ve already spoken to her other teachers about the other assignments she needed. You were merely last on my list.”

“Oh…” she said as she tucked some hair behind her ear. That made a lot of sense.

He then frowned. “Ms. Miller, what happened to your hand?”

Her gaze shot to her wrist, the one that Nick had grabbed. She hadn’t realized just how badly he gripped her arm when he first stopped her from trying to leave. The bruise it made; was awful. It was already different shades of purple, red and blue.

Upon seeing that, tears began to stream down Gina’s face.