She couldn’t stop her tears, no matter how many times she wiped her eyes they just kept falling. Like a dam that had broken with no way to halt the water which flowed from her eyes.
“Ms. Miller,” Alastor spoke in that same sing-song voice of his, even and smooth. Holding a note of concern. “Perhaps you should sit down.”
Gina could only comply as she sat in one of her students’ chairs, Amalie’s, as she removed her glasses to wipe her eyes. “You must think I’m pathetic.” She said as she looked at the man who merely watched her with that faint smile of his. It was so subtle, almost nonexistent, but it was there. “And you’d be right…”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” he says as he sits in a chair across from her. “You’re only human, and as such, human beings are flawed.”
Gina scoffed. “Still doesn’t change the fact that I should have done better. And I know no words are going to placate you. So just say what you want. Get it over with.”
Instead, he merely extends his hand, his long fingers lightly grazing her still-exposed wrist. “Did someone do this to you?”
Gina didn’t answer as she didn’t pull away when he touched her wrist.
“This doesn’t look old; it looks as though this happened mere hours ago.” When she remained silent even as she faintly began to shake, Alastor spoke. “It doesn’t look dislocated, but you seem to bruise rather easily. But if you’d like, I have a first aid kit in my car. I can at least bandage it if you’d like?”
She was about to say no, to not bother, that she could deal with it herself when she got home, but then saw someone peering into her classroom from the door with a dissatisfied look on their face as their eyes bore into Gina’s.
Nick.
She looked away, tearing her eyes from the door to the floor. She didn’t want to leave the classroom if he was out there, especially now.
“Ms. Miller?” Gina nearly jumped when Alastor spoke her name. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no, it’s… it’s nothing. Though I have a first aid kit in the class. But I don’t think it needs treatment, it’s just a bruise.”
Alastor glanced at her before looking back at her wrist. “You say that, but it could be worse than how it looks. May I?” he asked, wanting to check her injury.
Gina hesitated but seeing how he didn’t have any ill intentions toward her, she allowed him to check her arm. Tentatively glancing at the door to see Nick no longer there. Thank God.
“Do you have medical experience?”
“Yes,” he says with a subtle smile as he gently examines her wrist, when he touched the joint she flinched. “Though I do think you should have a doctor look at it, I doubt you want to make it worse.”
She didn’t, but she didn’t want to have a chance of getting yelled at by her parents, or confronted by Nick again. But with how Alastor was acting around her, she couldn’t help but ask. “Don’t you hate me? For what happened to your daughter?”
His expression was one of perplex mixed with that subtle smile of his. “Whatever made you think that?”
She eyed him, come on, he had to know why she thought that. Any parent, at least a decent one, would be mad at a teacher if they let their child be bullied and didn’t do a thing to stop it. His smile seemed to change, almost like he was joking. If he was, it was a poor one.
“Ms. Miller, while I don’t condone what took place, I am not someone quick to judge a person. Especially when they seem to be dealing with greater problems on their own.”
Gina flinched, glancing at the man. He was preceptive. However, just because he was good at shooting guesses in the dark and hitting their mark. Didn’t mean she would be willing to open up to him.
“True as that may be, it is still my problem, as I’m sure you have plenty of your own and don’t need mine adding to it. Besides,” she pulled her hand away and looked him right in the eye as she remained where she stood. “I’d rather have you angry at me, for my lack of action, than pity me for things I brought on myself.”
To Gina’s surprise, he didn’t deny it, he had been pitying her, say what you want about the man, but at least he was honest. Unlike some people, she knew or thought she knew.
“Then at least allow me to walk you to your car,” he said. “Given how you feel as though you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, I can at least lend you assistance in getting you out with a crowbar. They won’t say anything if I’m with you, so we can use that as an excuse while I walk you to your car.”
“Can I use said crowbar to smack those assholes?” she thought to herself be refrained from saying it out loud. “Fine,” she then went to her desk and then handed him a blank assignment. “Here, for Amalie, I’m not sure if she’s willing, I don’t blame her if she’s not, but you did say you came here to collect her schoolwork.”
“Thank you,” he took it and placed the school assignment into his briefcase, she noticed how he had others, so he was also telling the truth about why he was here. But then what reason would he have to lie?
“How…” Gina hesitated. “How is Amalie doing?”
Alastor was silent for a moment; he then turned his back to face her. “She’s doing the best she can.” He said as he closed his briefcase. “Though I’d be lying if I didn’t add that she’s upset. Because of what Mia said, what those children told her, she feels like she doesn’t deserve to exist in this world.”
A feeling of guilt rested on Gina’s shoulders.
“However,” Alastor continued. “If something like this were to happen again… I would be greatly disappointed.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Gina had to fight the urge to gulp back her fear, the tone in his voice, was very apparent. He’d be beyond angry. Not to say he wasn’t already, but she knew that if something like were to happen again, God she hoped not, then she would be dead. Figuratively, not literally. At least, she hoped, God knows what kind of death threats she had on her answering machine.
He then looked at her with a sweet endearing smile, one that would have made any unsuspecting woman blush. “But I doubt that will happen, I have a feeling those children will stay far away from Amalie after this. And while I’m sure this wouldn’t be condoned; I couldn’t be prouder of my daughter.”
That confused Gina “You’re proud that she got into a fight?”
He gave a soft laugh. “It must sound like that, but what I mean to say is that I’m proud she stood up for herself. After being verbally beaten down, she finally had enough and made them stop. Even if it was through violence. And sometimes Ms. Miller, violence is the only way something can be used to solve a problem. Not all problems of course, but some.”
That was the last thing Gina expected to hear from this man’s mouth. She never thought he’d be the “I choose violence” type of person. But then, Gina felt like she should know better, given that she judged someone solely on how they looked and assumed a bunch of shit about them that wasn’t true. A bad habit thanks to her parents.
“But anyhow, I should probably head home now. I’m sure Amalie is wondering what’s taking so long.” He then picked up his briefcase. “I’ll walk you to your car, best to go to a walk-in clinic or the nearest hospital. Although, will you be okay to drive?”
She looked at her left wrist. “It’s not my dominant hand, so I should be fine. It doesn’t hurt as much now.” She said after gathering her things as she opened the door and entered the hallway, tensing up only to see her parents had left and that there was no sign of Nick.
Thank God.
“Are you looking for someone?” Alastor asked slightly startling her as he peeked out from the door behind her. “Or are you hoping not to see someone in particular?”
“Both, I want to be sure it’s not who I think it is so I can avoid them.”
“Goodness, that must be tiring.”
She sighed as she entered the hall. “It is, but I just don’t want to deal with anyone right now. Especially after earlier…”
“Are you referring to Mr. Green?” Alastor asked as he walked alongside her, matching her pace. When hearing his name Gina stopped dead and looked right at Alastor. How did Alastor know about that man?
“Pardon?”
“When I picked Amalie up after what happened, I had a run-in with him, we didn’t speak, but his air of arrogance spoke louder than any words.”
That was a rather apt description of Nick. But before she could comment Alastor continued.
“And while I know it’s none of my business, I think it’s best if you don’t associate yourself with an individual such as him. I’ve seen plenty like Mr. Green before, the outcome of which, would not be good for you.”
She glanced at Alastor; she didn’t expect the man to be so open when talking about such things to someone like her. As they continued to walk through the halls, Gina found herself looking at Alastor, she had never seen the man up close all that much, mainly because she didn’t want her parents getting carried away with some idealized fantasy in their heads, but even from a distance she could tell he was a beautiful person.
She hadn’t lied to the woman at the bar when she admitted that Alastor was attractive, he looked beautiful, and when he spoke his voice would draw anyone’s attention. His frame, while unassuming, he held the elegance of a dancer. She had heard that Alastor was once a well-known actor before coming to Canada, but other than that not much else. Still, it felt like a bit of waste for him to be stuck in a booth for radio. Though she supposed it was because of his daughter, and who knows, maybe in a couple of years, he’ll be back on stage again.
When they reached Gina’s car she paused when opening the door. “You know, I wouldn’t blame her if Amalie hated me for how I acted. I’m supposed to be the adult but instead, I was childish.”
“Indeed, but given what I saw, I suppose it’s no surprise. Your parents were rather rude.”
“That’s one word to call them.” Gina turned to face him. “I’m sorry, by the way. I’m not going to excuse my actions, but I still hope you can forgive me.”
“I will, but only if you do one thing for me.” He then leaned in close, disrupting her personal space and whispered. “Be better than what you were the day before. Don’t ever allow what happened to happen again.” He then took a step back, his ever-knowing smile present. “If you do that, I think I’ll have it in my heart to forgive what took place. Of course, it’s not my forgiveness you should be seeking out.”
She knew immediately what he meant, for he said it as a warning. This man was giving her a chance. One chance to not mess up again. If she did…
Well…
His eyes said it all.
She’d be screwed.
But that dark look in his eyes was gone the next moment. “With all that said, you really should head to the hospital to make sure nothing’s broken.”
“Wait!” he stopped before getting the chance to walk away. “Do you know when Amalie will be returning to school?”
“She will when I believe she’s ready.” He replied. “I have no intention of pushing her when she’s not confident and upset. You’ll know when she’s coming back, that much I’ll say.”
Gina had the feeling if she pushed it would be too dangerous, so she went into her car and drove off, glancing in her rear-view mirror as she was about to leave the parking lot, she saw that Alastor was watching her as she left, even did so until she could no longer see him.
Honestly, she had expected him to be angry, very angry, so for him to be calm and collected, but still have an underlying tone of cold calculated anger. It was subtle, but she did notice it, and it would be something that she could take to heart.
For now, though, she needed to get her wrist looked at.
* * *
Four hours.
That’s how long it took for her to be looked at by a doctor. Granted it wasn’t that bad, and she was able to grade papers while waiting and check over what she planned for the next day. Some of those in the hospital, staff, long-term patients, and those waiting to be looked at like her, watching this woman do work as if nothing was wrong with her other badly bruised wrist. She wasn’t about to just sit and do nothing or look at her phone, if there was work she could do while waiting she’d do it. Some would find it weird but she’d rather be productive than just not do anything. Unless she was drunk, then it was fine.
Gina let out a breath of annoyance as she now sat in the bar at her usual seat staring at her bandaged left wrist which was also in a wrist support brace. The bastard sprained her wrist from the sheer force of his grip alone.
Fucking Asshole.
She was just surprised that it didn’t hurt as it should have, maybe due to the shock. She had felt pain in her wrist when class started but took some meds to at least work through the pain, if Alastor hadn’t drawn her attention to it, it could have been even worse. In that regard, she was thankful to him.
Still…
“Why do I suck at picking men?” she asked herself with an exasperated sigh. The only solace she had was that it could have been worse. If someone could even find solace in that.
Now she just needed to deal with the aftermath of that trainwreck while also trying to pick up the pieces of the mess that she allowed to happen with the kids.
That within itself was going to take a while given how on edge all the kids seemed to be, how their eyes went to Amalie’s desk and then to Mia and those who were a part of the bullying. Kids could be frightening in how quickly they could turn on others, but then adults were like that too if not worse depending on the situation.
Worse of all, everyone was so quick to put the blame on her and not themselves, the hypocrites, the lot of them. A part of her wished that all of them, each and every one who was a part of this mess would get a nice big heaping dose of karma. If not equal to her own.
Then maybe, just maybe those people might change, however unlikely that was.
“Oh,” a familiar voice caught her ear. “It looks like we meet again,”
Gina turned seeing the last person she expected.
The beautiful woman from the night before as she gave a warm smile. “Evening, how are you doing this fine night, Ms. Miller?”