Braden and I didn’t talk about what happened between us at the lake on the camping retreat. We knew it would just lead to a repeat, and as much as we both wanted it, we couldn’t risk it until we found a time to be alone—really alone—with each other. All we needed to say was evident in our eyes the moment we locked in on each other that Monday at school through Wednesday when it was Halloween.

“Holy crap,” Daphne said, keeping her voice low so the kids wouldn’t hear. “Ames, I thought you said nothing was going to happen?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I pried my gaze from Braden’s retreating form. “Yeah, well, sometimes you can’t plan these things. What time are the parents arriving for the parade?” I needed to change the subject as quickly as possible.

Daphne checked her schedule. “Twelve-thirty. The kids’ll have lunch and recess then come back to get changed into their costumes. Parade starts at one-thirty.”

Good. My fingers itched to text Braden to meet me before the parade, but we’d promised each other we had to keep our distance. Otherwise we might not be able to stop.

“Seriously, the tension radiating off of you two is—“

“Daph!” I cried, exasperated. “Please. I’m trying not to think about him. Because the more I do, the more I wish…no, let’s just drop it.”

My friend nodded but I could tell she didn’t want to let this go.

“We have to start class, I’ll see you at the parade,” I said, closing the door to my classroom and shutting her out.

I took a deep breath. I needed to act normal. Everything was normal.

“Okay, class!” I turned to my fidgeting group of first-graders. “Who’s ready for Halloween?”

***

By lunch, the kids were extremely restless. I let them do their free reading time early since it was a special day. Lucy had made a lot of progress in just a few months, and she immediately gravitated toward the carpet where she opened a book and started reading to her little clan of followers.

I smiled. She certainly got that spunk from her dad.

“She’s grown a lot in just a few weeks,” Braden commented, leaning against my desk. “I think we made the right call with the extra help. Plus, she has a pretty awesome teacher.”

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. “Thanks, Braden. She’s got a pretty great set of parents, too. You’re first and foremost her inspiration for a lot of things.”

His hand inched towards mine. While before I would’ve snatched it back because we were at school, I let him linger there just for a minute.

“Miss Lawrence.”

I jumped at the sound of the school principal’s voice sounding behind me. Braden and I parted to find Victoria Mullins standing with her hands clasped together over her stomach, her eyes narrowed at the two of us.

“Please come with me, both of you.” She nodded toward Braden. Without even waiting for a response, Victoria turned on her heel and started back down the hallway.

I glanced at Braden and we hurried after her. I re-opened the joining door between the classrooms, giving Daphne the ability to check on my students while I was with the principal. Daphne caught my gaze as I left the classroom. We shared a silent acknowledgment.

Victoria led us into the main office and suddenly I felt like I was back in high school, being reprimanded for some petty little thing. The school secretary regarded us over the top of her glasses, pursing her lips. I frowned. Helen always greeted me in the mornings when I arrived at school or anytime I had questions. Now she looked at me like I was something out of The Scarlet Letter.

The principal’s office was a room tucked down a hallway to the right through the main office. It always held a welcoming atmosphere ever since I’d come in to interview for the teaching position in May.

My heart lurched and dropped to the pit of my stomach when I saw someone waiting for us already.

Braden stiffened next to me, his jaw locking in a way I’d only seen a handful of times. “Linda, what are you doing here?”

“She called me,” Victoria answered, gesturing to the two remaining seats in front of her desk. They were intentionally placed on either side of where Linda sat.

“Victoria, I’m a bit confused,” I said. “What’s going on?”

Linda scoffed. “Like you don’t know.”

“That’s enough, Linda.” Victoria’s calm voice stopped the argument before it could start. “Amelia, you’re a brand-new teacher this year and we’ve really appreciated you joining our staff.”

Uh oh.

“But it’s come to my attention,” she continued, while Linda sat smugly and Braden frowned, “that you’ve been having a relationship with one of the parents of a student. Now, I do realize our handbook doesn’t entirely cover the rules for parent-teacher dating at our school, but it does indicate that such dating when the student of the parent in question is in the teacher’s class is highly discouraged.”

It was just now that I noticed a photo on Victoria’s desk. A photo, which to some, might look more scandalous than it actually was.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

A photo of me and Braden at the lake for the camping trip. His arm draped around me, with my body clinging tight to him. His lips nestled by my ear.

Heat rose to my cheeks. How the hell did she get her hands on that?!

“Oh, come on. That?” Braden slapped a hand against the paper. “You can’t prove anything with that.”

“So you didn’t invite that little tramp to our camping trip?” Linda spat.

Braden’s hand curled into fists at his sides. “Don’t you dare speak to her that way. Amelia is a beautiful, intelligent woman and an excellent teacher.” He turned to Victoria. “This wasn’t Amelia’s fault,” Braden argued. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the armrests of his seat. “She shouldn’t be fired.” He glared at Linda next to him.

“Like hell,” spat Linda.

“Linda, you and I aren’t even together anymore! You don’t get to dictate my relationships.” He turned to Victoria. “Victoria, I promise you that Amelia and I had no idea how our paths would cross when we first met. Yes, we pursued a relationship even after we knew Lucy was in her class, but that was never Amelia’s fault. I wanted it. I take full responsibility. So please, if there has to be consequences, let me take them. I’ll let Linda do pick-up and drop-off. I’ll step down from the PTA. I’ll—”

“Enough, Braden.” Victoria held up her hand. “I’ve heard enough.” She leaned back in her spinning chair. “I am not firing Amelia. From what I hear and what I’ve seen, she has been an excellent addition to our staff and single handedly helped your daughter improve her literacy in just a matter of weeks. Not many first-time teachers could say that,”

“Thank you,” I mumbled quietly. “But it wasn’t entirely me. Cindy truly did most of the heavy lifting.”

Victoria smiled softly. “Now, beyond that. While your relationship with Braden is frowned upon here at school, I understand that we cannot choose who we fall for and I do not want to stand in the way of love.”

Linda scoffed, disgusted. “They’re not in love! This woman is just trying to cozy up to my—”

“For the love of God, Linda!” Braden bellowed. “We’re separated. If you claim that I’m yours one more time, I will file for a divorce and full legal custody of my daughter.”

The words cut through the room like a blade. No one spoke. Linda’s face turned deathly white—fitting, considering it was Halloween. But the threat that hung in the air was even scarier.

“No.” I shook my head. “No, this is too much.” My throat constricted. I inhaled deeply, letting the words come to me. Words I knew would break more than just my heart. “Braden, you and I…we’ve only known each other a few months. We met in one of the most cliche ways possible. And while it’s been fun getting to know you, it’s also been stressful as hell.”

“Ames—”

“Please,” I whispered. “I need to get this out.” Another deep breath. “I’ve had more fun with you than I’ve ever had with anyone. But our relationship has turned into something I never even considered, that I never wanted to consider. I don’t want to be the block that comes between you and your family. I saw it from day 1, for parent-teacher night, from the family conference. You two work better when you’re together and when I don’t stand in the way of your family. Linda,” I turned to her earnestly, “I never meant your family any harm. I never wanted to come between what you have together. I was never trying to replace you, please know that. I think it’s best for all of us if Braden and I end things, move to keeping our relationship professional only.”

Just like how it was always meant to be.

“Thank you, Amelia.” Victoria’s features softened. “We can discuss moving Lucy to Miss Powell’s class—”

“If it’s ok,” I interjected. “I’d like Lucy to stay in my class. She thrives in an environment where she has some comfort. The first few weeks of school were tough as she started learning with her peers. She’s a very bright child and I’d like to keep working with her to encourage that growth. I think she could use the consistency for a better environment to thrive, and I don’t want her to lose the progress she’s made because of a mistake I made.”

And damn what a beautiful mistake it was.

Hurt swirled in Braden’s blue eyes as he cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, I would agree that what’s best for Lucy would be to keep her in Miss Lawrence’s class. Per the agreement I have with Linda, I would still need to do drop-off and pick-up a few days a week. Could it be possible for someone to meet Lucy at the front office and walk her to class in the mornings then back to me in the afternoons?”

“We can arrange that, yes,” Victoria responded. She turned to Linda. “Linda, this is also up to you.”

“As long as she stays away from Braden,” Linda spat. There was so much contrast between the fierce, lioness standing in front of me today and the shell of a woman hurting because her daughter struggled to read who I saw just weeks earlier.

“Then we’re all settled.” Victoria clasped her hands on the desk in front of her. “Thank you for coming in today. Amelia, you may return to the class festivities.”

“Thank you, Victoria,” I said. “And I deeply apologize for all the chaos I’ve caused.”

“I appreciate that, Amelia. And I’m proud of you for voicing your own concerns here. We deeply encourage giving everyone an equal voice, which is why when Linda brought it to my attention, I needed to address it with the three of you together. Ending a relationship so quickly like that can be difficult indeed, so please know my door is always open.”

“Thank you,” I said again, turning around quickly to hide the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

She smiled at me, a smile that wavered when she realized I wasn’t moving. “Is there something else?”

“I’m just curious, how often does this sort of thing happen?”

“You mean parent-teacher relationships?” She tapped a pen against her cheek. “Honestly, fairly often. And the truth of the matter is that we do these meetings anytime we find out about such a relationship in order to ensure that the student of the parent has a voice, you know? We do everything we can to teach these students about making their own decisions.”

“Have you ever had a case where a child disapproved of the relationship?”

Victoria sat back in her chair and teepeed her fingers on the desk. “It happens on occasion,” she mused. “But again, we do everything we can to support the child and the family. Now, what I didn’t get to say because you seemed adamant is that we never demand that the couple end their relationship. We simply ask that the relationship remain off of school grounds so that it does not interfere with the child’s learning environment.”

I nodded. “I understand. But I stand firm in my decision. Dating Braden, making the choice to see him socially…all of it. That was my doing. The situation escalated out of control.”

“If you love him…” she trailed off. Her eyes said it all. “Try to enjoy the rest of the festivities, Amelia. We’re glad to have you as part of our team.”

“Thank you,” I said for what seemed like the thousandth time. Without another word, I left her office, choking back sobs.

I walked back to my classroom in a blur, not even stopping when Braden tried to catch my arm. We were over, and there was no going back. If I looked at him, I knew I’d collapse into tears and he’d try to comfort me.

My students were the only ones who mattered right now. From here forward, all my focus would be on them.