A week has passed since I left Damien's apartment that day. A week of squatting with friends and crying in the bathrooms of strangers. A week of promising a better day for myself. Promises that gave me the will to keep living.
Things were extremely bad. Too bad that I could barely afford to eat most days. The paycheck was barely enough to cover my bills as I still had to pay off the loans Damien took under my name. Working every single day and not having anything to show for it felt like a slow chokehold strangling me slowly.
Blackwood Academy was a place I had never dreamt of working at. I could still remember the day I got a letter from the school saying that there was a vacant spot for me. It felt so surreal. The academy was a kind of place where only the rich and privileged could have access to. The shoes the students wore can feed me for a whole month.
It only intensified my hate for Damien. I never realised how much he was ruining my life until now. I still wish I could turn back the hands of time and advise my Younger self to avoid falling in love with him.
I met Damien when I was at a very difficult point in my life. I was just a nineteen years old girl who had just lost her parents and had no one to run to. He made promises. Promises that he never fulfilled. I was such a naive teenager.
The annoying shrill clang of the bell rang through the air snapping me out of my thoughts pulling me back into the noisy classroom. Students immediately sprang from their seats as though spending an extra minute in this class would kill them. Chairs scraping against the floor as they made a beeline for the door.
"Don't forget that your essays are due Monday!" I called over the chaos but my voice fell on deaf ears. "I'll not be lenient with late submissions too. That's an automatic zero"
No one heard me of course. Or they did and just chose to ignore me.
Walking back to my chair,I sank into it as the last wave of students filed out. I let out a sigh of relief as I rubbed my temple, a full ache throbbing behind my eyes. Standing hours on an empty stomach was no joke. God, I was exhausted. I stared at my reflection on the glass of the desk. I looked like I had just survived a zombie apocalypse. Heavy eye bags that were barely covered by layers of cheap drugstore concealer.
I let out a slow breath as I tried to will myself to move,to start recording the test scores of the other students when a deep voice cut through the silence.
"Miss Rivers?"
I sat up so fast that my neck almost snapped. I had thought that all the students had left and that I was alone in class.
He leaned against his desk, a cute smile on his face. His blazer was unbuttoned and his tie loose. I knew that I should scold him for not dressing properly but I had no strength in me. It's not like him dressing properly would add food to my table.
"I'm sorry" I started brushing away the hair from my face. "I had no idea you were waiting for me. Is there any problem?"
A slow amused smile tugged at his lips and for a moment I wondered if I had said something funny. "I didn't mind watching you, Miss Rivers."
I blinked, momentarily thrown off by his tone. Was he flirting with me? I had no idea. It wouldn't be the first time a student has asked me out. In fact I feel as though there's a bet going around on who gets to 'bag' me.
"I probably looked like a mess. You know I—" I started to say but he waved a hand.
"If you look this beautiful as a mess, I wonder how you'd look when you're not a mess," he said as moved closer, standing in front of my desk. It took everything in me not to lean over and take a whiff of his expensive cologne. "I'm just joking,Miss Rivers. You look like you have just been caught in a crime."
"It's not okay to say those… words to your teacher. Do you need help with anything?" I asked. I was very close to slipping off my chair and falling to the ground. Something about him intimidated him which was weird because he's supposed to be intimidated by me not the other way around. I am the teacher and he's the student. There's nothing to be afraid of.
He raised his hand in surrender, his eyes locked on mine as though I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. "I actually don't need help with anything. I just thought I should introduce myself since you didn't ask us our names and I like being a special student."
There was a teasing edge to his tone, and I hated how my cheeks warmed.
"I'm sorry. But trust me,I know everyone one of you" I lie.
"Really? I'll choose to believe that." He placed his palm flat against the surface of the table leaning into me,close enough for me to notice the silver flecks in his dark eyes. "I'm Adrian Blackwood."
I immediately wished I had water in my mouth just so I could spit it out. Blackwood. His parents practically owned this school. In a way,he was kind of my employer since he'd probably take over his parents someday.
I stared at his outstretched hand before taking his hand hesitantly. One wrong move and he can probably ask his parents to fire me. His grip around my hand was firm and warm. His palm was so soft which wasn't surprising to me.
"I'm Elara Rivers," I said, my voice a little too soft.
"I know who you are, obviously." He replied in a smooth voice. "It'd be weird not to know my new teacher" his voice trailed as his gaze swept over me before locking onto mine. "You looked very tired today, Miss Rivers. Just checking up on you"
I could hear the concern behind his voice but I didn't need pity from anyone. Especially not from my student.
"Thanks for your concern, Adrian but I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "It's just been a busy week"
He didn't move right away. It seemed as though he didn't believe me but he didn't push it. Then, finally, he gave a small smile that didn't quite reach his lips.
"It was nice talking to you, Miss Rivers"