Someone other than me.
It was for her own good.
* * *
Mia
It washard trying to process that the man you loved might be the reason your mother was six feet underground.
But talking to Dad had helped. He had never been angry with James for what he had done, he was only angry with his father, and James had lost his mother, too. He didn’t even blame him for the accident, joking that Mom was a clumsy driver, so it could never be entirely James’ fault or his mother’s.
I hated that Dad was so forgiving and kind. Because despite being his daughter, it hurt every time I looked at James in front of the classroom, talking about dimensions.
The day when I was ready to forgive and confess my feelings to James was one of the worst days ever.
There were police cars with blue-red sirens when I arrived at school. My heart dropped to my stomach and my hands went clammy as I placed my things in my locker. Only worst-case scenarios ran in my head.
James getting arrested. Cops taking him out of the school, sending him to prison for sleeping with me. His reputation turning to dust and his company going bankrupt.
“Did you hear about—dude, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I turned to Summer, my tongue feeling like lead. “I…” I blinked hard when I heard the shouts coming from the dean’s office. “What’s going on?”
Emma joined us, leaning back on her locker and going through her phone. Compared to me, she seemed like she just had a vacation in the Bahamas. “Our dean slept with a minor and accidentally uploaded the videos on Pornhub.”
My eyes widened and lips fell apart when she showed me the screen of her phone. I scrolled through the article, cold horror and disgust spreading across my body. Someone had sent all the evidence directly to five of the biggest news journalists and the police, giving them enough material to sue and make the arrest.
“That’s gross.” I shuddered, giving it back. “Did she really do that?”
Summer nodded, frowning at the ceiling. “I feel really bad for the freshmen. They were being blackmailed.”
“Wait, more than one—”
Emma squeezed my shoulder. “Let’s go help the other students. We are raising awareness about sexual abuse, signs of grooming and how to spot a pedophile.”
I nodded, tightening my hold on the textbook I was holding. “I’ll help in any way I can.”
Before we left, we all saw James, Miss Laxmi and the other teachers exit the dean’s office with grim-looking faces. I pursed my lips when his blue eyes roved over me. My eyes averted to the dean, who looked like shit with her grey hair ruffled and mouth set in a scowl. She glared at all of us, keeping her chin high even when the cops dragged her with her hands cuffed behind her.
“Come on.” Emma held my arm and shot a dark look at James when we passed him.
It was going to be a long fucking day.
* * *
“Mia.”
I bit my lip and looked at him. “See me after class, please,” he said, before giving us homework for the finals that were coming soon.
Knots of nerves jumbled in my stomach when I waited for the class to finish. Rumours of other teachers blackmailing students and abusing them had spread around, and a few of the students were making bets on which teacher would be found next. No wonder James wanted to talk to me after the class.
“I’m sorry you had to see all that in the morning,” James said, clearing the board and raking a hand through his hair. He had bags underneath his eyes, and his eyes weren’t clear. It looked like he hadn’t slept in a while.
“Are you okay?” I asked, touching his hand.
He flinched, clenching his hand. “Sorry. I don’t think we should do this anymore.”
My heart stuttered. “Do what anymore?”