Loving Mr. Cary

Chapter 2 : Sweet Mr. Cary

*Della*

The next day at school, I walked down the hallway with my head bowed. I wore my favorite black hoodie and covered my head with the hood.

My hands were buried deep down in my pockets and I wore dark sunglasses. My eyes were swollen, and I didn't want anyone asking me questions about it.

I cried all through the night after Mr. Cary left. I thought it was a nightmare that I'd wake up from and just call a dream, but it wasn't. Richard and Emma truly shattered my heart into pieces.

I didn't want to show my face at school at all, but then, won't that portray me as weak? They didn't even know I saw them.

Keeping my cool and ignoring them is the best way to do this.

I could feel eyes peering at me as I headed to my lecture hall, but I refused to pay attention to any of them. Only Mr. Cary and I knew the truth.

I got to the door of the room and heard the chatter of the students fill my ear. I clenched my jaw and looked into the class through the transparent glass on the door.

I could see Richard and some other guys from the basketball team chatting and laughing like he just didn't do something terrible to me.

I opened the door quietly and walked into the room with my head lowered. I could hear the noises of their chats die down as I walked to a new seat. I would normally sit next to Richard and Emma, but not anymore. I sat far away from him, and maybe this is what caught the attention of everyone in the class.

“What's with her today? Why is she dressed like that?" I heard some ladies murmur behind me, but I paid no attention to them.

I placed my bag on the table and pulled out my textbook, getting ready for the lecturer to step into class.

“Hey, baby," Richard suddenly whispered in my ear. He pulled my hood closer to him and planted a kiss on my head through the fabric.

I clenched my jaw and pulled out from under his arms. “Let me be, Richard," I mumbled.

“Hey…" he said in a concerned manner, sitting close to me. “What's wrong?"

'What's wrong?! After sleeping with my best friend, you're asking me what is wrong?!' I thought, fire burning in my chest, but kept it to myself.

I didn't want to start up a conversation with him. I just wanted him to leave me alone.

“Nothing is wrong. Just let me be, okay?" My voice grew louder, catching Richard off guard.

He quietly stood up from my side and walked back to his chair. I didn't bother looking at him and just buried my head in the desk.

Then, I heard Emma's voice as she walked into the room. She was chatting with some other people from the class, but I kept my head on the desk still.

I just wanted to be done with class and go back home.

“Hey Richard, where is Della?" I heard Emma ask.

I waited to hear Richard's response but I got nothing. I could feel their eyes on me, but I cared less.

“Good morning class," the lecturer greeted us.

I reluctantly raised my head and looked at him.

“Good morning, sir," the class responded except me.

“Della," someone whispered my name, making me look to my side. It was Emma.

“Hey… what's up with you?" she asked in a whisper. I glared at her through my sunglasses with so much hatred.

How could she smile at me so brightly like she just didn't stab me in the back?

I looked away and tried to focus on the lecturer even though I kept zoning out.

The scene of Emma and Richard kept playing in my head no matter how much I tried to forget it and pay attention to class.

***

After I was done with class, I began to pack my bag and then I saw Richard and Emma approaching me. I hastily packed my bag before they could get to me and stormed out of the room.

“Della!" I heard Emma call, but I didn't look back. I ran down the hallway as tears heated my eyes again.

After a few minutes of running, I stopped and removed my sunglasses. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

I threw my head backward, trying to resist the urge to break into more tears.

The sudden urge to use the bathroom forced my feet in the direction of the closet to me. Seeing the last stall empty, I rush in there and do my business, holding back tears as I try not to think about the image of Richard and Emma together.

I finished up and was about to step out when I heard footsteps walk into the bathroom. Then I heard the voice I never wanted to hear again.

Emma's voice.

“I don't know why she was acting so strange in class today. I thought I was the only one who noticed," Emma uttered.

“Of course not. I also noticed she was moody too. I was wondering if you knew anything about it. You know I wasn't present at her birthday party yesterday. Did something happen?" another girl asked.

“Something did happen, but it wasn't about her. I don't think that is the problem here," Emma answered.

“Something happened? What happened?"

I quietly moved closer to the door and placed my ear on it so that I could hear her response.

“Well…" she started and stopped to chuckle. “Richard and I…"

“Woahhhh! You two? Isn't Richard Della's boyfriend? How were you able to hook up with him at her party?"

“C'mon, girl… Richard is in love with me, not with her, okay? He's with Della for the money. Whereas he came to me first last night. He looked so handsome and irresistible, I wanted him too, and he banged my brains out!" Emma uttered with great excitement, and the girls with her winced and laughed.

I couldn't take it anymore. My hands were shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. I wanted to throw my fist so badly at her, and this intuition took over my body.

I stormed out of the stall, causing the door to create an ear-splitting sound as it clashed with the wall. Emma and the other girls with her flinched in fear and watched me in awe as I charged toward Emma.

“Della…"

I interrupted her statement as I smacked her very hard across the face.

“Ohh." The girls gasped in shock.

“How dare you?! How could you?!" I yelled as my body trembled in anger and hatred.

Emma suddenly charged at me too and smacked me in the face. “I will not tolerate such behavior from you, Della!" she yelled.

Being unable to control my rage, I grabbed my bag from my shoulder and threw it at her, making her stagger backward. Before she could regain her balance, I grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground.

“Della, stop!" the girls yelled but their cries and pleas were unproductive, driving me even madder.

Emma also gained some momentum and pulled me by the hair. She hit my face again and I fell to the ground.

I touched my lips and looked at my palm to see that I was bleeding. I spat out the blood that was in my mouth and stood up, ready to charge at her again when the chairman of the disciplinary committee intervened.

“Enough!" the Chairman yelled. “Both of you, to my office, right now!"

I clenched my jaw and shot Emma a deadly look as I picked up my bag. I was quite content that I was able to ruin her face with my punches before we were stopped.

As we walked behind him, everyone stared at us and kept murmuring things to each other, but I couldn't care less. I could sense suspension or expulsion coming, but this also didn't bother me.

We got to the disciplinary committee's meeting room and we were asked to wait. Emma sat far away from me and totally ignored me. That was the best decision she had ever made in her whole life.

I pulled out my phone and switched on the camera to see how damaged my face was. As I was checking my wounds out, a text dropped on my phone.

It was a message from Mr. Cary. I hastily opened it and read it.

'Hello, Della. How are you doing today? I hope you are feeling better. I want you to know that this will pass and you'll be fine.'

For the first time since I was stabbed in the back, a faint smile curved up my face. I wanted to tell him how I was feeling and the error I had just made.

'I am not okay, Mr. Cary. I just got into a serious fight with Emma, and I think I will be getting suspended for it. I couldn't contain my anger when I heard her talking about how she enjoyed her time with Richard. I know you're disappointed in me.'

He read my text and responded almost immediately.

'I am not disappointed in you, Della. I know how you are feeling. Don't worry about getting suspended because that would not happen. I will take care of it.' I smile at his text.

Before I ca respond, Emma and I got called into the Chairman's office.

“Can one of you explain what happened?" he asked, and Emma responded immediately.

“Mr. Chairman, she assaulted me out of nowhere. She threw the first punch and I couldn't hold back, sir. I am very sorry." Emma's voice quivered as she spoke. I could sense the fear of getting suspended or expelled from her.

“Is that true, Miss Della?" he asked, and I bounced my head, showing no sign of remorse. “Miss Della, don't you know that you have committed a serious offense and this is punishable by suspension or even in worst cases like this, expulsion?"

“I am aware, sir," I answered coldly.

Just then, the telephone on his table rang and he answered it.

“Yes, sir. Okay, sir." That was all the chairman said until he hung up. He sighed and looked at us.

“This should be the last time something like this will happen, okay?! The next time this happens, you won't get off as easily. You're free to go."

I raised my eyebrows in awe after he finished speaking. I needed no one to tell me Mr. Cary was the one that saved me from being punished.

“Thank you, sir," I answered and stood up. I walked out of his office and into the hallway.

I pulled out my phone and texted Mr. Cary back.

'Mr. Cary, thank you so much! The Chairman let us go without any punishments.' I threw my phone in my bag again.

I was done with lectures for the day, so I headed out of the school. As soon as I got out, I heard someone call my name.

“Della!"

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Mr. Cary standing handsomely next to his car.

'Oh my… Mr. Cary is here?'

I rushed down to him and stopped when I got to his front. “Mr. Cary," I called with a large smile.

“Your face…" he muttered and held my face gently. He moved the strand of hair that was on my face and tucked it behind my ear.

I gazed at him admiringly as he checked out my wounds. 'How can an older man like him look so hot and handsome?'

His gorgeous eyes sparkled as they met mine.

“I need to get you to the hospital," he stated, worry evident in his voice. I feebly smiled and shook my head.

“You don't have to worry, Mr. Cary. They are minor wounds. I don't have to go to the hospital," I answered, and he let go of my face.

“I insist, Della."

“No, Mr. Cary. My father cannot know about this. If I go to the hospital, he will find out. A first aid kit is all I need and I'll be fine."

He heaved a sigh and nodded his head. “Okay then. Hop in. I have a first aid kit back at the office. We can make use of that." He walked to the other side of his car to open the door for me.

I stared at him in surprise as he stood next to the door, waiting for me to get in. When I got in, he shut the door behind me before he entered the car and ignited the engine. All the while I couldn't take my eyes off him.

“You're so sweet, Mr. Cary." My thoughts unconsciously betrayed me. He looked at me and grinned beautifully.

“I'm flattered," he answered, and I felt my heart flutter.