IX
1803 Words
IX
The next two days I showed up to class on time. I didn't give Mr. Morgan a reason to give me detention and I was proud of myself. Dean had gotten detention over with and said it was the most boring hour of his life.
Mr. Morgan eyed me warily in class, as if making sure that Dean wouldn't touch me. He didn't although he sat next to me to which Mr. Morgan didn't protest.
The whole time I kept my distance to Dean and it looked as if Mr. Morgan was trying to figure out if I had forgiven him or not. I don't know why he would care.
I've been wearing long sleeves because like expected, the bruises showed. which irked me, but not because Dean hurt me but because it was the beginning of September which meant it was still somewhat hot out. Thank god the classrooms had air conditioning.
"Don't forget that your projects about the Trojan War are due tomorrow." Mr. Morgan reminded before the bell rang and everyone made their escape.
"Ms. Gardner please stay after class so I can have a word." I groaned.
"I really need to get to class." I protested as he gave me a stern look.
"I'll give you a pass Ms. Gardner." He countered.
I looked at Dean and gave him an apologetic look. "I'll see you outside." He said before making his way out along with the rest of the students.
"Since when do we go back to formalities?" I question raising an eyebrow. He almost seemed to smile before shaking his head and his face went back to the same stoic face I've grown to know.
"Have a seat."
I did and waited patiently for him to continue.
"You two fixed your problems I see." I rolled my eyes.
"Is this really what you held me after for? I'm going to class, Mr. Morgan." I tell him getting up and walking to the door.
"Sit. I'm not done." I didn't sit, instead, I stood by the door and waited.
With a heavy sigh, he leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "You seem to have a problem with authority, Livia."
"No, I have a problem with people wasting my time," I respond watching as he seemed taken aback.
"Well, I'll cut this short then. The principal has decided to make a new program. It's for new teachers who might need some help adjusting. We are supposed to pick a peer tutor which is basically a TA and me put your name down." I stood there, shock etched on my face.
"Why me?" I question.
"Because you seem pretty efficient with any task I ask you to accomplish." He states matter of factly. "However, this is completely up to you. You'll basically just be helping me after school and such."
I opened the door. "I'll think about it."
The bell hadn't rung yet so I knew I'd still have time to get to class. Walking out I shut the door behind me and met up with Dean who was waiting patiently at my locker.
"What was that about?" He asked nodding his head to Mr. Morgan's classroom.
I continued to walk down the hall to my next class as I told him. "A TA? Why would he want you as a TA?"
"Well, I guess because when I helped him during detention I got a lot done? I don't know." I explained with a shrug.
"Are you gonna do it.?"
I sighed," I don't know, maybe."
He stopped me. "Wait you're not seriously thinking about this are you?"
I drew in my eyebrows." So what if I am? It's none of your business." I scold and he shakes his head in anger.
"Whatever gets your own ride home then." Dean scoffed and my jaw fell.
"You can't be serious?"
He just shook his head again and left going into his classroom I didn't realize we were at. I shook it off, he wouldn't leave me to walk home, would he?
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When after school came I decided to go to Mr. Morgan's despite what Dean thought. He didn't deserve to get upset over that. All I was doing was helping and I'd probably get major points from the principle if I did. Besides ignoring me the rest of the day wasn't helping his case one bit.
"Knock, knock," I said even though the door was already wide open.
"Come in, Livia." Mr. Morgan granted and I walked in moving a chair beside his desk.
"So I guess this means you want to be my new TA?"
"Yeah, I guess I do," I answer looking for something to do. "So what do you need help with?"
"Grading papers. Don't worry it's for the eleventh grade so it's not illegal or anything." Amusement laced his words making me unsure if he was trying to joke with me or not but I smile in response.
Picking up the stack I look through it. "Do you have the answer key?"
"Yeah." He hands me a sheet of paper with the correct answers on it.
I get to work, grading papers it is oddly relaxing. I am keeping my mind off of Dean and his ridiculous attitude lately. I didn't even realize how fast I managed to get it done.
"Wow, you're done already?" He questioned with a smirk and I nod handing him back the answer key. It wasn't long before he gave me something else to do and it wasn't long before I finished that too.
"Alright, it's almost five p.m. Time to call it a day thanks for your help, Livia."
"No problem, Mr. Morgan," I grabbed my bag and checked my phone. Dean hasn't even texted me. But surely he would give me a ride home.
"See you tomorrow." I wave, walking out of the room. I hear him say goodbye before I exited the classroom completely. I walked down the hallway and outside the school to the parking lot. It's completely empty, Dean's car nowhere to be found.
Damn him. Picking up my phone I call him but he doesn't answer. He sends me straight to voicemail both times I tried to reach him.
I know I can call Jenny or Becca and they'd pick me up but I don't want to impose. They are probably out with Luke or Jake and I just don't want to interrupt their lives. So I start to walk. I walk and take out my phone to try to reach Dean again, typing him a message but before I can hit send I fall.
I bumped into something hard, must've been a pole. I lay there flat on my ass with a grunt. "Dammit." I curse opening my eyes.
"Damn, I'm so sorry are you okay, Livia?" Mr. Morgan's voice panicked as he held out a hand for me.
"Yeah, my bag broke my fall," I assure him even though my bottom hurts like hell.
I take his hand and he grips it so it's easier to pull me up. "I expected you to be gone by now." He said, his hand still gripping mine.
"Yeah well, my wonderful boyfriend ditched me," I grumble and remove my hand from Mr. Morgan's like he burned me. He mumbled an apology about the hand thing and then looks into my eyes.
"What do you mean he ditched you? Why?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now I have to head home," I say before walking past him but he grabs my arm gently and turns me to face him.
"Wait, let me give you a ride." He offered.
"What?"
"Yeah I mean, I can't let you walk home knowing that it'll be dark within ten minutes. Something bad could happen." I think about it for a moment before agreeing, he was right.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, come on." Mr. Morgan nods, gesturing for me to follow him to his car.
He owns a Lexus and I have to admit that I am impressed. "What's your address?" He asks and I tell him. He types it into his GPS and pulls out of the school towards my house.
"Where are your parents?"
"Still at work," I answered him curtly.
"And Dean usually gives you a ride?" I nod in response.
"Why don't you get a license? You're old enough." I shrug.
"I never needed too, Dean always gave me a ride wherever I needed to go," I answer, looking out the window. Watching as all the trees passed in a blur. I feel Mr. Morgan glancing my way and I know what he was dying to ask. "He didn't come pick me up because I told him I was thinking about being your TA." I finally tell him.
"What? Why would that matter?" I shrug again.
"I don't know." My voice was low and I felt tears prick at the back of my eyes but I didn't dare cry. "I didn't think he meant it."
"I'm sorry, I can't believe he would do that to you." Mr. Morgan said sympathetically.
"It's okay."
"No, it's not, you need to stop justifying his actions."He raised his voice and I looked at him.
"It's not your relationship so why do you care?" I questioned feeling myself getting angry.
Mr. Morgan sighed and slowed at the stop sign. "Because he doesn't seem like such a good guy."
"He is."
"He ditched you!" He countered.
For the first time, I don't know what to say, my mouth keeps opening and closing like a fish and I'm speechless. He is right, Dean ditched me. And for no reason, he left me to walk home alone in the dark.
"I'm sorry." He said again, his usual cold voice was lower, softer.
I don't say anything, just go back to looking out the window. I can't understand why Mr. Morgan cared so much about my life. He is just a teacher and no other teacher cares about me other than my grades so why him?
"Thanks for the ride." I tell him when he pulls in front of my house."
"No problem, and if you want to keep being my TA then I'll make sure you get a ride home." He offers with a shy smile.
"I don't know, I wouldn't want to put you through all that trouble."
He shakes his head." No, it's no trouble at all. You're faster at grading and getting work done than ninety percent of the teachers here. You're a good TA." He compliments and I smile.
"Okay then...see you tomorrow Mr. Morgan." I open the door and step out.
"Goodbye, Livia." He returns before I shut the door and walk inside.
I cannot believe the day I just had.
- Writer
