Page 95 of You & Me: Part Two

“What’s up, Kelly?”

“Mick, we got her.”

“What do you mean her?”

“Kayla Simmons. She’s a student at the school and dates one of Emily’s SPED students. It’s all about jealousy, Mick. The kid she dates, Austin, has no idea. Her cousin is Jesse Miller. He called and told me.” I know I’m rambling. I hope I’m making sense.

“This is all over something as stupid as a student being jealous over a teacher? What the fuck is wrong with kids these days?”

“I don’t know, Mick, it’s complete bullshit but at least we have an answer. I already called Blackburn at the school and he’s notifying the principal. I’m on my way over there right now.”

“Thanks, Kelly. I’ll notify Detectives and we’ll get somebody over to the school ASAP. I’ll see you there.”

I drop my phone in my cup holder and thank God that Mick is cool about me and Emily. It sure is making all of this so much easier. I’m a sweaty mess, but I don’t even care right now. I just want to get to her and tell her that the nightmare is hopefully over. I know it will be hard for her to hear it’s a student, but hopefully, there will be some relief as well and life can start to go back to normal.

My adrenaline hasn’t calmed during the drive to the school. I grab the towel in my gym bag and try to wipe off some of the sweat, but in reality, I’m taking this time to collect myself before I talk to her. I need to be her strength; somebody she can lean on. I can’t go in there all amped up. I need to be calm for her. I want to run through the front doors and into her classroom, but I know that I need to wait until her current class is over.

I make my way to her room and Blackburn is there. He quietly fills me in and tells me that Sgt. Callahan is on his way along with Detectives. Sgt. Callahan has been a friend of Emily’s dad since they started on the force, and I’m sure that he’s been keeping her dad up to date with what’s happening. I just hope her dad doesn’t show up. Emily isn’t ready to see him right now if all the ignored text messages are any indication. I’m afraid that if he showed up today it might be too much for her.

There’s still twenty minutes left in Emily’s class, and she has no idea I’m here. I wait with Blackburn in the hall where she can’t see us. By the time the bell rings, Mick, Sgt. Callahan, and Detective’s Fred Wills and Matt Gilbert have arrived and are in the office with the principal. I’m glad they’re in the office and not all standing here when the bell rings. I think that would overwhelm her.

The bell rings and I step aside to wait for the kids to file out. Once I see it’s just Emily and Mrs. Colyer, I step inside the room. Her face lights up the moment she sees me, but falls as soon as she registers the serious look on my face. It’s obvious by my appearance that I came here in a rush.

“What’s wrong, Jonathan? Is Ireland okay?”

“She’s fine. Everything is fine, baby,” I say as I take her hand.

“Why are you here then?”

“We know who it is, Em.”

“Who?” Emily and Mrs. Colyer both ask at the same time.

I look over my shoulder to make sure that there aren’t any kids in the room and fill them both in on my call from Jesse earlier.

Emily has tears streaming down her face, but she isn’t making a sound. Mrs. Colyer hands her some tissues and tells her to take the rest of the day and as long as she needs. As kids start to gather, she pulls herself together, and by the time Jesse enters the room you wouldn’t even know that there is anything wrong. It saddens me to think that this comes from years of practice.

35

Emily

I have so many questions running through my head, but with the students quickly filling up the room, I know that now isn’t the time. I also have so many feelings reeling through me that it’s hard to keep myself in check in front of the students. I feel relief in knowing who it is and hopefully, the madness is about to end, but I also feel bad for Austin and Jesse. Jesse had to rat out his cousin, and I know that Austin is going to feel awful about this.

I can’t help but feel that some of this is my fault. Did I cross a line with Austin? I don’t think that I did, and I don’t think he had feelings for me other than maybe a little hero worship, but now I’m so worried that I crossed a line without knowing it. I’ll have to talk to him about that but now is not that time.

“Hey Miss J. Who’s this?”

“Hi, Austin. This is my boyfriend, Jonathan.”

“Oh, hey.”

Jonathan reaches out his hand. “Nice to meet you Austin. I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”

“Really? Thanks, Miss J.” he says as he extends his hand to Jonathan but sends a big smile full of pride in my direction.

“Of course, you’re a great kid and you know that. Where’s Jesse? Did he not come back today?”

“He’s here, but not sure where he is right now. He must be running late.”

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