"Then why are you here?" A tear slipped down her cheek. "Why do you keep coming back? Why do you keep doing this to me?"
"Because I'm a selfish bastard," he replied honestly, reaching out to swipe the tear from her soft skin. "I could sit here and tell you that I can change, that I will be the man you want me to be, but I can't do that. This is who I am, Caroline."
"I don't want you to change the man you are, Jax." Caroline shied away from his touch. "Until your brother is caught, there's no way we can even see if anything can happen between us. I can't sit here and wait to see if you are going to disappear. I can't keep handing you my heart only to have it shoved back at me. I can feel when you pull away. I know when you're becoming distant, and I know it's only a matter of time before you walk out the door."
He watched her stand, having no words.
"As you can't change the man you are, I can't change the woman I am." Caroline's voice cracked. "I want more from you. Guess I'm also a selfish bastard." She smiled sadly as she threw those words back at him, her tears falling.
Jax remained seated, staring at the empty spot on the couch where Caroline had been. Even though his eyes hadn't moved, he knew exactly where Caroline was in the house and what she was doing, but not because he could read her. He had tried. Lana had taught her the art of blocking well. No, he knew exactly where and what she was doing when he was near her because that was how in tune he was to her. He dropped his head to stare at the floor between his booted feet and for the first time in his life, he was at a total loss of what to do.
******
Caroline walked into her classroom and set her things down. She hadn't been able to do a lot to organize herself because of how busy she had been, but she wasn't worried. She had made all the in-service days, but fell short getting her classroom ready. Heading to the window to look out at the parking lot, she found Jax talking to Jill, Adam, and Steve. Students had started pulling in and what she usually found exciting about the first day of school, felt dull.
She hadn't been able to sleep after she and Jax had talked, if you could even call it talking. She was still just as confused. She had stayed up in her room until it was time to get ready and leave. Jax had not been in the house, but when she closed and locked the door behind her, she'd seen him on his bike watching her. The whole drive to school felt awkward as he followed, so when she got out of her car in the parking lot, she told him good-bye and to have a nice day, feeling like an idiot the whole time, but dammit, she didn't know what else to do. In a space of twenty-four hours, she'd told him to leave, held a gun on him, explained that she didn't need the Warriors' help, and had even been screamed at by Sloan.
As Jill, Adam, and Steve moved away from Jax, he continued to sit on his bike, his eyes searching the parking lot. With a snap of his head, he looked straight to her window, his intense gaze pinning her to the spot. She was the first to look away. The warning bell buzzed, making her jump. She turned to see a few kids had already made their way into the room.
"Sit wherever you want." She smiled at the students as she headed toward her desk.
"Hey, Ms. Fitzpatrick!"
"Good morning, Jason." Caroline smiled. "How was your summer?"
"Too short." He grinned, taking a seat in the back.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." She laughed. "Come on, everyone, find a seat."
Jill, Adam, and Steve walked in, with Steve giving her the thumbs up. "Hey, teach." He gave her a knowing grin.
Caroline shook her head, then smiled at Jill.
"Hey, I know you." Jason pointed at Adam. "You're Adam Pride. Didn't you already graduate?"
Caroline and Jill made eye contact while Steve looked suddenly nervous.
"Actually, I know all three of you." Jason looked at Caroline. "They're VC Warriors. I saw them on the news."
The classroom erupted into loud conversation as Jill, Adam and Steve found seats, all eyes on them.
"Class!" Caroline tried to regain control. "Quiet!"
Once everyone settled, Caroline continued. "Adam, along with Jill and Steve, do belong to the VC Warriors. They're here to catch up on some of their credits," she lied, hoping it was convincing because she couldn't think of anything else.
"Well, damn, man, that sucks," Jason said, while a few others agreed. "I wouldn't think you'd need any more school, being badass Warriors."
"Everyone needs an education, Jason," Caroline added. "And watch your language in my class." She then grabbed her attendance book and started taking roll call.
As the day wore on, Jill, Adam, and Steve didn't leave her classroom unless she left, then one would go with her. Each and every new class knew who they were because of seeing them on television. The same questions were asked throughout the day. It was very distracting. At lunch, they stuck to her like glue, drawing curious glances from students and teachers.
Toward the end of the day, she was exhausted and also very unnerved as she looked into the faces of each of her students. Having Jill, Adam, and Steve shadowing her every move put into perspective that maybe she had been wrong in thinking Jax was overreacting about his brother. It was different seeing the faces of her students who were innocent in all of it.
Her life had definitely taken a different turn and it had taken seeing her students to make her realize that. She loved to teach, but it was wrong for her to do so and put her kids, as well as the staff, in danger. If Jax and Sloan felt it was important enough to plant three Warriors, then she needed to be responsible enough to know when she needed to step away for the safety of others.
The last bell of the day rang. Her heart was heavy as she watched each student leave, some saying good-bye while others hurried out the door. Her eyes met Jill's, then Steve's and Adam's, who sat staring at her.
"Well, let me be the first to say that sucked ant balls. I sure am glad I'm just pretending to learn something, because no offense, teach, history is boring as hell." Steve stretched, standing up. When Adam gave him a look, Steve held up his phone. "Yes, ants have balls. I checked, remember?"
"Are you okay, Caroline?" Jill asked, standing and walking toward her.
One of the janitors walked in, emptying her cans before walking back out. Caroline watched him with a frown. Usually Pete talked to her, but maybe he felt she was busy, with Jill, Adam, and Steve still being there.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied. "I need to go to the office for a few minutes. Can you guys meet me outside, please?"
Jill looked toward Adam, then back to Caroline. "I don't know," she replied with a frown. "One of us is supposed to be with you at all times."
"I'll be fine." Caroline grabbed her stuff. "Please."
Adam stood and walked toward her. Reaching out, he touched her arm. "We'll wait for you outside the door."
Caroline nodded. "Thank you."
Adam nodded and headed out the door with everyone following them. He turned, running into the janitor.
"Hey, my bad." Adam reached out, steadying him.
"Pete, are you okay?" Caroline also helped steady the older janitor.
"I'm fine, ma'am." He nodded, then headed quickly down the hall, pushing his cart.
"Damn, Adam." Steve messed with Adam. "Knock the poor old man down, you big bully."
"Shut up, Steve." Adam smacked him upside the head. They all headed to the office and true to his word, Adam made Jill and Steve head outside with him.
"Hey, Caroline." Brenda, Principal Sparks's secretary, gave her a tired smile as she made her way into the office. "How was your first day?"
"It was fine, Brenda," Caroline replied, shutting the door behind her. "Is Matthew in his office?"
"Not yet." Brenda motioned her toward his office. "He'll be back as soon as the buses load. Go ahead and go in. He should be back any minute."
"Hey!" Jamie strolled in to the office. "Can I ride home with you today? My ride had to do something and I really don't want to ride the bus."
"Sure," Caroline replied. "I just have to talk to the prin
cipal first. Wait for me at the car. I'll be there in a minute." Caroline tossed her the keys.
"Okay, can we stop and get something to eat?" Jamie caught the keys. "I'm freaking starved. Mom and Dad are going out tonight so I'm on my own."
Caroline nodded at her sister, noticing Pete again who was also staring at Jamie. "Hello, Pete." She smiled as she passed him. "You sure you're okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine, ma'am." Pete grabbed another can before heading back out without even looking at her.
Caroline frowned, watching him disappear out of the office. Brenda shrugged and shook her head when Caroline looked in her direction. Walking into the principal's office, she sat down, her mind going a mile a minute, wondering how one quit a job they loved more than anything.
******
"You better hope Jax doesn't find out we let her out of our sight," Jill mumbled to Adam as they stood outside, waiting for Caroline on the steps.
"Yeah, I like my ass just the way it is and if we screw this up, none of us will have an ass left, because once Jax gets done with us, Sloan will…." Steve frowned, pacing around.
"Will you both shut the fuck up?" Adam growled. "I'm reading her right now. If anything happens, I'll know it."
"Ha! You are a fucking genius!" Steve pointed at Adam.
A passing teacher heard Steve's words. "In the office, young man."
"What?" Steve dropped his arm, looking confused.
"We don't use language like that." She ushered him toward the doors.
"Hey, yo!" Steve looked back at Jill and Adam. "A little help here."
"We don't even know you." Jill shrugged, a gleam in her eye.
"I think some time in detention will do you some good." The teacher ignored Steve.
"Ah, shit. Are you serious?" Steve glared at her.
"You just added two more days." She opened the door, pulling him inside.
Jill laughed when she heard Steve say "dammit" before the door closed. Then she looked to Adam, who was focused but grinning.
"Anything?" she asked as she scanned the area.
"No, she's just waiting for the principal," Adam replied, his grin gone as he closed his eyes to focus.
"Wish she'd hurry up." Jill sat down with a huff. "Steve was right. This did suck ant balls. I always hated school."
Chapter 25
Jax pulled into the school parking lot next to Caroline's car. School had obviously ended, but there was no sign of Caroline. He glanced over to see Adam's car.
His attention turned to a girl walking across the parking lot, but slowing the closer she got to Caroline's car, eyeing him. Instead of going to the driver' side where he sat on his bike, she went to the passenger side and unlocked the door. Smart girl.
She looked over the hood of the car at him as she tossed her stuff in the seat. "You waiting for my sister?"
"I am." He nodded. "You must be Jamie."
"I am." She nodded back.
Jax couldn't help it, he laughed. Not only did she look like her sisters, but the attitude matched as well. "I'm Jax. Nice to meet you."
"You a Warrior?" She squinted in the sun as she looked him up and down over the car.
"Yes," he replied, his eyes leaving hers to the car pulling up to them.
"Hey, Jamie!" a boy much older than Jamie slowed with his arm hanging out the window, trying to appear cool. "You need a ride home?"
"No, she's got a ride." Jax frowned at the kid, then bared his fangs, leaning forward.
The kid drove off, squealing tires with a "'just shit his pants"' look on his face.
"Hey, I might have wanted a ride from him." Jamie walked around the car with her arms crossed in front of her.
"He was too old for you and you know it." Jax narrowed his eyes at her, but a small grin tipped his lips. Yeah, she was just like her sisters, that was for damn sure.
"So answer me this, Warrior." She leaned a hip against the car. "With the Warrior at my parents' house last night, three of them in her classroom today, and you waiting by the car, how much trouble is my sister in?"
******
"What can I do for you, Caroline?" Matthew Sparks came into the office, a friendly smile at seeing her. "I hope your first day of school went well."
"It went very well, thank you," Caroline replied, but a return smile just wasn't happening.
He took a seat behind his desk and leaned back in his chair, watching her closely. "The look on your face says different."
"There are some things going on right now that I'm afraid are going to interfere with my job." The words stuck in her throat. "I'm going to have to resign effective immediately.”
Matthew rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Caroline, if I thought the students were in any danger, I never would have allowed Sloan to plant three Warriors in your classroom."
Surprised by his loose use of Sloan's name, Caroline frowned. "You know Sloan Murphy?"
"Very well, actually." Matthew smiled. "Intimidating man, but I have much respect for him. Ever since the integration of vampires into the public school system, I've been working closely with him as well as other Council members. I am lobbying to have at least one Warrior in the school at all times, but Sloan said they're spread too thin to release any Warrior here full time. Though he found a security guard, a vampire, who will be here in case of any problems."
"Oh." Caroline realized she was a little clueless to how everything within the Warrior world worked.
"He called me asking my opinion on your job, about planting Warriors in your classroom as a precaution after explaining to me the situation," Matthew continued. "I trust Sloan as well as his Warrior's and had no problem. He felt the danger to the students was nonexistent, but the danger to you warranted protection. This is a new world we live in, Caroline. I feel safer with Warriors in my school, actually."
Caroline sat absorbing everything she was being told. She felt somewhat better, but still that nagging fear that something could happen to one of her students wouldn't leave her.
"This is your choice, Caroline." Matthew sat forward, his voice sincere. "If you are uncomfortable, I have a sub who can fill in immediately; actually, she's driving me crazy wanting something. But know your job will be waiting for you and I will refuse your resignation. We'll just call it a leave of absence."
"Thank you." Caroline's voice hitched and her eyes burned with tears. "I just can't take the chance of someone getting hurt because of my stubbornness."
"And I respect you more for that." Matthew looked through his Rolodex, pulled out a card. "Consider it taken care of, though I will say I'm just a little disappointed. It was nice having Adam Pride back in Campbell County. I was hoping maybe he could play in some of the football games." He chuckled.
"I don't think that would be fair for the other team." She smiled at the thought. She had never had Adam in any of her classes and wasn't a big football person, but she had heard his name being announced over the intercom during Adam's football days.
"Maybe not, but one can hope." Matthew grinned with a wink. "That state championship trophy would for sure find a new spot in our trophy case out front."
"And that would be cheating," Caroline reminded him as she stood, her legs shaking with relief. She wasn't losing her job and for that, she was grateful.
"Yeah, well, it's your fault I won't be able to try," Matthew teased, standing up with her, and then walking her toward the door.
Caroline stopped at the closed door and turned. "Thank you again." Caroline felt her eyes water with tears. "I really didn't want to leave my job. I love teaching here."
"I wasn't going to let you resign anyway." Matthew opened the door for her. "'Your job is here for as long as it takes."
She nodded, hoping it wouldn't be long at all. She was disappointed to miss even a single day, but it had to be this way. She walked out into the office to see Steve standing with a teacher and secretary, who was writing something down.
"Steve?" Caroline frowned. "What did you do?"
"No
thing." Steve held his hand up in the air. "I did absolutely nothing."
"He was using foul language," the teacher replied with a disapproving frown.
Caroline looked toward Matthew, who just shook his head with a smile. "Go on, I'll take care of this."
"Come on, Steve." Caroline headed for the door, trying not to laugh. Once outside, her laugh burst free. "How in the world can you get detention on the first day of school?"
"All I said was…" Steve saw another teacher coming out of the school and clamped his mouth shut.
"If you could keep your mouth closed for a second, you wouldn't find yourself in trouble all the time." Jill rolled her eyes as they made their way down the steps and out to the parking lot.
Adam was quiet, but kept looking at Caroline.
Caroline saw Jax talking to her sister and her heart skipped a few beats. How the sight of him affected her still surprised her. Just the sight of him sent her emotions into overdrive.
"You ready?" she asked her sister, her eyes leaving Jax's as she gave him a nod.
"Why were you in Principal Sparks's office?" Jamie asked, not moving.
"I, ah…." Caroline frowned, wondering why she was answering to Jamie, who was acting like their mother—or rather, like their father. "I had business to take care of."
"She tried to quit her job," Adam blurted out.
"You what?" Jamie's eyes grew wide. "What the heck, Caroline. What happened? You love this job. Mom is going to freak and Dad is going to have a cow."
"What happened?" Jax repeated one of Jamie's questions. When Caroline didn't answer, he looked to Adam. "What happened?" he repeated.
"She's afraid for her students and the staff," Adam replied, giving Jax a rundown of her conversation.
"You were outside. How do you know this?" Caroline asked, confused and a little pissed off. Then it hit her. "Were you reading me? But I was blocking. I'm always blocking."
"It was the only way I could let you be out of sight, so yes, I read you," Adam answered, without looking a bit sorry. "And if I've had contact with you, which I did right before we left the room, then I can read you even if you block or someone blocks you."
Jax (The Protectors Series) Book #8 Page 16
