I shake my head no and immediately see her relief. “If there is one thing Liam has, it’s patience. I believe he thought he would be able to keep me and make me learn to fall in love with him. In his mind, all he had to do was give me the chance to remember my ‘true’ feelings for him. To him, it was always a simple matter of time before I fell in love with him again. He didn’t realise I never truly loved him in the first place. He confused dependence with love. I never knew what true romantic love felt like—” I pause and nervously look up to Easton whose attention is on me one hundred percent “—until recently.”
Easton’s smile brightens like this is the best news he’s heard. Right now we’re not concerned for the cameras outside and the news most probably hitting the net right now.
“Easton, you must stay tonight. If you go out there now they’ll hound you.”
I glance my mum’s way shocked that she would insist on technically my boyfriend staying the night at the house.
“Okay, I’ll stay. I was told that a police officer would sort out all our things back at the hotel. Apparently they’re also arranging my bike to be delivered back at home. I’ll call now and see if they can deliver it here instead.”
Easton gets up from his seat and reluctantly drops my hand as he does. He disappears into the kitchen, leaving me and my mum alone. It’s then that the guilt surfaces again.
“I feel terrible that I put you through all this just to save Easton. I’m sorry.”
Mum quickly rises from her seat the moment she sees the tears surfacing. She sits next to me, taking me in her arms. “Please stop this guilt you’re feeling. You were only placed in that position because he made it. You were trying to save the man you love. I get that. And it’s only the last two days that I’ve come to realise what true love is all about too. Easton was beside himself. I don’t think he hardly slept the whole time. He was constantly on his phone, pacing, trying to get news for us. I don’t know what I would have done without him. I think my sanity would have slipped if it wasn’t for him. He even reminded me that I had to eat to keep my strength up so that we could look for you. He was my strength when I needed it. I will be eternally grateful to that man.”
I pull away from my mum and look up to her tired eyes. “But school. I could be expelled for what’s happened.”
She pats my hand with a smile. “Let’s just take each day as it comes. If—and this is a big if—they expel you then you do your exams at college. I know that’s not what you wanted, but at least you’ll still get to do them. Easton’s going in tomorrow, and I have every faith he’ll do his best to make sure you’re not affected in any way. I trust him—and it’s been a long time since I’ve trusted any man after what’s happened to you.”
It’s then I think of her boyfriend. “What about Eric?”
She slightly giggles. “I suppose he’s also the exception to the rule. It took me a good few years to trust Eric, so Easton should be proud.” She gives me a small wink and in that moment I notice the colour coming back to her pale face. “Right now the only thing I care about is the fact that you’re safe and that monster is finally locked up behind bars where he belongs.”
I do feel that sense of relief, but I also feel dread at the knowledge that even after all has calmed it will eventually come back to haunt us again when the court case begins. It’ll be never ending with that man. He’ll forever haunt me no matter how long he’s in prison for.
Easton eventually finishes off his phone call and we’re together sitting in the living room for a long time until it’s time to eat. I notice when we’re eating that everyone laps up every single morsel. I guess we all had the same appetites when I was away for the two days and now I’m back and safe we’re all ravenous. However, despite eating everything I still can’t escape the guilt I feel for Easton and what he’ll have to face tomorrow. No doubt I will have to face the same thing, but for now, lying in Easton’s arms in my bed, it’s one of the last things on my mind.
“I’m shocked my mum allowed us to sleep together.”
Easton crushes me to his chest and kisses the top of my head. “I believe she knows we would never disrespect her in her home. I wouldn’t touch you no matter how much you begged.”
I hear the playfulness in his voice and it makes me look up to face him. Sure enough, he’s smiling. “No matter how much I beg, huh?”
I lean my hand on his chest and then my chin on top so I can stare at him. Even after all this time his beauty never fails to take my breath away. I doubt it ever will.
Easton raises his hand and starts to stroke my hair away from my face. “There’s a time and a place for that sort of thing, and now’s not the time anyway. My primary concern is keeping you here in my arms. I have to admit, Sasha, that the past two days …” he sighs. “Let’s just say they’ve been the scariest of my life. I never want to feel that hopeless again.”
“I only ever wanted to protect everyone.”
“Shh,” he responds when he spots the tears in my eyes. “What’s done is done. Maybe this was all meant to be. Something as great as what we have should never have been brushed under the carpet.”
“But the news won’t paint it that way. Look at the questions they were already asking when I had just been found. It didn’t matter to them that I was safe and back with my family, all they wanted to concentrate on was whether I wore my school uniform when we were having sex.”
“Hey,” Easton says, squeezing me to him, “it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. What matters is what we think. We know our relationship. We don’t need to explain it to anyone. Besides,” he continues, smiling. “I’m your mum’s hero. Do you know how much of an ego boost that is to a boyfriend?”
I start laughing, setting him off. “Oh, I can imagine.” I roll my eyes and he tickles me in response. When I start to giggle too loudly, he immediately stops.
“Shh, your mum will think we’re up to no good.”
“You are up to no good,” I joke.
Easton smiles at first, but then his smile drops. “Just know that no matter what happens from here on out, one thing will never change.”
“What’s that?”
“The way I feel about you. Promise me that you will never doubt my feelings, Sasha. Promise?”
I dip my head, kissing his hairless chest before looking back up to his expectant eyes. “I promise.”
“We’re a victim of circumstance.”
On a sigh, I reply, “I’m tired of being a victim.”
Easton dips his head down and kisses me lightly on the lips. He stops, but then I continue dipping my tongue into his mouth needing to taste him—always needing to taste him. Just at the point I feel something growing hard beneath me, he stops on a growl.
“We need to stop, Sasha.”
Breathlessly, I pull away. “I know.” I smile at him before resting my head on his chest. Easton soothes me by stroking my hair and the longer he does it the more my eyes begin to droop.
“Promise me you won’t doubt my feelings for you either,” I whisper, feeling as my eyes grow heavier by the moment.
I feel when he dips his head and kisses my hair. Most importantly, I hear him make me the promise I requested just before my eyes lose their battle to stay open, and I eventually succumb to the sleep I so desperately need.
Consequences
Just as we expected, Easton was let go—effective immediately. Things are so bad that I haven’t been able to see him since. Reporters are practically camped out at both his house and mine, just waiting to get the scoop of the century. They’ve even been asking the pupils at my school—if I still have a school that is—if they had noticed anything or suspected what was going on. Everyone had said no. Everyone apart from the bully who picked on Samantha that is. She told them she caught us kissing in the classroom once, which was a complete lie because Easton and I never once so much as made out in the school. Naturally, the press chose to believe it, however, and they all lapped it up as much as she lapped up
all the attention they gave her.
Two days ago—when on my way to give a statement to the police—I was chased by a reporter who was that in my face I ended up tripping on the pavement and smashing my head against the floor. I was taken to hospital and treated for a head wound, but other than that, I’m okay. Physically I’m okay. After the police came to take my statement about that and Liam, they offered me an escort until such time this all blew over. I accepted because we simply can’t live like this. My mum and I have already discussed moving once I’ve completed my exams.
That’s what I’m waiting on now—my fate at the school. They asked me to come in at five to ensure that all the pupils will have gone, so I won’t be the object of their attention. My mum wanted to come with me, but I had told her that this is my mess, and I have to be the one to get out of it. She smiled and asked me when exactly I had grown up.
“Sasha, you may come in now.”
I look to the sound of the voice and see Miss Bowles standing in the doorway of what was once Easton’s office. She offers me a sympathetic smile as I stand and motions for me to enter. Once I do, I see Mrs Caterham sitting behind Easton’s desk alongside another woman I have never met before, who is poised with her notepad and pen at the ready. They politely offer me the seat in front of them, but no one smiles. I suddenly feel like I am on display, but I know I have no one to blame but myself for this situation.
“Sasha, first and foremost,” Mrs Caterham begins, “how are you feeling?”
“It’s been a trying and exhausting few days.”
She smiles then, clasping her hands in front of her on the desk. “I should imagine they have been. I take it the police have everything in hand as far as that’s concerned?”
I nod. “Yes, Liam is remanded in custody and will be brought before the magistrates in two days for his plea.”
“I should imagine you and your family are hoping he pleads guilty and then it can be all over for you.”
I know full well that’s never going to happen. “In an ideal world, yes.” I don’t elaborate more than that. In fact. I just want this over and done with.
Noticing my unease, she inhales a deep breath. “Right, okay, let’s get to the task at hand. You know that Mr Lockhart has been in to see us already and as a result no longer works at this school.” I just nod my head. “He did say that no matter what happens, we should honour the rest of your term here at the school until you finish your exams.” She exhales again, and I notice that my hands actually hurt because I’m squeezing them so tightly. “Under normal circumstances, I would have suggested that you carry out the rest of your term in a different school. Theoretically, that would be better for you as well as this institution. Having said that, I have taken into consideration the facts that you’re only two months away from your exams and that you’ve already waited so long to do them. As a result, I have decided that it is only fair to allow you to complete your exams here, and the rest of the board agrees with me.”
I let out a tremendous sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“That being said, we can’t have any more impropriety. If any such thing arises, we will have no choice but to let you go, Sasha. Do you understand?”
I nod my head. “Of course. All I’ve ever wanted to do was get my certificates.”
Satisfied with my answers, she nods her head and leans back a little. “Good. You can resume lessons next week. Miss Bowles has all the homework you have missed over the last few days. If you have any problems getting through them you must tell us first thing on Monday.” I nod my head. “Okay, you may go, Sasha.”
The moment she says that I’m out of my seat and following Miss Bowles to her classroom. Once there, she picks up a small pile of papers on her desk and hands them to me. “This is all the work that needs to be completed. The only big thing there is an essay I assigned a couple of days ago. If you have any problems or questions, you can call me on this number.” She places a piece of paper with a phone number on the top of my pile.
“Thank you,” I reply.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re safe, and I’m also glad you’re back. You’re one of my top students.” I smile at that. “Well, I guess we should all get going home. Do you need a lift back?”
I shake my head. “No, but thank you. I have a police escort taking me home.”
She looks at the bump on my head. “Yes, I had heard about that awful occurrence with the journalist. I hope he’s been arrested for that?”
“I could have pressed charges for assault, but I don’t think I’m in the right frame of mind to be dealing with that on top of everything else. He has been severely reprimanded and has profusely apologised to me. I think that’s enough. I don’t want to be the cause of someone losing his job.” Just as I say this, I wince when I think of Easton. Miss Bowles notices straight away.
“Honey,” she says, coming in closer and placing an arm on my shoulder, “it took two to tango.”
I want to argue the opposite, but how can I? She’s right. It still doesn’t help the guilt I feel that Easton’s lost his teaching job and will never be hired by another school again. I have no idea what he’ll do now. All I do know is that he’ll have to move back to Edinburgh very soon, which means we won’t see each other for a while. I know that it’s for the best, but that bit of logic doesn’t stop the pain.
“I should go,” I eventually say, pulling away. I promise I’ll get through all of this before I come back to school. See you next week, Miss Bowles.”
She smiles brightly, crossing her hands in front of her. “Yes. See you next week.”
I walk out of the school and into the car park where the police car is waiting. My police escort immediately gets out and opens the back door, allowing me to get in. Journalists are lined up outside the school gates, and the moment they see me, they start firing question after question about whether or not I’ve been expelled, if I’m still planning to see my head teacher, and the one which really makes me laugh wants to know if I am pregnant with his twin babies!
How the fuck do they come up with this stuff?
I quickly dart into the passenger-side backseat, and the policeman shuts the door swiftly behind me. A couple of teachers help open the gate, and we’re soon on our way. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to make our escape before the journalists take a few pictures. I release a deep breath.
“Hard day?”
I look up to find the officer looking at me in the rear-view mirror. “You could say that.”
“Are they letting you finish your exams at least?” I nod my head. “That’s good.”
“Thanks,” I reply, fishing for his name.
“Eddie,” he responds, knowing that’s what I was after.
“Thanks, Eddie.”
“No probs.”
His attention is then back on the road, so I fish out my phone to see if I’ve missed anything. All that I missed was a text message from Easton telling me that he hoped all would go okay. I smile and then start thinking about us and what happens now. I think long and hard and once I’m back at home, I put the homework to one side for now, pack a small bag and tell my mum that I would be back tomorrow. A part of me thought she would grumble, but she simply smiled and told me to have a nice time. I know it’s hard for her to let me go, but I think she knows deep down what this all means.
I text Easton asking him to meet me ten miles away from his house before asking Eddie if he wouldn’t mind driving me to the destination. We arrive twenty minutes later to no camera crews, and no journalists. It’s a breath of fresh air. Easton is waiting for me at the side of the road with both our helmets in his arms and his usual jeans, leather jacket, and of course, the Nikes. I have to smile at that before I get out of the car and hug him for the first time in four days.
“God, I missed you,” he says tugging me close and smelling my hair.
“I missed you too.” I pull away turning to Eddie. “Thank you, Eddie.”
He tips his hat. “You’re
welcome. I’ll be on duty tomorrow, so just let me know if you need picking up from anywhere.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I protest.
“I want to.” He waves, opening his car door. “Have fun.” He winks before getting in his car and it makes me chuckle.
“Should I be jealous of what transpired just now?”
I face Easton, looking up into his playful eyes. “Not you. You’re not the jealous type.”
He pulls his face back a little to take a good look at me. “I can be jealous.”
“I’ve never given you cause.”
“Exactly,” he says with a curt nod. “Until now.” He raises his eyebrow and I poke my finger in his belly making him double over. “Ow! What was that for?”
“You know full well that you have ruined any chance of me finding another man since I met you.”
“I don’t know whether to feel pleased or affronted by that statement.”
“I love you,” I say, looking up towards his face.
Easton bends down, kissing me lightly before pulling away. “I love you too. More than words can say.”
“A complete love like ours, loves completely.”
He chuckles. “I knew I would make a poet out of you someday.”
“Easton?”
“Yes, baby.”
I wait for the pang I feel of when Liam called me that, but thankfully it never comes. Luckily he hasn’t tainted that word after all. I won’t let him.
“Take me somewhere.”
He leans forward, taking my lips again before saying, “I thought you would never ask."
Au Revoir
Easton
We’re on my bike for a good fifty miles before we eventually pull over by a small B&B in a sleepy little town called Littleton in Winchester. No one is here to bother us, and we’re miles away from anything. I know this is what Sasha would want, so this is what I am determined to give her.
But my heart fucking aches. It aches so hard at the knowledge that this is going to be goodbye. I know it will be because we have already discussed my return to Scotland. I know because she has already started to push me away. I heard it in her voice when we made arrangements to meet. I sensed it in her body language when she came to meet me. Despite all the jokes, I felt her heart breaking.
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