Chapter five

Devon

Erica went home when my mom got off work. She brought me home some chicken tenders and fries when I sent her a text I wanted some. She looked at me concerned when Erica left, wondering what happened. I told her I didn't want to talk about it and she left it alone.

We ate our dinner in silence and I went up for a relaxing bath. I needed it after all the stress I'd been through and was hoping it would help me relax enough to sleep. I was playing with the suds when my mother poked her head in the bathroom with concern in her eyes.

"Mija, I don't like when you're upset and don't tell me what's wrong," she says with worry in her tone.

"I'm just trying to sort through my feelings Mama," I say quietly and go back to playing with the suds. "My hormones are off balance and I almost lost my baby due to stressing about Jennifer. I just want to forget like she did."

"That's not all that's bothering you, but I won't push it. I'm here when you're ready to talk, okay," she says in a soothing whisper and I nod lightly.

"When is your next shift," I ask quietly, dreading the answer.

She sighs and I know without her having to tell me. "I'm sorry Mija," she chokes quietly as I shook my head in disappointment.

"It's fine," I say quietly. "I'm going to bed."

So much for a relaxing bath. I climb out, wrap myself in a towel and into my room. I close and lock my door and change into something loose to sleep in. I spot two hoodies that don't belong to me. One was Jennifer's and the other could only be Erica's. She must have left it in here while we did some light studying when we got back from the hospital.

I picked up her hoodie and the smell of her perfume was still strong. I could feel myself start to calm down with just a simple smell of her fragrance. I put it on and climbed into my bed. My sheets still smell like her perfume and I bury my face in the fabric. I take in a deep breath of her fragrance and let out a calming breath. I close my eyes and fall into a dreamless sleep.

I woke to someone tucking hair from my face. "Morning sleepyhead," Erica says with a smile and looks me over. "I see you found the hoodie I left yesterday."

"Your perfume is calming for me," I say quietly and sit up, rubbing my eyes. "Did my mother already leave?"

"I had to call her for the key to your room," she says in sympathy.

I shrug. It's nothing new. She's never home anymore. I slip out of bed and head to the kitchen for breakfast. I was surprised to see it waiting for me at the breakfast bar and it was still hot. "I made you breakfast before I went to get you," Erica says with a light smile, placing a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top.

"How did you know that's how I like my hot chocolate," I ask as tears fill my eyes. Jennifer always got it wrong and my mother isn't home enough to notice what I do and don't like. "Jennifer always got it wrong and my mother isn't around much to know what I like."

"Honestly, Alexis liked it that way and I didn't realize I made it that way until you said something," she says quietly and curses at herself. "I keep bringing her up around you and I'm not sure why. I'm usually closed off to everyone, but you make it easy to talk to."

"Seems like she and I have a lot in common," I say with a light smile and I get one in return. I tilt my head to the side and ask curious, "What about me makes you want to open up?"

I take a bite of the pancakes and moan at how delicious they were. They had a hint of apple cinnamon and honestly the best pancakes I've ever had. "Don't tell my mom but these are the best I've ever had," I say with a smile and she chuckles. "What?"

"You have a cute moan," she teases, bumping my shoulder playfully and I feel as my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Her face gets serious as she says, "You have this warm aura you put out that draws others in. That's what makes it easy to talk to you about her, about everything."

"I had a choice of hoodies to wear last night," I choke quietly as tears roll down my cheeks and she looks at me confused. "I had a choice between two hoodies that weren't mine to choose to wear. One you left while you were tutoring me and the other was Jennifer's. I didn't even hesitate when I picked yours."

I wipe my eyes and go back to eating my breakfast. "Thank you for breakfast," I say with a light smile.

"What made you choose mine," she asks curious.

Still able to faintly smell her perfume, I smile. "Your perfume. I find it comforting. I was trying to take a relaxing bath after you left, but it wasn't as relaxing as I'd hoped it would be. It made me feel like you were sleeping next to me and I was able to go to sleep with ease," I say with a smile and shrug. "I knew if I picked Jennifer's it would have led to thoughts of her and it would have only stressed me out more than I was.

"My mother never home stresses me out more than Jennifer not having her memory. I don't understand these feelings I have because I'm scared it's my stupid hormones. But I've felt drawn to you since that night and when I try to ignore it..."

Erica

She was starting to hyperventilate so I did the only thing I knew would distract her. I kissed her. I held it there a few seconds as I felt her body relax against me. She returns the kiss, sliding her arms around my neck. Her lips fit perfectly with mine and neither of us seemed to want to stop.

I flick my tongue at her bottom lip and she grants me access. Our tongues dance in perfect sync and I feel her move to straddle my lap. My phone rings, breaking us apart and both of us breathing heavily. She declined her mother's call on my phone, wraps her arms around my neck and rests her head on my shoulder.

I rub her back in comfort and she lets out a content sigh. "You're here with me. It's not like I'm alone. I don't want to be bothered," she says in a calming breath. "Don't overthink about the kiss, I'm glad you did it. Don't let it change us, please?"

I kiss her head and I say in a soothing whisper, "I won't. I'm here if you need me Devon."

"Thank you," she chokes with relief.

Monday...

I returned Fridays tests before my second class arrived and had them face down. I lean against my desk, arms crossed and thought about Devon, home alone. I made her breakfast before work and was going to stay, but she said she was just going to catch up on schoolwork. I already informed her other teachers about her need of bed rest after what happened Saturday.

I send her a text asking how she's doing and she sent me a picture of her wearing my hoodie while eating one of the snacks I prepared for her. She's not supposed to be on her feet long or do things that stress her out. I told her I'd swing by for lunch and she said Irene was bringing her lunch.

I told her I'd see her after school as the first students walked in. She sent a smiley face and it made me smile. The bell rings and I place my phone on my desk. "Turn over Friday's test," I say in disappointment. "I'm disappointed with most of you. Those of you who got below a seventy percent on their tests will be retaking it, today. I have six classes and seventy-five percent of my six classes, failed their tests.

"I know this is only my second year teaching and most of you think I'll be lenient and give you a passing grade. You were wrong. I know I'm not bad at teaching because of my six classes and there are twenty-four of you in each class, twelve got an average of ninety or better. Only one student of my six classes got a perfect score," I say and look at each of their faces. "Those of you who got a failing grade already have the retake in front of them. Get started. The rest of you, correct your wrong answers the best you can without a textbook."

I sit at my desk and look at Jennifer. I motion for her to come over and she brings her textbook. "Are you getting any of this," I ask quietly and she nods. "Want to try taking it?"

"I'll try it," she says with a light smile.

I hand her a test and I take her book. "You can stay at my desk. I'm not counting this test final. I still want to give you the two weeks to study like the rest of the class," I say with a light smile and she nods.

I walk around the classroom and notice Jessica is struggling with a part of the test. I sit next to her and she looks at me confused. "Why don't you try paying attention in class? There's only two months left of school. You would literally need a perfect score from now until then in order to pass," I say quietly and she didn't seem to care. "Friday I said something I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. Is there something going on at home you want to talk about, but can't?"

Tears fill her eyes and nods vigorously. There we have it. Behind every bully is a conflict at home. It still doesn't excuse what she did to Jennifer, but now I have an idea why she's been a bitch. "Is there anything I can do to help," I ask with concern.

Fear falls over her face, but it wasn't for her. It was for me. "No one can help," she chokes quietly. "I'm forced to do what I do. My dad runs the underground and is involved with a lot of shady people. I hate what he makes me do, but I can't get away from him. There is no getting away from him. If he finds out I'm telling you this, he'll make me kill you. I don't want to."

"Let's start by helping you bring those grades up," I say with a light smile.

"He has eyes everywhere, even here at school. Some of the teachers I'd watch out for," she says as tears roll down her cheeks. "I can't tell you anymore than that."

"Thank you for telling me what you could," I say with a light smile. "Study the packet we did in class and you can do the retake when Jennifer takes hers. Make something of yourself Jessica, get out of the shadows."

I go to get up and she grabs my arm. I looked back at her and she had tears in her eyes.  "He's  watching her, he'll always be watching her."

"Who," I ask concerned.

"Devon and her baby, he knows it's Jennifer's and he'll stop at nothing to kill them. Jennifer's dad is friends with mine and forced me to do what I did spring fling or he'd kill my mom," she chokes in a whisper. "I don't want any part of this."

The bell rings, startling both of us. "He knows she's home alone," I ask in a scared whisper.

"Yes," she says quietly. "But I have a team loyal to me that despise my father protecting her house and yours. I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

I nod and she nods in return. "Thank you," I say quietly and she gives a light smile. The tardy bell rings and I say, "I'll write you a tardy pass."

She follows me to my desk and I hand her a pass. She turns to leave and I call out to her. "Jessica," she turns to face me. "I'm here, if you ever need to talk."

"Thank you," she says quietly and leaves my classroom.

I push what she told me to the back of my mind and continue my day of teaching. As the students went over their tests, I was looking up a fun way of teaching, but also educational to those who need the extra help. I wanted to help my students while having fun.

As they last class came to an end I made my way to Julie's office. I was collecting the homework for Devon when Julie looks at me curious. "Have you noticed Jessica's behavior change," she asks and I shake my head. "Students from your first class said you say and talked with her."

"She's struggling in my class and I was simply teaching one on one while the others reviewed or retook the test. She got the lowest score of my six classes. I told her to study the guidelines and retake the test when Jennifer Williams takes hers," I say as I shift Devon's schoolwork in my arms. "Is that all?"

"Thank you for going out of your way to help troubled students," she says with a smile.

"Someone needs to point them in the right direction," I say with a smile and walk out of the school.