Page 2 of Her Forbidden Teacher

Nick: Heard you showed your tits to one of the teachers. Fucking skank. Is that why you turned me down? You were sucking Mr. T’s dick?

My eyes burn with tears as my skin heats up. The dean at my old school assured me and my parents we could keep the scandalbetween us. I’d stupidly hoped that were true, but Lucy already betrayed me once, so it’s not surprising she did it again.

I considered her one of my best friends, too.

Halle: Lucy said Nick said he saw you blowing Mr. Thompson. That’s disgusting! He’s like forty!

Kenzie: You kept this from us all summer? Lucy is crying. She’s devastated. You know she had a secret crush on him, right? Is that why you slept with him?

Maddy: You’re pregnant with Mr. Thompson’s baby? I overheard Halle saying that’s why you’re not in school. We always knew you were a slut.

A tear streaks down my cheek, and I hastily swipe it away.

Cason: I just got sent to the dean’s office. I’ll probably get suspended. Nick’s bloody nose was worth it.

At this, I crack a small smile. My younger brother always has my back.

I pass by the classroom where my second hour will be and Coach Long glowers at me as I pass. It makes me wonder if Mr. Thompson told all his teacher friends outside of the private school. Does everyone know I’m a whore?

You’re not a whore.

You didn’t send those messages to him.

I’d tried to explain that to my parents, the cops, to everyone, but no one believed me. The picture was clearly me. It was sentfrom a profile that had my pictures on it to Mr. Thompson’s Instagram. All the messages sent after that even sounded like me. I was just as shocked as they were.

“…fucked her teacher…”

I freeze when I overhear words nearby and snap my head over to a group of girls watching me with sneers. The tall one with sleek brown hair smirks at me.

“I’m Nick’s cousin, Elody.” She wriggles her fingers. “Hi, new girl.”

I reach my first hour class and shove through the door, eager to escape Elody. I knew once the secret got out, it’d be bad, but I didn’t think it would spread so fast. My breaths come out sharp and quick as I scramble to the first desk I see. It’s right in front of the teacher’s desk. The back of the classroom has already filled up and there’s only one spot open beside me.

If Elody sits there, I’m quitting school and running away.

Needing to distract myself, I text my younger brother back.

Me: Thanks. Just ran into his cousin. It’s exploding here too.

Cason: Let me know if I need to come destroy someone’s life.

I smile despite the tears threatening to fall. Cason is a Monahan, ruthless and cruel at times, but he’s also always on the hunt for a story. The FBI should hire him with his investigative skills. He’s the only one who believed me that Lucy sent the messages to Mr. Thompson, though we have no hard proof of it. When he wants to find dirt on someone, he will and won’t stop until they’re exposed. His YouTube channel is known for uncovering crazy local secrets.

Me: Is this going to mess up your YouTube stuff?

Cason: Already getting demands to reveal “the truth” about you.

Me: I’m sorry.

Cason: I can handle the trolls. Just get through your day. We can go visit Buck later. That’ll cheer you up.

He’s right. Visiting my baby nephew will make a bad day better.

I’m about to reply when a man clears his voice, making me jump.

“Put your phone away, miss. This will be your only warning. I have a strict ‘no-phones out ever’ policy for my classroom.”

A few kids snigger at me, sending a ripple of irritation down my spine. I snap my eyes up to meet the teacher’s. I don’t know why I expected to meet a similar, almost-mean looking face like Coach Long, but that’s not at all what I see. Despite the firm, no-nonsense words, the man’s face doesn’t match them. His eyes are big, bright, and green like the color of the lily pads in Dad’s backyard pond. When he notices my wet eyelashes, his lips thin out and his eyebrows furl together.