Page 85 of The Teacher

He really does love me.

I was blind to it, but now I see.

“I love you too.”

RING.

The school bell goes, echoing loudly down the hallways. The doors slam open and students start to swarm inside the school around us. I keep my eyes on Skipper, and he keeps his eyes on me until I’m suddenly tugged away by someone below me.

Skipper and I break our embrace as I’m pulled away from him. I look down to see who it is.

James has run over and hugged me. His little hands reach around my waist as he buries himself into my jeans.

“James! You’re hugging me?”

Tom’s suddenly here as well. He runs up and joins James in his hug around my legs.

What the hell? These two troublemakers are actually hugging me. My heart’s fit to burst by their abrupt cuteness.

“What’s happened, boys? Why are you hugging me?”

“I passed my English exam,” James shouts. Tom joins him too.

They both passed English.

Skipper bends his knees down to their level. “How about that guys? What do you say to Miss Finn for helping you?”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks, Miss Finn.”

I shake my head and mouth I love you to Skipper.

He grins back at me.

“Maybe I’ll have to just get you guys some video game vouchers,” I say jokingly to the boys, and Skipper laughs.

We did this, together. Skipper and me. We taught James and Tom all about Shakespeare and now they’ve passed the important exam. A few weeks ago, they couldn’t be in the same room together without fighting, and now they’re best friends. Kind of like Skipper and me.

A few weeks ago, they didn’t even listen to one word I said in class, and now they’re passing Shakespeare.

Thanks to Skipper.

Thanks to me.

Skipper leans over the two boys and hands me a note. I don’t have time to look at it before he’s walking away. Out of the school.

Wait.

I move to chase him down, but the two boys have me tightly locked in their hug.

They’re very cute, but they’re not helping me at all.

Before I know it, Skipper disappears out the school doors. Gone.

And I can’t follow.

Damn.