Thursday 23rd June (2016)
Philippa's POV
"Cheers girls!" We all shout in unison as we make our way to the hotel for prom. Glass of champagne in hand, singing and laughing with Billie and Nancy. The bubbles had started to get to my head and I think it's fair to say I was a little tipsy. Not only had I had champagne, but I'd bought me and girls some minis to have on the way aswell, and they were inhaled in the first two minutes - so I think it's fair to say we were absolutely wasted.
We pulled up to the entrance and I was first to get out, sliding the door open I stumbled out the limousine with the girls following in the same manner. Saying an enthusiastic 'hey' to everyone I made eye contact with, my eyes soon fell on my Michael. From fear of falling I stayed still and just smiled, he got the hint and made his way over to me, his face lit up when he saw my dress.
"Alright Taylor..." He asked coolly, knowing teachers were surrounding us.
"Ahhh, hi Sir! Fancy seeing you hear..." I replied trying to look as sober as I possibly could.
You look... really stunning, Miss Taylor..." He whispered as he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him, turning us both round so nobody could see what he said.
"Oooh, Mr Carter you shouldn't be saying that to one your students..." I said flirtatiously before bursting into a fit of giggles and stumbling for the disorientation.
"Have you had something to drink?" He sternly asked, tightening his grip on my arm.
"Nooooo!... Well... maybe a few..." I giggled again, looking into his eyes and they turned into a glare.
"God Philippa. You can't make us obvious tonight you know, we've done so well with keeping it a secret. In fact, i'm gonna get you some water." He replied in a possessive tone.
Mick turned round to another teacher and whispered, 'I'm just gonna get her some water, I think she's enjoyed the pre drinks', so nothing looked suspicious as he put his hand on the small of my back and led me to the hotel toilets.
He filled a glass and passed it to me as I lent against his shoulder. Both of us looking into the reflection of the mirror and smiling slightly. His gaze still looked at me through the mirror as his hand moved hair out of my face, he replaced it with a peck on my cheek as he repeated his earlier comment.
"You look amazing, by the way. That necklace looks gorgeous..." He said again, watching intently as I drank slowly from the glass of water.
"You don't look too bad yourself... and I'm sorry, I knew it wasn't a good idea to come to my prom steaming drunk..." I apologised after beginning to sober up, caressing the necklace between my thumb and index finger.
"It's your prom, you deserve to have a good time. I guess I just got worried you would blurt something out." He looked guilty.
"I can be stupid when i'm drunk, but not that stupid." I said as I went on my tiptoes to kiss him.
As he pulled back and shook his head, I reassured him that everyone was outside, and in turn he placed a small kiss on my lips and led me back outside again.
I came outside to be met with Mr Travis, he asked how i'm feeling and shook Mick's hand, it felt so weird to be at a hotel, in a dress, with my two maths teachers.
I interrupted their conversation and asked Mr Travis to get a photo with me, passing my phone camera to Mick as we stood waiting. Mr Travis looked at me intently after the photo was taken before moving on to another group of students. I stayed chatting to Mick for a few minutes more before finding the girls again.
Michael's POV
I made my way around the students, talking and getting photos with them. Every now and then I caught eye contact with her and I couldn't wait for her to leave the school so I was in the clear. Interrupting my daze, Travis stood next to me.
"Alright mate, did your Mrs like the necklace?" He asked.
"Not given it her yet mate, planning on it this weekend though, thanks for saving me before as well by the way." I replied whilst taking a sip of lager.
"Ahh right you've not given it her, is that why I see it on Philippa Taylor's neck then...?" He was suspicious of us, I had to think of something.
"What? What are you trying to imply mate? Girls can have the same necklace you know."
"Well you looked very cosy before, getting her a glass of water, playing the good fucking samaritan..." He started to get quietly aggressive.
"You're deluded Trav, that girls my student. Do you seriously think i'm that stupid?" I imitated his anger, starting to point whilst still holding my drink.
"Now starting to think about it, yeah mate I do, you didn't like Ryan Ellis, you run to her every need and begged her to stay in your class, so yeah mate I do." I scowled before walking off. Leaving me absolutely terrified of what was going to happen, I look back over to him and see him chatting with the headteacher - fuck.
Philippa's POV
After spending a bit of time with the girls, I wanted to see my man, so I made my way over to the bar to find him slumped over a drink. I ordered one for myself before asking if he was okay.
"You need to stay away from me for the rest of the night Taylor, Travis knows and I have to make him believe nothings going on." He looked so scared, you could see it in his eyes.
"Look i'm going outside to the smokers area, i'll be there for five minutes if you want to chat it private." I whispered quickly before getting up and strolling outside, smiling at Travis on the way and trying to look as innocent as possible.
He stormed outside, looking very tense as he walked back and forth around the table.
"Listen just calm down, i'm technically not a student here anymore, and there's no proof because we've never exchanged numbers or given them any evidence to think anything - it's their word against ours - just act oblivious." I squeezed his arm and put a hand on his chest as he looked down at me before resting his chin on my head and letting out a deep breath.
"Philippa? Is that you?" I heard a voice from across the car park. Me and Mick immediately came away from one another as I took another look at who it was.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" I was shocked and confused, I haven't seen my Dad since Joe's fight.
"What do you think? I had to see my Daughter at prom, you look beautiful." He looked at me with the look of a proud Dad before his eyes turned to Mick.
"You look a bit old to be a student mate..." My Dad laughed as he shook his hand, completely oblivious to the fact that he wasn't actually a student.
"No Mr Taylor, I'm actually Philippa's old maths teacher. Nice to meet you." Mick said as he returned the handshake.
"You're a teacher, is it allowed for you two to be out here on your own? Not exactly responsible." My Dad replied, glaring at Mick in the process. He looked nervous as shit, beads of sweat were forming as my Dad turned back to me.
"I think you two should go back inside then, I don't want anyone wondering where you've gotten up to huh?" His eyes flickered between us both as Mick gestured with his hand for me to go first.
"Again, not looking good on you Mick. I see you're with Miss Taylor again." On the way inside we bumped into Mr Travis, however the commotion had caught the attention of my Dad who had started to make his way back to the car.
"At I missing something Philippa?" My Dad appeared again, looking angry this time, me and Mick were surrounded by people we did not want to be surrounded by.
"You must be Philippa's Dad, it very nice to meet you. I'm Mr Travis, you daughters maths teacher." Great, now they're buddied up.
It starts to grab the attention of a few others as all three men begin to raise their voices.
From all directions, I had people asking if anything was going on, or if he'd taken advantage of me in any way.
"This man has helped me through a lot of stuff that nobody had even noticed... and just because he's been nice and supportive you all immediately think something's going on. Well in the future, why don't you train all your staff to be heartless, insensitive people that couldn't actually give a shit about their students huh? If this man gets anything it's should be a pay rise."
After my little speech, I didn't intend for it to get so deep, I saw the girls in the crowd of people looking confused. I smiled as Nancy came forward.
"Oh so that's why you've been so distant then, you're shagging your teacher." She looked upset but angry and Billie soon stepped forward to console Nancy.
"Well it's not a surprise Billie, she's always fancied the hell out of him hasn't she." Billie laughed and winked at me. I knew she'd be on my side. However, Travis and my Dad heard the conversation, giving them more reason to believe it.
"Okay we know what's happening here, can you take your Daughter home Mr Taylor, and for you Mr Carter, I thought you'd be clever enough to understand this is against school policy. Hell it's illegal for god sake. It happens up and down the country every single year, you're just one of the unlucky ones with no self control - can someone call 999, i'll inform the head."
After refusing to admit anything, me and Mick carried on the story that he was just a nice teacher, helping a student through a tough time, he had been concerned about me and wanted to be there. Obviously they didn't believe us and soon enough the police had arrived. For everyone at prom, this was entertainment, a story to tell in five years, for me it was the worst night of my life - but for Michael, this was his life and career.
I knew we had to stick to our story, but Michael was arrested that night. My Dad drove me home, lecturing me but also reassuring me that it wasn't my fault, and that Michael was the one who took advantage. They never stepped back to think how we were actually in a relationship and loved each other. I had not been taken advantage of, I had been cared for and loved. Nancy didn't really speak to me that night, but Billie was on the phone for hours taking my mind off it, and all I wanted was to see my Mick and get him away from the police station, he didn't deserve any of this, I deserved to be in that police station just as much as he did.