"Put your shirt back on." The principal spoke, and Jude followed suit, never having turned back.
The old man put his head on his interlocked fingers, deep in thought.
I didn't dare to interrupt him. Taking a seat on the sofa that was placed in the office, Jude sat down beside me, his aftershave smelling heavenly, which was unreasonable after smashing a face.
I wanted Jude to show his injuries to the principal for three reasons. One, I wanted to let another adult know so as to lessen the burdened responsibility of being the only one in the picture, and I was overwhelmed with how to act in this case. Second, to get the principal to pity him and take care of him. Third, so that he would not and never will contact Thomas if Jude acted out.
After a lengthy silence, the principal spoke, voicing out my thoughts as well,
"Normally, I would contact the authorities, but we are talking about the Lennister family." For a family, this powerful, forget the spectacle that would follow; there would be no one taking on that case in the first place. And so what if Thomas is fined? The child was an adult who could leave at any time. The principal also spoke about that,
"Can you move out?"
I turned to Jude; that was my question as well.
Jude smiled brightly, like I had never seen him do. But something was wrong with that smile; it was fake.
"The situation isn't that bad. I misbehaved at the soirée, and I was punished. I was on edge today because of my punishment, and I acted out after being insulted. I am sorry."
That was no answer about whether moving out would be possible, but at least the child finally gave in. Still, it was clearly as fake as that smile of his was.
The principal nodded,
"I will not contact your father. But if this happens again, you will leave me no other choice; I will not let you act violent just because you have issues."
Breathing a sigh of relief, I nodded and stood up,
"Thanks. He will behave." At least, I hope he will.
"If the parents of the injured student come, I will have Teacher Lesly called as Jude's guardian." The principal pointed out.
"I want to be present as well." Jude exclaimed all of a sudden.
"Oh, you will. Get out now." The principal was getting fed up with us, so I took Jude's wrist and led him out of the office.
When we arrived in the corridor, we met Amanda.
"Will you get expelled?" She asked worriedly, her eyes wandering to my hand around Jude's wrist. As if scalded, I let go of him too exasperatedly, making it look comical. I lost a bit of dignity as a teacher because of that scene.
"You two talk." Turning to Jude, I told him,
"Go to the student when you are finished, and apologize..." The black eyes narrowed lightly, so as if compelled, I followed up with,
"Please...." Now, I have completely lost my dignity as a teacher. And both situations took place in front of that strange cowgirl.
Jude nodded at me lightly, and I turned back to ask the secretary about the substitute teacher. She told me it was arranged, and if I was done with my lessons, I could just take my leave.
When I came outside again, Amanda and Jude stood there in silence. Ignoring them, I walked upstairs to the math club. At least this had been my last lesson, as well as Jude's. Everyone could go home.
Walking upstairs, I let everything that happened replay before my eyes. I am really fighting with myself constantly. When I have left, what if Jude destroys his life completely? What if he harms other people again? It would be better for me to stay and watch over him.
But the fact that he expected me to stay because of his antics was so infuriating, that I only wanted to leave more. Besides, it wasn't required of me to stay here for Jude to explore his father's obsession, viewing me as the woman who destroyed his family. That's just sick in so many ways.
I thought the class would be empty because I arrived too early, but I saw a young guy with glasses.
"Are you the math teacher?"
He looked up at me, and I thought that many little girls should have fallen for him—not what I had expected of someone who likes numbers; well, nobody would think of me as a PE teacher as well.
Nodding at me, he introduced himself,
"Derek, nice to meet you." Shaking hands officially, I nodded back before asking about the details of the trip.
"Our math club has ten participants. As you may know, there has to be one supervisor for every five students if we leave the city. So I was relieved when you signed up; it was at the last minute."
"No problem." I watched him distribute a few papers among the desks in the empty classroom.
"We will leave on Wednesday, meeting in front of the school gate in the afternoon." Derek explained, his gray eyes glancing at me occasionally. He was also blond, but with a darker tone than my hair.
"Perfect. I will be there." What to do, I will decide then.
"Let's exchange numbers." Derek took his smartphone out before looking sharply at the door,
"Student?"
I looked back and saw Jude leaning against the door with crossed arms, his gaze inquisitive.
*************
Thomas POV
Three years went by, and the baby had grown into a beautiful toddler, stealing your heart away from me.
I was now strong enough, and when I had chosen a day, I was ready to kill my abuser, finally.
But I was given a gift in the deep, dark place I had lived since meeting the both of you and discovering you two were of the same kind.
The day I wanted to end her with my own hands, I found you holding her lifeless body, unresponsively staring into nothingness. You had done it yourself; you killed her.
I was so ecstatic that I was soaring. Stepping higher and higher, I was nearly out of hell.
That was until I saw the toddler. The toddler had bloody wounds on her back; seeing the familiar injuries, I understood. You did it for the little child.
While watching me back then—only a few years older than the toddler—getting tormented by her, even relishing on my pain, you killed the one you loved the most for this child.
A new plan formed; now that my tormentor had died, the child would have to be the next.