Love? What the fuck was going on here?
"Are you saying you're with me against your will? That you don't love me? Choose your next words very carefully, Flor."
"I'm saying there were better ways to keep me by your side than threatening me," Miss Reynolds said softly. "Please give me your phone password so we can handle this peacefully, as we did in the beginning."
She began to tenderly lift the hand that was gripping his wrist toward his cheek, but he stopped her before she could complete the gesture.
"That's where you're always wrong, Flor, thinking I'm stupid enough to fall for your manipulations over and over again like I'm a child."
"But you used to fall for them so easily before," she whispered.
"But not anymore, darling," he replied, placing his hand on her neck.
I was utterly disturbed by what I was witnessing. I'd always known Oliver could be a bully, capable of hurting people both physically and mentally, but even our teacher? This was beyond anything I'd imagined he was capable of.
I decided to burst out of the closet to intervene, but just as I was about to move, Florence smiled.
He wasn't hurting her. She was enjoying this.
"Oh, you think you're a grown man now?" she purred.
"Of course I am."
She stood up, cupped his face with both hands, and kissed him. Actually kissed him on the lips. My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but suddenly so many things made sense.
Oliver's grades are mysteriously good despite minimal effort. How he never got in trouble despite deliberately causing problems every day. Florence's comments about my maturity over the past few days. Had she been interested in me, too? This was so incredibly messed up.
I couldn't stand watching anymore. I was completely disgusted. So I emerged from the closet, still slack-jawed, and watched as they both froze in shock at seeing me.
"Kyle, I can explain," Florence said immediately, frantically fixing her hair and clothes.
"There's nothing to explain. Give me the phone."
"Hey, man, I'm sure we can work something else out," Oliver said, stepping protectively in front of Florence.
"I don't think so. Give me Oliver's phone, and I'll leave quietly."
They looked at each other uncertainly, unsure whether they should let me go so easily.
"Listen, I'm not interested in whatever sick relationship you two have going on, or what else might be on that phone. All I want is Leo's video deleted, so give me the phone, and I'll leave peacefully, as if I never saw any of this." I meant every word. What I'd witnessed was disgusting, but it wasn't my business to deal with, especially since I had my own issues to deal with right now.
"Yeah, well, there's a problem with that," Oliver said.
"What problem?" I asked impatiently.
"I'm not the only person who has the video," my friend admitted.
"Who else has it?"
No one answered, so I asked again, more forcefully. "Who else has the video?"
"Brandy. I sent it to her on Saturday night to show her why she shouldn't be with her boyfriend."
Holy shit. This was going from bad to catastrophic. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Okay, I can handle Brandy. Hand me the phone now, and I'll leave."
Florence reached into her jacket pocket and handed me the device. Oliver looked at her with disgust, as if he knew it was a mistake, but he didn't object.
I grabbed the phone, took a deep breath, and left the room as quickly as possible.
