Page 86 of The Teacher

“Thanks, guys,” I say to the two boys. “But maybe that’s been a long enough hug.”

They giggle and run off together, pretending to shoot each other.

I unravel the note Skipper passed me. It’s a detention slip. I roll my eyes.

Cocky bastard.

I read what he’s written on it. There’s only a sentence.

Meet me after class.

And then there’s the name of his hotel.

Alright, Skipper Deep. You win this time, you cheeky man.

32

SANDY

As the elevator ascends the many floors of the luxury hotel, I play with my hair in the elevator mirror, making sure it’s just right.

My hands shake as I run them through my hair. I’m nervous. I don’t know why I am, I’m only meeting Skipper, just like he asked me to do on that detention note. I shouldn’t be nervous about anything right now, but I am.

The events of the day pass by me in a blur. That whole confrontation in the principal’s office still replays through my mind. I can’t get Skipper’s words out of my head.

He loves me.

And I love him.

So, he wasn’t cheating on me last night at Miss Tweed’s house, instead he was set up by that malicious teacher. She wanted me to break down and break up with Skipper. She wanted him to leave New Water because of our argument so that she had an excuse to fire me. She had photographs of us together. She wanted me gone, and she very nearly succeeded if it wasn’t for Skipper riding in to save the day at the last moment. I should never have doubted him for a minute.

So, for the last few weeks he’s been gathering evidence of Miss Tweed’s stealing? With his crack team of lawyers and accountants? He never told me anything about that.

I judged Skipper too soon. He has been trying to do the right thing. He’s proven he really loves me, and I’ve been too blind to see what kind of man he truly is. I was so blinded by what had happened eight years ago.

I’ve spent the whole day back in my classroom. I was immediately reinstated by Mr. Brown after Skipper’s revelations. I was even spied Miss Tweed being led to a police vehicle through my classroom windows. It was hard not to notice her, she was spitting and yelling and resisting the cops every step of the way, her puffy hair shaking about like ruined candy floss.

I knew it was bad to enjoy the spectacle of her being arrested, but I did enjoy it very, very much.

The elevator doors ping open and I step into the hotel hallway leading to the presidential suite. Steve the bodyguard stands to attention.

“Hi,” I say.

“He’s waiting for you,” Steve winks at me.

I hesitate before knocking on the hotel door leading into the suite. Sweat builds on my forehead. I am super nervous.

I knock.

And Skipper opens up and I gasp when I see him. For once he’s not wearing an expensive tailored suit, but instead a wetsuit and, under his arm, he’s carrying a surfboard. He looks like a pro surfer. The sight of him dressed that way surrounded by the luxury confines of the presidential suite makes me giggle.

“Hey, don’t laugh,” Skipper says. “I thought we’d go out for a surf together.”

Instead of replying I reach forward and pull him close to me, going for a long kiss. Our lips meet and he kisses back.

So, he wants to go for a surf?

Then I’d better get ready.