Chapter Eighteen

Ada

Tuesday, I just go through the motions at work. I don’t want to think about Charlie and he’s all I can think about. I get to substitute for a nicer teacher. Mrs. Martinez is a nice older teacher who doesn’t secretly hate me while pretending to be nice. It doesn’t help that I’m hungover and perhaps a little bit still drunk when I get to the school. I decide I need to go get some coffee before I start a new adventure in substituting.

I will say since I talked down to the blondies and told Madeline’s class I’d make them have Saturday detention they haven’t really spoken to me. It’s nice. After homeroom, I teach her math class. By teach I mean I supervise while they do the assignment she left. I’m a terrible math person. I can barely add and subtract. Fortunately, they don’t require you to be good at math to sub for a math class.

Before I know it, I’m having a quiet lunch at the desk and catching up on my reading. I’ve only thought about Charlie three times in the past hour. My music class isn’t until one so I decide to go walk the track and get in some much-needed exercise.

I immediately regret my decision having forgotten it’s free period for the English teachers and they are there in their matching tracksuits, a rainbow of spandex and sweatbands. Each of them is very fit and a little intimidating when you look at their bodies. I am just walking in the dress pants and shirt I wore to work. I wasn’t planning on working up enough of a sweat to make workout clothes necessary. They’re definitely going to make me look bad.

I head to the track passing them as they stretch. Making it a full lap before they actually start walking gives me hope they will just ignore me. I have no such luck as they immediately catch up.

“So, word on the street is you’re seeing Charlie Maxwell,” Madeline says as she walks beside me. Hallie and Penny are on the other side so I’m trapped in a blond sandwich. Each of their water bottles filled with ice clink as they move their arms walking fast. I find myself speeding up to keep up with them and wonder how that happened.

I don’t want to answer her. Who says word on the street? They’re always trying to sound much cooler than they are.

“We’re seeing each other. Or we were seeing each other, it’s complicated.” I close my eyes wishing I could take that back. Like a snake seeing a mouse, Madeline attaches herself to that statement and a large smile spreads across her face.

“Oh my, he’s quite the bad boy I’ve heard. I guess you couldn’t keep up. Not that I blame you, Ada, believe me. You’re a nice girl.”

I know she’s not being nice, she’s being the opposite of nice. I hate the way the three of them disguise their complete bitchiness with what they think sounds like compliments.

“Actually, I can handle it. He’s amazing in bed and sure I don’t like some of the things he gets into but as long as he doesn’t bring them home to me, what’s it matter? When we sing together it’s hot. He’s writing me a song, so yeah there’s a little thing we’re working out right now, but believe me, I can handle him.”

Their mouths are open and I walk off the track. I can’t believe I said any of that. Who am I? Where did that come from? I’d lied, he’s not writing me a song. At least, I don’t think he is. I’m also not speaking to him right now, we may never speak again. Madeline will find that out. I can’t believe I let them get under my skin.

Now I’m thinking about Charlie again. I’m thinking about his body and his lips as I walk back towards the school. I’m debating not going home because he is going to try and find me. On the one hand, it’s cool that he wants to see me so bad, but I don’t want him getting hurt so I have to try and figure this out.

I really need to talk to Lila, I can’t figure out why she’s not been available to me. I assume it’s Thomas. She really likes him.

As I head towards my classroom, I hear music. It’s not a song we’ve been working on, but all the students are singing. As I get closer I realize it’s a song I’ve heard before. They’re singing Bring on the Water.

That means he’s here, I can’t see him. I freeze and listen to the students. They are singing the whole song, both parts. How long has he been here? How did he get them to class early? How did he teach them the song in such a short period of time? There are so many questions.

I have to go in. I walk in and prepare for battle. He can’t be here and I need to get him to leave. It’s really going to suck to do this in front of my students. They all have pieces of paper and sound fantastic as they sing the song. Any other time I’d be thrilled to death.

“This song is great Ms. Springfield,” Sarah says as soon as they finish. “You are going to sound so great singing it.”

“You shouldn’t come in here and compromise my students like this,” I say trying to sound cold.

“What should I do Addy, you won’t talk to me?”

“Me not talking to you should have been a hint that I don’t want to talk to you right now Charlie. You should have taken it.” I am losing my confidence and just hoping he gets angry enough to leave. He’s still standing in front of the students who are all staring at me. I guess I do look like a lunatic.

“I’m not going away Ada, don’t you want a guy who will stand up for you? Who will fight?” I’ve noticed he doesn’t call me Addy when he’s getting really serious. It’s almost the equivalent of your mom using your full name when you’re in trouble.

“I can’t do this Charlie,” I say and walk out of the room before the tears start to fall.

He follows me out into the hall. “Talk to me.”

“They’re going to kill you, Charlie. Okay. Is that what you want to hear? My dad and Jimmy they’re going to kill you. If I sing with you, they’re going to kill you.”

“That’s what this is about?” He moves towards me and I feel his arms wrap around me. I lean back into him.

“Yes, I want to protect you.”

“Let them try to come after me. Just let them. I’m not scared. You’re not going to let them keep us apart and you’re not going to let them scare you out of pursuing your dreams. You love to sing and you’re good.”

“Thank you. I just don’t know that it’s worth putting your life at risk.” I’m so afraid of what they’ll do if they come into town.

“They’re making empty threats Ada. They aren’t going to do anything. Everything will be okay. You’ll see. If they even make a move in that direction, we’ll handle it. My dad is a dick, but he won’t let anything happen to his only son.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. I’m not convinced, but he seems so sure.

“We’ve got the studio for the next few days. Let’s just go in there and sink ourselves into making music. We’ll write and sing and when we come out we’ll have created something beautiful.”

I nod and he pulls me to him kissing me. I hear my students chuckling from the doorway of the classroom.

“We have time for a quickie?” He whispers in my ear.

I notice Hallie standing at the end of the hallway watching us. I kiss Charlie anyway letting her get a good eyeful. Let her go back and report to Madeline that I’m being inappropriate in the hallway, who cares?

“No, I have to teach class,” I whisper back. Maybe later I think though. I want to try having sex in a car, and a bathtub, and so many other places now that I know how awesome it is. I want to be adventurous and I want to be that way with Charlie.