Page 21 of Lesson Learned

“Because I’m an enigma.”

Brooke bursts into laughter, tipping to the side until she’s resting against Marnie. “Good one. An enigma wrapped in an open book.”

“This is bullying,” Floss declares as the rest of us join in Brooke’s laughter. “Just because I’m the youngest, doesn’t mean you get to mock me.”

“Hello, ladies,” James says as he takes a seat on the end, near Marnie. I exchange a surprised glance with her, then the others. It’s not the firmest rule in the book but we’ve always eaten together, sans partners.

My mouth opens to explain, and Marnie’s eyes catch mine, pleading. Instead of telling him to bugger off, I say, “Hope you’re being a good nurse and taking care of the patient.”

He drapes an arm over her shoulder, a tag of ownership. “I always take good care of Marns, don’t I?”

“Marns?”I mouth to her, and Brooke intercepts the gesture, rolling her eyes.

Floss stares fixedly at her plate, crimson splashes of colour high on her cheekbones, the rest of her face pale in comparison. A marked change from her usual brashness and I wonder if she dislikes James even worse than I do.

“We were talking about going vigilante on rapists,” I tell him, pushing my plate away and tilting my head from one side to the other to ease out my neck. “Are you in the market to join a posse?”

“No boys allowed,” Brooke immediately states. A weird stance for someone who usually can’t shut up about her boyfriend. “You’ll have to form your own.”

“Aw.” He claps a hand over his heart. “You’re so mean.”

“Hey, gossip queen,” Marnie says, tapping Floss’s wrist. “Heard anything on the grapevine about our new English teacher?”

“Nope,” she says, the one-word answer so unlike her that my eyes linger for a few more seconds, wondering if it’s just me or if everyone is slightly out of sorts today. Then she adds, “It’s not like I’m in his class.”

“He’s probably an overweight fifty-year old, cruising towards retirement,” Brooke says, trying to rekindle our light banter.

“Or he’s a she,” I add.

“I’m sure the email said Mr.” Marnie puts her hand on top of James’, and he pulls her closer, pressing a kiss to her cheek while his eyes scout the room. A trait that always unsettles me and tonight, sends me over the edge.

“I need to go to bed,” I announce, reluctance in my voice but not in my thoughts. “I’m exhausted.”

“Pick me up for breakfast tomorrow,” Marnie tells me as I make my goodbyes.

“Sure.” I tap James on the shoulder. “You take care of her, yeah?”

“I already said, didn’t I?” he replies, his eyes hooded as they linger on my face. “Thought a scholarship student should have a better memory.”

“Only on weekdays, nine till three. The rest of the time, it’s off duty.” I twiddle my fingers in a wave and get out of there before he can make another offhand comment.

I’m sure James doesn’t realise how rude he can be sometimes. Or that’s just my indoctrinated brain, excusing men’s behaviour because it’s how my uncle and cousins raised me.

It’s a relief to crawl into bed. As I snuggle deep under the covers, I get a flashback of the man last night, pulling me into his arms and soothing me when I was restless. With my brain so sludgy, I can’t tell what’s a genuine memory and what’s my head filling in the blanks to the best of its ability.

Probably far more of the latter than the former, I decide, and not that it matters either way.

I didn’t get his number. The only reason I know his name is Conner is from snooping at his photos.

He’s married. The best result is I never see him again.

None of which stops my brain unwinding spools of him dancing—his body flowing like he was part of the music. Then it transitions to his fingers inside me, coaxing me towards a crescendo of pleasure, while his mouth devoured mine, the kiss making me feel like I was melting into him the way my mind now melts into sleep.

* * *

When I wakethe next morning, all my grumbles have faded away. My body seems back to normal, even with the light cramping from the IUD. My head is clear. I can remember Sunday clearly even if Saturday night is still spotty.

I pull out my textbooks for class and take them to breakfast so I can stay there, swapping gossip and chitchat, until the last moment before my first lesson.

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