Page 44 of Chasing Temptation
“It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me.”
Awkwardness settles as we all avoid the giant elephant sitting in the spare chair.
“So...what are you two planning on doing, because you can’t exactly—”
“I’m not coming back,” Quinn blurts and then breathes a huge sigh of relief.
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry, but after everything, I think I just want to do something different. I love teaching, you know that, but I need a break or something.”
“Understandable. And what about you? Am I expecting you to be back in class in the New Year?” Eddie turns his eyes on me.
“If you’ll have me.”
“I’ll certainly consider it,” he says, but a smile twitches at his lips as he tries to stay serious.
“You’re teaching my evening class?”
“Yeah, I had to shift things around when you didn’t come back. I was the only one who could do it. They’re a pretty good class. I’ve picked up a couple of your day lessons too.”
“You’ve been missing the worst student.”
“Is this all I’m going to get if I come back?”
“Yeah, probably.”
It’s nice to see a different side to Eddie, the one Quinn probably got to know all those years ago instead of the judgemental arsehole I first encountered. I’m sure he’s got his reasons to dislike how I look, just like I have for how he chooses to dress. Maybe we’ve even got something in common if I were to press the issue, but that’s not something for this pre-Christmas get-together.
The conversation moves on to other things and it’s not until we’re sitting on the sofas later in the evening that Quinn brings up work again. They start discussing which classes he’s taken over and they go through a few students while I refill our drinks.
“Tell me about Jodie Attington.” Eddie leans forward, his elbows on his knees, looking more interested in this one than the others they’ve talked about.
“Oh um… I don’t know a lot other than the report I filed. I’m assuming you’ve read that?”
“I have. She just looks so sad, so lost. I don’t know, there’s just something about her.”
“Watch out, sounds like Mr. Richards is getting a little too interested in a student,” I say with a laugh, expecting him to do the same, but instead all the colour drains from his face.
“I’m...I’m just concerned for her welfare.”
Quinn gives me a look that screams ‘shut the hell up’, and I busy myself with my drink while she explains the bruises and suspicions she has. I immediately feel awful for making a joke of the situation when this girl is obviously having a shit time of it.
“I’ll miss students like her. Knowing I was making a difference to students whose lives were spiralling out of control around them was one of the things that got me out of bed in the morning.”
“I’m sure you’ll find loads of opportunities to work with kids like that in this city. Even some voluntary mentoring or something.”
Quinn’s eyes light up at the suggestion. She nods. “I’m going to look into that. I love the idea of helping students who’ve not had the kind of upbringing I did—not that it all turned out so great in the end.”
“You’ll be incredible at it,” I say, dropping down and placing a kiss to her temple.
Eddie watches the interaction between us with intrigue filling his face.
“I’ve got to say that I wouldn’t have put you two together in a million years. But sitting here now, student/teacher issue aside, you’re kind of perfect together.”
“Aw, are you going all soft on us?” Quinn asks light-heartedly.
“Well, obviously I’ll never approve. I bet he doesn’t even own a tie pin.”
