Page 21 of His Virgin Angel

Chapter Four

Piper read through her final paper, aware of Marshall staring at her. He didn’t like his students to call him Mr. Rivers. She’d failed two papers in the past three weeks, and she had no choice but to accept his tutoring. Drake was supposed to collect her this afternoon, but she’d called him to let him know she had to stay behind.

Once she was sure everything was fine, she leaned back in her chair. Marshall was sitting opposite her. “Here it is,” she said.

“Don’t look so worried.”

“It’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one failing, and you can’t say that you failed either. You wouldn’t be teaching if you did.”

“I’ve failed at other things, believe me.”

She nibbled her lip, waiting as he looked through the paper. The door to the classroom opened, and she turned to see the same man that she’d bumped into a month ago. Offering a smile, she turned back toward Marshall.

“I’m just helping a student right now, Ro—”

“Robert,” the man said, finishing his name.

“Hi, I’m Piper.”

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“Better circumstances this time. I’m not bumping into you or anything.”

“Very true. So tell me is Marshall here a good teacher?”

“I think so for the most part,” she said.

Piper didn’t like being left alone with the two men, and she glanced at the time.

“Do you need to be somewhere?” Marshall asked.

“My ride will be here soon.”

“I’m only trying to help you.”

Guilt swamped her. “I’m sorry.”

“This piece is much better, but you don’t seem to capture emotion. The art of writing is being able to take the reader on the journey with you.”

“It’s just a piece about my past.”

“But it’s still got no emotion. You simply tell the story. You let us know facts, nothing more. Have you spoken to your mom since your emancipation?”

“No.”

“How does that feel? Aren’t you curious about that? And how she’s been coping without you?”

Piper didn’t like these questions. Jack had come and taken her away. Her life had been simpler, better, nicer.

“I really need to go, Mr. Rivers, Marshall, I mean.” She packed up her stuff and stood. “I will work on another paper, and have it to you by the end of the week.”

“We really need to discuss this.”

“I know, but I have to go.”

She wanted to no longer be alone in a room with two men. Every instinct inside her was begging for her to leave.

“Certainly. Next time I hope to spend more time.”

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