Page 74 of Surrender
“Yeah,” Harper responded, wiping at her nose with the tissue. “I’ve asked him a few times.”
“And what was his answer when you asked him?” Colbie inquired. She was already well aware of the answer, even if Dallis hadn’t told her; the scene in the hallway and Harper’s friends spoke volumes.
“He said no,” Harper responded quietly. “But he didn’t tell me he was dating someone in college when he said he was in a relationship.”
“Did he need to?” Colbie questioned. “You have to look at this from all sides. If the roles were reversed, would you still want him to pursue you after telling him you’re dating someone, or would you want him to respect that and move on? You wouldn’t owe him an explanation on who you were dating the same way he doesn’t owe you one.”
“I guess you’re right,” Harper responded with another sniffle.
Colbie pushed herself off her desk, went around it, reached into one of her drawers, and pulled out some chocolate. It always made her feel better in situations like this when she was a teenager. She made her way over to Harper and handed it to her.
“There are so many guys out there that would be lucky to date you. You just have to ensure they’re willing to put as much energy into you as you are into them.” Harper nodded, looking down at the candy in her hand. “And don’t let his words get to you. He doesn’t know what kind of woman you’re going to become. So, prove him wrong.”
Harper smiled, wiping a stray tear with a soft laugh, then looked around. “Thanks. I hope I have you next year.”
“Maybe you will if you decide to take European history,” Colbie responded. If Harper was hoping to have her next year, it meant she was a junior.
“I’ll see you,” Harper responded, grabbing the poster and leaving out of the classroom in better spirits than she’d entered it in.
Making her way back over to her desk, Colbie finished packing up her things before locking her desk up and leaving out of her classroom. This was not how she’d expected to end her day, but at least she was going into the weekend with only her final period’s homework to grade, having been able to get the rest done during class. She’d already passed out all their study material for their finals and would review it with them before their exams next week.
She also needed to discuss with Dallis what he’d said to Harper. She could understand that he was frustrated, and maybe he’d already let her down gently several times but for him to say it in front of so many people was uncalled for.
When Colbie made it home, the first thing she did was remove her shoes before pouring herself a glass of wine. She knew that Dallis would be over at some point, and she figured if she got the papers graded before he came, she wouldn’t have to worry about it later.
There was only one week left for the seniors, which would have meant that Colbie didn’t have to attend but once a week after that because her classes were made up of seniors. However, there were two of her students that wouldn’t get to graduate if they didn’t make-up work and tests. So, she had to be there an additional three weeks for them. It was the school’s way of trying to allow them to still graduate by giving them the weeks after the senior’s last day up until a few days before graduation.
One was Max, and Colbie hated to say it, but she didn’t think he would graduate because it wasn’t just her class he needed to pass; it was his math and English classes too. It seemed they didn’t feel the need to curve his players’ grades once Porter was suspended, not even when he was allowed back at school.
The other was out often for medical reasons and only needed a few points to have a passing grade. Colbie was more than optimistic the young lady would be able to do it because she’d come a long way since she’d been back at school.
Colbie set about grading papers as she waited for Dallis because while she wanted to talk to him about the hallway incident, she also was in serious need of her back being blown out since it hadn’t been in the past week.
23
Dallis couldn’t describe his relief as he walked out of his last test. He was officially finished, and he couldn’t have been more excited. He’d spent the past week studying and hadn’t seen Colbie outside of school. They only spoke briefly when either of them called since the week was busy for both of them. Now, he was finished and in desperate need of some time with his girlfriend.
He made his way to her classroom and found her grabbing a few files and a binder, stacking them in her arms.
“Hey, you aren’t heading home?” he questioned, looking over his shoulder to check that no one was coming down the hall.
“No, some of the senior teachers are meeting to discuss lesson plans for the students who have to come in the next three weeks to pass. We’re hoping to implement a block schedule.” Colbie looked up at him. “How was your final test?”
“It was fine,” he responded, making his way over to her desk. “I was hoping you’d be headed home. How long is your meeting?”
“We’ve allotted an hour and a half for it, but it could run a bit longer.”
Dallis refrained from sighing. He knew it was her job and that being upset she wasn’t headed straight home made him feel clingy, but he’d own it under the circumstances. It wasn’t as if a couple of hours would kill him.
“Okay. Let me know when you make it home,” he replied, turning to leave.
“Wait.” Colbie halted him, and Dallis turned back to her as she glanced at the door before picking up her keys. Dallis watched her fiddle with them before holding one out to him. “You can go and wait if you want to,” she informed him softly.
Nodding, Dallis took the key from her. “I’ll do that,” he responded, making his way toward the door, only to bump into Max.
“What are you doing here?” Max questioned as he looked over Dallis’ shoulder at Colbie briefly before his eyes came back to Dallis.
Dallis’ first thought was to tell Max it wasn’t any of his business, what he was doing there, but he knew that would sound suspicious, especially since he didn’t know what Max had heard.
