A second chance: Sequel of Against all odds (39 page)

“
What?”

 
I
felt tears coming in my eyes. My stomach hurt.

“
Honey
you had everything planned, the date, the ceremony, the dress.
Everything and then you left him for Tyler,” she told me
looking disapprovingly in my eyes. 

“
No...”

“
Yes
you did. Tyler had abandoned you. He had run away when your
relationship was discovered. He left you devastated, you cried for
months because of him and David was there to pick up the pieces Tyler
left behind. Yet when he returned back you didn't hesitate to go back
to him. You broke David's heart. You destroyed him and he kept loving
you. If this is not true love then, I doubt true love exists.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

“
This
dress is still new, we had already bought it and I kept it.”She
continued.

“
Why?
Why did you keep it?” I asked sobbing.

“
Because
I hoped that one day you'd change your mind. I thought that you might
have needed it.”

I looked up into my mother's
eye. She was crying.

“
To
marry David? That's what you're saying?”

“
Yes.
I have never interfered in your choices. I accepted everything hoping
you'll be happy, but this time I can't keep my mouth shut. Cassidy
none of you have ever been happy. Not even Tyler.”

“
Oh
mum.”

“
Honey
think well, God is giving you a second chance don't do the same
mistakes again. Think about your happiness as well. Cassidy you can't
make your partner happy if you're sad. You can't be with him
physically when your heart aches to be with someone else. Just take
time and don't rush, you're not 18 anymore.”

I nodded, she was right. My
God, how many mistakes had I done? She took me to College. When I
went in class and saw David, he met my gaze. I felt so sad, so bad. I
had broken his heart and yet he has always been there for me, even in
hospital. I sat down and he started the lesson. Claire Morrison kept
looking badly at me as her usual. I ignored her, I had much more
 important things to think about. I had to talk with David. As
soon as the bell rang I stood up and went near his desk. He looked up
at me..

“
Tell
me Cassidy...”

“
This
is my essay for the competition.”

He reached out to take it
and his hands brushed with mine.  I shivered, I wished so much
to hug him. But I couldn't.

“
You
already finished it? That was quick.”Saying this, he began to
read. After he had read a little, he looked up at me. His eyes seemed
full of pain.

“
Cassidy,
who helped you with this?”

“
What?”

“
Tyler
did, right? I know you're good, but some of these words don't sound
yours.”

He seemed hurt.

“
Well.
I took it to at work and he saw it and...”

“
Why
didn't you ask me?”

“
David
you didn't have time, you were with Claire and you said that after
school you didn't want to meet..”

“
OK,
I understand. Well, I hope you'll be happy.” He said while he
began to put away his things.

“
David
what are you talking about? I haven't chosen Tyler. I was at work.”

“
No,
it's fine. I told you I was going to let you free so you decide. I'm
sorry. It's just that.. it hurts so much..”He said with
frustration.

“
David..
I..”

“
Sir...”

Her irritating voice
interrupted us. Oh, how much I hated her. I turned around to see her
looking badly at me in her usual pose. She walked sexily to the desk
and ignored my presence completely.

“
Sir
can I speak to you for a moment?”

“
I'm
sorry Claire. I have to go. If you need anything come in the
teacher's staffroom later.”

Saying this, he continued to
put his things in. Claire seemed really pissed off. I felt happy and
looked at her with an evil smile. She would have stabbed me if
she could.

“
Fine..
I'll come at the teacher's stuff room then.” She snapped before
going away.

“
I
have to go Cas..”

“
No
wait.”

 
I
grabbed his hand. He looked at me in the eyes...

“
David,
we need to talk about our future. I know I made you suffer in the
past.. I...”

His hand rose up and touched
my face, his eyes were so beautiful. We looked at each other.

“
Not
now. Not here. We will do this when it's right to do it. Let's stick
to what I told you. Come to me when you'll want to accept my marriage
proposal. It's better like this OK.”

I nodded, he smiled and then
 grabbed my hand and kissed it before leaving. I returned to my
desk and stuffed my things in my bag. I was going to leave when I
heard the door slam. I turned around frightened and saw Claire
looking askance at me.

“
Claire?”

“
What
the hell is going on here? Huh? I saw you, he kissed your hand, he
touched your face..”

I felt my stomach aching..
oh God no..

“
You
saw badly..” I said.

“
No,
I didn't. My God, I can't believe this. What the hell does he like in
you ?” Her voice was angry and hurt. She seemed to make an
effort not to break down in front of me.

“
There's
nothing between us I swear.” I said hoping to persuade her.

“
Stop
it, do you think you can fool me? I saw how he looked at you during
the lesson. How you look at him. And last time.. last time  you
said something that made me think. I couldn't believe it. I thought
you were just saying stupid things to make me jealous but after
this....”

I felt a lump forming in my
throat. This wasn't truly happening.

“
Listen
I don't know what you think you saw. I'm in love with him yes, that's
true like you are but he does not ...”

“
Shut
up!! I don't want to hear your voice anymore.”

She was almost crying. I
could see her angry eyes glittering. She was fighting back the tears
and struggling not to appear weak in front of me.

“
Listen
to me and listen well. You won't have him. You have to leave him
alone!!” She shouted.

I didn't reply. I couldn't.
She held her breath and then..

“
If
not I'll report him. I swear I do.”

My eyes widened, my heart
stopped for a moment.

“
What?No,
you can't do that. Nothing happened nothing!”

“
I
told you to shut up. And stop lying. So many monologues about the
ethics and rules about love between students and teachers, all
bullshit. It seems that the rules apply just for me. You'll pay for
this!” She snapped.

She grabbed the doorknob to
open. I went hurriedly after her and pushed the door, closing it
again. She looked in my eyes.

“
What
do you think you're doing?”

“
Please,
if you really love Mr Bayne don't report him. He'll lose his job. You
won't see him again.” I begged.

“
I
don't care. If I can't have him neither you will. I won't let you
win, you're just a whore.. a slut!”

That comment echoed in my
mind, all of a sudden I felt weak and dizzy. I had to lean against
the door not to fall. I felt sweat coming down my forehead. I closed
my eyes and saw a group of students insulting me, calling me a slut.
Boy's giggling and girls looking badly at me. I was crying in front
of my locker and David was there to protect me. I opened my eyes
wide. Claire was looking at me perplexed. I felt confused. Was this
another deja vu?

“
Get
out of my way!” She shouted pushing me aside. I lost my balance
and fell.

“
No..
please... don't!” I began to cry. She looked up at me and
smiled evilly.

“
OK,
I won't.”

I felt relieved for a
second, but I knew I had to pay for her silence.

“
Oh.
.thank you.. thank you so much.”

“
Oh,
don't thank me. There are a couple of things you will have to do for
me if you want me to keep my mouth shut.”

I looked up at her. I was
ready to do whatever she wanted.

“
What
things?” I asked weakly although I suspected what was coming.

“
First
of all you have to leave him alone. Stay away from him, don't talk to
him ever. I don't want to ever see you near him you understand?!”

“
But..
I...”

“
Wasn't
I enough clear?” she asked again with a harsh voice.

I swallowed as she
continued.

 “
Secondly,
you won't take part in that competition.”

“
But
I can't everyone has to, I can't refuse..”

 “
Then
write something really bad so that the jury will eliminate you
immediately. I want to win. And I'll pass that weekend with him at
all costs.”

 
Nausea
clawed at my stomach. No, I couldn't do this. Maybe I should talk to
David about it, tell him what was happening. No that was out of the
question. I had already destroyed Tyler's career, I couldn't do the
same to David.

 “
OK,
I'll do it. Bur there are other girls in the class, how can you be so
sure to win?”

 “
Oh,
I'll do.. leave the others to me. Stay away from Mr Bayne, tell him
that you don't want him anymore, that you changed your mind, invent
whatever you want.”

 “
Claire,
you can't make someone love you. Can't you understand this? He will
never be yours even If I leave him alone.”

She looked at me, her eyes
full of hatred. 

“
My
ways of persuasion are infinite, haven't you understood that yet?
Cassidy I always win. I always manage to what I want OK. In some way
or another he will be my man.”

She turned the knob to
leave.

 “
Cassidy,
don't make me angry, stick to what I told you or you'll be sorry. I
always keep my promises.” She warned before leaving. I knelt
down and cried. And now what was I suppose to do? I couldn't tell
David. He would resign. And I didn't want that.

CHAPTER
30

It had been a terrible day.
I had seen David twice but I never went close to him. I avoided to
talk to him. I feared that Claire could see me. He had looked sadly
at me, and our eyes had locked briefly. Then he had looked down and
walked away. I really needed advice. I needed so much to talk to
someone about this. Just then the bell rang, another day at St Isle
was over. I grabbed my bag and rushed outside. I just wanted to get
away from there and return home. I had almost arrived near the gate
when I heard someone calling me. I turned around and saw Blake.

“
Hey
Cas, wait for me.”

“
Hello
Blake.”

“
Hello
beautiful. So are you ready?”

“
Ready?
For what?” I asked not knowing what he was talking about.