Love Will Come Through

He had been sitting in the Staffroom, drinking as much coffee as the machine allowed him to drink. He had been at school very early, but he hadn’t spoken to any one. Or worse, no one had spoken to him. He could have sworn some colleagues had thrown him some disgusting looks, but he had hoped he had just imagined it.
Paul had also arrived, and he again had free hours until lunch. They didn’t talk to each other, as it would be too suspicious if they would talk.
When it was time to go to his class, he got up, feeling more tired than before he had gone to the coffee. He took his bag and went to his classroom. He saw the door was already open, so he stepped into the classroom, feeling nervous.
God - I got her class first -
Once inside, he noticed Noreen and James were there, sitting next to each other.
Oh God - Well at least she turned up -
‘Good morning’ he said, with a hoarse voice. He noticed she hadn't reacted, but he didn't blame her. She didn't look to well, so he thought she might be nervous as well. He just sat down and took out his own books and his (finally finished) work schedule. He waited for the others to arrive, which seemed to take a lot longer than usual. He felt thankful when more students entered the classroom. When everyone was inside, he got up, standing in front of the class. 'Good morning everyone' he said. 'My apologize for my absence the past days, but I suppose you all enjoyed it' he rolled his eyes 'Luckily, we are not behind, because I took the opportunity to make a working schedule for myself.
'So today, we will start reading page 15' he said and wrote the page number and the assignments on the board. He sat back down in his chair as the class began to work. He took out his PDA and began to register the absent students. When he was done, a girl
had lifted her hand, so he got up and walked over to her. He explained her a bit about the text when the door went open, and Bianca, the Headmistress stood there. His mind went black as he starred horrified at his boss. She nodded and smiled politely, but serious at him. The class looked up at her, and she nodded at them too.
'All working hard, I see' she said in approval.
Bianca was a nice Headmistress, and almost every student liked her. She was friendly, polite and caring. She than looked up at him.
'Chris, could you please come with me for a moment'
Chris felt panicked and his mouth had become awfully dry. In confusion he looked around, but nodded.
'Y-Yes - '
Chris got on his feet again (he had crouched down next to the girls’ desk) and looked horrified at Bianca. He could feel the sweat braking out of his pores. He walked over to Bianca, his legs feeling weak, like they were made of spongy materials. He stepped outside the classroom, and she followed. She closed the door behind him and looked up at him.
'Are you alright?' she asked. 'I saw at the Admin that you went home sick on Thursday'
He felt relieved she asked him that. At least she didn't ask him what he had done in the weekend, but he knew that could still come. 'Yes, I-..er - I got a bit of the flu - drove it out with loads of tea and fruit - '
Liar -
Bianca nodded. 'Chris, can you please come to my office? I need to discuss something with you'
He stared horrified at her.
'But - My class' he said and at the same moment, he saw Paul sticking out his head from the Staff Room. Bianca had noticed him too and nodded 'I'm sure Paul can take care of your class until we have spoken, Chris' she said and nudged him to come with her.
He looked at Paul, who looked both confused as shocked at him. He looked helpless at his brother, almost pleading to get him out of this. Paul looked concerned back and entered the classroom. He followed Bianca to her office.
Once inside, he had to sit down, and so he did. Bianca poured him a cup of coffee, and he wished he could turn it down, but he felt too nervous for that, so he took the cup. Bianca took a sip of her coffee and putted the cup down as she looked at him.
'I got a call this morning' she said, looking seriously at him.
His hands started to shake.
'Do you know who could have been that?'
He shook his head, placing his cup on the desk as he was shaking too much.
'It was Mr. Williams' he said 'Father of Noreen and Corrie Williams'

He wanted to gasp, but he remained like he was.
Oh God - He - he called her -
'I'm aware of that you are teaching Noreen, is that right?' she asked. He nodded
'Is it true, that you sought contact with her outside of school?'
'Yes' he admitted.
'That you - went to her house?'
'Yes'
'And that she visited your house'
He swallowed. 'Yes. But-'
'Why?' she asked him sternly
He wanted to open his mouth, but he felt like his lips were glued together.
'Did - Mr. Williams also told you why Noreen came to my place?' he asked, his voice steady but shaking slightly.
'That's what I'm asking you' Bianca said.
'He probably didn't tell you he abuses his children?'
Bianca went silent.
'But why did she visited you at home? You know that is not allowed'
'I - I gave her books' he said. 'I lend her some books'
'And you couldn't gave those at school?'
He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow
'You know what kind of books I read, Bianca'
'I'm afraid I do' Bianca sighed
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, but before Bianca could open, the person who had knocked already opened. Chris looked up and his heart sank when he saw how two uniformed persons came in. Police.
The plump man who had entered nodded at both of them.
'Good morning. I’m inspector Clerris.’ he said. 'This is my colleague agent Thomas’. The woman nodded at both of them. Clerris' eyes fell on him.
'I see you already managed to have a word with Mr. Hammond, Mrs. Johnson'
Bianca nodded. 'I was indeed having a word with him' Clerris nodded. 'Good, than you can start over again' he said, looking at him
Chris gasped slightly and looked panicked at Bianca, who just nodded 'Go on' she said.
'I-I - er - what?' Chris asked, feeling very confused. He had forgotten the question.
'Why didn't you brought those books too school?'
'Because they were big' he replied nervously. 'Large, thick books. I didn't want to carry them all day, and I didn't want her to carry them either'
'Doesn't both of you have a locker for that?' Clerris asked.
Chris opened his mouth
Oh God - Yes - I forgot that -
'Didn't think about that' he muttered and Bianca raised her eyebrows.
He looked at the agents and he than looked back at Bianca. 'Er - ' he hesitated. 'May I ask, what they are doing here?'
'We are interrogating you, Mr. Hammond' he said. 'We received the same phone call from Mr. Williams. And we are here to discuss this matter with you'
'I-Interrogating?' he asked 'For what?'
'Oh, you know perfectly well, what for' Clerris said
He shook his head.
'Mr. Williams called us this morning, letting us know that when he had visited you on Friday evening, he had saw both you and his daughter in his house, walking around in only shirts and shorts' agent Thomas said.
He stared struck at her.
'Is this true?' Clerris asked
He looked between Clerris and Bianca
Oh God - I can't lie - Not now - It will only get worse -
He nodded
'Yes, that is true. I had borrowed his daughter some of my clothes, as her own were wet and dirty'
Clerris nodded only once.
'I suppose there has been a fight?' he asked, nodding to his face
'Yes' he said at once, rubbing the side of his face. 'I tried to get Mr. Williams out of my house, but he smashed a lamp at my head'
Clerris nodded, although he was sure the man didn't care.


There was a silence for a moment, and he looked at Bianca, who had been quiet all the time, but seemed to listen to what he said.
'And I need to ask you, sir' Clerris said. 'What happened while she was at your house?'
He opened his mouth, but again, nothing came out except: 'I-I - '
'What did you do this weekend, Mr. Hammond?' Clerris asked again, but he still wasn't able to reply
Oh God - I can't lie - I - can't - But I can't tell either -
'Chris' Bianca said, and he looked at her. She looked at him for a few seconds until she asked: 'Did you have sex with her?'
He stared back at her, but didn't reply. Instead, he brought his hands to his face, grabbing his hair, his elbows rested on his knees. He didn't reply, but he was sure everyone understood what this mend
'I l-love her' he stuttered, not looking at anyone.
'Excuse me?' he could hear Clerris ask ‘I didn’t get that?’
'I love her' he said again, now lifting up his face, but covering his mouth now with his hands. He looked at Bianca, who was reacting the same as Paul had done. Disbelieve. She stared blankly at him, showing astonishment for what he had said.
'You're in love?' Clerris asked. 'With a student?'
He nodded
'Since when?' Thomas asked
'Since - since she came over to my house the first time - .'
'What happened?' Clerris asked.
'N-Nothing - ' he admitted. 'I just gave her the books and she went of again'
'And than?'
'Than - I-I noticed - '
'Noticed what?'
'That I - I had feelings for he-r - '
'What kind of feelings?'
'That I was in love - with her'
He looked at Clerris, who was nodding but he still had the feeling the man didn't care about his feelings.
'And than?' he asked 'Did you see her again? At your house?'
He nodded 'The- the next day - ' he said 'She had forgotten her bag - so she came to pick it up'
'You couldn't have brought it for her the next day?' Thomas asked
He shook his head. 'I suppose she needed it' he said. 'So - so she came to pick it up’
'And what happened?' Clerris asked
'Excuse me' Bianca said, sounding impatiently 'I though I was having this conversation with Chris'
Clerris shook his head. 'This is not a conversation anymore, Mrs. Johnson' he said.
Chris felt sicker than before. He knew what it was, and he felt afraid. Clerris looked back at him.
'Well?' he asked
'I-.. I told her I had feelings for her - but I - .I kissed her' he said 'Accidentally' he added. 'It - it just happened'
'Like that?'
'Y-Yes'
'What did she do?'
'She ran off' he said at once. 'She - she went home - The next day she wasn't at school'
'What did you do?'
'I - ' he looked at Bianca 'I registered myself sick and I went to her house'
'How did you got her address?'
'Administration'
'And you went to her house?'
'Y-Yes'
'And - ?'
'-I - I talked to her - and her father - told him I came to bring her homework - '
'And he believed you?'
He nodded.
'And she?'
'She didn't want to talk - but I said that she was always welcome - '
'At your house?'
'Yes - I' but now he frowned. 'He abuses his children!' he suddenly blurted out.
'This is not our point, Mr. Hammond'
'Yes, but it is part of the story!' he said 'She came to me, that night. She was bruised. Her father had hit her!'
'Do you have prove?'
'She told me - she was crying - Her face was black and blue!'
'And what happened than?'
'I - I comforted her - '
'How?'
'By - talking to her - '
'And what else?'
He frowned again.
'We - I - ' but he looked down at the desk again.
Clerris came closer to him, but he didn't look up.
'You had sex with her, didn't you? Right there?'
'She wanted it' he snapped, still not looking 'She said she wanted it - '
'Mr. Hammond' Thomas said. 'A full grown man like you could have known better than give a student what she wants. She is under aged'
He looked up at her, feeling desperate.
'Even if I love her?'
'And she loves you?' Clerris asked
He hesitated.
She said she did - 'Yes' he said
'And she spent the rest of the weekend at your house?'
He nodded.
'How often?' Clerris demanded
He frowned.
'Sorry?'
'How often did you had sex with her'
'I did NOT had sex with her' he said now, irritated
'Excuse me?'
He looked angrily at Clerris.
'We made love to each other - that is something different than having sex'
'Is it?' Thomas asked, almost sounding interested
'Yes' he said at once. 'Making love to each other is when you really love each other. Not - loveless sex'
He looked at Bianca, who was almost gasping at him.
'Well how often?' Clerris asked again
'Just once'
'Just once?'
'Once'
Clerris nodded and sighed
'Alright' he said. 'That is what we needed to know'
He frowned even more ‘You only wanted to know how often I had sex with her?’ he asked. ‘You don't want to know what Mr. Williams did to her?' he added
Clerris ignored him, but turned to Bianca.
'I will call you later today' he said and Bianca nodded. Clerris and Thomas left the office, without saying a word to him
'Chris' Bianca said and he looked back at her.
'You've surprised me'
'I can understand that'
'Not only by admitting what you and Mr. Williams have done, but also how you - described it'
'Sorry?'
Bianca got up, walking over to the window
'You once said you've never been in love' she said with her back turned to him.
'I know'
'Even if that was long ago'
'Very long' he agreed.
But he didn't want to think of that.
'But it's - different' he said. 'I - I really love her'
'But she is a student Chris' she said, looking at him over her shoulder. He didn't reply. There was a silence for a long time, until she spoke again: 'I don't want to lose you Chris'
He raised his eyebrows.
'Pardon?'
'You know you are one of the best teachers I have'
'Oh' he said, now understanding what she mendt.
'This school is famous for having the right teachers among these students in this time. I would like to keep it like that' she added and looked seriously at he.
He nodded, and so did she.
'You can go now' she said, and he got up at once, leaving her office. He went to his classroom and noticed it was locked. He kept it like that, and went to the staffroom.
Beer - No - coffee -
When he entered the staffroom he saw at once how everyone looked at him. He raised his eyebrows and went over to the coffee machine and made himself an espresso. He drank his coffee when Paul came hurried inside towards him.
'I need to talk to you'
Chris shook his head, licking the cream of his lips
'Better not' he said with a hoarse voice. 'I've talked enough for today'
'Shut up, and listen' Paul said, seizing his cup and placing it down on the table. He came closer to him, looked around the room for a moment, before he looked at him
'Everyone knows, Chris' he said through his clenched teeth.
He looked at the staff room, sawing indeed how everyone was looking at them.
'But - how?' he asked struck
'I don't know - someone must has heard something'
He stared at the ground, gasping for breath
There it goes - My work - My career - My life -
He suddenly didn't feel so well, but he looked up at Paul.
'Who? Only the staff?'
'Yes' Paul said 'But it won't take long before the students know'
He took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes. When he putted it on, he saw Michael, another colleague walking past them.
'Was it good, Hammond?' he muttered as he made a coffee for himself. Chris stared at the man's back, feeling sicker every second he stood there. 'Can't get someone your own age, so you turn to the youngsters' Michael muttered.
'Shut up!' Paul snapped as he turned to Michael, but Chris walked away. He didn't want to hear this. He really didn't. He felt sick. His head was spinning and his stomach was turning as well. He leaned against the table as he heard his brother argue with Michael.
And without a warning, he sank on his knees and vomited. He could hear Paul shout his name, and he felt a hand on his shoulder. Chris sank on the floor and fainted.