Writer's Note:
Though I have traditionally used the Mature category for the story, I've changed this one to Erotic Couplings, as I feel the relationship dynamic between Mia and Jonathan has changed to put them on more equal footing. For those just finding the story, I encourage you to check out the previous chapters to see how our two MCs got to where they are. This will conclude the story of Sweet Jonathan.
I greatly appreciate feedback via ratings, comments, or private messages. It means a lot.
Disclaimer: All characters engaging in sexual activity are 18 years of age or older.
Chapter 4
As the vibrant green stalks of the crocuses began to push through the solid winter soil, signaling the imminent arrival of spring, my world was turned upside down. It seemed that someone -- I could never be sure who, but I suspected a certain fiery-haired teen -- had gathered sufficient evidence that I was behaving inappropriately with one of my students to convince the school administration to conduct an investigation. Naturally, this led to many sleepless nights and frantic attempts to recollect every deed and word I had committed or spoken throughout the past several months. My conscience bade me urge Jonathan to be truthful in all questioning, as I was more concerned about the impact of the whole mess on my sweet man than for myself. Friends, colleagues, and family were questioned, and though the proceedings yielded inadequate grounds on which to terminate me, they were (as these things usually are) not without impact.
Jonathan was transferred to a different English class to avoid any further questionable attachments, I gained the mistrust of many of my colleagues, and perhaps worst of all, the whole thing invoked the deep suspicion of Jonathan's mother. She made a complete one-eighty, going from absentee mother to diligent federal marshal escorting a convict with high flight risk. To make matters worse, even the unsupported claim that Jonathan and I had been intimate had seemed to put me within the perceived reach of all the horny male teens attending Riggs High, making my job just that much more difficult.
Graduation day came and went, and I hadn't spoken more than a few words to my dear Jonathan in almost two months. Did he still want to be together? Had he retreated within his shell and forgotten the things I'd shown him? I'd looked forward to his graduation with the implicit promise that we might truly be together, but as it passed, I heard no word from the man I was growing to care so deeply for, filling me with trepidation. The temptation was powerful to contact him to assuage my concerns, but fearing an even worse situation than the one I found myself in with his mother, I waited for him to act.
Finally, after I'd well and truly finished closing out the school year, I heard a knock at my apartment door. I was organizing some CDs -- sue me, I'm old-fashioned -- and after a quick bout of paralysis at who might be calling, I flew to the foyer, taking a moment to look myself over in the hall mirror. I spent a few seconds taming my unfortunate case of 'I'm not planning on company today' hair and exhaled into my hand to check my breath. At last, I opened the door, and my heart skipped at the sight of brilliant blue eyes regarding me from a pale face.
"Jonathan..." He looked upset, clutching his duffel bag tightly. My eyebrows pinched in concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry, Mia, I know it's rude to show up unannounced like this," he said quietly, eyes casting about before settling on mine, "I... Can I come in?"
"Of course! Please!" I said, ushering.
I led him to the living room, seeing his eyes take in the space with a small smile on his lips. I couldn't help remembering it was here that I'd taken those first foolish -- but ultimately so rewarding -- steps with the young man.
"Make yourself at home," I said, folding my legs beneath me as I sat. My gut twisted with uncertainty, but I had to put it out there. "I...I've missed you."
"I missed you too, Mia -- so much! I'm really sorry I didn't message you. I wanted to, but my mom was checking my phone all the time to make sure we weren't speaking."
A warm tingling sensation filled my chest at hearing the words I'd hoped to eventually hear.
"Does she know you're here now? Is this okay with her?"
He huffed, looking at the floor as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "She knows. And no, it's not okay with her, but I don't give a damn about what she's okay with anymore!" He looked toward me, and seeing me recoil at his vehemence, lowered his voice.
"I'm done letting her control my life, Mia. She's
always
been like this, and it pisses me off! Maybe this is why my dad left her. I'm not even sure I would have blamed him. I'll tell you this much -- I'm
through
listening to her," he spat, "I'm
not
a child, and you're not my teacher anymore, and I'm not going to let her keep me from the woman I care for even one more day."
Staring into his eyes, my heart jumped at his bold confession, and I slid down the sofa to get closer, taking his hands in mine.
"Jonathan..." I poured compassion into him with my gaze.
"I'm sorry, Mia, she just makes me SO mad. We had another fight, right before I came over here. I asked to use the car to come visit you, and she forbade me from having anything to do with you. She gave me all that 'my roof, my rules' bull, so I said, 'Fine, then I
won't
live under your roof!'"
The outburst was another sharp reminder of his youth, but I nodded in understanding. He'd get no judgment from me. Not after what we'd been through. In truth, I did fear the ramifications of sheltering Jonathan from his mother's edicts. Though at odds with my own interests, I was forced to concede that her views on our relationship were not unreasonable, given the circumstances. And I knew that she could very likely still cause trouble for me with the school system. But the heart wants what it wants, and right now, mine wanted nothing more than to cleave to the sweet man sitting next to me.
I remained silent, and simply stroked the back of his hand with a calming touch, sensing that he was still working this through in his head.