An
Eden's Explorations
story
TEACHING EDEN
CHAPTER FOUR -- THE PRINCIPAL
Eden and Luke stood in Pedretti's office. It was the same night as the Principal had caught the two of them outside the bar. He had ordered them to meet him in school at 9 o'clock. After admitting the pair, he told them sternly to await him in his office. It had been nearly ten minutes now.
Being apprehended by Pedretti on top of the beers she had rapidly drunk was a really bad combination, and Eden began to feel sick. Luke had relapsed into his standard, non-communicative mode. And so they waited, without speaking, or even acknowledging the other's presence.
Then Pedretti was back. Striding purposefully into the office. He stood, leaning forward, hands resting on his desk, and regarded the pair wordlessly for what seemed like minutes.
Finally he broke the silence, "I was going to say that I don't know who I am more disappointed in. Then, it obviously has to be you, Miss Baker. Aside from any general moral, or legal, issues, have you even read your employment contract?"
Eden shook her head.
"Well, it -- unsurprisingly -- precludes any contact of a sexual nature between teachers and pupils. Even those well over eighteen, before you ask. And I think we can agree that you were very clearly in breach."
He stood up and began pacing the room. "As for you, Johnson. I was uncertain about admitting you. I thought maybe a specialist... institution... would be better. But your parents made a very generous donation. Now you have let them down. As well as the school. As well as yourselves."
Pedretti gathered himself. "You have both been stupid fools."
'Stupid fools?' Eden thought, feeling a little more sober. The very phrase that Michele had mentioned the Principal using with her. He had been understanding then, they had reached an arrangement. And Luke's parents were donors? Maybe this didn't have to be terminal. Maybe there was a way. She decided to let Pedretti say what he needed to say. This took some time, he liked the sound of his own voice.
Eventually, the Principal seemed to run out of pejoratives. Eden took her opportunity. "Both Luke and I are very sorry for this terrible... error in judgement. Which will never be repeated. And I take full responsibility. I led Luke on, I'm the adult here. But, maybe, I was wondering whether we could do something to fix things. I'm sure Burnell would hate to lose the Johnsons' patronage."
Had she been too direct? Pedretti seemed to be struggling with some emotion. Was it anger, or something else? Eden thought she had no real option but to press on. "I know that you were supportive of Miss Huisman in the past. Maybe this case is a little more extreme, but could we... could we... reach an arrangement?" Eden tried to sound remorseful, upset, and -- most of all -- supplicatory.
"Michele told you about that, did she? How very indiscreet of her." Pedretti seemed lost in thought, but also in the grip of some other feeling. Not anger, as Eden had initially thought. What she now saw clearly in his face was suppressed desire, a look she was intimately familiar with. This was going in a very, very different direction. And it was happening quickly.
Pedretti apparently reached some decision, he looked directly at Eden, with what appeared to be lust in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was husky. "You'd like to explore my arrangement with Miss Huisman, would you? Very well."
He turned to Luke, "and you, Johnson, you want to reach an arrangement too? One that would ensure that your parents never found out?"
Without looking, Luke nodded.
Eden intervened. "Couldn't we keep Luke out of this? As I say, it was all really my fault."
"You were both... involved... earlier. Mr Johnson needs to be a part of this... arrangement. I insist. So speak up, boy!" The Principal's voice was still horse.
"I'll do whatever Eden... Miss Baker... thinks best, Sir."
Pedretti smiled, but a smile verging on a grimace. His face mask-like. "Then we have a deal. Miss Baker. But your clothing is entirely inappropriate. Let me get you something more... befitting."
'Born and raised in a briar patch,' thought Eden. This was going well.
As the Principal left them, Eden and Luke shared a glance and Luke mouthed, "what the fuck?"
Eden whispered, "it's OK, Luke, trust me," in reply.
She began to understand the 'what,' and 'fuck' was probably an apposite word. This was something in her wheelhouse, something she could deal with. The real question was how to get Luke through it.
Another thought crashed uninvited into her mind, 'Michele, why didn't you tell me the fucking truth?' But Eden already knew the answer.
🎓 🎓 🎓
"Listen, Luke. I think this is going to get pretty weird, but it will be OK. You liked watching me. You
really
liked me sucking you. This is just a step up. You will be fine. You might even enjoy yourself. But -- again -- trust me. And don't worry about me. Whatever happens, I'm OK with it. Right?"
Eden wanted to say more, to explain her informed guesses. But Pedretti was already back. He was carrying a plastic bag, which he handed to Eden. She assumed Luke would cotton on soon enough.
"Change into these, Miss Baker."
Eden peered into the bag. She was unsurprised. It contained a Burnell uniform. Each item of clothing still in its plastic wrapping.