A couple thoughts before the story:
*It's been too long since I've worked on this project, I'm going to try and update more frequently in the coming weeks*
**Please leave a comment, and let me know your thoughts on the story, or reach out to me through the contact section, I love hearing everyone's opinions and ideas**
The bell rang. Soon the halls of Newland High School were overrun with packs of grubby teenagers. As a Senior, I was over the noise and the idiocy, and eager to move on to college. My future, however, was still up in the air. There was no denying how desperately I needed a scholarship offer. My game on the soccer field should have been enough to propel me, but I had other hurdles to contend with. I'd turned eighteen a week and a half ago, and my life had been collapsing ever since.
A new threat had emerged to jeopardize my soccer career, not a catastrophic injury or even poor play, but pregnancy. Anyone who got pregnant was confined to bedrest. If that happened to me, my soccer season would end before it started. There would be scant chance of a scholarship then.
Mom told me girls in her generation had numerous ways to avoid pregnancy. The simplest, she said, was avoiding sex altogether. Turns out dealing with creeps was a lot easier when you had the luxury of telling them to fuck off. Of course, I didn't, because of the law. Whenever I was not engaged in school activities, men could have sex with me when they chose.
In my naivety, I had underestimated how many men actually indulged in such activities. Growing up, I'd ignored the signs. Since my birthday, however, I wondered how I had ever been so oblivious.
I scowled as I walked down the hallway. Once again, I was wasting my 3rd hour break with Mr. Stephenson when I should've been practicing. So far, he had been very insistent with me, and I was worried there would be no way to break things off without getting in trouble.
Wasting 3
rd
hour was just the start of my worries. Tonight, mom and I were hosting my neighbor, Mr. Lunder, for dinner. Our last encounter with him had been horrifying, it was beyond me why mom would stoop to inviting him over. The memory of him tearing off my clothes made me shiver. Sometimes, I could feel the phantom of his hand on my throat, forcing himself on me. Mr. Lunder, the man who had assaulted me and taken my virginity, tonight I would see him again. Dread gnawed at my stomach.
Maybe it would be better to look on the bright side.
I'm not pregnant,
I reminded myself. Evelyn had confirmed it yesterday. But how long would that last? If I had to keep going to see Mr. Stephenson I was screwed--
A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders and forced me abruptly to a halt. Disoriented, I looked up.
A man stood in front of me, he sported a large mustache, flecked with grey. His hands had forced me to a stop in the middle of the hall. After a moment, I recognized him as a teacher, but didn't know his name.
The teacher surveyed me. "You should smile more often--frowning doesn't suit you." He smiled to emphasize his point.
Smile more?
In my head, I fantasized about kneeing him in the crotch. Instead, I met his eyes and smiled indulgently. It was the kind of smile you got good at from posing in your friend's photos. A lifelong reflex. Fortunately, it was an acceptable response.
The unknown teacher beamed back at me--his teeth were yellow. Next, he gave my shoulders a squeeze. "There you go, don't you feel better?" His breath left something to be desired, but I resisted the impulse to wrinkle my nose. Instead, I kept my smile plastered on my face, waiting for him to let go. Didn't he have a class to go teach?
Other students jostled my backpack as they brushed past. It felt strange to be standing still in a busy hallway. "I feel better--It was nothing--I'm just stressed." I tried to fill the silence between us before it stretched uncomfortably.
"You're young, you shouldn't have anything to be so stressed about." His thumbs massaged my shoulders, wandering imperceptibly closer to my chest. He brushed my cheek and my smile almost faltered. Would he ever let go?
My muscles were tense but that was the opposite of how I wanted to look. I chuckled to relieve the awkwardness--trying not to sound nervous. He didn't know this was my free period, did he? As far as he knew I still had to go to class. "Perhaps you're right, thanks for the tip." The expression on my face was cheery as I bid to end the conversation.
Finally, the mustached teacher released my shoulders. He continued to linger in front of me, but once enough time had passed to not seem rude, I hurried away from him.
I rolled my shoulders to loosen the newly formed knots, shivering. Catering to creeps was exhausting, I was certain he'd made up an excuse to put his hands on me.
Relax, he was just being friendly,
I told myself.
Stop freaking out
.
When I reached Mr. Stephenson's office, I took a moment to steady myself. Now more than ever, I needed a clear head. I had a plan, and I needed Mr. Stephenson to agree to it. The scatter-brained girl from the hallway would not cut it.
One deep breath later and my confidence was reset. Feeling better, I knocked and entered.
Inside Mr. Stephenson's windowless office, the world felt sealed off. My eyes had to adjust to the dimness. The lamp from his coffee table illuminated a pile of books.
Probably just an excuse to look smart,
I thought. He sure acted like he knew a lot.
The light cast Mr. Stephenson in an orange glow. Narrow shoulders, and a skinny frame. Even his shadow was not an impressive figure. As my eyes traveled down, I caught sight of his belt, already unbuckled in anticipation. I clenched my jaw and pretended not to notice it.
"Ms. Gartner, nearly late. My expectation is for us to make the most of our time together." He met my eyes for a moment, then lowered his gaze to my stomach. I crossed my arms over my midriff.
"Come now," Mr. Stephenson closed the distance and pulled my arms apart by the wrists. Once my arms were out of the way, he nestled his body into mine.
Perspiration formed on my scalp. I searched for the words I had rehearsed, but my mind came up blank. All I could think about was the cologne in my nostrils. Already his hands had probed underneath my shirt, his fingers unnaturally soft.
Sensing I was losing my initiative, I cleared my throat, and waited for him to look at me. Apparently, his eyes had their own agenda, because they were fixed on my blouse.
Wincing in discomfort, I looked down to find Mr. Stephenson had slipped his hands into my bra. Kneading my nipples between his fingers, he flashed a grin. "What did you say? You distracted me. It was your fault really."
Out of habit, I nearly apologized. Thankfully I stopped myself. For nearly two weeks I had been coming here, this time, he would to listen to me.
Standing up straight, I arched my back, adopting some of my confidence from the soccer pitch. "Well, I was thinking--and like, there was uh... something I wanted to try..." My lips fumbled the words.