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Freshman year – December
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“Mr. Mortensen, I hope you have a good Christmas!” Rose said, waving to him as she said goodbye.
Her English teacher was young, and most of the girls in her grade had a crush on him. With his jet-black hair, kind, green eyes, and tall, muscular figure, he was an attractive man. It didn’t hurt that he was much younger than most of the teachers at their school. Rose guessed he was only in his early twenties. Like the other girls in her class, she had a crush on him.
“Rose, could you come here for a minute, please?” Mr. Mortensen asked.
“Sure.” She sauntered up to his desk as her classmates filed out of the room. She waved to Spencer, reassuring him that she would catch up to him later.
Mr. Mortensen sat at his impressively large desk, his legs crossed at the ankle. He gestured for her to sit in the chair across from him, then folded his hands on top of the desk and leaned toward her.
The classroom was empty now.
“Rose, I think you’re much farther ahead of your classmates. You’re a smart girl.” He smiled at her, exposing his white teeth in a friendly grin.
Rose blushed and scratched at her neck nervously. “Thanks, Mr. Mortensen.”
“You don’t have to call me that. School’s out for two weeks. Call me James.” He winked at her and stood from his desk.
She smiled at him cheekily. “Okay, James. Is that all?” She stood closer to him so they were face-to-face now.
He handed her a book. “I want you to have this.”
Rose took it from him with care and snuck a peek at the title. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. She would be polite about the gift, but she didn’t read classics. That was her sister’s preference. Rose liked fantasy books.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She cradled the book in her arms.
James picked a piece of notebook paper off of his desk and reached around her, sliding it into the front pocket of her backpack. “There. Now you have my phone number.” He smiled at her again. “But don’t tell anyone about this, okay? We wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
“Right. I won’t tell anyone,” Rose promised.
“Okay, then.” He leaned in closer to her face with his arm still around her backpack. He let go and patted her arm. “Have a nice Christmas. Text me after you read the book.”
“I will.”
She hurried off to catch up to Spencer, shoving the book into her backpack. When she got home, she threw her backpack into her closet and forgot all about it until the next semester started.
***
Freshman year – January
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Rose strolled through the school hallway with Spencer by her side, as usual. They entered the English classroom, Mr. Mortensen’s class, expecting to see his familiar, handsome face. But he wasn’t there. Instead, a middle-aged woman with her white-blonde hair in a tight bun stood at the front of the classroom in front of the whiteboard. She greeted everyone as they entered and introduced herself as Mrs. Curton.
Rose wondered if she was the only one wanting an explanation for what had happened to Mr. Mortensen. She contemplated raising her hand to ask, but she didn’t want anyone to make assumptions. She had only flirted with him a few times. Okay, and they had made out once in the supply closet, but that was it!
She had thought about him over winter break, and as much as she wanted to kiss him again, she knew it was stupid—not to mention wrong. He was an adult, and she was fifteen. She had planned to end it with him today, so it was a relief knowing she wouldn’t have to face him.
He was gone, and she would never have to see him again.
When English ended, Rose followed Spencer out of the classroom toward their lockers. Rose spun the dial and opened her locker.
Spencer leaned in close to her to whisper, “Did you hear the rumors about Mr. Mortensen?”
Rose stiffened beside her best friend. “Um, no. What are people saying?”
This couldn’t be about her, could it?
“Everyone says he asked to be transferred to the middle school with no explanation or notice, so I guess he works there now. I guess several girls from our grade came forward after he left and said he made them uncomfortable and flirted with him, but nothing was proven. Crazy, right?” Spencer said.
“Yeah, crazy. Well, I have to get to my next class. See you later, Spence!” Rose abruptly slammed her locker shut without grabbing her textbooks and speed walked to the other side of the school.
Rose didn’t want Spencer to notice her shaking hands. He would want to know what was wrong, and she couldn’t tell him. But it was fine. Mr. Mortensen had flirted with girls at the high school, but middle schoolers were off-limits. That was too young even for a creep. She couldn’t tell anyone because then she would have to admit what had happened, and that was a secret she didn’t want anyone to know.