sakura
I slammed the glove compartment shut and stared down at my thighs through wide eyes, hoping he hadn’t seen me just gawk at the gun for who knew how long. Swallowing hard, I pressed my lips together.
But why does he have a gun?! Does it have anything to do with that guy?
“Sakura,” Mr. Avery said, not moving the car.
“Please, can you take me back to my car?” I whispered, wanting to get out of here ASAP.
“Sakura,” Mr. Avery repeated. “Look at me.”
After biting back my fear, I glanced over at him and gripped the ends of my skirt. My stomach twisted into tight knots, squeezing the life out of me. “Y-yes?” I murmured, voice so quiet that I couldn’t even hear it over my pounding heart.
He stared at me with those corrupt, sinfully dark eyes. “You didn’t see anything.”
“No,” I breathed out, pushing some hair behind my ear and peering back toward the glove compartment. “I didn’t see anything.”
Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie.
I just didn’t want him to use it on me.
What was I even thinking, coming home with him? I didn’t know the first thing about my Literature teacher. Why would I ever think that going to his house and sleeping with him was a good idea?! What is wrong with me?!
His gaze burned into the side of my face. “Good.”
Gulping again, I turned my legs toward the window and hoped he didn’t ask me anything else, hoped he didn’t bring the gun back up or use it on me. Nerves zipped up and down my arms and legs.
“Please,” I whispered. “Drive.”
Mr. Avery continued to back down the pavement, then pulled out of his driveway and onto the road. I stared out the tinted window at the mansions we drove past.
What can he possibly use a gun for?!
Who is Mr. Avery?
Ten minutes later, or maybe it was longer—I couldn’t quite tell anymore—we drove into the desolate Redwood Academy parking lot. He parked in the very back, where it was known that Poison had disabled all the cameras.
When I reached for the door, Mr. Avery growled, “Wait.”
My heart dropped, and I peered over my shoulder at him. “Y-yes?”
“I expect you to be in class tomorrow. Don’t skip.”
“I promise …” I glanced at the glove compartment. “I won’t.”
He tightened his hand around the steering wheel, following my gaze. “Don’t worry.”
“How can I not?! You have a gun!” I exclaimed, speaking when I shouldn’t have. Immediately, I covered my mouth and wished that I could take it all back. I didn’t want him to hurt me, nor did I want to get in trouble for this.
He pressed his lips together.
“Sorry,” I whispered in a hurry, yanking on the door handle to get the hell out of here.
But before I could slip out of the car, he seized my wrist. I sucked in a sharp breath and froze, nerves zipping through my body. I didn’t turn back. Fear froze me to the fucking spot.
Why did I decide to come with him?
“Are you okay to drive?” he asked me after a second of silence.
I stayed quiet for a few moments, then nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Once he released my wrist, I hurried out of his car and speed-walked to mine. I shuffled through my backpack, pulled out my keys, and unlocked the doors, leaping into the car as soon as I could. I tossed my backpack into the passenger seat and sped out of the parking lot.
Sure as hell, I couldn’t go home now. My mind was racing, and I probably looked like a ghost. Dad would definitely know what was up if I stepped a single foot into the house. He’d know I hadn’t been with a friend.
After driving through the ritzy beach sector that had upscale boutiques and charged upward of two hundred dollars a plate at the restaurants during the summer months, I aimlessly headed toward the beach.
I didn’t know where I was going or where I would end up.
But I needed air. I needed to breathe.
How can Mr. Avery have a gun?! A freaking gun! Has he used it on anyone? He didn’t seem like the type of person to go hunting, and that definitely wasn’t one of those hunting rifles that I saw in the movies.
Speeding through the desolate roads near the beach, I didn’t even stop. My mind was racing. My heart was racing. I didn’t know who the hell I was anymore. I was sleeping with my teacher! Me! The good girl who never got in trouble.
Once I made it through the beach without getting stopped by the Redwood Police—they usually hid down here for traffic stops—I took a couple of deep breaths and headed toward the first parking lot that I saw.
I needed to calm down. I couldn’t go home like this.
A sign for Walmart glowed against the dark-blue night sky. I parked in the very back and pulled the key out of the ignition, breathing heavily. After inhaling sharply, I blew out a long gush of air. Head clearing.
Hands clutched on to the steering wheel, I closed my eyes and gently banged my head against the headrest.
What the hell was I even thinking? Sleeping with a married man and my professor? Going to his house? Finding his gun?
“I need to stop,” I whispered. “God, I need to stop.”
But he felt so good. So fucking good.
No! He can’t make me feel good. He’s married.
Yet I couldn’t stop thinking—
Someone knocked on my window. I snapped my eyes open and sat up in the seat, scrambling around to lock the car and see who was standing outside in the darkness. The knock came again from my passenger side.
Gunther Zurn.